Today we were in the White Rock area for a girl’s day out and our morning started off with a trip to the spa.
Due to its location within a strip mall, Moon Thai Spa is unlike any other conventional spa. Located in a poorly signed and un-advertised commercial building.
The entryway looked like a lobby of an apartment building, with no business directory to tell you otherwise. I only found the entrance by trusting in my GPS and focusing on the handful of sandwich boards scattered at its exterior. It listed that Moon Thai Spa would be one of the many businesses to call this 3 story building home.
By the elevator, in it, and coming out of it on each floor there is nothing to tell you where you are going or that you are at the right place. You need to know to know to go, which means they lose out on a lot of walk by traffic. A friend had been before and told us it was on the third floor. Although even then we walked all the way to the end of the opposite direction, only to double back to the correct one.
After all this frustration, the calm of the spa foyer is a welcoming and calming sight. The serene setting and kind staff set the tone for a relaxing stay. You are welcomed in with a cup of hot tea and asked to remove and store your outdoor shoes, in exchange for disposable spa slippers.
We began our service with a foot spa. We were directed to one of three seats on an elevated platform. The view behind them is of an overhead view of the parking lot. It didn’t lend itself well to the service, which is a shame considering the vantage point and how much the circular windows adds to the spa’s overall aesthetic.
The treatment itself begins with a hot water foot soak. The bath is fragranced with rose buds and lavender pods. One at a time you feet are scrubbed with bath salts, from the tips of toes to the cap of the knee. This leaves your skin soft from exfoliation. This is followed by a quick massage and wipe down. It all feels so fast, whereas I could have used a longer soak and a deeper calf kneading. This made it feel like but a quick introduction and a way to ensure my feet would be clean for my full body Thai massage to follow.
I was led into a room and asked to change into a silver and gold pattered pyjama set that easily slip over my head and on to my hips.
This was not like any traditional or Thai massage that I have experienced locally. The table was a double sized mattress, laid flat on the platform ground, over a bamboo mat. This was to give plenty of room to my masseuse who would utilize the space, giving her the ability to massage my body with hers. She didn’t have to worry about balancing on a narrow table or carefully stepping to ensure she would not fall off the side. Therefore, this quickly became the most interactive Thai massage I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing.
Not only did she step on the back of my legs, but she had enough room to push against the inside of my thighs with the sole of her foot. Then she was able to pull both my arms behind my back in a deep stretch as I exhaled and my spine moved into a crescent shape. I felt well stretched out and fully loosen.
During this appointment I only had a 30 minute treatment, which only covered each limb, and some of the torso. During the latter she rubbed me hard enough to get the same effect as cupping, having toxins release and discolour my skin like red bruises that faded in less than a day. I will definitely need to return to have the full experience and it benefits. They also do facials and beauty treatments, so will have to look into those as well.
Moon Thai Massage & Spa
3211B 152 St #304, Surrey, BC V3Z 1H8
(604) 560-1188
moonthaimassagespa.ca
