Feeling the heat? Chill out with ice therapy massage in Dubai

Spadunya is one of the latest spas to introduce ice therapy, which is like being rubbed down with ice cubes. We checked out the glacial shell body massage, perfect for the scorching UAE summer.

Spadunya, a peaceful spa located above the hustle and bustle of Dubai’s The Walk at JBR, offer ice therapy using gel-filled porcelain shells. Courtesy Spadunya

We all know summer temperatures can get so high that we sometimes fantasize about cool rain or maybe even stepping into an ice-cold shower. How about a massage with glacial shells?

This is the latest treatment on offer at Spadunya, a wonderfully peaceful haven located above the hustle and bustle of Dubai’s The Walk at JBR on the Plaza level.

Glacial shells are not actually real; they are porcelain shells filled with a special gel, which retains their temperature.

By using them in massage, they not only have a soothing effect but, with deep strokes, they encourage the lymphatic system to purify the body and can help reduce inflammation.

I didn’t need much persuasion to try it out. But along with the massage came Spadunya’s signature colour-therapy treatment, which clients receive with every visit.

When I entered the spa, my therapist, Evangeline, took me for a consultation and had me choose four colours from a given spectrum. Explaining that, subconsciously, our minds reach out for the colours due to different vibrations, and so the colours we choose respond to how we are feeling, I was fascinated by the outcome.

Each colour corresponds to a certain smell and oil, so she selected those to use for my massage and then took me into the treatment room to begin.

She started in the same way as a regular deep-tissue massage, working away at the knots in my shoulders and back and after some time, introduced the glacial shells.

If you’ve ever had a hot stone massage, this was the cold-stone equivalent. A little bit like being rubbed down with ice cubes. The minus temperature was a bit of a shock at first but after a couple of seconds it was calming and soothing and left a slight tingling sensation.

At the end of the treatment, Evangeline moved to the neck and head and concluded with a facial massage, gently using the shells on my temples and around my cheekbones.

By the time the treatment was over I felt not only cool and calm but also refreshed and in tune with my inner colours. What a great way to get over the summer heat.

• Glacial Shells Body and Facial Cure costs Dh414 for 60 minutes. Spadunya is at Shams 1, Plaza Level, The Walk at JBR. Call 04 439 3669 to book