Traditional Lulur

The queen of treatments literally, this spice and yoghurt exfoliation and body polishing process has been practised in the palaces of Central Java since the 17th century. There, the pursuit of beauty has long been a daily ritual and the Javanese Lulur an integral step, leaving skin soft, supple and shinning. Today, the Javanese Lulur ( lulur is Javanese for’ coating the skin ) is more usually administered each day during the week prior to one’s wedding day. This stems form the belief that a bride should be at her most clean and pampered in preparation for child bearing – her first and foremost duty as a married woman.

This lulur is on the menu at all Indonesian spas offering ‘traditional’ treatments; it includesa massage, a spice-wrapped and yoghurt-coated body blitz, and blossom-filled bath. It is an aromatic experience and lovely for all skins, although, if you’re having difficulty choosing a body treatment, this one responds best to younger skins. The turmeric content can turn skins temporarily yellow, but generally this is a favourite, all round body treat.

For a traditional lulur that really makes you feel like a princess, the Pita Maha Private Villa Spa in Ubud, Bali, offers an hour and a half treatment using this recipe.

Ingredients Small bowl a favorite body oil 30 gms ( 2 tbsp ) rice powder (finely ground rice) 10 gms ( 2 tsp ) turmeric 5 gms ( 1 tsp ) sandalwood 3 drops jasmine oil splash water 500 gms ( 2 cups ) natural yoghurt

Handful a selection of fragrant flowers like rose, jasmine, ylang-ylang,frangipani.....or whatever you like. The rice powder, turmeric and sandalwood are gound together in a pestle and mortar or bought packaged as a powder.

Steps 1. Massage your body with your favorite oil. 2. Pulverize the spicy ingredients into a brown, granular paste, with a splash of water, and smear onto your body. 3. Once dry, gently rub the paste off the body in order to exfoliiate and foolish the skin. 4. Rinse your body under the shower. 5. Splatter your body with natural yoghurt using your hand to cover all crevices. Yoghurt contains a form of lactic acid that restores the natural pH to your skin and moisturizes it. 6. After rinsing, soak in warm, flower-filled bath. Petals float over your body and the scent envelops you in a floral haze.

Chocolate based treatments

The fully refurbished Laguna Spa at Laguna Resort, Nusa Dua offers a wide range of massage, beauty, and wellness treatments in luxurious and intimate surrounding, and recently new chocolate based treatments have been added to the choice. Chocolate not only tastes good but can also be used on the skin because of its antioxidant properties, and with the delightful aroma of roast cacao beans definitely pleases two of the five senses. A rich chocolate cream containing soft peeling buds is used to exfoliate the skin, followed by an indulgent warm chocolate body wrap. This sweet-lover’s treatment concludes with a luxuriant soak in a chocolate and almond oil bath. You immerse yourself in this caress of chocolate for a whole hour and a half. And exotic facial treatment based on chocolate and herbs has also been devised, applying traditional herbs and spices of turmeric and wild ginger to stimulate the skin, followed by a massage using a mini herbal pouch. The cycle continues with a chocolate facial mask using the natural benefits of oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated fat found in cocoa butter. Oleic acid is known to stimulate the generation of new skin cells and works as a natural antioxidant. This ideal treatment for nourishing and hydrating the skin consists of an hour of facial pampering. By the way, the products used in the treatments are not edible, so no matter how irresistible the aroma of the chocolate pastes and batters used during that scrub or wrap, think twice and resist the temptation since there’s a huge difference between rice grains ground with brownie cocoa for scrub and creamy chocolate syrup, although the two smell very much the same. After heading to the locker-room and donning a robe and slippers, the friendly Laguna Spa staff usher you into one of the Laguna Spa & Villa’s 6 treatment rooms. The other rooms include the Spa Villa, a Thalgo skincare suite, a hair Spa room, and a manicure and pedicure room, which further complement the facility. On the whole, the Laguna Spa & Villa offers a luxurious Balinese and Javanese Spa experience to its guests. Balinese décor with polished teakwood flooring, locally carved Palimanan stone walls in every corner, intelligent modern lighting system to suit guest preferences; all are featured in every room, such as the ‘chromatherapeutic’ features of magenta for deep relaxation, green for calming, orange for invigorating, and red for activating. Thalgo, the internationally renowned marine beauty product from France is also incorporated alongside the Balinese and Javanese body care essentials. A light rubdown using what seemed. To be a rough paste did well in exfoliating the skin, and the smell delivered a very appetizing aroma. Then with this scent filling the entire room and pervading the whole body, the scrub then had to be reluctantly washed off with a brief shower before moving on to the next part of the sequence- the paste and wrap. Lying face down on the treatment table, the therapist mixed the fine paste then dabbed the cool brown batter all over. The chocolate smell at this time was at is most tempting, and taking a glimpse at my arm I lifted it and was just about to lick it….but no, I thought, and was able to resist. Shortly after, the therapist coated me all over with brown batter and pulled over the plastic over. Then came the space blanket and brown sarong blanket. And there I was, an awkward human size bar of chocolate. She closed the blinds then left me in this funny state. But just as my grin about my comical cocoon situation faded. I can’t recall what happened next. In the warmth and tight wrap of the chocolate, I had dozed off. A faint tap and whisper woke me. Time to unwrap. Next, as the special Jacuzzi bubbled with dark brown liquid, I was told to immerse myself in this literal bowl of Milo. The heated jets provided a shooting massage, and I was soon feeling like a marshmallow slowly melting in the steamy mix. While I was in the tub, the therapist presented a cup of what I thought to be hot chocolate or something similar, but no….it was hot ginger tea. It would have been perfect with a cup of hot chocolate thought. The 20-minute soak delivered everything it promised-my skin was soft and smooth like a yummy éclair. It was time to wash it all off again, after all the fun….but then the final step of yoghurt was applied to the skin and the sequence was done…. Then for nearly half of a day. I smelled like a fresh bar of candy. Care for dessert, anyone?

