18 May 2012

Inner city escape

27/07/2011 9:39:00 a.m.

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Urban Sanctuary is celebrating 20 years in business, and it’s no surprise.

Urban Sanctuary is celebrating 20 years in business, and it’s no surprise.

AS I step out of the blustering, numbing cold of Wellington’s winter into beauty therapy and day spa Urban Sanctuary, my first thought is, ‘what a fitting name’. The door closes behind me and I’m met with calm, quiet instrumental music, my nostrils fill with natural oils, my fingers start to warm and I can physically feel my body relaxing. The sign on the door says, “take a breath”, and I take a few.
Jo Watson began the business, and now a team of eight, including business partner Lynley Ramsay, are celebrating Urban Sanctuary’s 20th year. Considering the competition within the industry, that longevity speaks volumes. I have high expectations for my treatment.
I’m receiving a birthday special today – a two-hour long “face and body experience” that includes the ‘deluxe facial’. Having never done this before it is with nervous anticipation that I strip into the very ‘attractive’ disposable g-string provided by therapist Jaicelyn, and slip between the soft towels on the heated massage bed. I’m wishing I’d shaved my legs and worked out more – but when Jaicelyn returns she assures me that nothing could surprise her. As she rubs me all over with exfoliant I begin to relax, and we chat about all sorts of things. Apparently beauty therapists aren’t trained in matters psychological – but Jaicelyn may as well have been, she’s so easy to talk to.
It’s hard to remember what happened in what order, but over the next two hours my small talk disappeared as my entire body was exfoliated (the grit removed with hot, moist towels) and massaged with natural oils. The only thing that kept me from nodding off was the fear of missing any of the massage - Jaicelyn worked my back and neck until I had melted into the bed, my thighs, calves and feet, my arms and hands (who’d have thought a hand massage could feel so good?) and my face – seeking pressure points and stroking my temples ‘til my whole body was buzzing. She analysed my skin and talked me through what it needed, but without ever pushing a product on me to buy. She even tidied up my eyebrows.
When the treatment was finished, I was left to ‘take as much time as I like’ for the transformation back to city-dwelling go-getter. I didn’t want to leave the bed – but a cup of herbal tea and 10 minutes over a magazine eased the transition.
As I floated out of Urban Sanctuary I was moving half as quickly as everyone else; looking around me and smiling, where everyone else was eyes-straight-ahead and frowning. Ramsay had told me that, “What sets us apart is that we view treatment holistically, using our hands and our hearts. We like to transport people back into their lives with grounded harmony.”
Before today I would’ve scoffed at that kind of talk, but it really has left me feeling calm and at peace with the world, with the added bonus that my skin looks amazing. If there’s someone in your life who deserves a special treat – I couldn’t recommend Urban Sanctuary highly enough. Considering the effect it will have on their disposition, it’s a gift for everyone around them too.
Melody Thomas.
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Cover Story

Best of Wellington 2011

Briefs

  • A question of nutrition

    Controversial Washington-based nutritionist Sally Fallon-Morell is to speak in Wellington on March 29.
    Fallon-Morell is the co-founder of the American food lobby group the Weston A. Price Foundation and the author of Nourishing Traditions. She advocates for the consumption of nutritionally dense foods such as lacto-fermented vegetables, stocks and broths, and whole raw dairy products.
    Fallon-Morell will speak at St Patrick’s College Hall on March 29.

  • Relay for cancer

    Organisers say Sunday’s Relay for Life is full to capacity with hundreds of Wellingtonians registered for the event.
    A total of 88 teams, made up of 10 to 500 members, plan to take part with a further 25 teams on the waiting list.
    The 24 hour relay, the Cancer Society’s biggest fundraising event of the year, takes place at Frank Kitts Park from 4pm on March 31.

  • Osteoarthritis awareness

    Arthritis New Zealand has launched a nationwide campaign raise awareness about osteoarthritis. 
    Arthritis is New Zealand’s leading cause of disability, affecting 305,000 adults, and osteoarthritis is its most common form.
    The campaign features television commercials and an interactive website.


  • Wild walk

    Take part in the Big Walk at Zealandia on March 31.
    Walkers can choose a two, five or 10 kilometre walk catering to all fitness levels.
    Money raised will go to the Foundation for Youth Development.

  • School pool

    The opening of the new Khandallah School pool this week means hundreds of children will be able to continue their swimming lessons.
    The pool was the first to receive a grant from Wellington City Council’s Schools Pools Partnership Fund, a fund set up in 2010 to help schools improve their pool facilities.
    Grants from the fund have also been made for pools at Wellington East Girls’ College, Barhampore School and Tawa School.

  • Easter bikers

    Motorcyclists are invited to get on their bikes and collect Easter eggs for families support from the Wellington City Mission.
    The charity run on April 1 is organised by motorcycle lobby group BONZ.
    Eggs can be donated at Red Baron Motorcylces in Alicetown. The registration fee for bikers is $10, plus the cost of Easter eggs.

  • Crafty

    Made on Marion opens on the site of the former Golding Handicrafts site in Marion St, from April 1.  They will continue to supply craft materials.

  • Ze upgrade

    Taranaki Street fuel users will notice that the Z Energy’s former Shell Service Station is closed.  Z are doing a “total revamp”.
    The job will take four weeks.

  • Newlands Moves

    Developer Ayal Aharoni has agreed to build only 90 instead of 220 houses on his six and a half hectares above Ngauranga Gorge in Newlands.  Only low density occupation will be allowed on the remaining 8.4 hectares.


  • Baring Head

    There's a new  draft plan out for what should happen at Baring Head.  It outlines how the Greater Wellington Regional council would like to manage the newest addition to its regional parks network. Grazing animals will go, motorised vehicles will be prohibited, predators will be controlled, and the lighthouse will be preserved. Submissions are invited.


  • It’s a wonder

    A new childcare centre in Newtown says it is dedicated to helping kids grow up healthy in mind, body and spirit. Little Wonders Childcare on Rintoul Street is an independent early childhood education and learning centre, the sixth centre to be opened by its Auckland-based owner. It caters to 100 children aged between three months and five years old and has been open for a little more than seven weeks.

  • Festival treats

    CHILDREN have not been forgotten by organisers of the New Zealand International Arts Festival.
    For a perfect first theatrical experience White tells the story of friends Cotton and Winkle who live in a world where there is no colour and everything is startlingly white. That is until a brightly coloured egg tumbles out of the sky and changes their world for ever.
    White plays at Capital E from March 7-11.
    The tale of Peter and the World also promises to be a magical night for all ages. Sergei Prokofiev’s classic children’s tale is told through film and live music from the NZ Symphony Orchestra at the Michael Fowler Centre on March 9.
    March 11 is Young Writers and Readers Day and readings from children’s writers and illustrators Lynley Dodd and Gavin Bishop.

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