Lush spa massage transported me from busy city centre to Scottish Highlands
As I was led down to the bottom floor of Commercial Street's Lush store, I felt like I was a million miles away from Leeds city centre.
I could hear birds singing and gentle music as I sat on a long table in the middle of the spa's "kitchen." In front of me was a stone cup filled with spring water and a mysterious piece of cloth tied at the top. Abi, my spa therapist, explained I was there to try Lush Spa's new treatment, inspired by the Scottish Highlands.
But before I was treated to a relaxing full body hot stone massage, I was to take part in a "stone reading." As I undid the piece of cloth, I was confronted with a number of stones with a myriad of symbols lying on top.
The stones are 250 million-year-old Scottish marble, carved with ancient symbols that correspond to varying states of the mind. Almost like a Tarot reading, I had to pick three stones and Abi would read their meaning to me. One - the wave - met me after my treatment alongside a Scottish Highlands tea.
After a quick consultation and my stone reading I was taken into the dark, calming treatment room where I was instructed to lay on the table. A Gaelic soundtrack made up of sounds of fiddles, drums, birdsong and rain, alongside singers including Scottish folk singers Julie Fowlis and Ewen Henderson, transported me from the bustling city across the Scottish Highlands, from the heather to the top of a mountain.
My massage, using an oil bar and hot stones, was choreographed to the music playing throughout the room, providing an out-of-body experience. The end of the music's journey coincided with a cooling end to the massage. After an hour in a far away land, I was brought back to reality with cool stones applied directly to pressure points in my face.
Feeling lethargic and the most relaxed I have been in weeks, I was told to meet Abi in the kitchen again, where I was met with the tea, and a card explaining one of the stone's I pulled earlier, and another spring water.
Sipping my tea, I listened to the birdsong playing over the speakers as I reminisced over my short but sweet trip to the Scottish Highlands, wishing I could stay longer. Entering back into the daylight of Leeds city centre, despite the hustle and bustle I still felt as relaxed as I did back in the treatment room.
LeedsLive has launched a WhatsApp community and anyone who joins will get the latest breaking news and top stories sent direct to their phone. To join click here.
If you don’t like our community, you can leave any time. We also treat members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. Read our privacy notice here.