A massage a day keeps the stress away

Before you even lie down on the treatment bed, there are questions. Lots of them, and rightly so. More sensitive areas of the body, the objectives of the treatment, health conditions, skincare, preferences, built-up tension, everything that helps understand who is there and what that person needs on that particular day. Then comes the moment when we leave our clothes, our phone and a considerable amount of stress in the locker. Waiting for us is the classic spa kit, a robe, slippers and that wonderfully soft comfort that inevitably makes us wonder why we do not live like this at home.

Once in the treatment room, the experience begins with a sort of olfactory assessment. Aromatherapy Associates, the British brand founded in 1985 and used at Natur Spa, is one of the spa’s flagship brands. The essential oils are not here simply because they smell good, although it must be said, they smell absolutely wonderful. Each blend has a purpose, and our reaction to each aroma helps reveal what the body and mind are asking for that day. To relax, recover, rebalance or relieve tension. As it turns out, the nose knows more than we think.

From there, the massage does the rest. The techniques are tailored to each individual, with the pressure, rhythm and focus adjusted according to what was discussed beforehand. And there is one particularly thoughtful detail: the sheet. Filipa Mendes insists on using it so that the feeling is one of comfort rather than lying on a treatment table. And it works. During the massage, we quickly forget that we are in Cascais, lying on a treatment bed, trying to “make the most” of the experience. We are simply there.

Natur Spa’s menu is extensive and includes massages, body rituals, couples’ experiences, water treatments, body scrubs, pedicures, manicures and facials. For facial treatments, the chosen brand is Anne Semonin, also founded in 1985, renowned for its personalised treatment protocols and its combination of natural and biotechnological ingredients.

The idea is simple: there is no such thing as universal skin. Some skin is tired, dull, sensitive or dehydrated, while other skin needs cleansing, radiance or firmness. The menu includes options such as Haute Couture by Anne Semonin, a fully personalised treatment, and the Pearlicious Lifting Facial, which combines cryotherapy, amino acids, drainage and lifting techniques. At the end, the feeling is exactly what you would expect from a good treatment: more hydrated skin, a lighter body and a slightly more functional version of ourselves.

Although it is located within Onyria Marinha Cascais, Natur Spa is not exclusively for hotel guests. The idea, Filipa Mendes explains, is also to cater to the local community: people who live nearby, those looking to enjoy a spa day, visitors to the gym, anyone wanting to use the pool, have a massage, enjoy a lighter lunch or simply spend a few hours away from their daily routine. There are experiences designed for different occasions, from treatments for two to packages including breakfast or lunch, as well as options for groups.

The menu includes, for example, the Natur by You massage, which is fully personalised and available in 30, 60 or 90-minute sessions; the Back & Shoulders treatment, focused on the back, neck and shoulders; Muscle Melt, designed for tighter muscles; and the Ultimate Aromatherapy Experience, with a choice of 12 essential oils. For those looking for a more complete experience, there are rituals such as the Ultimate Onyria by Natur Spa, which begins with a sensory aromatic bath in a whirlpool tub for two, continues with a massage using personalised oil, and ends with a bespoke facial and a tea ritual.

There are also more specialised treatments, such as the Revitalising Ritual, featuring a Scottish shower and a drainage massage, or the Vichy Black Glow, a four-hand massage performed under a Vichy shower using black soap. It is all a long way from the old idea that a spa is something you do once in a lifetime, for a milestone birthday, and never again.

After the treatment, there is still time to rest. And thankfully so. Going straight from a massage to emails and phone calls should, at the very least, be against the law. At Natur Spa, there is a relaxation area that serves as a kind of transition between complete relaxation and real life. A few minutes to enjoy a drink, take a breath and accept that it is time to return to the outside world.

Perhaps that is the greatest luxury here. Not the list of treatments, the international brands or the more elaborate rituals, although all of those certainly matter. The real luxury is that someone has thought about the time before, during and after the treatment. The scent that welcomes us. The questions we are asked. The oil we choose almost without knowing why. The sheet that makes us feel at home. And those final moments when we can still feel the effects of complete relaxation.

Natur Spa – Onyria Marinha Cascais, Quinta da Marinha. Open from 10.00 am to 7.00 pm. Bookings: +351 214 860 153, +351 926 241 322 or naturspa.om@onyriaresorts.com.