Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/44746
Urban Zen There's a new anti-aging movement that ditches injectables in favor of more natural practices. Rima Suqi embraces the trend at London's brand new ESPA Life. L ondon is admittedly not the first place that comes to mind when seeking a Zen escape. Yet with the opening of ESPA Life in the Corinthia Hotel, that might soon change. ESPA Life is the latest in a series of spas veering away from the recent trend of youth-via-injectables, and instead embraces natural anti-aging remedies. While in the past the so-called "natural" spas (sometimes referred to as "mind-body wellness centers") were often located in appropriately natural lo- cales like mountains or the desert, the newest ones have targeted city dwellers and are designed with them in mind. Gone are south- west-inspired interiors, crystals, incense and often restrictive food— the women's locker rooms at ESPA Life were inspired by Chanel and feature cream and black lacquered lockers, crystal bead cur- tains and liberal use of Carrera marble. And the café offers delicious organic foods, a menu of healthy juices and even organic wines. It is all about finding balance, after all, and many are realizing that luxury and healing do not need to be mutually exclusive terms. An hour after my arrival I was meeting with Hannah Yang, a naturopath who is also trained in acupuncture, Chinese medicine and herbs and homeopathy. While clients can simply book a mas- sage at ESPA and leave it at that, the ideal experience here begins with a naturopathic consultation. The naturopath or "gatekeeper" then creates a schedule of treatments and therapies to address ail- ments or imbalances. I regularly have acupuncture and take Chi- nese herbs, so her intake questions (about everything from what I eat to how I sleep to my bowel movements and menstrual cycle) were not off-putting. Yang also used Iridology—photography and analysis of the iris, based on the philosophy that physical and psy- chological ailments are reflected in the eyes—as another diagnostic device. This one was new to me, but confirmed both her suspicions and my acupuncturist's previous diagnoses, leading her to recom- mend a daily regimen of supplements including Vitamin B complex, Magnesium and Probiotics. She also immediately booked me into a Detoxifying Body Cleanse meant to "provide an intense detox and vitality boost," saying it would help combat jet lag and also help rehydrate my skin. Prior to that, I was ordered to spend half an hour on the "thermal floor"—an all-black-stone enclave with a gorgeous, glassed-in sta- dium-style sauna, steam room, ice fountain and two pools, one with a series of massage stations with strategically positioned jets. The Detoxifying Body Cleanse was a two-hour journey that began with a brush exfoliation, followed by a full body algae wrap and herbal poultice massage. It proved to be the perfect antidote to jet lag—I was left completely limp, buffed and hydrated, but also The café at London's new ESPA Life in the Corinthia Hotel. 76 BAL HARBOUR