By Helene Ravlich
Sometimes you just need to escape from it all – I know I did a few weeks ago, when the grind had most definitely begun to throw my mood and my healthy habits sideways. I needed a getaway but didn’t have the time for full-blown holiday, and it had to be within an easy drive of home. The solution? Dipping my toe in the wellness-related package at the luxe Cordis Hotel, and emerging a new person for it.
Staycations are a wonderful way to recharge your batteries when you’re feeling the need but pressed for time, and the Cordis rejuvenating wellness and spa accommodation package known as, ‘For the Wellness Fans’ is most definitely all about you. Including a stay in a stylish room or suite, a 60 minute Harmony or Balancing massage at the incredible Chuan Spa, 15% off any additional Chuan Spa treatments during your stay and complimentary valet parking, it really is all about wraparound self-care. Every booking also receives a complimentary go play card with discounted activities around New Zealand, and the Cordis’ own special wellness itinerary so you can discover the best Auckland spots that will keep your vibe relaxing, rejuvenating and chill.
After arriving at the hotel I headed straight for Chuan Spa, making time to indulge in their signature natural water journey – the Chuan Tri-bathing Ritual. Available to all who book in at Chuan, the Tri-bathing Ritual features an array of wet facilities to fire up the body’s reaction to hot and cold stimuli to encourage deeper dimensions of relaxation, health and wellbeing. The ritual begins with Chuan’s snail shower, an almost meditative experience that allows jets of warm water to loosen and soothe tightened muscles. Then invigorate your skin with a cooling ice experience, before rounding off the ritual by relaxing in the warm, aromatic, five element herbal steam room to help bring your Qi into balance pre-treatment. The regime of alternative hot to cold produces rotating sedative and invigorating responses in the body and stimulates and awakens your senses, so you’re well prepped to experience every aspect of the deliciousness to follow.
In Chinese, Chuan means flowing water, which most definitely could be used to describe how relaxed I felt after a Chuan Yu Facial with the incredibly talented Pra. 75 minutes long, the facial draws on the ancient Gua Sha technique used in combination with skin loving formulas by French luxe beauty brand, Sothys. After a thorough cleanse, a greenstone gua sha is delicately traced across the face, massaging important meridian points and increasing circulation. Greenstone is regarded as a healing stone and will nurture, heal and restore your skin, and Pra created a completely bespoke facial using Sothys that worked best with my sensitive skin. The facial also included a neck and shoulder massage, which only served to remind me that I need to have bodywork more often! Pra also applied a set of ear seed magnets to my left ear, a form of auricular acupuncture used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to access specific points on the ear that correlate to different organs and organ systems within the body, with my own concerns in mind.
Before I knew it I was back in the Chuan Spa relaxation room, wishing it didn’t have to end. A trip to Chuan also allows access to the hotel’s heated pool and spa, but I chose to check in and recharge in my room before a dreamy night’s sleep.
The next morning I wanted the bliss to continue, so ordered room service breakfast – naturally eaten in bed. I was hugely appreciative of the fact that Cordis offers some delicious healthy options to nourish you before you head out, alongside the usual indulgent cooked breakfast fare. I left feeling completely refreshed, a feeling that I carried into the rest of the day and beyond. If you’re in need of a recharge, this package comes highly recommended. Whether you choose to hit the gym or simply cocoon in your room is up to you – listen to your body and reward it accordingly.
https://www.cordishotels.com/en/auckland/