Tucked away in the dusty coastal town of Umm Al Quwain, Imar Spa provides sanctuary and respite for stressed out mothers and harried friends.
Don't get me wrong, men have their uses. But on a detoxifying, relaxing weekend spa-binge, they are simply surplus to requirements. Nobody knows this better than Mayassa Ajinah, the manager of the luxurious, yet cosy, Imar Spa – the only man-free spa resort in the UAE. “We opened Imar Spa because there was not even one women-only overnight-stay spa in the Middle East and I felt that, with this region's traditions, it would give women who don't like to stay by themselves at a mixed hotel, the opportunity to stay overnight,'' says Mayassa.
“Plus I felt that in a women-only spa you can feel more relaxed as you don't have to wear makeup or look groomed all the time – you can just cocoon and be yourself. And if you are married with children, it offers an excuse to get away from it all, as children and men are not allowed. That means you can rejuvenate and recharge your batteries and go back to your family ready to take on the pressures.'' It all sounds too tempting for words, so with a whirlwind of nappy changes, grocery shopping and bedtime power-struggles at our backs, my friend and I packed our sarongs and spiritual self-help books and headed for the dunes.
Desert location
Imar Spa launched in 1999 and moved to its present location on the waterfront in Umm Al Quwain in 2004. Umm Al Quwain may only be a short 90-minute drive down the Emirates Road from Dubai, but it is light-years away in terms of tempo, traffic, and city growth. Nestled amongst hotel resorts, social clubs and schools, the entrance to the spa compound is inconspicuous and low-key with white walls, a simple wooden security hut out front and a classy, neon-free sign.
Inside the purpose-built building lies a large, high-ceilinged reception area with doors leading off to VIP Salon for hair and nails, the delightful Café Bon Bon and the spa treatment rooms. Behind the reception you will find a fully-equipped gym, an aerobics studio offering regular classes throughout the day, a huge heated indoor swimming pool, a salt water therapy pool, a Jacuzzi and wet facilities, such as the Hammam and hydrogen massage rooms. The interior décor is elegant and classy but bubbles with youth and vigour – electric pink and orange walls balanced with dark wooden antique chairs in the café; authentic local items, such as tambourines, on the walls; murals of rose bushes cascading over walls into Mediterranean-looking courtyards; and colourful, glass tiles lining the corridors.
Slumber party
There are five bedrooms at Imar Spa, three with double beds and two rooms with twin beds. If you are going with a friend, ask for the Jawaher twin-occupancy room which is stunningly designed with thick baby blue and white stripes on the walls and quaint curtains (white with a blue print of a traditional scene). The same fabric is used for the curtains on the two four-post beds. “I designed the Jawaher room to remind me of childhood,'' says Mayassa. “As if my mother is going to tuck me into bed and give me some hot milk to drink before I sleep. It gave me this childhood serenity and family protection feeling.''
For a spiritual start to the day, step out of your bedroom's back door and wander on to the private stretch of white sand beach. Opposite you is one of Umm Al Quwain's natural islands and you will probably not see another soul, other than perhaps a fisherman going past in his boat a fair distance away. Peaceful and serene, this is the perfect place for an early morning meditation session or just to snatch a bit of quiet me-time.
Lively day
Come 9am, the spa is teeming with women milling around in their aerobics gear waiting for classes to start, or in robes wandering to their next treatment, or just chilling out in the café lost deep in a book while savouring a herbal tea and a slice of homemade low-fat carrot cake. The ambience is tranquil, gentle and respectful. The staff are welcoming and relaxed. On more than once occasion, I spied a member of staff privately bopping and grooving to whatever music was playing in the background.
“All 65 members of our staff feel like one big family,'' says Mayassa. “I am very keen to keep our staff, so a lot of the staff have been here for a long time – some for the entire ten years. Everyone's hard work, loyalty and devotion has been like fertiliser strengthening Imar Spa's roots.'' With bags unpacked, welcome juice drunk and a tour of the facilities completed, it's time to hit the spa.
THE TREATMENTS
Whether you have a specific physical ailment, are on a strict detox or simply need some hardcore pampering, the spa treatment menu will have more than a few options to tickle your fancy.
