SHEX Reviews: Elements Spa Review

Last Friday after catching a taxi that started to overheat, and presented with the mission to find another one in the middle of a busy intersection, I was ready to escape the hustle and bustle of Shanghai. Conveniently, I was heading to Elements Spa, located in Nanchang Lu, Fuxing (FX). Elements Spa, owned by a Hong Kong group, has two branches (the other one is located inside the Shanghai Racquet Club (SRC). The bright green signage is hard to miss amongst several boutique shops, despite having only a small shop window space. The service received upon arrival was consistent throughout the spa with guidance to the right rooms and assistance up the steep stairs.

Greeted by Fiby (the Manager) and another lady (pictured above), it was suggested that I get a full body hot stone massage, a manicure and a pedicure. Hot stone massages are one of their specialities and, by the looks of the place, they have several rooms set aside for it.

To set the scene I was given a camomile and berry tea, which is meant to help balance you before receiving spa treatments. My shoes were whisked away and I was given slippers making it a lot more comfortable. They have a choice of five oils that represent the five elements, designed to suit different times of the day and moods. I chose the fire element which was Ylang, Ylang, typically used if you prefer mid-day, bitter flavours, summer, heat and the colour red.

The hot stone massage was in a room on the second floor, with two beds making it perfect for couples. The room was a little too cold for a winter's day and the towels also felt slightly damp, which made the first part of the massage not as comfortable as it could have been.

However, the masseuse did ask if the room temperature was ok so that was nice (I think the language barrier prevented an increase in temperature from happening). It was nice to later notice that the bed was heated! You could not hear the stones boiling in the hot water ensuring you can focus on hearing the relaxing Chinese music playing – that is, in between hearing the neighbours yelling for a bit.

The massage was beautiful, but it did lack in some areas based on past experience. The upper chest was left untouched and towards the end the massage it felt a bit rushed. The whole "hot stone massage" experience could have been made better by placing hot stones on the areas which were not being massaged, so as to keep the body temperature the same everywhere. This was only carried out right at the start.

table and chairs

On the positive side, the masseuse often checked if everything was ok and listened to your needs and requests very well. The amount of time spent on each part of my body was perfect, and the massage flowed well from one part to another. The stones were always hot, perfect for loosening tight muscles and balancing your body. Hot towels were used at the end completing the massage.

After my massage I was taken up to the third floor where the Nail Spa is a complete contrast from the dimly light and intimate setting of the massage rooms. The energetic green used in Elements' branding was the theme for the nail spa. It is a very warm and sunny room with green, white, orange and pink accessories making it fresh and revitalising. There was a fresh smell present in the room meaning it did not have the potent smell of nail polish lingering. The small room has enough seats for two people to be getting manicures and two people to be getting pedicures.

Chairs

I particularly enjoyed the almond exfoliate and hydrating lotion used on my hands and arms, especially since the smell reminded me of Christmas (the icing on Christmas cakes!). The nail polish they use is mainly OPI and they had what looked like every colour in the OPI range plus several other brands. Despite waiting a long time for the nail polish to dry, when leaving I still managed to ruin it! Fiby came up to the nail spa and were extremely friendly and ensured that me and the other lady in the room were having a good experience. They noted that I looked very relaxed and indeed I was! Here they had a range of four teas to choose from as well.

A key attribute of Elements Spa is that they use organic products making the experience very natural and better for you. The fresh colours in the nail spa and the earthy colours in the massage rooms add to this natural feel. The ladies at Elements Spa were professional in all their work and the tidy uniform supported this. When leaving they kindly gave me chocolates as a nice Christmas gift! You could not fault the overall service despite the few drawbacks mentioned above. I came out feeling completely relaxed with the tension from my shoulders gone and my skin felt unbelievably smooth. They speak enough English for you to be able to understand them and to communicate necessary statements.

I had the Elements Spa Manicure (250RMB) and Elements Spa Pedicure (300RMB). The 90 minute full body hot stone massage with your choice oil costs 450RMB. These treatments are some of the more expensive spa treatments at Elements. Traditional Chinese massages and standard manicures and pedicures are mid to high-end in terms of prices in Shanghai. The Fuxing location is perfect if you are interested in having a luxurious and pampering day with boutique shops, Huaihai Lu and Fuxing Park within walking distance.

Now, back to the hustle and bustle of finding another taxi cab….

If you would like more information about Elements Spa, please visit their website at: http://www.spa-elements.net/#home or call (86 21) 5386 0060 (FX) or (86 21) 2201 0899 (SRC) to make an appointment.

Hailee Johnstone is the Editorial Intern for ShanghaiExpat. She loves being pampered. If you have any questions or comments about this article, please send an email to: haidee.johnstone@gmail.com.