Sweet Living for Mom-to-be

Helsinki, 19 degrees


Doing something positive will help turn your mood around. When you smile, your body relaxes. When you experience human touch and interaction, it eases tension in your body.

For about two years now, my work office has been located in the commercial center of Helsinki. Compared to before when it was set in the historical city center, the new location is much more lively and it's located next to two large shopping centers, Helsinki's main street and the city's biggest department store. Our current office is also located next to two major attractions in Helsinki: the Yrjönkatu public swimming hall and the Ateljee Bar in Solo Sokos Hotel Torni - one of the best places in town to get a panorama view of the city from the 14th floor. However, tucked in next to the previously mentioned hotel, lies an oasis of tranquility that really surprised me last week.

Viimeiset kaksi vuotta toimistomme on sijainnut Helsingin kaupallisessa keskustassa. Ennen sitä, se sijaitsi historiallisessa keskustassa, joten tämä nykyinen sijainti on edellistä vilkkaampi. Se on kahden kauppakeskuksen, Mannerheimintien ja Stockmannin vieressä. Toimistomme läheisyydestä löytyvät myös kaksi Helsingin maamerkkiä: Yrjönkadun uimahalli ja Solo Sokos Hotel Tornin Ateljee Bar. Kaiken tämän vilinän keskellä, yllätyin viime viikolla boutique -kauneushoitolan rauhallisuudesta.

I was invited by Living Day Spa to try its treatment called "Sweet Living for Mom-to-be". I must admit that it was my first real massage experience, as I've before merely bought massages for others, but I have never received one or bought one for myself. The reason? I guess it's been difficult for me to put my own wellbeing first. Until last week, I have actually considered the fact that I go to the hairdresser once every two months and fix my lash extensions once per month as highly pampering experiences, and therefore I haven't even considered going to massages. As I have told you before on the blog, I have been to many spas in Finland with my fiancé, and I guess I've thought of them - especially the bubble baths, jacuzzis and saunas - as treatments. I've never even considered buying a massage package as an add-on to the spa experiences.

Minut kutsuttiin Living Day Span toimesta kokemaan odottavien äitien hemmottelevaa hoitopakettia nimeltään "Sweet Living for Mom-to-be". Minun on heti alkuun pakko tunnustaa, että kyseessä oli ensimmäinen hierontakokemukseni. Aikaisemmin olen vain ostanut muille hierontoja, mutta en ole koskaan sellaista itse vastaanottanut tai ostanut itselleni. Miksi? Ehkä minun on ollut vaikeaa asettaa oma hyvinvoint etusijalle. Ennen viime viikkoa, koin säännölliset kampaajakäyntini ja ripsihuoltoni hemmottelevina hoitoina. Kuten olen blogissani kertonut, olen käynyt monissa kotimaisissa kylpylöissä sulhaseni kanssa, mutta niissäkin olen ajatellut että porealtaat ja saunat ovat hoitoja itsessään enkä ole edes harkinnut hierontojen ostamista.

Having said all this, I was really eager to see how it felt to experience a package like this in a day spa. Before the treatment, I had many questions. What to wear? What to eat before? Should I wear makeup or not? One can easily say that I was childishly excited. After reading about massages and day spa treatments on the internet, I decided to wear a tunic and comfortable sweatpants, eat about two hours prior to the treatment and apply nude makeup.

Tämän sanottua, odotin kovasti hoitopakettia. Ennen itse hoitoa, minulla oli monta kysymystä mielessäni: mitä pukea päälle? Mitä syödä ennen hoitoa? Tulenko hoitoon meikattuna? Olin siis yksinkertaisesti lapsellisen innostunut tulevasta kokemuksesta. Otin etukäteen vähän selvää spa-etiketistä ja puin päälleni mukavat housut sekä tunikan, söin n. kaksi tuntia ennen hoitoa ja tein itselleni vain nude -meikin.

Before starting my treatment, the spa therapist asked me if I wanted something to drink so I enjoyed a glass a water with lime fruit in it while I was seated in the day spa's lounge space. I liked the fact that this was an opportunity for me to slow down and relax to peaceful & soothing music before the actual treatment. Despite the fact that Living Day Spa is so centrally located, in the heart of Helsinki's city center, the permises allow you to forget where you are as it's so tranquil. The street outside does not have any traffic, so actually I couldn't hear any noises from the street at this cozy courtyard day spa.

