At rush hour Piccadilly Circus is perhaps the busiest, most chaotic place in London. And yet, two floors underground you will find the Akasha Holistic Wellbeing Centre, the ultimate place to relax, recuperate and rest. The spa is a a heavenly extension of the luxurious Café Royal Hotel.
The spa has an impressive, illuminated swimming pool in the centre of the spa. Surrounding this are various relaxation rooms and private studios, perfect for one-on-one sessions. Every week there are several classes to enjoy including yoga, pilates, tai-chi and meditation. Akasha also have London’s first Watsu pool for hydro-treatments. In the Earth Lounge refreshing drinks and a healthy menu are served.
After admiring all the facilities I got changed into a cosy bathrobe. I was here to try the new Sodashi Crystal Opalescence Facial – 90 minutes of total relaxation and bliss. My softly spoken therapist, Erin, was incredibly knowledgeable and informed me of the different qualities of the products used and the processes she would be going through during my treatment.
Sodashi is an amazing beauty brand from Australia using completely natural ingredients. The products are totally chemical-free and yet have miraculous effects on the skin. The main part of the facial treatment involved a trio of special Western Australian crystals: Rose Quartz for calm, gentle nurturing and stabilising energy; Green Aventurine is an all-purpose healer, and; Carnelian which represents confidence and is good for cleansing and purifying. The smooth stones caressed my skin, massaging and soothing my face and neck. I think I must have fallen asleep at some point as I remember waking to a warm flannel comforting my face.
During the facial my skin was softened and exfoliated using a range of other Sodashi products. Erin used the Clay Cleaner with Lavender to cleanse my skin and continued with the Face Polish to exfoliate and remove all excess dirt and oil. Occasionally I would be asked to breathe in aromas or a light mist of toner would refresh my skin.
My favourite part of the facial was the final massage. Erin seemed to instinctively know exactly where my tension was and kneaded into my shoulders, and deeply massaged my scalp. I didn’t want it to ever end.
Learn more about Akasha Spa at Cafe Royal here, and look out for more information on the Sodashi brand coming soon.