9 minute read
How a relaxing massage can be good for mind and body
how Third Space Spa o ers a vast selection of facial, massage and other beauty treatments
There’s something of a theme to the features in this issue of the paper. While the malls and walkways are packed with obvious attractions, some of Canary Wharf’s best products and services are a little more tucked away.
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Take Third Space Spa, for example on the floor above Waitrose in Canada Square. Snugly located behind the climbing wall at Europe’s largest health club, this facility is open to members and non-members alike with a serene corridor of treatment rooms leading off its bright reception area. Spa manager Adele Rowley has been at the helm for more than four-and-a-half years, ready with a smile to welcome guests and to draw on her 25 years of experience to ensure they get the results they’re expecting.
“We offer a range of facials,” she said. “We have Murad facials which is a cosmeceutical skin care brand – that means it has doctorgraded ingredients in a cosmetic product – to deliver a very quick, visible result.
“Then we have Elemis, which is one of the leading British skincare brands on the market.
“We deal with vegan skincare, down to resurfacing, lifting, re-plumping – essentially if you want anything to do with your skin, my highly expert team will look after you.
“We also offer aesthetic treatments, podiatry, manicures and massage, ranging from sports massage to more relaxing treatments.
“If you’ve suffered a slight injury, for example, I have 11 different sports therapists who can look after you. We offer acupuncture, cupping, shiatsu and lymphatic drainage massage.
“Sports massage isn’t just for people with sports injuries, of course, it can be for people who do a lot of computer work and are hunched over all the time and we see a lot of that in Canary Wharf. “Third Space Spa offers the perfect environment to help those people to unwind and release the lactic acid which is causing that tight tension in the muscles. by Jon Massey
Discount Third Space Spa is currently o ering on a pair of Elemis treatments in February 20%
Spa manager Adele Rowley is ready to welcome Third Space members and other guests to the Canada Square facility space nding that
for relaxation
“Men should absolutely be coming here. Skin care isn’t just about making you look pretty, it’s about relaxation too. It’s great for de-stressing Adele Rowley, Third Space Spa
“(ven gentler massages offer people the chance to relax and switch off for a short time.
“$ classic massage is good for unwinding and mental awareness ² it’s time out Must for you.
“Then, if you’ve got an inMury, or a tight muscle, or you’re suffering from migraines or sciatic nerve issues, it will be our sports therapy teams who can help.
“We’ve got guys who are highly TualiÀed in mixed martial arts, for instance, so they’d be the perfect people to see if you do that type of sport.
“There’s certainly a lot of crossover with the rest of Third Space. $bout of our clients are members. Typically the other work close by, often hearing about us through wordofmouth.
“It’s nice to let people know who haven’t heard about us that we’re here ² we’re a hidden gem.” A dele, who ran spas in Hampton and +eathrow before joining Murad and working across southern England to help others grow their businesses, said the number of men opting for treatments was increasing.
“0en should absolutely be coming here,” she said. “Skin care is not Must about making you look pretty, it’s about relaxation too. “There’s a lot of facial massage – pin-point massage – that is great for relieving tension and de-stressing, as is shoulder massage, arm massage, face, shoulder and decolletage massage. $ lot of guys come in for waxing ² they have their backs done and we also offer laser treatments.
“We do manicures for men too and eyebrow shaping. /ots of men take a a great deal of pride in their appearance, so they should get themselves in here.
“We’ve also had a couple of guys book in for our targeted tightening treatment ² it’s a new, clinically proven body treatment by (lemis, with an incredibly deep massage and tightening products on the body to tighten the skin.
“(xercise may tighten the muscle, but the skin needs tightening as well, otherwise you may end up with loose skin you don’t want. We’re deÀnitely seeing more guys than we used to. Typically they’re booking for manicures ² especially if they’re doing a lot of presentations, because there may be a lot of hand movements involved and that’s where the focus is.
“The next step up is often facials ² if you’re presenting to a boardroom of people, you will want to look your best.
“Massage is the most popular treatment, of course. %ut everyone needs to look after their skin ² you need to get into a good routine. “<ou may want to brighten the skin, to lift it or reduce any pimples.
“We do spa packages, whether for members or nonmembers, where we do vigorous salt scrubs, body wraps and lava shell treatments – a heated porcelain shell applied to the body to help relaxation.
“Whether male or female, people often come in here Tuite tense and anxious ² you can see it in their shoulders.
“$ good of what we do is about repair and recovery. 3eople need to relax, let their muscles go and switch off their minds.
