After the morning at Ana Aslan Health SPA, I experienced a whole lot of sensations with the mud and salt water from Lake Techirghiol - about which I wrote here, the afternoon started with the ritual of femininity by Lakshmi.
From the Spa reception I was led to the massage room. Although I was five minutes early, Ani, the therapist, invited me in.
Her first question was whether I stick to the ritual of femininity, or prefer something else, depending on how I feel today. Iuliana Tasie, the director Ana Hotels Europe had suggested it and I had gone along with it, without asking what it entailed. Ani briefly told me what the feminizing ritual includes and what its effects are. By chance it was exactly what I needed, but I appreciated her question and her willingness to adapt to any last minute changes.
I seized the opportunity and told him that I would like the back massage more in depth, instead not to press too hard on the shins because they would surely hurt because of the heels that I had abused in recent weeks. Ani replied simply that she understood. I would never have guessed what was to come.
The ritual is based on 3 combinations of vegetable oils and 11 essential oils for the abdomen, calves and back.
Massage clockwise. It activates all the internal organs. I had a gas bubble in my colon. Ani drew my attention to it and indeed afterwards, I felt him pushing it with his hand. It wouldn't let go until he removed it.
His goal is to circulate lymph up to 10 times faster. He explained to me that there are protective barriers in the body made up of lymph nodes. They are located in the popliteal, groin, armpit, cervical, sub- and retro-mandibular, pre- and retro-auricular, retro-occipital, etc. The most protected is the head which has three rows of these ganglia.
The purpose of the massage is to accelerate the circulation of lymph through the lymphatic ducts and thus help these lymph nodes in the fight against germs, bacteria and all the diseases that we come into contact with every day. Later I found out that this part was not included in the treatment, but because I had told her about the heels, Ani deduced that I needed lymph drainage in my legs as well, not just my calves.
For the back massage he respected my wish to be a deep massage and I was already feeling excellent after 15 minutes in which the massage had been very well done and the mix of chamomile, cinnamon and sage aromas had relaxed me. I also seemed to breathe better and deeper as I tried to absorb that aroma on my back. I was savoring these moments.
But at some point, I realized that Ani kept turning in certain areas - especially the cervical. I asked her if this was the protocol. She replied that she had completed the back massage according to protocol, but she can't leave a client with contractures as long as she feels them. And I have to tell you, she didn't know at the time who I was and that there was an article coming.
That's when we started talking, found out he's been a spa therapist for 17 years. She had joined Ana Aslan Health Spa within a year of opening. She told me that she had chosen the best job in the world - because all the people come out of her with smiles on their faces, and that makes her very happy.
It was only when he felt that my back was ok that he stopped and covered it with 3 large wadded towels, so that the heat released would help it heal.
with a mix of juniper, cypress, lemongrass, cloves and immortelle. She made it easy, as I had asked her to, but even there she didn't stop until she felt I was well.
Overall, although I had started early, I was a few minutes over time. I was worried about having another client waiting for me, but she assured me that enough time was allotted between therapies so that she could clean and sanitize the room and I wouldn't worry.
On the other hand, I had a facial ritual I was late for. When I picked up my bag with laptop, charger, notebook, external battery etc. Ani realized it was heavy. She didn't let me carry it, she simply insisted, asked for my bag and walked me to the cosmetic room. She asked me to stop carrying weights, that's why my back was so bad. While she was telling me this, we met Tina, the therapist with whom I was going to do the facial ritual, in the hallway. Tina was on her way to the front desk to ask why I wasn't coming in for my appointment.
As soon as I arrived at the cosmetic office, Tina asked me to lie on the bed and studied me under the lamp. At a glance, she understood my skin type and confirmed that the Lakshmi anti-aging ritual for mature skin was very suitable, but that she would make some small customizations for my slightly rosacea-prone complexion.
