The art of massage
Sunai Wachirawarakarn’s arom:D spa brand offers mood therapy for ‘life solutions’
For his spa brand, Sunai Wachirawarakarn whimsically went for arom:D meaning “in a good mood”, which sums up the uplifting experience at his establishments. The adventurous entrepreneur operates three arom:D spas — at the Che’fle Hotel in Hangzhou, China; Metropole Hotel in Thong Lor, Bangkok; and the newly-opened arom:D artisan spa at Naiipa Art Complex, Sukhumvit 46. Meaning “in the forest”, the Naiipa Art Complex is a “green” space geared towards artistic enterprises, with the spa occupying the second floor of one of the buildings.
“One can escape the hectic world at our spa in the Naiipa Art Complex, which allows a connection to nature and makes one feel grounded,” said Sunai. “Through mood therapy, we aim to offer ‘life solutions’ that help people restore positivity in facing daily challenges.”
The small yet cosy spa has four treatment rooms to deliver mood therapy. Its interiors project minimalism emphasising the rawness of construction materials, enhanced by a warming white and slate colour scheme.
A dead tree is brought to life as an installation alongside a wooden swing hung from the ceiling in the reception. “Keeping it simple, we want to create a homely ambience with the swing likely to bring back childhood memories,” he added.
One can sit on the swing and sip a welcome drink — refreshing water lily water served in a cup designed by Sunai and handcrafted by his team.
Following the artisanal concept, woven baskets and mats, decorative items and massage tools exemplify Thai handicrafts, which are used in the spa. Additionally, therapists are deemed artisans, who use their hands to perform the art of massaging.
The consultation involves selecting personalised massage oil and body mist from seven choices along with the spa treatment or packages for the mood therapy.
Instead of aromatherapy’s therapeutic effects of essential oils, Sunai applies aromachology’s scientific study on scents and their psychological effects in creating mood-lifting spa products.
The well-rounded “spanovator” has an education background in management, hospitality, design and anti-ageing science, which allows him to integrate the knowledge in creating innovative treatments.
Spa-goers can get a kick out of the Muay Thai Massage, firstly from wearing orange boxer shorts and a matching robe for the ritual, which begins with the therapist applying a golden leaf on the forehead.
The massage is inspired by muay Thai techniques such as the use of elbows in massaging the shoulders and knuckling techniques when massaging the legs.
“Besides research on muay Thai ritual and techniques, we visited a boxing camp to observe how boxers are given a pre-fight massage to prepare their muscles,” Sunai said.
The vigorous massage movements have been modified for a gentler yet stimulating body treatment using an energising massage oil that unfolds its layers of citrus, floral and spicy notes.
The therapist also blends namman muay (boxing liniment), but only a little, into the massage oil so that clients can experience its muscle-warming effect.
The 90-minute Muay Thai Massage (2,500 baht) can be followed by a facial treatment that beautifies the skin through five different types of rice grains blended for a scrub and wrapped in a poultice for a face massage. The lovely smell of rice makes it a delightful pampering leaving soft and silky skin.
Another signature treatment, the Golden Wood Massage relieves muscle tension through the kneading of a double-ended wooden massager coated with golden leaf handcrafted by Thai artisans.
The bigger end is rolled over large muscles such as on the back, whereas the smaller end stimulates muscles on the shoulders.
In rounding off the spa treatments, a spritz of body mist envelops the skin, resulting in a fragrant trail that extends the mood therapy when leaving the spa.
Beforehand, clients can mix their own herbal tea at the bar and relax in the reception, with a green view.
“The holistic approach considers all the senses and by having clients participating in activities such as mixing teas, it enhances the uplifting arom:D experience,” Sunai said.