UNCONVENTIONAL CARE

Ever tried bathing in ramen? Or getting a cactus massage? As bizarre as they sound, these spa treatments around the world are setting new wellness goals.

IF YOU’VE HAD YOUR fill of soothing oil massages and body polishes, turn your gaze towards some of the more unorthodox spa treatments around the world that are redefining the wellness industry. Today, the popular hot-stone massage has given way to adrenaline-pumping snake massages, freezing cold sauna sessions, and more. We have handpicked seven unusual spa treatments that you can put on your checklist.

CACTUS MASSAGE

A massage with a cactus sounds like a painful version of acupuncture, but it’s not as prickly as you’d expect.

For this bodywork, heated nopal cactus paddles are used on the skin with their gooey side down—and after removing the needles. Also known as hakali massage, this therapy is great for detoxification and healing sunburn. Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita (fourseasons.com) in Mexico famously offers this offbeat treatment.

SNAKE MASSAGE

This one is certainly not for the faint-hearted. In this therapy, your body will not be gently caressed by a masseuse’s abled hands; instead, non-venomous, well-fed, and cleaned snakes will take charge as they slither down your spine. It is believed that the rush of adrenaline and fear you experience during this session boosts metabolism.

The Bali Heritage Reflexology and Spa (baliheritage.weebly.com) in Jakarta, Indonesia, uses pythons for this avant-garde therapy.

Another spa called Chill Out in Cairo, Egypt, uses a combination of pythons, or around 28 types of non-venomous snakes, during a session. This thrilling treatment is also available in countries like the Philippines, Brazil, Russia, Israel, and the US.

Halotherapy

Halotherapy, or salt therapy, helps in alleviating respiratory diseases such as asthma, as well as sinus problems and digestive issues. This treatment is available in man-made salt caves, where all you have to do is sit back on a comfortable chair, listen to calming music, read a book, and just breathe in the salty air. Selenium, which is found in salt, also helps slow down skin ageing. Poland, Australia, and the US have many halotherapy centres.

Ramen Bath

Can’t get enough of ramen? You can try bathing in it! Though edible noodles aren’t used in ramen baths due to health regulations, the bath tubs are filled with pork broth, so you can at least enjoy the delicious aroma. Yunessun Spa Resort ( yunessun.com) in Hakone, Japan, offers these baths. They claim that the collagen in the broth cleanses the skin and improves metabolism. The spa is also famous for its wine, chocolate, and sake baths.

Hay Bath

In this unique spa thrapy, you are covered in fresh, warm, and damp hay for 15 to 20 minutes, after which you lounge on a waterbed for 30 minutes. A hay bath—considered to be a tradition for over 100 years in the Alps—is said to have a detoxifying effect on the body, strengthen the immune system, and improve metabolism. Hotel Heubad (hotelheubad. com) in Völs am

Schlern, Italy, offers this treatment and utilises hay from unfertilised Alpine meadows.

COLD SAUNA THERAPY

Cold treatments have been used for centuries to alleviate pain. But have you ever experienced a temperature of —120°C? Japanese doctor Toshima Yamauchi developed such a treatment in the late 1970s to treat people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.

In the spa version, people enter a cryogenic chamber at an extremely cold temperature for a period of one to three minutes. Proper clothing is required before entering the chamber—gloves, face mask, socks, shoes, and headbands to cover the ears. The shock from the low temperature is said to remove toxins, release pain, and reduce inflammation. It is also beneficial to people who suffer from sleep disorders, stress, and skin ailments like psoriasis. Hotel Haikko Manor and Spa (haikko.fi) in Finland offers this therapy under the supervision of trained staff. This traditional Russian treatment involves getting smacked on your back with bundles of oak or birch tree leaves. This massage improves blood circulation, delays signs of ageing, and heightens metabolism. All you need to do is go to a typical Russian bathhouse, called banya, which is warmed up like a sauna. The process involves a masseuse gently and rhythmically stroking your oiled body with leaf bunches that have been soaked in warm water. Once the massage is over, you are asked to jump into a pool of cold water. In England, this therapy can be experienced at Banya No. 1 (gobanya. co.uk), London’s first banya that opened its doors in 2013.

Venik Massage