I have never been so relaxed in my life! (Eden Spa (Nottinghamshire))

Member Name: cstag

Product:	Eden Spa (Nottinghamshire)
Date:	06/06/09 (128 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent Facilities, Treatments and Food

Disadvantages: None

Last November I was treated to a day at Eden Hall Spa in Newark near Nottinghamshire by my boss. Me and another colleague had just spent a month working late nights for 6 or 7 days a week to finish a project with very tight deadlines. We were both very tired, stressed, unhappy and hadn't had a life of our own for a month - so this came as a very welcome break! We initially chose Eden Hall as it was in a convenient location for us both (also as work were paying and this was the most expensive Spa in the area - we thought we should take advantage of this!!)

I have been to Spas before but they have always been attached to a hotel. However Eden Hall is a day spa - and as this is its main line of business they certainly pulled out all the stops and thought of all the additional extras to make this a great day for visitors.

On arrival to the Spa we were greeted in reception by a woman carrying a tray of warm, fruit drinks. This was a very warm welcome, as it was the middle of winter and was freezing outside!

After a very simple check in you enter the dressing rooms. You are allocated a locker which includes a personal timetable telling you when your treatments are booked in for and at what times you can have your lunch. You are also given a card which you can use to charge additional food, drink or treatments to your bill. This is convenient as it means you don't have to carry any money around or keep nipping back to the changing rooms.

You are also given a bath robe and towels (which you can exchange at any time should they get too damp) Also lockers are key pad activated - so you choose your own pin number - this also means that you don't have to carry a key around all day.

The Spa Area

In the Spa itself there are various little rooms you can enter which are supposed to offer various relaxing properties and benefits. On the wall as you enter the Spa there is a list which shows you the ideal order in which to go into the rooms to achieve maximum benefits. It also explains how long you should ideally stay in there for.

Steam Room
The steam room has heated ceramic seats which are very relaxing - the idea of this room is that you relax in the steamy atmosphere and it is supposed to detox the skin. I am not normally very keen on steam rooms as they make me a bit claustrophobic - but the atmosphere in here wasn't too thick so I really enjoyed it.

Herbal Room
Similar to a steam room but it is herbal aromas in the air instead. The herbal aromas are supposed to act as natural aromatherapy.

Saunarium
This is a combination of a normal dry sauna and a wet steam room. I found this the most claustrophobic of the rooms as it was too warm - but my friend really enjoyed it in here and kept popping back in whilst I was in the pool. This atmosphere is supposed to be really good for relaxing your muscles and soothing any stiffness in them.

Sauna
This was very warm (approx 95ºC) - Saunas are great for opening up pores and flushing out body impurities

Hot room
This has a stove full of hot coal in the middle of the room which gives off a lot of heat. However the floors and seating are made up of cold tiles so this is quite an interesting combination. According to Eden Hall this is supposed to be very good for stimulating the immune system.

Swimming Pools
There is also an outdoor pool area (which wasn't open as we attended in November). However there was the most wonderful hot tub on the outside decking area which we could use. This was very refreshing - sitting outside in the cold, winter air but in a lovely, warm, bubbly hot tub!

There is a large indoor swimming pool (25m) - this was nice to go in and have a gentle swim and as there was so many other rooms in the Spa this was never crowded. The pool also has lots of water fountains squirting over it and massage jets situated in the pool to aim water at various parts of your body. I found it relaxing to let these jets massage my shoulders whilst in the water.

There is the option to take part in Aerobic classes which I didn't opt for - mainly because this was my day to relax and all that seemed a little bit too energetic. However Eden Hall does offer Pilates, Yoga and then more energetic exercise classed like bums and tums and step. There is also a fully equipped gymnasium - but I couldn't be bothered to set foot near there either!

Throughout the Spa there are also various areas with big loungers, chairs and giant bean bags where you can just sit and have a snooze and relax. I managed a sleep on a giant bean bag for a good hour which is unlike me as I really hate falling asleep in public!

Treatments

The Spa also offers a very long list of the various treatments which you can have. These mainly focus on the body, hands, feet or face although there are also beauty treatments like eyebrow shaping and waxing available.

The list of what is available is very comprehensive and explains to you exactly what the treatment is, what lotions or potions are used and what the treatment is supposed to achieve. It also explains who it is unsuitable for (e.g. pregnant woman or allergy sufferers).

I opted for an Aromatic Body Massage - which was supposed to relive all signs of stress and fatigue. It used a combination of Shiatsu and Swedish massage.

For this treatment I was taken into a small, low lit room. There was gentle music playing and it was already a very relaxing environment. The masseuse asked me if there was any particular area I wanted her to focus on and I said my neck and shoulders (these were the areas in which I felt most tense.)The massage was absolutely brilliant - I could actively feel the masseuse removing knots from neck and shoulders and after my shoulders felt so light. I really liked the fact that the masseuse made no attempt to make chit chat with me (not that I'm anti social or anything!) she just massaged me silently whilst I listened to the music and it was such a wonderfully relaxing experience.

I would recommend booking your treatment before you go so you are not disappointed on arrival.

The Restaurant

Normally when I have been to other Spas the lunch has always been really, really healthy and small in portion size. However the food here was absolutely fantastic - I had a big lamb shank for my main which was absolutely beautiful. There is also a wonderful salad bar for you too pick and choose what you want. Whilst the food was healthy - it was also delicious and there was plenty of it - which just added to the luxury of the day. There is also a juice bar offering smoothies and refreshments.

Prices and Location

There are 2 Eden Hall Spas - in both Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire and there is a very comprehensive website which explains the different packages and treatments which are available. www.edenspa.co.uk

There are various packages available for example - those which are suitable for pregnant women, those which are supposed to pamper or relax you - this will include entry to the Spa and a treatment.

Or you can pay for the Spa separately and then just pick what treatment that you want.
My massage cost just over £50 for an hour and entry to the Spa for a day was £69. This allows you use of the swimming pool, Aqua Detox facilities, gym and fitness classes and a 3 course lunch.

I have visited other Spa before but they have normally been attached to a hotel. This was the first actual day spa I have attended. I think that because this is their main focus of business they have gone all out to make this a wonderful day for visitors.

I was so relaxed after this experience I slept all the way home in the car (fortunately I wasn't driving) I also had an early night that evening and just slept and slept. The next day I felt so wonderfully refreshed and relaxed. It was just great!!

Summary: A wonderfully relaxing and revitalizing day out!