A SOUL CLEANSING RITUAL

In the centre of Doha is the sophisticated and vivacious La Cigale Hotel Managed by Accor that is home to a haven for Moroccan rituals – the Ozone Spa. OHLALA’s Emille Artigas was invited to check out one of its most popular treatments.

The Ozone Spa at La Cigale Hotel demonstrates that the Moroccan Hamman is not simply an ancient art of bathing but a haven for deep cleansing and rejuvenation in a most luxurious and opulent oasis.

When the beauty and complexity of everyday life become overwhelming, your mind and body may long for recalibration. An ancient ritual that is as integral to Moroccan life as tagine and mint tea is Hammam. It offers respite that lets you get a deeper understanding of yourself. It is a beloved practice that continues to thrive in modern Morocco and affords one an opportunity to rejuvenate whilst getting really and truly clean. A swift walk through the lobby of La Cigale took me through to mezzanine level two, where the immensely impressive looking Ozone Spa is located. I was amiably welcomed in the gracefully designed and tranquil reception by spa manager, Berinda. Whilst soothing music played, and calming scent filled the room, I listened to her and her team describe the treatments that would await me. I was truly convinced from that moment the next two-and-a-half hours were going to be a heavenly experience.

After a brief and reassuring medical check, I was introduced to my therapist, Chawanrak, a lovely and amazing lady who had me under her spell from the moment we strode along the restfully lit corridor to the locker room where, from this point, I left my realities behind and entered the Hammam treatment suite – an enormous and majestic chamber that immediately made me feel like royalty.

The Hammam’s beautiful bathing ritual involves several steps that comprise soaping, scrubbing and exfoliation, then masking and cleansing with black soap and rose water, concluding with a comforting tea session. My treatment was the most in-demand, 90-minute Luxurious Ozone Spa Signature Body Hammam.

It started with some moments of relaxing steam which created a temperature so perfect that I fell into a trance. Chawanrak then prepared our next series of procedures using Charme d’Orient, Paris, the world-renowned brand of Hammam products, starting with a moisturising soap that was gently applied and lathered on my whole body as well as my hair.

After the most calming rinse with a warm water drizzle, contentedly I laid down on the grandiose marble Hammam table where the revitalising scrubbing ritual was done. I immediately felt renewed vigour, strength and splendour as the skin on my entire body, face and soles of my feet was purified. I was enchanted and I lost all my inhibitions. The release of all my skin’s impurities from my body and face was the result of calming and professional exfoliation. My cleansing and relaxing journey continued, and a mask was applied thoroughly after another calming rinse. It stayed on for the most comforting yet uplifting 15 minutes with steam, then the intense final rinsing with cold water thoroughly mollified my skin and muscles from head to toe, which was an impeccable end to my bathing ritual experience. As I was being led to the massage suite, I felt totally attached to the Hammam suite, so accustomed had I become to its beautiful experience, and it seemed like I’d had a week’s holiday there. I put on my robe and reached the treatment suite, a room bedecked with golden ornaments and marble floors and walls. Chawanrak used the energy oil from Body & Mind Natural Oils for my Whole Body Healing Massage treatment, she started with my neck, focusing on my shoulders then my back. I recently confirmed to myself that perfect pressure is not only about pressure applied, but its precision. At this point, I was entirely under a spell and was trying not to doze until towards the end; when my shoulder and the head massage began, I totally gave in.