Balinese Spa Treatments - What To Know And Where To Go

The Balinese believe that the body is a sacred temple for the soul and so it isn’t difficult to find somewhere to have something ‘done’ wherever you are in Bali, from small, inexpensive ‘beauty salons’ to swanky resort spas.  It’s important to remember however, that Balinese spa treatments tend to involve a lot of water and washing and part of the joy is sitting in a bath-full of flower petals feeling like an Indonesian princess!  Therefore you are missing out if you don’t choose a spa with the space and sophistication to offer such facilities.

Bali, like many countries in the far-east, has its own unique menu of traditional treatments which use local herbs and healing oils. Balinese massage oil is usually made from extracts of ginger (jahe), frangipani (jepun), sandalwood (cendana) and coconut (kelapa).

The Mandi Lulur massage is a traditional Balinese treatment and originated from Java.  It was traditionally part of the Javanese prenuptial ceremony.  A paste of sandalwood, turmeric, ground nuts, rice and other scented woods is prepared, painted on to the body for exfoliating purposes and left to dry. The dried paste is then gently rubbed off. This process polishes and exfoliates the skin. After a hot shower, a yoghurt mix is spread over the body to restore balance to the skin. The Mandi Lulur ends with a warm flower-scented bath.

At some of the smaller, independent spas you can often find young Indonesian girls continuing with their ‘prenuptial ceremony’, having photo shoots in full makeup and traditional bridal costumes (presumably for their future husbands!)

Visiting a Bali Spa should take at least half a day as there are so many different treatments to choose from and each one is an experience that shouldn’t be rushed.  From the gentle repetition of the traditional gamelan music to the quiet, calm nature of the staff attending to you, the experience of a Balinese spa reflects the culture of the country itself.�

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