CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La: Urban paradise where luxury, relaxation and ancient rituals align

While many would associate sensations of relaxation and rejuvenation when the word “spa” springs to mind, were you aware that this three-letter word was rooted in the vernacular of the ancient Romans? Originating from the Latin phrase “Salus per Aquam” — literally “health through water” — healing rituals based on this vital source of all life were, admittedly, a fact of life. Apply this age-old purification practice to another three-letter word “chi” — the Chinese philosophy for the flow of energy existent in all life forms —and you’ll have defined the concept at CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La.

Starting with a step into the spa’s waiting quarters, you’ll be suddenly whisked away by a decor that echoes a mythical kingdom believed to be tucked away, high in the sacred Himalayan peaks. However, in the case of Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo, this earthly urban paradise is conveniently situated on the 29th floor at the business epicenter of this fast-paced, tension-filled metropolis. Intimately enveloped by low lighting within a canopy-draped seating area, CHI’s team of masterful masseuses commence their attentive client consultation. After a guided look through the extensive menu—boasting a myriad of therapeutic treatments for the mind, body, and soul — it became apparent that CHI’s integrative approach to holistic healing goes beyond luxury and pampering.

Rooted in the principles of acupressure, an alternative practice of Chinese medicine in which pressure points are targeted throughout the body, the spa treatments, uncoincidentally, draw upon the concept of “chi” itself — translated through the power of touch. However, this unique philosophy to encourage enhanced health and well-being is not only applied throughout the signature treatments (namely the “CHI Balance” and Tokyo’s exclusive “Yang CHI Energiser”). From specialized and seasonal services ranging from revitalizing facials and healing stones to salt body scrubs and detox wraps — not to mention a 90-minute “getaway” befittingly titled “CHI Journeys” — the mantra of these temporary retreats is to “dis-ease” the omnipresent social disease: stress.

Interestingly, when I probed into my masseuse’s personal belief toward the practicality of massage therapy, she alluringly answered, “I simultaneously see myself as a healing practitioner. When people experience stress, the source is usually not physical, but rather stemming from the mind.” Then, she demonstrated a warm-up routine, used to channel her own source of energy, before realigning her client’s “yin and yang” — namely, “negative” and “positive” energy — to optimum balance.

By pressing the thumb repeatedly into the palm, my masseuse made an analogy between this pre-treatment “power” ritual with the act of charging a cell phone. Just as clients come to recharge their (metaphorically) depleted “battery,” the trained massage therapists at CHI understand the underworkings of plugging into their own body’s energy. The desired effect: a very relaxing “hands-on healing” session aimed to unclog obstructed energy channels and harmonize energetic flow from your temples to your toes.

Following the pre-treatment consultation, I was presented a tray holding three elaborate glass flasks — almost resembling a genie bottle — filled with essential oils. After deeply inhaling each distinct scent, I opted for the musky and earthy aroma of “Blissful”: a blend of jasmine and patchouli (AKA “the scent of the sixties”) to nourish the skin, balance the mind, and uplift the spirit. Feeling a tingle of excitement, I was then escorted to my spa suite where I passed an exquisitely handcrafted decorative rug and a metal mandala adorned with precious stones—both hailing from the Tibetan highland. Additionally, this meticulous attention to decor detail is visible with the hand-carved Sanskrit signs that line the six doorways before entering the spacious confines of this enchanting earthly paradise.

After debating over the list of tantalizing treatments, I selected the 90-minute “Yang CHI Energiser” (60 minutes, 20,500 yen/ 90 minutes, 27,000 yen). This Tokyo-exclusive treatment promises to “improve blood circulation, alleviate stress and relieve muscle knots” by fusing therapeutic deep-tissue techniques with the time-honored healing traditions of Chinese medicine. Slipping out of my street clothes in exchange for a miraculously soft robe, I sneaked a peak around the roomy “spa within a spa”—boasting a luxuriant private bath, steam sauna, and an impressive interior consisting of intricately carved wood panels, antique jewelry boxes, and a collection of Tibetan heirlooms.

The “Yang CHI Energiser” was initiated with a signature foot bath followed by a Himalayan salt scrub to polish and purify the soles -- all while sipping a piping hot cup of herbal tea. The next phase of treatment was a step into the splendid steam room intended to open up the pores while increasing blood and lymphatic circulation. Once my muscles were warmed up, I was welcomed onto my treatment bed where my body was doused with the sultry-scented essential oil I had chosen during the consultation. The 90-minute session focused on realigning whole body balance through a combination of kneading and long, gliding strokes — administered rhythmically in various degrees of pressure.

When my treatment was nearing its end, I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sadness. The solace I experienced at CHI was more than an escape from Tokyo’s cityscape; it was a stirring reawakening of the mind-spirit and body connection through traditional holistic practices stemming from the East. In other words, the five-star service at CHI’s five-star facility re-appropriate the wisdom of ancient therapy for urban dwellers in the modern world.

Other tempting holistic treatments include: the “CHI Balance,” an invigorating massage tailored to suit your current “yin-yang” status (60 minutes, 20,500 yen/ 90 minutes 27,000 yen); or the “Customised CHI Ritual,” a personal customization of complementary therapies off the full menu (90 minutes, 30,500 yen/ 120 minutes, 40,500 yen/ 180 minutes, 53,000 yen).

After a second helping of ginger tea in CHI’s reception area, where I slowly drifted back to my senses — and alas, back to the real world — I returned to my demands of daily life still perfuming with the scent of an unmapped ancient world. This sultry scent, lingering on the surface of my skin, was a pleasant reminder that, indeed, all was not a dream!

Additional Fee: Spa treatments on the weekend (Sat & Sun) and public holidays cost an additional 2,000 yen.

CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La (Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo) Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo, Marunouchi Trust Tower Main 29th Floor 1-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo 100-8283 Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Tel: +81 03-6739-7880 Email: chi.slty@shangri-la.com

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