Sensory massage retreat
This is no ordinarymassage; this is where your mind quietens, your muscles melt, and your body relaxes. Salt & Stone massage bar is a newbie and has skyrocketed to being the talk of the town. They are the first hydrohead spa in Ballito! Just making them even more amazing to experience.
Tucked inside the lovely Sage Centre, the spa welcomes you into a grounding space with a stone-textured shelf wall and live-edge wood features. Co-owner, Cassidy, greeted us with a warm hug before seating us on the couch and handing us their welcome card. This isn’t like any other form you would fill in at other spas. It is referred to as your passport to personalisation, as a fully customised sensory journey that you get to create.
You start by picking your scent – a base and aroma oil, all laid out on a little scent tray to help you choose your favourite. Then comes sight: you pick the room’s light colour – I went with yellow for a warm, calming glow. Sound follows, with options like ocean waves or rain; I chose ambience, a soothing stream of meditative music. Touch is a fun one – herbal tea hair rinses, each with a purpose. Lucille picked one for colour-treated hair. And finally, taste – a menu of teas including wild cherry and hibiscus (a sweet, tangy blend I loved), enjoyed after themassage; a full five-senses journey, tailored completely to you.
Your massage, your mood, your moment.
The lovely masseuses led us to our rooms, where we got comfortable and rang a little bell when we were ready to start. Lying back, my eyes were covered with a cool beaded eye mask before starting. As you hear the water turn on, you feel a slow wave of warmth gently glide over your hair to your scalp – I instantly felt my whole body let go and melt into the bed. The masseuse used a few head massage instruments, which are great for blood flow and releasing tension.
The one-hourmassage isn’t just a heavenly head massage – it includes a little foot TLC too. The hydro bed has a clever secret: the foot cushion lifts to reveal a basin below for a scrub and massage. Genius! While my legs were pampered, a dome steamed my hair (and gave my face a bonus glow). Then came a soothing neck, shoulder and arm massage – Blessing, my therapist, worked magic on my tense muscles.
It all ended with the soft ring of a sound bowl and rejoining in the reception for a cup of their delicious tea – the perfect finish to such a peaceful experience. It’s not often you find amassage that engages all your senses and leaves you floating out the door – but this one truly did; a reset for the body, mind, and soul.
@saltandstonemassagebar
www.saltandstonemassagebar.co.za
Shop 13A, Sage Centre, 1 Old Fort Rd, Salt Rock