3 sea-powered beauty and wellbeing treats to know about …
1 The Treatment
I was invited to Daha Wellness in Dublin last week to try the new Seabody Movement Treatment. Daha’s highly experienced and lovely delivery director Jenny Faison explains: “We have been blown away by both the treatment protocol and the products they have developed. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen deep tissue therapists so excited and passionate about a new treatment.”
If you haven’t discovered Daha yet, we firmly suggest you hop on the Dart to Sutton. It’s an elegantly designed haven of wellbeing, with an appealing programme of movement classes, a wide range of holistic and high-tech therapies – and excellent coffee (Cloudpicker, served in the light and airy cafe space, along with nutritious treats).
Before the treatment, I tried Gayle’s Yogalates class, and highly recommend it. Yogalates at Daha is a challenging combination of yoga and pilates, buoyed by Gayle’s great energy and knowledge. While it’s not for the faint-hearted, feeling the burn before you collapse onto the treatment bed means you really earn your relaxing treatment, and your muscles will be warmed up, ready for the intense massage and fascia release. You could also try barre, or a range of other options; see online for the full programme. “It’s one of the reasons we’re so passionate about movement, not only through our classes, but also through treatments that help reconnect the body and mind. Taking an integrated approach to wellbeing, where movement, recovery and relaxation all work together, can make such a difference,” says Faison.
Seabody therapist Louise is a talented expert and this Movement Treatment is about far more than massage. At times it’s like a horizontal workout, with assisted stretches really adding to the experience and ironing out every inch of tension or aches. It’s also entirely relaxing – I found my mind raced with energy to start with, and then completely and utterly switched off. It includes gua sha for the body, really getting the circulation moving, and the combination of different techniques really help to release tension in the body. It reminded me of a very active shiatsu massage I tried once with the legendary Mr Ao in Buly, Paris.
The treatment features the new, beautifully presented Seabody body collection: there’s a Sleep balm and oil, while the Movement balm and oil is packed with hydating seaweed extracts, magnesium and even arnica to boost recovery. From €38.
“Seabody developed this new protocol in response to the growing physical demands of modern lifestyles,” explains Faison. “Prolonged periods of sitting, increased screen use and ongoing stress can place significant strain on the body, contributing to fascial restriction, muscular tension and postural imbalances. These patterns can affect not only how we move, but also how we breathe, carry ourselves and experience our bodies.”
While many treatments promise a good night’s sleep afterwards, this one absolutely delivers, to an exceptional degree. I can’t remember the last time I slept so soundly. Louise – and all Daha’s highly trained therapists – are all experts that you’d travel miles to visit, and we can’t recommend this treatment highly enough. €170 for 90 minutes.
Daha also offers bespoke therapies for cancer care, with adaptive classes such as chair yoga. They also offer community yoga classes out on the lawn at the neighbouring Marine Hotel, as well as an entire programme of talks, events, workshops and soundbaths. There are memberships available too, with a host of benefits, including a year-long subscription to Oura, the health tracker. We also love the focus on the best Irish brands, stocked here in the carefully considered shop, from the mighty Ground Wellbeing to Modern Botany. Lucky locals.
2 The Bath
At a press event the other week, Voya‘s global head of training Clare Noble re-introduced me to the core of the collection: the seaweed bath. You don’t have to plunge into the sea to reap its benefits. And a Voya seaweed bath is guaranteed jellyfish-free. This box of seaweed harvested on the west coast of Ireland is the ultimate sustainable beauty product – use it to transform your bath a couple of times (don’t forget to add the seasalt, included in the box) and then scatter it on the garden, as it works well as compost. It’s as if you have a spa in your own bathroom. Your skin will incredibly soft afterwards, and seaweed is rich in magnesium, so it can help balance and revive you.
Follow up with the Voya body oil, while your skin’s still damp. There are several to choose from – I love the lime and mandarin oil with rosehip and evening primrose oils, a fragrant and energising elixir that restores dry skin.
3 The Scent
Jo Malone London’s latest cologne is out now. Sea Salt & Bergamot Cologne is described as woody and wild, with bergamot, a driftwood accord and a sprinkling of sea salt, created by perfumer Mathilde Bijaoui. I haven’t smelled it yet, but expect something breezy, fresh and light. From €28 for 10ml; €100 for 50ml; €142 for 100ml. Available at Brown Thomas and counters nationwide.
