The welcoming and cosy interior of Mystic Waves

I’m pining for some pampering. After the coldest winter that London has seen in decades, spring has finally arrived and a little indulgence is called for!

For some rather celestial relaxation, I head to Mystic Waves in Henley-on-Thames. Henley is a quaint, quiet town on the edge of the River Thames and with a forty minute train ride from London, it makes a welcome break from the commotion of the city.

Arriving at the spa, founder Hristina Koleva amicably ushers me into her spa which almost feels like a cosy inn. Tucked away in the courtyard of a fourteenth century building, I lounge around a fireplace whilst waiting for my treatments. The parquet flooring adds a rustic charm to the place and the strategically placed plants ooze the zen factor.

Mystic Waves boasts a packed menu of pampering delights with a range of hair and beauty treatments as well as personal styling and interior design services, but it’s the holistic treats which really stack up the list. Swedish massages and Indian head massages are the norm at most spas, but it’s surprising  to see past life regression and colour therapy appearing amongst all the other alternative thrills and frills here. Mystic Waves without a doubt carries some mystery about it. With such a wide choice of services,  it’s a novel addition to the spa scene.

What really interests me is the Velika Bath – the most unusual feature here. “It’s the only spa in the world which offers this treatment,” Hristina explains. It’s her own invention and she’s received a licensed trade mark for this therapy. I believe in trying out everything once and I take up her offer to jump in to see its benefits.

I sit back and let all the tensions and stresses of the daily life wash away in a bubbling bath of salts and minerals from the Dead and Black Seas. These are designed to eliminate any built up toxins, which later become visible to my naked eye at the end of the session! The treatment is accompanied by soft violin music, which pushes me into an even more relaxed state. Thankfully it’s not like the flotation tanks you may have tried, which have a coffin-like and claustrophobic ambience. The Velika Bath makes me feel as though I’m inside a luxury hotel bath, with added pampering perks.

Using the process of ozone cleaning which comprises oxygen and steam, a higher level of hygiene is maintained each time around. The bathing treatment also serves to cleanse you internally and has been proven to aid eating disorders. I couldn’t agree anymore – after only one treatment I’ve turned my back on junk food for a while, but that doesn’t stop me from tucking into a chocolate facial…

My skin needs some sheen and a natural, cocoa-based cream creates that magic radiance. Again I sit back, relax and allow the beautician to pour and massage the rich extracts over my face as she gently smoothes it over my neck and upper back muscles for a good half hour which ends far too quickly.

All tensions slip away in the magic Velika Bath

However, it’s not all over yet; my hair also receives some much-needed gloss, thanks to the organic revamp treatment and hair fortifying shampoo and conditioner with fruity aromas.  Goodbye dreaded split ends!

It’s a shame that I don’t have the time to revel in Mystic Waves’ Cleopatra baths suffused in honey and milk, nor the romantic baths with champagne – perhaps some other time.

Mystic Spa is the first salon to offer organic products in the area and since then it has set the trend for others to follow. There’s a real emphasis on diversity and I can understand why it’s described as “an exclusive and exquisite salon for fashion styling, beauty, relaxation and holistic therapies.”

More information is available on the Mystic Waves website.