Tension? What tension?

When booking an appointment at ESPA at Yas it’s important to consider one of life’s other little luxuries – time. The more of it you have; the more you can indulge in the ESPA experience.

We opted for one of the spa’s signature treatments, the Tension Soother, which was to take a blissful two hours, including a scrub, facial cleanse and a hot-stone massage. We even decided to arrive early to enjoy a spot of lunch by the pool beforehand.

Snuggled in our spa robes, a short ride in the lift and we arrived at our reserved sun beds. Soon our pre-ordered food and delicious smoothies arrived, and we were led to the poolside café where everything had been arranged with immaculate precision.

After a light bite of grilled haloumi and rocket salad, followed by a poached salmon fillet with ripe cherry tomatoes and grilled zuchinni, we enjoyed a quick snooze before it was time to head back to the spa.

Already feeling relaxed we enjoyed a short foot ritual while our therapist, Kate, asked us to choose the fragrances, which would be used throughout the treatment. By the time we let our face sink into the massage bed (the cushion of which was impossibly soft), we were almost asleep as our nostrils filled with the sweet scent of the oils we’d selected.

The scrub itself was wonderfully delicate, performed with smooth brush strokes, and with the remenants removed with hot towels, there was no need to get up and shower away any of the essential oils.

Following the scrub we enjoyed a facial cleanse and head massage, before the hot-stone massage began.

We actually fell asleep at this point.

We barely noticed the hot stones were being used as Kate worked her magical hands over on the knots in our shoulders, but they really made a difference.

We have had a lot of massages in our time, and have always left still feeling the knots cracking in our shoulders, but this time the stones had loosened everything out and we felt utterly relaxed.

Following the treatment Kate led us into the spa’s Rotunda, a wonderful circular, colour therapy room, filled with cushions. Again, snuggled in our robe, we were snoozing in seconds!

Megan Wynes

What? Tension Soother
Where? ESPA at Yas, The Yas Hotel
Cost: AED 725 ++
We say: Treat yourself to an afternoon off. There’s no better way to rid yourself of the daily stresses and strains.
Contact: 02 656 0862 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it