L'Espace bien-etre at Origins
As you all know by know I am just a pushover for any kind of massage, facial, bodywork, etc. So when my friend Katie, who is the manager of the Origins shop on St. Sulpice, invited me to test out one of their treatments at their wellness spa, she made my day, week, and month.
The first treatment was the Make a Difference facial. When I lived in New York, I used to go to an old school Hungarian facialist, Martha, every month at the Sherry Netherland Hotel for over 20 years. She was the greatest and most other facials I’ve had, never lived up to her special touch. Celine was my facialist and she took me upstairs to a relaxing and calm room for my treatment. The facial started with a face cleansing, and then followed with a another four steps that included a scrub, a mask, a shiatsu massage to the hands and arms, and a hydrating moisturizing serum. All the products Celine used were from the Organics shop, including two from the Never a Dull Moment line, the good enough to eat fruit enzyme cleanser and the Jericho rose mask, and finally the Perfect World white tea moisturizing serum. When it was over, I felt relaxed but energized, my skin was tingly all over, and I looked a little younger. Martha, I am sad/happy to report you now have competition but luckily it’s an ocean away.
Feeling so good from my facial and never shy to ask for more in that department, I inquired if I could try some other treatments. She said yes (YEAH!), so last week, I went for a hot stone massage, which I never experienced before.
The room was darker this time, and I noticed the black stones being heated in a special warming device. Eugenia, my masseuse, rubbed my body with the Organics oil of sage, cammomile, fennel, and jojoba, which smelled wonderful. I laid on my stomach first, and 6 stones in varying sizes were placed on my back and legs. The heat radiating from the stones relaxed my body, which was tense and sore from a tour earlier in the day. While the stones were working their magic, Eugenie firmly massaged me with her very warm hands, without too much vigor. I turned over on my back and laid on six more warm, relaxing stones. She then proceeded to my massage my face and head, which felt amazing. The massage was not that intense, therefore I wasn’t as wiped out afterwards as I usually am from a deeper type treatment.
The prices were quite reasonable for the high quality treatments: the one-hour facial was 60 euros and the 55-minute massage was 65 euros.
I’m totally hooked now and I hope Katie invites me back for more.
L'espace bien-etre
Origins
30 rue St. Sulpice
Metro:St. Sulpice, Odeon
Tel. 01.56.81.08.02
Open Monday to Saturday, 10:30AM to 7:30PM
www.origins.com
I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour
includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.
I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
I did not see Origins when I was exploring the St. Sulpice area last year - but it is certainly one more reason to love this neighborhood.
Saw your article in Paris Notes - good job!
Posted by: Mimi | March 04, 2008 at 02:05 PM