My First Hammam Treatment At Soma

Luxury and wellness go very well together and recently I was treated to both. Buick Canada invited me on a retreat that involved a mountain estate hotel, amazing food, spectacular landscapes along a photo tour behind the wheel of the 2017 Buick Envision and that was just the first day. I was excited and very curious for my first Hammam treatment at Soma the next day.

Day 2 of my retreat with the 2017 Buick Envision and I was up at 8am and back to the main house at Azuridge Estate Hotel for breakfast and a second day of luxury. My driving partner for the day was Karen Michelle Moreira from Toronto, and our destination was the Soma Hammam & Spa.

Another sunny day in Alberta made for a beautiful drive into the city of Calgary in our 2017 Buick Envision. The Soma Hammam & Spa is a small spa attached to the brand new Marriott Hotel located in the southern community of Seton.

Entering the spa, the staff are bright and friendly. The reception area shares a space with a row of manicure and pedicure stations which might put some people off due to the openness of it. I thought it would make for a lovely social atmosphere given that the relaxing spa treatments are done down the hall in private rooms.

My first treatment was a 30 minute massage. I was a little doubtful that 30 minutes would be enough time to get the full relaxation of a massage but I was wrong. It was just enough time for my therapist to work on my shoulders and neck, where I carry most of my tension and coincidentally, my purse as well.

After the massage I was moved to the Hammam treatment room. A large room covered entirely with white tile that had a large marble bench along one wall and a raised marble bed (yes, I said bed) in the centre of the room. The lights were dim and it smelled very fresh and clean.

Hammam is an ancient Turkish cleansing ritual combined with massage and rinsing with both hot and cold water. Although most people prefer just the warm water for comfort, you can request cold water as well. The most interesting part of the Hammam tradition is the social aspect of it. You can have a Hammam for up to 4 people at a time in the same room where each person takes a turn on the marble table while the others visit and drink wine. Personally, I’m glad I was alone.

The process starts with me laying on the marble bed that I thought would be freezing cold but was actually heated and quite comfortable. The therapist then soaked the towel that covered my body, with warm water before applying a gentle exfoliating wash over my entire body. This is the first stage of the Hammam. Rinsed with more warm water (which is my favourite part by the way) and then the real action starts. Using course sea salts, she worked my entire body from feet to hands, even my stomach, in a circular massaging motion. This is not for the faint of heart. If you’re ticklish or super sensitive to that scratchy sensation then this is not for you. I had to tell my therapist to ease up on the pressure with the salt scrubbing a few times, especially on my arms and the back of my legs. You know, the tender bits.

Rinse again…ahhhhh.

Now that my blood was moving and I was sufficiently over stimulated, she dried my entire body with fresh towels and then used the most luxurious cream to massage every part she had just double exfoliated. This was heavenly.

My first impression of the Hammam treatment in one word, intense. I have sensitive skin to begin with and even with the double exfoliation, my body took to it very well. My senses on the other hand were on high alert after it was over. This is not the kind of treatment you book when you’ve had a bad week at work and the kids are driving you crazy and the car has just broken down. It’s not meant to be a relaxing spa treatment but rather a skin and body treatment to stimulate circulation, refresh your skin and wake you up! Perfect for the dry climate of Calgary, especially in the winter months. I highly recommend you try it out, at least once.

What an amazing end to an amazing retreat.

Have you tried a Hammam treatment? What did you think? Love it? Hate it?

 

Special thanks to Buick Canada for inviting me.