USP As the name implies, Wholeman offers a holistic approach to male
well-being in Mayfair. They’ll scrub, sculpt and massage your exterior, then
take care of your insides with a course of vitamins and supplements,
designed by the resident naturopath.
Continuity of treatment underpins the Wholeman philosophy: if stress is what
drives you to their door, they’ll apply the relevant essential oils during
your treatment, then prescribe a complementary tea to reinforce the new,
chilled-out you.
AMBIENCE "It's ok to be here - real men use spas," cries
every stick of manly furniture, every overly-reassuring smile from the
staff, every page and pixel of the promotional material, and even the
lighting.
The decor in the upstairs spa area is comfortingly reminiscent of a chic hotel
bar. I'm told by the staff that the treatments are "not girly".
The "Signature Programmes" page of the Wholeman website bears a
picture of a boxer and offers a “Combat Facial”, which presumably involves
having your face smeared with brown and green camouflaging exfoliants before
hiding behind the pot plants to evade capture by enemy forces.
Overall, Wholeman protests too much. It feels OK to be a man in spa until you
are repeatedly reassured that it's OK to be a man in a spa. Beyond that, the
treatment rooms are everything they should be - quiet, warm, candle-lit,
womb-like.
EXPERIENCE With my first Father’s Day (as a father!) coming up, I'm in
need of complete unwinding. Ten months of not knowing when the next proper
night’s sleep is coming, combined with an increasingly hectic work schedule
has left me a physical and spiritual husk, held together by caffeine and
adrenalin.
So, it is with a sleep deprived sigh that I slip into my tiny black paper
thong for the signature “Real Time Out” treatment. First up is exfoliation:
my therapist, Michelle, uses a mix of crushed olive pits and a de-stress
body wash containing chamomile, frankincense and rosemary to flay off the
rough bumps that seem to be gradually colonising my upper arms and lower
back.
One quick shower later and I'm ready for the massage, which strikes just the
right note, balancing intensity with relaxation. Early on, I'm pummelled; my
body crunching like snow underfoot as Michelle's elbows of steel stop just
short of dislocating my shoulders.
Then it becomes softer, slower and more relaxing, enabling everything to
ripple back into the right place. A bowl of frankincense (see, continuity)
appears. If, like me, you've ever wondered why the three wise men saw fit to
present the infant saviour with frankincense, you need to lie face down with
a bowl of it directly under your nostrils. It fills your airways then your
entire body with it's dense, musky vapours, dragging you into a swampy,
delicious state of relaxation. By the time my feet are being worked on, I've
fallen asleep four times - the ultimate accolade.
The facial wakes me up again and I leave Wholeman with a specially formulated
tea and some multivitamins, to complete my transformation from Omega to
Alpha male.
IN CROWD “Wholeman for Everyman” is the mantra here. Wholeman is
inclusive, not exclusive. Their advice on treatments and products is all
independent, so they can focus on what's best for the individual, without
having to push inappropriate brands. They build their stock on customer
requests and pricing is amenable to most wallets, despite the Mayfair
location.
WALLET WATCH The "Real Time Out" package is 75 minutes and
costs £95. Individual treatments start at £15. For the deserving father in
your life, gift vouchers can be bought for any Wholeman treatment or you can
get an open gift voucher which can be used towards any treatment.
NEED TO KNOW Wholeman, 67 New Bond Street, London W1 (020 7629 6659; www.wholeman.co.uk).
More information about Wholeman can be found at Spafinder.co.uk
For more than 280 independent spa reviews visit timesonline.co.uk/goodspaguide