Ennen hoitoa sain juotavaksi lasillisen vettä limen kera, jota nautin kauneushoitolan lounge-tilassa rauhoittavaa musiikkia kuunnellen. Vaikka Living Day Spa sijaitseekin Helsingin ydinkeskustassa, hoitola saa sinut rauhallisuutensa takia unohtamaan missä olet. Liikennemelua sisäpihalla sijaitsevaan day spahan ei kuulu.

The 90-minute-long treatment itself started when I had finished my glass of water. First, with a relaxing foot massage. In the beginning of the treatment, I was asked to remove my tunic & pants, so during the treatment I was in my underwear, covered with a towel. Already the foot massage took me into another reality. I must admit that I hadn't been this relaxed during my whole pregnancy! The spa therapist continued with a facial treatment that included a rosewater balancing & cleansing mist, and cream mask. Later on, she also massaged my hands, and finally returned to finalize the facial treatment with a balancing face oil massage. Once the treatment itself was over, I enjoyed a cup of herbal tea & fresh fruit in the lounge space. I felt newborn!

90 -minuuttinen hoitopaketti alkoi jalkahieronnalla. Hoidon alussa minua pyydettiin riisumaan tunikani ja housuni, joten hoidon aikana minulla oli alusvaatteet sekä kokovartalopyyhe päälläni. Jo jalkahieronta sai minut hyvin rentoutuneeksi. Näin rentona en ollut ollut koko raskauden aikana! Hoito jatkui ruusutuoksuisella kasvohoidolla (puhdistus & naamio). Sain myös käsihieronnan, ja lopuksi kasvohoito viimeisteltiin ruusuöljyhieronnalla. Kun hoito loppui, sain vielä nauttia kupillisesta yrttiteetä ja tuoreista hedelmistä hoitolan lounge -tilassa. Tunsin itseni totaalisen uudelleen syntyneeksi!

I loved all the natural skincare products by Australian Jurlique - they both felt & smelled so good! I highly recommend them, and I will look into buying some of the rose series for myself as well. One of the treatment details that I enjoyed the most was the fact that all massages started and ended with warm wet towels. Maybe so because I was a first-timer, but I had no idea how it would make all the difference. After having tried this treatment, I must advice you all to pay more attention to your own wellbeing! In as short amount of time as 90 minutes you can be transported into complete serenity, which will have long-term health benefits for sure. This experiment left this mother-to-be grateful, calm & restful - so I highly recommend the experience!

Ihastuin australialaisen Jurliquen luonnollisiin ihonhoitotuotteisiin - ne tuntuivat & tuoksuivat niin hyviltä! Aion ehdottomasti ostaa niitä myös kotiin, eli suosittelen niitä lämpimästi. Pidin siitä, että hoidon aikana kaikki hieronnat alkoivat ja päättyivät lämpimillä märkäpyyhkeillä. Ehkä koska olin ensikertalainen, mutta mielestäni ne rentouttivat mukavasti. Tämän kokemuksen jälkeen aion kyllä pitää parempaa huolta itsestäni, ja suosittelen sitä myös kaikille muille! Jo 1½ tunnin pituisen hoitopaketin jälkeen tunsin olevani kiitollinen, mutta myös rauhallinen ja tyyni. Suosittelen siis hoitoa kaikille!


Have you been to a massage? Or day spa? What do you look for in day spa treatments?

Milloin olet viimeksi käynyt hieronnassa? Tai kauneushoitolassa? Mitä toivot day spa -hoidosta?


What's your opinion?

  1. such a lovely and entertaining post! Hope you have a great weekend.

    Style For Mankind
    Bloglovin

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    1. Thank you, I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed it!

      xxx
      E

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  2. oh I have been to many massages! so many that I can't even say the number any more. most of my experiences stay in Estonia but I also tried a luxurious one while being on Crete island. I need them because my job mostly means sitting behind the computer (from 8:00 till 17:00) and that's pretty destructive for the back and the shoulders. by the way, we also have a massage table at home and sometimes my husband does the job for me (his mother used to do it and teached him some tricks). so I definitely recommend you to take more massages in the future, something for the back would be great as well :)

    Maiken - Part of me

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    1. I guessed so, as I know that you've been to many spas. Wow, you're lucky with your personal massage giver :)

      xxx
      E

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