Looking for creative ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day when you don’t really want to exchange gifts? I recommend experiences that don’t add clutter to the home or calories to the hips. The one thing I have learned to value more over the last few years is the need for recovery and healing, as I continue to age and get injured. This has since led me to my number one gift/celebration gift/experience recommendation- a massage. Go for something both parties can enjoy, for a memory-making moment as you both lie face down in bliss.
With all the different types of massages out there, we figured we would try something a little different. A Thai style massage at Sabai Thai Spa. And with several locations it was easy to find one that was close to us in Burnaby. Massages here are like those with any registered massage therapist elsewhere, except that they utilize traditional Thai-oriented techniques on top of more modern ones.
We booked a couples massage to be able to recap and catalogue this experience through photos and videos we captured of one another (posted as a reel via IG). The female and male perspective as we booked their 90-minute Pure Serenity Spa Package that promises to re-energize your mind, body, and soul. This is done through a combination of treatments including their Anti-Stress Massage, Customized Facial, Eye Brightening Treatment, and their Signature Foot Massage.
The experience begins at the threshold with tranquil music and calming scents from a diffuser. Guests complete an intake form that allows you to customize your procedure. You select your desired pressure and point out places to avoid and what to focus on, listing goals for each individual treatment. I especially liked that the form included a human body to reference, where you get to electronically draw boxes around where you want your masseuse to focus on. Although most focus was on my neck and shoulders as circled, the upper back, wrists, and right calf remain minimally addressed.
You get to pick the fragrance of the oil they use from an energizing grapefruit, the peppermint meant to awaken, and rose to help you be at calm. He choose the lavender to relax. and I went with eucalyptus to rejuvenate.
You are escorted to your assigned room, bathed in low light and set with a cozy looking massage bed with Sabai Thai branded throws. You are given the room to disrobe down to your underwear and crawl under the covers, to position yourself face down in the doughnut shaped head pillow. As comfortable as this is for the neck. I wished someone would invent a face pillow that left your lash extensions un-touched to help extend their longevity. Similarly, during the facial massage portion hot towels placed over our eyes, so expect your lashes to be affected by the process. But that just might be me specific.
Your massage therapist gives you the breakdown of the treatment times, how the 90 minutes are divided. It all cascades together and it is best to simply sit back and enjoy. I can go into detail about how great each pressure point pushed felt, and how each muscle rubbed began to melt, and the general care of each caress, but words cannot do such relaxation justice. Each massage therapist used their whole body to obtain the necessary pressure: elbows, forearms, the palm of their hand. Below is a description of each of the services that was included in our Serenity package, as referenced from their website.
The Thai Massage is done without oil, typically over loose fitted attire. However seeing as we were already under the covers, the sheets that wrapped us as we laid on the heated table became our layers.
The Siam Blend Massage is their signature massage done with oil using light to medium pressure, focusing on points originally highlighted on the intake form. They also do an Oil Massage that is customized to your massage goals, also as taken from your intake form. For more pressure you can upgrade your treatment to Deep Tissue for $15 more.
The Customized facial is a series of scrubs and serums massaged tenderly and precisely over your face, working from the chin to forehead. In between each a hot towel is placed over your face and is used to clean and clear. You can choose between 4 types of facials: The Balancing Skin Facial to help hydrate and even out your complexion, The Clam Skin Facial to soothe irritation and nourish the skin, The Clear Skin Facial that minimizes blemishes and tightens pores, and The Firm Skin Facial which is said to reduce the appearance of aging. We would both go for The Calm Skin Facial for a more noticeable glow.
The Thai Foot Reflexology treatment focuses on the legs and feet in order to open energy lines. It began with the soles of your feet being wiped with a hot towel and includes the pulling and releasing of each individual toe.
All together the above offered full body relaxation. I have only enjoyed such an experience alone in a private room, so to be able to share such a luxury with someone else beside me was a new sensation. As a couple this can either be distracting and take away from your ability to full relax, as he found it. Or you walk away from said couples massage feeling more connected, the way I had it. I was happy and felt connected being able to share such a wonderful and pampering experience with someone I cared about.
In closing, I deem a massage as a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, or just a wonderful way to indulge on any afternoon. And at Sabai Spa they offer authentic Thai massages with spectacular service and attentive care. I can certainly vouch for their Metrotown location. To book your next appointment visit the link below.
Sabai Thai Spa Metrotown
4603 Kingsway #120, Burnaby, BC V5H 4L3
(604) 334-3743
https://www.thaispa.ca
