If you, like us, have been bombarded with detox and diet messages since January started you might be a bit sick of them. Okay so in hindsight eating an entire block of Stilton or slowly but steadily working your way through the box of Roses (not the strawberry ones, never the strawberry ones) wasn’t necessarily your finest hour but that’s what the whole Christmas thing is about.
If you do feel the need to detox it doesn’t have to be all no pain no gain, instead get yourself down to Vivify a new spa tucked away in Chelsea Cloisters. It’s billing itself as ‘London’s secret spa’ and it’s in good company as another badly kept secret, Barts, is located in the same building. A small, intimate place decked out in oranges and wood it feels cozy and local rather than opulent and shiny which is actually a rather nice departure from the creams and metals spas usually overdose on.
On a pretty dreary Monday night I had a fantastic whole body scrub using ingredients designed to aid weight loss and combat cellulite (we’re a sucker for anything that claims to fight the flab here at kingsroad.co.uk) and then a massage using oils again designed to generally firm and sculpt. The result was that my skin felt like butter and a little harder and firmer in certain areas. The oils also gave off the most wonderful scent and my bed still smells (rather divinely) of rosemary.
The massage room was small but well appointed and my therapist was very knowledgeable softly explaining what everything was designed to do during the massage. In fact, she was very understanding when I almost kicked her in the head (twice) during an attack on my (very ticklish) feet.
The treatment was short, just under an hour, which is perfect on a weeknight as you can be home at a normal hour. My only complaint (and it’s a small one) is that my hands didn’t get much of a look in. A good hand massage can work wonders.
Vivify isn’t the sort of place you go and spend a day at (it’s too small) but it’s perfect for a quick mid week treatment or when you want to treat yourself and not find yourself miles from home. Go and quick before the secret’s out.
Vivify at Chelsea Cloisters, Sloane Avenue, SW3 3DW / Tel: 020 70529459
Caroline Gosney
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