You can experience serenity and luxury at the newly opened Calla Spa (www. callaspa.com.sg), which promises to be a sanctuary for those seeking to rebalance their equilibrium. (“Calla” means beauty in Greek; it is also a type of a lily.) Located at Suntec City Tower 2, the spa takes up 10,000 sq ft and can accommodate up to 60 guests at any one time, with each enjoying privacy.
Calla Spa’s strategic location enables busy executives and professionals to unwind and hang out between and after work hours. It even serves as an alternative space to meet up, given its focus on an “urban wellness lifestyle”.
“With our years of experience in spa ownership and management, it is a natural progression to start a different concept that caters for urbanites,” says Calla Spa founder and director Gary Tang, who is credited for the success of G.spa, his first fitness and wellness haven. “The spa was created to fill the gap in the market and provide a one stop service to busy executives, who can spend the day with us.”
Calla Spa, transformed at a cost of almost $4 million, is Tang’s second spa venture. It has 14 treatment rooms for facial, body and hair-care therapies (including body wraps), complemented by four onsen-like mineral pools of varying temperatures, lounge rooms, steam room and saunas, a bistro and other amenities, all designed to pamper guests. There are separate wet areas — such as changing and locker rooms, and mineral pools — for men and women.
For those who enjoy foot reflexology, there are two relaxation lounges fitted with 24 seats, each installed with a high-tech retractable touch-screen entertainment system and headsets concealed in the armrests. The lounge area is perfect for a quick snooze or just some quiet time.
Couples can also enjoy private time in rooms designed for that purpose. The largest couple room has far infrared radiation sauna technology that uses three special rays to improve healing, blood circulation and detoxification. The FIR sauna, available only in the couple suite, has a built in entertainment feature offering a choice of music from your own playlist or the radio.
“Entrepreneurs and businessmen can use Calla Spa to host corporate events or entertain guests, or as a space for meetings, instead of having to do that over golf or in a formal restaurant,” Tang says. Calla Spa is about nourishing both the body and mind, as it has a dedicated bistro with full dining facilities that can seat up to 36 people.
The Calla Massage is the house speciality. It features a blend of traditional finger-point pressure, lymph node movement and Swedish massage techniques to eliminate toxins and impurities from the body.
Calla Spa also offers other therapies designed to ease fatigue. They include the Oriental and deep-tissue treatments, aromatherapy, foot reflexology, and head-and-shoulder and post-natal massages. Each promises relief from stress and can help balance your equilibrium.
Another spa signature is the stem cells phyto-elite facial treatment, a freeze-dried therapy infused with Argan and Comfrey stem cells and “de-agers” such as collagen, retinol, elastin and various active ingredients. Among the facial options is one specially formulated for men.
Not to be missed is the hair treatment crème bath, a traditional Balinese scalp and hair antidote to tackle stressed tresses and upper-body aches. Starting with a neck-and-shoulder massage, your therapist will gently massage your choice of natural hair mask onto your scalp for 30 minutes, followed by a short steam session to maximise the benefits. The treatment ends with a rinse and a blow-dry.
The best thing about Calla Spa’s treatments is that they are value for money. Once you sign up for a treatment, you can enjoy all the facilities and amenities, including the bistro, for free. Except for the mains and wines, the rest of the items on the F&B menu are on a free-flow basis.
Unlike other spas, which provide a one-off service that requires you to leave soon after a treatment, Tang says Calla Spa’s unique brand of urban wellness sanctuary allows you to relax and rejuvenate at your own pace and hang out for hours without being hurried to leave. The spa is open from 10am to 11pm. Plans are underway to make it a 24/7 operation.
“We offer an all-round wellness lifestyle experience that includes unlimited use of state-ofthe- art spa facilities and all-day casual fine dining for just one treatment fee,” he adds.
Singapore-based Debbie Reyes- Coloma is a freelance feature and lifestyle writer for various publications in the region.
This article appeared in the Options of Issue 732 (June 13) of The Edge Singapore.