I was still thinking about Ani and the aromatherapy massage I had just come from. Suddenly I feel a very familiar aroma envelop me. I couldn't put my finger on it - what it was. Tina replied that it was neroli water - meant to introduce me to the ritual. It felt like I wasn't 100% there.
with vanilla and sage flavor, which also contained vitamins A and E for sensitive skin.
with a refreshing effect based on purifying coral essence, Aloe Vera and Damask rose. The rose felt very strong and managed to bring my mind to what was going on.
Tina asked me to tell her if she pinches me. When I didn't say anything, she asked me how much between 1 and 10. I said 3 and then she left it for 5 minutes. She explained to me that through its components, this peeling soothes and moisturizes the skin and that, in addition to enzymes, there are also natural alpha hydroxy acids that are meant to reduce wrinkles. The effect is purifying, soothing and nourishing.
She applied the black mask along with another scrub-style peel: Chandan - also intended to stimulate cell regeneration. Now I was worried that these were two consecutive gommages, but Tina assured me that everything would be ok, that she performs the movements slowly and carefully.
The serum was very pleasant, Tina confirmed to me that it has a remarkable effectiveness. It combines active ingredients with the properties of vegetable oils which are nourishing, repairing and regenerating.
In my experience with facial rituals, at this point I thought she was applying one more cream and that was it. But no way.
and told me that this would make my skin look immediately younger, more toned and relaxed. Next, an orchid cream that is meant to intensely moisturize and significantly reduce wrinkles.
It absorbed immediately - I even wondered where another cream would get into my pores after the serums, oils and creams I'd already been given. Tina explained that it's based on an extract from Maitake mushroom that helps synthesize collagen and an extract from ManilKara leaf that helps stimulate elastin production.
He went to the sink. I was savoring the aromas and trying not to fall asleep. I noticed she was mixing something quickly in a bowl, but I couldn't have imagined there was another mask coming. I felt a thick, slightly cooler paste on my skin. As Tina applied it to my face, I realized it was drying very quickly. I asked her what's in it and she replied that it has alginates, diatomaceous earth - which is a powder made from microscopic algae rich in trace elements and minerals. And certain essential oils to fight against loss of toning and poor elasticity of skin tissue.
Its role is a powerful moisturizing and nourishing. Although I had taken two more pictures, I couldn't resist and asked her to take one more.
I was thinking about all the ingredients applied before this mask and the fact that they would come off with it. Tina assured me that this is the protocol of the ritual and each step is very well thought out to maximize the final effect.
Contains powerful botanicals that help brighten the face. It is a blend of biological micro-organisms, vitamin E, glow-enhancing resveratrol and hyaluronic acid.
Followed by an eye contour cream - an eye contour plumping balm and finally, a cream based on aloe, nalba, naba grande, rose and hyaluronic acid. Tina told me that it also had SPF15, very appropriate for 7pm as the clock was going on.
When I looked in the mirror I had a shock. I was looking for my wrinkles and they were gone. Even in the eye area, they were much faded. I told Tina that I was absolutely impressed and she replied that she also loves this ritual because it brings out the most beautiful and serene in every woman.
She was thrilled that by the time of my appointment, she had performed this ritual on five other clients. I asked her if she didn't get bored and she said absolutely not. That each complexion is so different from the others that it seems like a totally different treatment each time. Besides, when she sees how her complexions regain their radiance, she feels fulfilled and satisfied.
I left Tina's thinking about how happy I am after these two rituals and the wonderful experience I had this morning with mud massage and water baths in Lake Techirghiol.
On the one hand I was deeply grateful to the therapists who put so much heart and soul into these rituals and didn't let up until they had customized them to the maximum to the needs of my body. I was impressed that in just a few hours I felt so full of life and health.
They all contributed to the fact that at about 7:00 p.m. when I left Ana Aslan Health SPA to be more beautiful than I was ten hours earlier. A beauty that came from being in a state of wellbeing and that has lasted until today, nine days after this unforgettable day.
Ioana Marian,
Founder wellandia.eu
Update 2025:
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