Far from stand alone establishments like most spa, bodywork or massage therapy practices, Guerlain spa services are primarily offered in the world’s most prestigious locations, such as the Michelin Star Relais Christine Hotel in Paris, France. Like many other top resorts, hotels or destinations, spa treatment areas are often relegated to highly modified basements given this type of treatment of business is usually an add-on operation long after the business was established. Spa and massage services became more prevalent, popular and in demand around the 1980s. Today, a top hotel or destination would be considered incomplete without these services.
I scheduled my spa massage therapy appointment in-person at the Relais Christine because I wanted to see it first, and I was having problems scheduling certain services as well. Upon entering the spa service area in the basement, I knew I wanted to experience my Gurlain service there.
The carpet itself is extremely busy, however, it wonderfully compliments the interior design of the basement, providing an exotic warm special. Wholly together it creates a combined elegance once would hope to see of the House of Gurlain. They have wonderful welcome beverages such as homemade ginger lemonade, spa snacks and more. In fact their spa sessions end with an individually wrapped Angelina chocolate which is a sure treat!
The service provider helped me choose a Sunday service special that included brunch with a 90 minute massage therapy appointment. I had told her I was interested in scheduling the 90 minute massage that spent 30 minutes on the face and 60 minutes on the body which didn’t seem to available at her location on the website, and she expediently offered to provide some additional facial service during the Sunday 90-minute special which was a welcomed offer and customization.
The massage appointment itself started in the supinated position. After I had mounted the table and covered myself with the sheets, the massage therapist re-entered and covered my eyes with a cloth. Then she said she was going to provide 4 different scents for me to choose from, to use for my massage medium. While I’ve rarely ever seen Guerlain promote itself in the overly crowded Aromatherapy industry, they are using plant extracts to formulate their fragrances, so their products are considered to be aromatherapy practices by definition.
She explained the ingredients of every aromatic concoction which included a variety of scents to inspire warming, refreshing, relaxing, energizing, comforting sensations. The scents were gently and slightly provided next to my nose so that I could smell each with the various explanations of their ingredients and purpose. I chose the fourth and final scent offered which she said was considered their strongest aroma with neroli and other fragrance, although I did not find it strong in the least. She also used a hot towel to cleanse and compress my feet prior to hands-on massage.
The hands-on application then began with warm oil, so oil warmers were in use which separates some of the higher-end establishments with this type of premium equipment and service. The therapist started with enveloping strokes of the decollate and back being worked together simultaneously while standing on the sides of the treatment table, which was the extra large 40” wide version.
After opening the massage with some beautiful anterior and posterior upper torso massage, the therapist then had me roll over into pronated position, and I had to place my face in the hole of the table instead of a face crest. The therapist then appropriately placed a bolster under my ankles to support my low back while in pronated position. One superior touch that Gurlain spa provided was a floral bouquet in a bowl placed on the floor, underneath the top of the table where I could view the flowers instead of the floor when/if I opened my eyes. Below is a picture of what the flowers looked like in relation to the massage therapy table:
The therapist continued her massage with confident firm strokes and was excellent at using both the heel of her hand and forearms to apply pressure without pain. Her massage was engulfing as she worked opposing areas that included working the back and hamstrings simultaneously or the hip and opposing shoulder simultaneously. She also massaged my arms while I was lying in pronated position. She moved my arms off the table to coordinate the range of motion (ROM) of my shoulder joint with more coordinated massage strokes of the back.
Her massage strokes were expertly coordinated as she whisked about, without ever breaking contact, even as she continually applied oils to new areas. She traced bony landmarks such as the vertebral border of the scapula and did not miss other areas like working directly over the gluteus minimus.
When she finished with the back, she did not skip a beat by covering the back with one hand while the other continued contact down my right leg. After she covered the back with one hand she used that same hand to further expose that right leg and then continued contact and massage while dispersing additional oil to this new area. She worked the posterior legs one at a time and then had me roll over into supinated position.
