SPA HOTSPOT: MARLO SPA

Nervous System Reset

STEPHANIE MCLEAN steps inside Marlo Spa, where ancient Ayurvedic rituals offer a true nervous system recharge.

Tucked away at the tip of the Mornington Peninsula, just beyond the vibrant Sorrento village, is Marlo Spa, a peaceful retreat nestled within the beautifully restored and historic Hotel Sorrento. Purposefully created through a collaboration between spa founder Marlo Johnston and the esteemed Pitt family, the space is a harmonious blend of heritage, intention, and modern wellness.

Grounded in the authentic principles of Ayurveda, Marlo Spa offers more than relaxation, it’s a space designed with practicality and purpose for the modern woman. With eight treatment rooms, a steam room, advanced skin therapies, waxing, nail care, and makeup services, it’s a true one-stop destination for both rejuvenation and routine self-care.

From the moment I walk in, I know I’m in good hands. The grounding scent of camphor instantly soothes, easing nervous tension and emotional overwhelm, a welcome reprieve before a house move the very next day. My nervous system, on overdrive from a week of multi-tasking and last-minute to-dos, starts to soften. I’m warmly greeted by Marlo herself, a seasoned therapist with over 30 years of experience in the industry.

I’m booked in for the Pichu treatment, a 90-minute Ayurvedic ritual designed to calm the nervous system and ease physical tension. Since I’d just had my hair done, Marlo thoughtfully swaps the scalp massage for a soothing foot bath and warm tea. As I begin to unwind, we chat about areas of focus and how the herbal oils will support both healing and relaxation. After drying my feet, she explains the level of undress and steps out to let me settle in. When she returns, she gently places a warm compress on my lower back, a quiet, anchoring gesture that signals the start of something deeply restorative.

The moment warm oil is drizzled onto my calves and feet, something shifts. The pace slows, my breath deepens, and my mind begins to settle. This is no ordinary massage. The treatment begins with an abhyanga massage, where warm, medicated oils are rhythmically applied across the body in flowing, purposeful strokes. It’s rhythmic, layered, and intentional. Oil-soaked compresses follow, their steady warmth sinking into areas of built-up tension. Then come light tapotement techniques to awaken the muscles, followed by the gentle activation of marma points, Ayurvedic energy centres where muscle, bone, ligament, and nerve pathways meet. As Marlo explains, these points are powerful channels that help restore flow, clear blocked energy, and create space for emotional clarity.

At times, it feels like the stress is being carefully drawn out of my body and gently massaged away. As Marlo moves up my back, she focuses on trigger points around the hips and shoulders, areas holding tension I didn’t even realise I had.

After turning over, the same level of care is brought to the front of the body, the sides of my legs, feet, and ankles, all treated with slow, firm pressure and precise attention.

But it’s the tummy massage that stands out. With intuitive, flowing movements, Marlo works through the abdomen, hips, and side body, creating space under the diaphragm that feels both physically and emotionally releasing. She gently applies pressure to small trigger points on the right side of my stomach, explaining how this area supports natural rhythm and grounding, what she refers to as your “Pause.” She also activates a point at the solar plexus, connecting the treatment to the nervous system, digestion, and emotional resilience.

I’m surprised by how tender my hands, forearms, and clavicle area feel, quiet reminders of where we carry the invisible weight of our daily lives.

To finish, Marlo delivers a deeply comforting neck and shoulder massage, somehow reaching between the shoulder blades with ease while I’m lying on my back. A warm towel is used to gently remove only the excess oil, with a recommendation to leave the rest on to allow the herbal actives to continue nourishing the skin long after I leave.

Even a week later, I still feel a grounded sense of clarity and calm I haven’t experienced in months. When I feel burnout creeping in again, I’ll know exactly where to go, back to Marlo.