Abu Dhabi: It’s a tee off – not on a plush green golf course - but at the Atarmia Spa in Park Hyatt, Saadiyat Island where golf balls come in handy for a full body massage.
Yes, you heard it right. The unique Quiro Golf massage (priced at around Dh800 for a 90 -minute session) is a hit in Abu Dhabi with many people vouching that golf balls indeed bring relief to those tired muscles.
Given the brouhaha, I simply had to try it out myself.
Getting prepped for the massage is like checking into your own private suite. Spread over two floors, the spa features nine treatment suites (every room comes with a dressing area and a shower room). A VIP couple room also features a whirlpool, a lounging area and an extensive space for relaxation.
Just as we are about to begin, Inhee Kim, the 29-year old South Korean therapist, holds up the golf balls for me. “See, they are real,” she reassures me.
Warming up
Inhee begins by applying a Quiro Golf massage cream. “It contains Menthol,” she explains. With regular circular movements, the body is already warmed up. “The cream also helps in blood circulation.”
Soon, her soft hands, deftly pick up the balls and let them glide on the body. It’s hard to know when the transition takes place – from bare hands to golf balls, but its deftly done. As the pressure increases you become aware of something rolling on your body, immediately relieving you of stress.
“Previously people have used hot stones to relieve stress knots. But the circular shape of the golf ball is perfect as it sits well on my palm and I can manoeuvre it easily. Plus with the ball I am able to apply the desired pressure much more easily than other tools I have used in massages. The ball helps deliver deep tissue relaxation as it touches hard-to-reach areas of the body.”
During the massage, the golf ball becomes an extension of Inhee’s hands. “The treatment is especially useful for people who play regular sports as it’s proven to help repair muscle strains and improve flexibility,” she explains.
The massage lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. “I always recommend 90 minutes for people with thick muscles,” says Inhee as she applies some fitness gel on the trouble spots after the massage.
So who are her clients?
“My regular clients play active sports and make an appointment at least once in a week,” comes the quick reply.
As I soak in on the fitness gel, a shoulder pain before the therapy feels much better now and sure feels like I have hit a hole in one on a par three course.