“We know people are going to walk out of here feeling a lot better ² you can see it in their faces and their bodies.”
With a vast array of beauty treatments, massages and facials on offer, prices range from as little as for some manicure options to more than , for a face lift with 3'2 Threads. Those simply looking for a massage, however can expect to pay around for a minute session.
$dele said “In terms of massage, people should ideally be looking to come once a week if it’s for general relaxation.
“If you’re suffering from a sports inMury, tense tron muscles, migraines, then any time from once to twice a week, but your therapist will always recommend when they want to see you.
“There are packages available online, and sometimes we’ll have special offers too.
“The best place to track them down is on our website – thirdspace.london ² all the deals are on the Àrst page.”
&urrently on offer for )ebruary bookings is a discount on both (lemis’ Thousand )lower 'etox Wrap or its Targeted Toning Tightener.
The former features a nutrient-rich detox wrap aimed at stimulating the elimination process so clients feel invigorated. It costs for minutes for nonmembers. The Tightener is either minutes or , costs . or and promises a powerful blend of massage and detoxifying clay to reduce the appearance of cellulite. Continued on Page 8
A typical treatment room at Third Space Spa in Canary Wharf, although the lights are usually much lower to promote relaxation
Images by Matt Grayson – nd more of his work at graysonphotos.co.uk or @mattgrayson_photo on Insta
Minutes is the minimum length of a classic massage treatment at Third Space Spa 25
treatment test Classic Massage, 50 minutes, £80 (non-member)
massage focus
Before trying the 50-minute classic massage at Canary Wharf’s Third Space Spa, I sat down with beauty and massage therapist Shannelle Williams to nd out a little more about the treatments she administers.
What can people expect from a relaxing massage? They are aimed at anyone who wants to come for a relaxing session – and we have a range of oils depending on what the client wants to go for.
What if I’ve never had a massage before? We’ll try to nd out what areas you’d like to concentrate on. If it’s your rst time, I would recommend that we do the whole body, so you can experience the whole massage and see how it feels.
Normally people don’t realise what tensions they have until we do the whole massage and it really helps to give their immune systems a boost.
How can people expect to feel afterwards? That does depend on what they’re going for. If they are going for a relaxing masage, then they might drift away and feel deeply relaxed.
If they’re coming for a deep tissue massage, and they really want you to get in there, then they might be feeling a little sore. Ideally I’d like them to feel relaxed, though.
Does it hurt? I wouldn’t say people will feel a horrible pain and we’ll always work with clients to get the pressure right, but there should be a feeling of release. There might be some ‘good’ pain as the muscles relax.
Why book in? Massage treatments are very bene cial. Having one is a good thing. It’s good for your wellbeing, good if you’re feeling stressed and good for your immune system.
What’s your background? I’m from London and I’ve lived here all my life. I was brought up in Crouch End and now live in Green Lanes.
I’m a beauty therapist, but I do a lot of massage as well, o ering treatments such as a lymphatic massage and a deep tissue massage.
I’ve been a therapist for about 10 years and, as I progressed in the industry, I got more experience with the massages.
Back and shoulders are my favourites, because they are usually the most problematic areas for people. Come for a treatment and try it out. Go to thirdspace.london for more information Jon Massey
“Eventually I was left in a warm, comfortable bed without a care in the world Jon Massey, Wharf Life
There are many worse ways to spend a Monday morning than lying at under a succession of thick towels on a massage table at Third Space Spa. Massages have always been problematic for me. Deeply relaxing on the one hand, while a source of tension on the other, thanks to the fact parts of my body are profoundly ticklish.
Fortunately, having communicated this to Shannelle, she managed to achieve a balance of pressure and constant touch that minimised any discomfort and allowed me to slip into the deep, forgiving sensation of a long, full body massage.
The session began face down, swaddled in towels with long strokes working the back and shoulders. The constant repetition of movements became hypnotic and I slipped into something of a trance, almost sedated by the scent of the oil and the rm manipulation of my muscles.
After a while time ceased to mean very much at all and it was a signi cant e ort to even turn my body over when the time came for the front of my limbs to be massaged.
Eventually, I was left, eyes covered with a warmed mask, knees slightly raised, in a warm, comfortable bed without a care in the world. Jon Massey Above, beauty and massage therapist Shannelle Williams says a session on the table can have a range of bene ts including a drop in stress and a boost to the immune system
THURSDAY 9 APRIL 2020 EAST WINTERGARDEN
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