The Shanti Maurice Nira Resort in Mauritius will relaunch its giant spa on 26 September, offering brand new concept – A Journey Around the World Through Wellbeing – including new product ranges, treatments and packages based on oriental, Indian and ‘Natural-Bio’ themes.

There will be three themed ‘full immersion stations’, each dedicated to one of the three themes – differentiated by their room design, music, aromas, therapies and a signature treatment per station.

"Shanti Maurice has long been renowned for its exceptional spa facilities and notably, its bespoke Ayurveda offering,” Barbara Loy, spa director at Shanti Maurice told Spa Opportunities. Formerly known as Shanti Ananda, the 61-suite Nira Hotels & Resorts property stopped being an Ananda sister property when it was relaunched in 2010. “The success of the spa to date has led us to build on the existing facilities and treatments to develop a much more comprehensive and varied experience,” Loy added.

“The new spa concept was developed following feedback from our clients who requested more tailor-made spa and wellbeing packages to restore body, mind and soul in a short time, so around one or two weeks,” Loy continued. “We have consequently employed the very best calibre of staff to provide expert recommendations to guests, based on their specific requirements.”

The Oriental Zone will feature treatments inspired by Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Balinese spa customs, with three cabins that overlook a Zen garden including Japanese plants such as dwarf and broom bamboo. Massages on offer include Shiatsu, Balinese four-hands therapies, hot stone massage, reflexology and Reiki. A fourth room will be exclusively dedicated to Thai massage. The signature massage for this holistic station is the ‘Tibetan Sound Massage’, which features Tibetan singing bowls combined with a body butter and an aromatherapy oil blend.

The Indian Zone has five dedicated Ayurveda treatment rooms where a range of Indian therapies will be carried out, including Abhyanga and Abhydhara, which are both performed by two therapists simultaneously. The new signature treatment for this station is the ‘Shanti-dhara’ – a full body Ayurveda massage which involves pouring oil over energy points in the body, traditionally called Chakras.

The third station is the Natural-Bio Zone that will use natural products from Mauritius and Europe alongside those from the eco-certified Comfort Zone brand. Six treatment rooms and one scrub room will be included in this zone and treatments will range from body scrubs and wraps to massages using natural local ingredients such as coffee, brown sugar, coconut, papaya and banana leaves. The signature therapy is an ‘Aromasoul Elements Massage’ that aims to provide a sensorial journey through four distinct worlds: the exotic orient, the Mediterranean, India and the ancient cultures of desert tribes.

“We hope that the new spa at Shanti Maurice will encourage more guests – both resident at the hotel and day visitors – to try different types of treatments from around the world,” said Loy. “This is especially the case with those guests who may not be traditionally spa-orientated. We want to encourage them to holiday in a tropical destination and try some unique, local and exotic treatments. The new spa will be able to satisfy guests, whatever they are looking for – be it a fitness focus, wellness retreat or simply relaxation. Throughout, we promise to deliver an authentic spa experience and to reflect honestly the different philosophies of wellbeing on offer."