Review – The Como Shambhala Massage at Point Yamu by Como, Thailand
By Natasha Eldred
Overlooking the Andaman Sea and with a horizon view of the majestic limestone karsts of Phang Nga Bay, Phuket welcomes the new-kid-on-the-island hotel scene with open arms.
Point Yamu by COMO offers 106 rooms and private villas, with a collection that are for sale if you understandably, can’t bear to leave. The resort also boasts an impressive 100m swimming pool with awesome views, albeit split into three sections, so no Olympic training in this pool, a COMO Shambhala Spa Retreat with eight treatment rooms, including a beauty treatment room and yoga studio offering, well, yep yoga and Pilates.
It’s practically unheard of to come to the world’s spa epicentre and not indulge in every treatment available and to be frank; the prices are reasonable for the quality of the treatments available.
Offering eight treatment rooms and four Thai massage alcoves, all therapies draw from Asian traditional massage and medicine.
Stepping into the spa area didn’t feel so different to the room ambience, decked out in blue tiles and white furniture, the spa feels slightly clinical, yet in a purifying and good way.
The ‘Como Shambhala Massage’ was the treatment of choice. Described as a nurturing massage and using their signature-blended oil to calm the mind and rejuvenate the body. The male masseur, Khun Mit was exceedingly expert. Using grape seed oil, his movements were all precise and not typically Thai massage like, he used long, purposeful extended movements from toe to neck and making use of his palms and arms rather than a finger pummeling massage, which I admit I have grown accustomed to in Thailand. The massage wasn’t as strong as I usually opt for, but it certainly achieved what it promised and I felt very relaxed indeed after 75 minutes.
The second treatment I opted for was the 75 minutes ‘Como Shambhala Purify Holistic Facial’. This signature facial is cleansing and nourishing. The beautician, Khun Sonya, used hot compresses throughout the treatment that I found to be extremely calming albeit in the humid climate of Phuket you’d assume otherwise. Sonya explained that the compresses help to cleanse and prepare the skin to be balanced through manual lymphatic stimulation. This, to me, translated to a fabulous arm and neck massage to help drain my lymphs and to detoxify the skin through acupressure channels. My slightly sun-exposed face enjoyed a brushing, polishing, creaming and steaming and with the application of the several, natural products I left feeling fabulous with glowing and hydrated skin.