"Balinese Boreh"

If you reach for the Vicks pot at a hint of a chesty cough, this body scrub is for you. Out of all the oriental treatments the Balinese Boreh offers the most potent sensation – an all-over deep heat experience. The scrub is purely and simply a herb and spice mix: It is a centuries-old village recipe using spices we more readily associate with curry, and is prepared to warm the body at the first sign of windy weather.

As tropical people, the Balinese live in fear of the cold and the health problems it can bring, so the whole family has a boreh both as a curative and preventative treatment. It feels really hot; it’s good for fever, headaches, muscle aches, arthritis and chills. It increases the blood circulation and its exfoliating ingredients – cloves and rice – soften the skin.

The boreh is not recommended for pregnant women as the penetrative ingredients direct the heat away from the womb area to the body’s extremities.

While most Balinese spas offer the boreh, this recipe comes from the Nusa Dua Spa.

Ingredients

20 gms ( 4 tsp ) sandalwood

10 gms ( 2 tsp ) whole cloves

10 gms ( 2 tsp ) ginger

5 gms ( 1 tsp ) cinnamon

10 gms ( 1 tsp ) coriander seeds

10 gms ( 1-2 tsp ) rice powder (finely ground rice)

5 gms ( 1 tsp ) turmeric

10 gms ( 1 tsp ) lesser galangal water or spice-blended oil

3 large carrots, grated

The first eight ingredients are ground together in a pestle and mortar or bought prepared in powder form or dried in balls.

Steps

1. Add a little water or a spice-blended oil the herb and spice mix to make a thick paste. For those who cannot tolerate a strong heat sensation, mix a greater proportion of ground rice powder to reduce intensity.
2. Cover your body; leave for five to ten minutes; feel the heat!
3. Rub the skin vigorously so that the mixture flakes away.
4. Gently rub the grated carrot into the skin. This replenishes moisture after exfoliating.
5. Shower and moisturize.

"A Kickstart to the Day"

As the years roll by, people the world over are getting fatter. This is not because we are eating more. Surveys show that generally people are eating less; they are just eating badly. One of the prime culprits of this is skipping breakfast in the mad dash for the office, culprit number two; a sedentary lifestyle.

When we skip meals we send our bodies into starvation mode forcing them to store up the energy they are not getting and making us feel lethargic as a result. Instead we should eat little and often and prepare our bodies for the rigours of the day with a sensible breakfast that contains unrefined starches, for example the whole grains in muesli. These may take some time for the body to digest, but the nutrients in them are easily absorbed releasing steady levels of energy throughout the day. What’s more, people who eat lots of starchy, fibrous foods, including fruit and vegetables, have a lower risk of both heart disease and cancer. Here are some healthy breakfast options, from the “Nusa Dua Spa” in bali.

Asian Golden Muesli.

250 gms ( 1 cup ) swiss muesli

600 ml ( 3 cups ) soy milk

100 gms ( ½ cup ) plain yoghurt

150 gms ( ¾ cup ) papaya, chopped

150 gms ( ¾ cup ) mango, chopped

100 gms ( ½ cup ) fructose

juice of 4 limes, juiced

100 gms ( ½ cup ) honey

2 ml ( 1 tsp ) pandan essence ( krim bai toey, sold at thai grocery stores )

Method.