As promised, she customized my 90-minute massage by adding a few mini facial steps, which included cleansing, toning, eye and facial serum applications, facial massage plus moisturizer. Adding esthetic facial steps in place of massage time is a wonderful opportunity to showcase products and hopefully make a sale at the conclusion of service. I would also say that aesthetic facial steps are less physically challenging that providing massage, and anytime a practitioner can do easier work they should! Massage therapy practice is mentally and physically stressful work, so anytime a therapist can provide easier work at the client’s request or enjoyment, they should! It’s a win-win for all! Please keep in mind that most European massage therapists are dually trained to practice esthetic and massage services if they work in a spa environment. Practicing massage therapy in other countries beyond the US usually requires much more extensive training than what individual states require in America. Massage therapists should not practice esthetics or any other service unless properly trained and licensed to stay within their scope of practice.
The facial massage itself was complex as expected of any experienced facialist working with an upscale retail line, which in this case was Gurlain. She included bone tracing, finger pad tapotement, grasping, kneading, sweeping effleurage with those opposing area strokes again, such as pulling up the side of the face while simultaneously massaging and depressing the shoulder on the same side. She did not include scalp massage nor offered it, which was acceptable given my hair was clearly professionally blown out and styled, and scalp massage would likely leave my hair in disarray. Furthermore, they did not have salon services on-site which could remedy any type of hairstyle. However, we feel it is always best business practices to offer services such as scalp massage and allow a client to decide if they want it, instead of deciding for them, regardless of your reason why you think it shouldn’t be provided. As long as a service can be reasonably provided and is not contraindicated, it should be offered to clients.
After the facial service, the massage continued to both arms and legs, one at a time. The therapist regularly provided compressive strokes through the top cover prior to exposing the underlying extremity. Each extremity was thoroughly addressed in both supinated and pronated table positions. She even found an old ankle injury that most therapists do not recognize, and provided specific/extra therapeutic work on it too. Foot massage was provided on one foot at a time with focal work on the dorsal side. The plantar side of the foot was avoided, likely to not make it too greasy or slippery, given the spa is in the basement with a long set of stairs to exit.
When finishing the massage, she undraped both lower extremities and performed long sweeping and bony tracing strokes of the tibia simultaneously. She then washed her hands (after working the leg and foot area), and proceeded with similar strokes to the opening of her massage on both my anterior and posterior upper torso with a new aromatic massage medium that felt like lemongrass gel. It had a refreshing scent that was both awakening and enjoyable. The therapist then told me the service was finished and she would step out of the room so I could get up. I exited the room to find a refreshing beverage and Angelina chocolate to conclude the service.
The spa is equipped with a whirlpool, sauna and shower facilities. I brought my bathing suit and hopped in the whirlpool; however, it was a little cool for my preference, so I moved on to the shower area where I got to experience the Guirlain shower gel and body lotion which was divine. The spa establishment itself is intricately laced with retail product testers for personal use which helps promote those extra retail sales which are a real financial bonus to the service appointments!
My spa day started with Relais Christine Hotel’s Breakfast Buffet which was separated into 3 different stations of pastries, fresh fruit and a hot section. All of it was included and I certainly tried it all too. The hot dauphine potatoes, fresh fruit and strawberry flavored madelines were wonderful and better than I could have hoped for. They also had fresh pressed orange juice and made-to-order specialty coffees included with the brunch as part of their special spa package.
Overall, this half day spa service experience with breakfast and hydrotherapy was well worth the $250 euros. I thoroughly enjoyed the splendid surroundings, treatment and incredible staff of Relais Christine.
One of the only critical feedbacks I could provide for this appointment was the treatment table was a little high to mount and dismount. I forgot to look to see if this was a stationary table, but there would be an expectation for high-end adjustable electric tables at a Michelin Star hotel spa, that should be adjusted in height for table mount and dismount. Other than that, this spa service truly matches the hotel's Michelin star.
Comments