Mud is probably not the first image that pops into your head when you think of a romantic Valentine’s Day date, but why not try something different this time?
Instead of spending the evening with hundreds of other couples in a crowded restaurant, imagine spending it rubbing luxurious mud into the body of your loved one.
What can be more romantic than spending an hour one-to-one with your other half in a steam bath that stimulates all your senses?
Riverhills Health Club & Spa in Bramford has recently launched its mud chamber and offers a unique Valentine’s Day experience.
Coming along for this experience was my other half Michael.
From the very first step we took into the spa we both said how extremely nice and helpful the staff were.
Laura and Debbie showed us around the newly refurbished facility, which was renovated in summer 2021 and cost £500,000 to enhance the experience of its users.
We were blown away by the beautiful designs of every area of the spa, especially the relaxation room, but more about that later.
After changing into our swimsuits, Michael and I were introduced to Jenna, who showed us our private mud chamber.
Don’t worry, you will be left alone for the rest of your treatment! No one can see what you are doing.
First of all, we scrubbed our bodies with ‘Trio of Treats'—three tubs of Temple Spa products that can be purchased as an additional treat to any treatment. Remember, mud does not stick to dry skin!
Then we entered the chamber. That is where the magic happens.
Following an ancient Greek ritual that traditionally used medicinal mud from the Isle of Limnos, we applied three types of mud on our skin - it is so much fun, believe me!
What makes this nicer is having your partner there to try the treatment too and enjoy every second of this incredible experience together.
Now to the treatment.
The steaming room is infused with a unique blend of fresh herbs, designed to enhance the benefits of the mud on your skin.
Now the smell was amazing.
We have learned that mud helps to draw out dirt, toxins and impurities from the pores.
The soothing mud is packed with skin-loving ingredients like kaolin, potassium and iron to calm your skin and soul.
For those with particularly dry skin, the chamber is also a good alternative to the dryer environment of a traditional sauna, as the steam bath retains moisture in the air, thereby moisturising the skin.
After rubbing the mud into our bodies, we rested comfortably on the warm mosaic armchairs and soaked up the soothing warmth beneath gentle mood lighting.
After around 30 minutes of us living in the moment and enjoying our time together, the mud was then showered off.
The chamber has a built-in rainforest shower, which leaves your skin silky soft and is the best possible end of the treatment.
After washing off the mud, we enjoyed delicious afternoon tea at the spa’s restaurant and then spent some time unwinding in the relaxation room.
What’s more, Riverhills also includes a coffee bar, members lounge, a swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam rooms and an outdoor fire pit area.
My partner and I truly recommend this treatment to anyone who would like to try something new this Valentine’s Day.
To be honest, I cannot imagine a more romantic experience than this.
Debbie Lawes, the spa manager at Riverhills said: "With Valentine's Day just around the corner, the mud chamber is an alternative date idea to relax and unwind with your significant other or with space for up to four, it’s great for double dates too.
"It’s a great way to round off one of our spa days or evenings or for the ultimate indulgence, the warming effect of the chamber means that it pairs perfectly with a massage helping to warm your muscles up before or help your muscles to recover if you’ve opted for something a little more intense."
The mud chamber treatment is available to book now, with prices starting from £45.
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