Moroccan Hammam For skin as soft as feathers, nothing can beat the 75-minute Purifying Hammam session. The treatment starts with an invigorating hydro-jet shower, where you stand at one end of a long shower room and get hosed down. Although you may feel a little like you are in a car wash, the high-pressure jet-stream is excellent at massaging your body, focusing on cellulite zones. Once in the Hammam chamber, you will be mudded and steamed and scrubbed until little grey worms of dead skin come scaling off your body to reveal soft, new, glowing skin beneath. Not for those adverse to nudity, this treatment sees you wearing nothing more than a paper thong while every centimeter of your body gets a rigorous scrubbing. Push your inhibitions to the curb and you will be rewarded with dewy, luminous skin, and a relaxed state of mind.
Ayurveda This Indian system of massage and health, which dates back 5,000 years, is unique. Using generous amounts of herbal oils and quick, strong massage strokes, an Ayurvedic massage stimulates the body and the mind to create an overall sense of wellbeing. If you are in need of stress-relief, the Shiro Dhara treatment relieves emotional tension by funneling a flow of oil over the Third Eye in the centre of your forehead.
The colonic Just the word drums up a swell of fear in the hearts of most of us. But with health gurus claiming that colonic irrigations can help with everything from allergies, arthritis, acne and asthma to IBS, insomnia, headaches and halitosis, it's pretty hard not to be intrigued. The good thing is that at Imar Spa, colonic treatments have their own little building with a separate entrance which provides you with privacy and offers anonymity. My therapist, Mavluda, used to be a nurse on a hospital surgical ward where she prepped patients for surgeries on the stomach area. W ith 15 years experience, she is calm, efficient, empathetic and completely non-plussed about the situation. Her advice is just to relax. My advice is: take your iPod and an airplane sleep mask, plug yourself in, cover your eyes and pretend you are not there. Mortifying? Yes. But the positive effects are instantaneous – you will feel lighter, less bloated, more awake and energised, and that night you'll have the best sleep you've had in years. After the treatment, head to the café for a Spirulina Smoothie containing superior blue-green algae from Hawaii, which is good for detoxifying and is full of nutritional goodness.
For the face Take your pick from an extensive list of Decleor skin-specific treatments such as the luxurious, purifying Purity for combination skin types, which includes a face massage, cleansing, light steaming and extraction followed by a face mask and moisturising session. If you would prefer an anti-ageing effect, opt for one of the Carita facial treatments, such as the Perfect Face Renovateur, which promises visable results.
For the body For relaxation, opt for the hot stone massage. For smooth skin, book yourself a Decleor Body Exfoliation. For detoxifying, a Vichy shower treatment will boost your circulation and lymphatic drainage. To shift cellulite, the Carita Slimming Body Renovateur. Or opt for the deeply therapeutic Decleor Tranquility Scalp Massage, for a soothed soul. The possibilities are endless.
Hopi Ear Coning This is a traditional holistic healing therapy from the Native American Hopi tribe. It involves holding a long thin tube of cotton just inside the ear and setting light to the far end. Like a chimney, the smoke from the burning flame travels down the tube and into the inner ear and the sinuses, massaging the membranes and tissues, relieving pressure and drawing out impurities. As you listen to the crackling of the flame down the ear cone, you can physically feel pressure easing in the sinuses behind your eyes and your cheekbones, and emotional stresses simply melt away.
Cosmetic surgeries A selection of cosmetic surgeries is available through the Dubai Cosmetics Surgery Clinic at Imar Spa. Treatments on offer include rhinoplasty (nose-shaping), tummy tucks and hair transplants.
Spa packages: Imar Spa offers a variety of packages such as the Colonic and Detox Package Stays (one, three, five or seven nights), the Seven Night Slimming Package and the Me Time Imar Spa Day Packages (Indulge Me, Beautify Me, Purify Me, Calm Me, Comfort Me). It also offers bridal packages.
Rates: Prices for the day spa packages start at Dhs350. Room rates start at Dhs700 for two people in a twin room, or Dhs550 in a single occupancy room. These prices include full use of the facilities, breakfast, a welcome juice, a basket of fresh fruit and a morning newspaper.
Contacts: To book your spa weekend, call 06-7664440 or e-mail imarspa@emirates.net.ae. Visit their website first for details of treatments available and make treatment bookings when you book your overnight stay. www.imarspa.com.