Mix all the ingredients together, then pour into a medium-sized bowl. The mixture can be stored for four hours before serving. If the mixture is a little dry, add more soy milk, then garnish with dry sweet papaya and dry mango and mint leaves.

"Aromatherapy Bath"

The bath is a perfect place to enjoy the sensual pleasures of "Aromatherapy Oils". Simply drop one or a combination of essential oils into warm water and spuddle. Some of the oils’ properties are absorbed into the skin while the rest evaporate into the atmosphere for inhaling, simultaneously soothing muscles and mind. A Few Recommended Bathtime Blends Use up to ten drops of these essential oils either together or separately. For calming chamomile, lavender, rose For detoxifying ginger, sage, rosemary For passion ylang-ylang, geranium, sandalwood For brain boosting grapefruit, lemon, mandarin, peppermint, pine

"Floral Bath"

For those of us born outside tropical Asia, the floral bath is the nub of the tropical spa. We can hardly believe our eyes when a bucket of vivid blooms is tossed into the water purely for our pleasure. It is a sybaritic moment when the velvery petals tickle our bare skin. Flower – jasmine, gardenia, tropical magnolia, hisbiscus, frangipani, bougainvillea, Poinciana, rose, globe amaranth, alamanda and ylang-yalng – are chosen both for their fragrance and rich colour. In line with tropical mores, Asians believe flower are tangible link to the forces of spiritual world, representing a symbolic purge of our earthly impurities. In Asian spas, the "Floral Bath" is not usually offered as a treatment on its own. It is often used as the finale to one the many tropical body treatments on the menu. It becomes an opportunity to savour the cleansing experience and relax for a further 20 minutes or so.

"Ocean Bath"

This bath focuses on the healing properties of unrefined sea salt harvested on the east coast of Bali. Although not strictly thalassotherapy, this bath relies on the nutrients in the salt to draw out toxins from the body. The benefit of sea salt is based on the premise that sea – water has practically the same chemical make – up as human plasma allowing the body to easily absorb its healing properties. "The Ocean Bath" at The Spa at Jimbaran, Four Season Resort, Bali is altogether a more exotic affair. Not only are the pure sea salts mixed with Bali Sunset Oil containing coconut, vanilla and citrus blends to uplift the senses, this hour – long treatment kicks off with a scalp, neck, shoulder and back massage. As if that were not enough, it takes place in the privacy of your own villa, where the bath tubs have earned an international reputation for their depth, size and comfort.

"Mandi susu"

The tale of Queen Cleopatra and her milk baths is well known, yet do you know anyone who pours a few pints into the tub before climbing in? Trust the Indonesian people with their deep grasp of the good of the natural, to have their own form of milk bath. Known as "Mandi Susu", it has soaked Javanese princesses for centuries as an elixir of eternal youth, Milk, from a goat, sheep or cow, makes skin radically soft and pure to the touch. Modern formulations of this popular ritual have eliminated the taste and smell of milk while maintaining its nutrients with softening proteins. "The Mandi Susu" is a sought – after bathing ritual at the St Gregory Javana Spa in Singapore where therapists leave you soaking in a cloudy white tub for 20 minutes and advise you not to rinse afterwards. At home, you can pour fresh or powdered milk in with the bath water. Or for superior baby – soft skin, try natural yoghurt or buttermilk, but be ready to hold your nose!

"Body conscious"

Long limbs and vital statistics are minor contributors to "The Beautiful Body". Much more important is the state of mind that sits on top. While there is barely a woman alive who is content with her natural shape, every woman can improve her body by upping the respect that she pays to it. This is achieved by taking time for herself – a vital part of life that most of us ignore. The Asian approach to achieving and maintaining a healthy and beautiful body is a sensible one. For a start, it has no time for fad diets and punishing stomach crunches! "Traditional body treatments" from the tropics outstrip those from everywhere else in the world in number and variety and all of them rely on nature’s own pharmacopoeia to produce results. Certainly not skin deep, they not only cleanse and soften our skin, but also draw out impurities from within. Their ritual of application (especially at the hands of dedicated therapists in a spa context) relaxes us, empties our minds and soothes our souls in an atmosphere of peace. All this emphasizes the oriental philosophy that regards beauty as a holistic concept embracing both the inner and outer self. For example, there are everyday words in the Indonesian language that are part of the more specific lexicon of body care which have no real equivalent in English. Indonesian women talk about having a "Lulur" or "Mangir" or "Mandi Susu" as readily as westerners talk of taking a shower. This chapter reveals some of the more exotic body treatments, be they scrubs, baths, wraps, heat treatment and polishes, for glowing skin….and improved self – esteem!