Sheer bliss at Breeze Spa

 

Since my first therapeutic experience at Breeze Spa, I have been back again and again, several times in the company of my mother, who certainly knows a good spa treatment when she had one.

 

Facade of Breeze Spa in Amari Johor Baru

Going by her experience while she was working in the districts, mum had her fair share of traditional treatments and often compared spa treatments with her benchmark experience at the skillful hands a makcik in the kampung who practiced traditional therapies.

 

With such a high expectation in treatment standards, it was quite impossible to compare any spa treatments favourably against my mum’s benchmark until I introduced her to the therapists at Breeze Spa.

 

When mum celebrated her 90^th birthday last September, I thought it was a capital idea to indulge in a spa treatment at Breeze Spa again and started to make the arrangements.

 

Iqah, the therapist, introducing the treatments

After more than two years of uncertainties, the economy was finally reopened and the spa was ready to welcome us in again. But just as I was ready to confirm a date for our treatment, I felt unwell and had no alternative but to shelf the spa plans.

 

By the time I felt human again, I was reluctant to take my mum out as I was aware that the risk of infection was still out there.

 

The last few months of 2022 passed in a rush while I was busy with preparing for the launch of Book Three of My Johor Stories, the final instalment to complete the trilogy of My Johor Stories.

 

Chilled cups of Blue Pea flower tea

Soon after My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, was launched in December, I plunged directly into preparing for the activities planned in the project dubbed, My Johor Stories in Downtown Johor Baru.

 

The activities planned for one Saturday per month for the first four months in 2023 included hosting a Heritage Walk in the morning followed by a Book Reading session in the afternoon.

 

With the third of the four Saturdays completed in March, I was more than ready for a spa treatment and did not hesitate to arrange for an appointment at Breeze Spa.

 

Mum and I with Florence [Right] at Breeze Spa

For a start, I appreciate that car parking was conveniently within the building and a smooth elevator ride took us to Level Six, the lobby level of the hotel where Breeze Spa was located, tucked away at the end of the left corridor, next to the Reception.

 

It was good to be back again at the Spa, designed in shades of turquoise and mustard against a backdrop of grey and white mosaic tiles in its décor.

 

The therapists invited us to relax on the comfortable sofa at the lounge while cups of chilled Blue Pea flower tea were served.

 

The hand-held bell on the
trinket box in the wardrobe

We studied the Spa Menu of treatments while we sipped our tea and considered which to pick from a choice of Breeze Signature massages and scrubs. Under the section for Mood Massages, the list included choices that will revive and rejuvenate our bodies to feel Dreamy, Serene, Rejuvenated, Invigorated or Energised.

 

We each received a Consultation Form to complete and declare if we had any recent surgery or injury, or any health condition or was pregnant…

 

On its reverse page, there was an illustration of the human body with instructions to mark an ‘X’ at the specific places on the body where we do not want any attention and to mark with an ‘O’ at the specific spots for the therapist to focus on.

 

This was a very helpful exercise as I could add the remark that my mum had a painful right knee, one that was damaged through wear and tear over the years of her career, helping patients in the kampungs who often delivered babies while lying on the floor.

 

Mum was ready for the first
part of her treatment

Then we were escorted to our therapy rooms: a single room with bathroom-shower-changing room attached for our friend, Florence, while mum and I went into the double room that came complete with a jacuzzi bathtub. 

 

I stepped into the familiar bathroom-changing room and the therapist politely reminded me to ring the hand-held bell to signal them when we were ready.

 

After helping my mum to undress and change into the robe monogrammed with Breeze Spa on the top left breast, it was my turn to change and get ready.

 

It was good that the double room was spacious enough for me to push mum on her wheelchair to the sofa for the first part of the treatment.

 

Twin therapy beds in our double room

When we moved to the pair of therapy beds, the therapists asked if my mum could lie down or turn over (by herself) so I replied that she could but slowly and with a little help. Once mum was settled into her position, I laid face-down on my therapy bed.

 

While the last thing I saw was floating flowery blooms in that bowl of water below, I was well aware of how my therapist was working her magic with strong fingers, knuckles, palms, elbows and forearms, drawing whorls and patterns on my back, neck and shoulders to lift out all the toxins and relieve me of physical stress.

 

I was also aware when my mum’s therapist gently helped mum to turn over and arranged suitable support behind mum’s right knee to keep her comfortable for the next part of the treatment.

 

The 90-minute treatment was
completed with a back massage

I liked that our 90-minute treatment closed with a gentle request to sit up on the therapy bed for the therapist to complete the treatment with a brief, back massage.

 

When the therapists had left the room, I helped my mum off her therapy bed and onto her wheelchair which the therapists had kindly brought next to the bed.

 

After I had helped mum to dress, she combed her hair in front of the mirror while I dressed and we got ready to leave the room.

 

We met Florence again at the lounge where she sat looking refreshed and relaxed, sipping on her cup of warm ginger tea.

 

Warm cups of ginger tea with cookies
served at the end of our treatment

Then a similar tray of two cups of warm ginger tea and two small cookies were served to mum and I. And as we nibbled on the cookies and sipped our tea, we exchanged notes on our blissful experience.

 

I was glad to observe that mum was more than pleased with her experience and this to me, was the highest compliment we could pay to our skillful therapists, Olivia and Iqah.

 

My mum may not stop recalling her blissful therapy experience with the makcik in the kampung but I am delighted that the professional therapists at Breeze Spa has met with the skills standard so desired by my mum.

 

Breeze Spa is on Level Six, the Lobby Level of Amari Johor Baru, located at No. 82-C Jalan Trus, 80000 Johor Baru. Tel: +607 – 266 8888.

 

For more info, visit webpage: www.amari.com