USP The only spa in London to offer Ytsara products. The
marketing blurb says that the range is “a totally organic skincare line with
treatments based on traditional Thai principles.” The lotions and potions
contain herbs, fruits and other plants. Fourteen Ytsara treatments are on
offer and include five facials and five massages, which combine Thai
acupressure, stretching and Asian aromatherapy.
AMBIENCE The term spa is applied to a wide spectrum of
establishments: from those where people sojourn for weeks at a time and
where the experience is spiritual; to others, which appear to have been
added as an afterthought. Unfortunately, as far as ambience is concerned, K
Spa was closer to the latter end of the scale than the former. Set in the
basement of the K West hotel in Shepherd's Bush, it consists of a huddle of
five treatment rooms, two gyms, changing room, spa bath, steam room, sauna
and a “relaxation zone” with loungers. Although why anyone would want to
lounge in the wet area is beyond me; the space has no natural daylight and
the effect was claustrophobic and quite functional. The different parts of
the spa were also dotted along a long corridor, which did not make for
cohesive relaxation.
EXPERIENCE The spa recommends that guests arrive 30 minutes
before the appointment time to “experience where the chill begins”. I was a
bit late for my appointment, but sitting in the office-style waiting room I
had trouble imagining how this was supposed to be helping my chilling
experience. Fortunately everything improved with the arrival of my
therapist: I was having an “Mohom” full-body deep-tissue massage which uses
the Ytsara product ranges. The treatment started with my therapist
conducting a short Thai welcoming "ritual" and bathing my feet in
warm water scented with a delightfully refreshing lemongrass oil. The
treatment itself applied a variety of techniques: on my body, Thai massage
and a heated poultice filled with herbs kneaded my muscles (the poultice is
offered to clients to keep afterwards). Expert hands quickly identified the
knots in my shoulders, and proceeded to untie them bit by bit until I was
like jelly on the treatment bed. Acupressure on my feet, allowed all the
stresses of the day to flee my mind. Soothing oils relaxed my tense body
into submission. At the end of my session I emerged pleasantly dazed and
uncertain of how long I had been there; even my one-hour tube ride home
seemed Zen-like.
IN CROWD I visited the spa late on a weekday and despite
numerous pairs of shoes in the changing room, I barely spotted a soul. My
therapist told me however that the BBC provides a steady stream of meedja
types. Apparently Carol Smilie was there recently. Celebrities who have
visited the hotel include Keifer Sutherland, Franz Ferdinand, Kelly
Osbourne, Moby and Pete Doherty. Model, Lisa Butcher, is said to be a fan of
Ytsara.
FOOD Although I didn’t eat there, K West does have a
restaurant – Kanteen – which has a range of dishes with a low-carb count.
WALLET WATCH Ytsara facials cost £95 for 90 minutes and
Ytsara massages cost from £95 for 90 minutes. A 55-minute E’SPA facial or
massage costs £75. All guests booking a treatment have complimentary use of
the wet spa and fitness facilities. Packages are also available, the least
expensive of which is the Stress Buster package. It includes one and a half
hours of treatments (E’SPA aromatherapy facial, back and shoulder massage),
a light spa lunch and the use of the spa bath, sauna and steam room and
costs £120. This includes the use of a robe, towel and slippers. Non-hotel
guests wishing to use the spa area and gym without booking a treatment are
charged £30 per person; hotel guests are charged £10 per room. Rooms cost
from £119 per night to £350 for a suite.
NEED TO KNOW K West Hotel & Spa, Richmond Way, London,
W14 0AX. (08700 274343; www.k-west.co.uk).
If you're not staying at the hotel and you wish to make an appointment at
the weekend you will need to book treatments which last a minimum of two
hours.
