I’m floating in water, overlooking the Edinburgh Conference Centre, my body submerged in the balmy waters of the Hydropool at the Sheraton’s Escape at One. As blissful days go, this has been right up there, time has stood still and this is the final section of what’s been a five star pampering journey.
It began earlier in the day with the All Wrapped Up spa package at the One Spa. Back after a booked out season last winter, it offers people the chance to treat and pamper neglected and winter weary limbs with a trio of treatments before soaking away stress in Escape at One – the area of the spa that includes two different saunas, the Hydropool and much more. But more on that later.
The All Wrapped Up package begins with lymphatic skin brushing to stimulate the circulation and to help get rid of toxins. It begins at the toes, with my therapist, Heather, lightly brushing up the backs of my legs, then along my arms from fingers, always in the direction of the heart. A gentle exfoliation then follows with the ESPA Exfoliating Body Polish. Infused with spearmint essential oil, I found the scent refreshing and uplifting. Dabbing this off it’s time to apply the mud, and where I thought this was going to be a supremely squelchy experience, in reality this felt much lighter.
The wrap can be used with either Algae or Marine Mud depending on skin types and concerns. In my treatment, the Marine Mud was used to help cleanse, nourish and heal skin. It’s ideal for congested, dry skin and can sort out aching muscles thanks to the ingredients of green clay, jasmine wax and chlorella vulgaris. I’m then cocooned and wrapped up to let the mud work its magic as Heather begins the next pampering stage – the head massage which she performed using the ESPA Pink Hair and Scalp Mud.
Image via the Sheraton Hotel
I rinse off the mud in the huge shower in the treatment room before hopping back onto the massage bed whereupon skin is smothered with the ESPA Smooth and Firm Body Butter. Thanks to the exfoliation and wrap sections, this part of the treatment is all about replenishing and nourishing skin and it leaves skin satin smooth and soft.
Then it was time for an out of this world back massage. Taking the time to really work out where my back was knotted, Heather used the Fitness Body Oil to work on those sections. The results were sublime and I really appreciated how personalised this massage was. Because rather than going through the motions, this massage was about treating the individual.
After using dynamite to blast me out of the bed, I was shown to the Relaxation Room. But the five star pampering doesn’t end there with this spa package, because All Wrapped Up also includes use of the luxurious Escape at One. This is a 11-step journey through a variety of different experiences which include two different saunas, the Hammam steam room, the Aroma Grotto and a tropical shower. Along with the Hyrdopool and a 19-metre indoor pool, Escape at One is deserving of its name. It is a place where time seems to stand still and if it hadn’t been for the clock on the pool wall, there’s every chance I would still be there. It was only the fact that my fingers were beginning to resemble prunes that finally forced me out.
In this chilly weather, the temptation can be to layer up and forget about the skin on our body: hiding it behind chunky knits. But the weather, the central heating and this lack of attention can all have an impact on skin leaving it flaking and dry. The All Wrapped Up package is a way to combat this, shedding any signs of scaly skin to reveal a glowing gorgeous you. And paired with the Escape at One experience, this is a pampering experience like no other – perfect to unwind from that festive stress or give yourself a warming winter boost.
The treatments at the One Spa are out of this world, the attention to detail top drawer: this is where you find five star treatments in a five star spa. And one Edinburghers ought to be thoroughly smug to have this on our doorstep.
All Wrapped Up is available for just £125 per person (usually £160) and is valid from Monday to Friday, from 2nd December to 31st December 2013, subject to availability. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion.
For further information please visit www.onespa.com, call 0131 221 7777 or email [email protected] quoting “All Wrapped Up”.
