(Courtesy of Resorts World Sentosa)

An offer to experience an authentic Hammam ritual is definitely something not to miss out.

The traditional cleansing ritual is one of the signature treatments at the Resorts World Sentosa’s ESPA — Singapore’s largest luxury spa and the world renowned UK spa brand’s flagship in Asia.

Arriving at the state-of-the-art spa, with its landscaped gardens, pools and ponds, set against the backdrop of a picturesque sea view and jungle-covered hillsides, I could not think of a better place to enjoy a royal treatment.

From the spa’s long and tempting menu, I was drawn to the spa’s signature treatment — the two-hour Ultimate Hammam ritual. The spa also offered shorter Hammam experiences, but the one I chose came with an hour long personalized massage.

The ritual, popularly known as a Turkish steam bath, promises to revitalize mind and body. It is the first of its kind with such standard to be offered in the city-state.

Greeted by the spa’s charming treatment manager, Doris Sinnathurai, two colleagues and I were taken for a welcome drink while she explained the treatments we had chosen. We were also asked to fill out forms to advise of any health conditions, allergies or injuries to ensure the best care.

(Courtesy of Resorts World Sentosa)
We were then escorted to the changing room where we left everything, including our cell phones, changed into kimonos and then taken to another room where we were introduced to our therapists.

My therapist was Phu. In her soft voice, she described the ritual’s processes, from the products used to how they were going to be applied, while from time to time, she asked me if I had any questions or whether I wanted or needed anything.

After another refreshing drink, she directed me to a luxurious, large and airy chamber with a domed ceiling where she sat me upon a full sized scrub plinth.

And my ritual began.

For the next hour, I enjoyed a deep cleansing full body scrub, using a traditional Kese mitt and black olive soap, which left my skin feeling refreshed and soft.

It was then followed by a full body foam massage to purify and soften the skin before my therapist applied a nourishing marine mud body mask with aromatic oils.

(Courtesy of Resorts World Sentosa)
Now and then, before pouring my body with warm water, Phu would ask me whether the water was not too warm for my liking.

“After this, your skin will be so soft and fresh,” said the Thai woman, who has been with the spa company for around a year and a half.

She then gave me a refreshing hair cleansing and hydrating conditioning hair treatment.

“Now I’m going to take you to the steam room,” she said as she guided me to another chamber with four ergonomically designed benches.

Thermal therapy is available in a range of facilities at the spa, such as the crystal steam rooms, rock saunas, ice fountains, experience showers and outdoor vitality pools.

“If you feel it’s too hot, just spray the cold water here,” she pointed to a shower before adjusting a folded towel for my pillow and offered a cold towel to cover my face and bottled water. Perfect.

After roughly 15 minutes, Phu took me back to the previous chamber where she washed me clean. It was as if I was a little kid again.

(Courtesy of Resorts World Sentosa)
After changing into a dry towel and enjoying some more refreshments, I was guided to another chamber on the second floor where everything had been prepared for my personalized massage.

Unlike in many places, where you have no say about your massage or spa treatment, my therapist was thorough in her services to the little details, from my privacy, preferred massage oil to the desired strength of my massage.

I opted for the medium pressure, fearing that too strong a massage would leave my body feeling uncomfortable the next day.

The next hour went almost unnoticed. Unashamedly, I dozed off, waking only when Phu softly whispered that I had to turn to allow her to massage the rest of my body.

When the massage ended, she said that I could continue resting at either the sleeping or socialization zones.

Out of curiosity, I checked out the dimly lit sleeping zone where comfortable and ergonomic couches would definitely transport you to dreamland.

Fighting the temptation to sleep, I decided to continue on to the socialization area, where I met my colleagues and compared notes about our treatments over cold ice tea and snacks.

Feeling refreshed both in body and mind, and definitely glowing from head to toe, I left the spa satisfied with my true Hammam experience.