Thai Square Spa in Covent Garden

As my pregnancy has progressed and I have now entered the third trimester (supposedly the home straight), I have said goodbye to my awful sickness and my hair and skin now have a wonderful healthy sheen. 

Great you might be thinking, but one thing I have learnt in pregnancy is that often one thing passes and you get something new.   

In the last few weeks of pregnancy I can no longer see my feet when standing, but that's probably a good thing as they no longer resemble feet but swollen pigs trotters due to water retention. 

Getting out of bed in the morning is like something out of the living dead. I can barely move, so I have been forced to perfect this graceful hippo like roll to manoeuvre into an upright position. 

The novelty of all new maternity clothes that I had at the beginning, is now replaced with "do I really have to wear that stripped top again". In later pregnancy your stomach also expands at such a rate that anything and everything you put on looks like a canopy or tent. 

So you get the point I certainly don't feel womanly or beautiful in the slightest. You also have people constantly telling you how big you look (quick tip; not the thing to say to a pregnant woman). 

So when Thai Square Spa in Covent Garden contacted me to ask if I would like to try their pre-birthing essential massage I was a bit dubious that anything could make me feel human again.

How wrong I was ...

The spa is situated on Shelton Street on a small junction called Seven Dials, aptly named where seven streets converge. 

The spa is in the perfect location for all those who love shopping. On the same street is Cath Kidston, Urban Outfitters and those who love beauty Space NK.

On entering the spa I'm instantly greeted by a friendly receptionist who offers me a seat and asks me to fill out the usual health checklist. The spa is kitted out in a traditional Thai interior of wooden carvings and Buddhist statues.  

Whilst sitting I nosey through their Spa offerings of facials, treatments for the body and ritual therapies. I'm excited to try out their specialist maternity therapy the pre birth essential massage (£95).

My massage therapist greets me and takes me down stairs to the spa.

I'm offered a comfortable pair of flip flops and a robe to change into. 

The flip flops definitely get my vote over slippers that often are impossible to walk in. The robe however has definitely seen better days, is thin and in need of replacing. 

In the coming months the spa will be moving to their much bigger new home close to Charing Cross, so I'm sure all the robes will be replaced when they move. The new spa will be housed in an old Victorian Turkish bath offering guests twelve treatment rooms, four Thai massage rooms and seven aroma massage rooms. 

So on with the massage... 

We start with a lovely cup of warm tea and a foot massage with essential oils. 

This is the perfect way to begin any massage as it instantly sets the mood of calm, relaxation and pampering. 

Once on the bed the therapist helps be on my side and gives me a pregnancy pillow for my bump which is very welcome. Having pressure taken off your joints as a pregnant lady is very welcomed. 

The therapist begins with a wonderful massage giving focussed attention to my back, then moving onto my feet in which a scrub is applied to remove dead skin. 

Sweeping motions are used on my legs to help alleviates the fluid retention, with focussed attention also given to my arms and hands. The botanical oil used is warming and instantly relieves my aching muscles. 

The therapist then washes her hands to remove the oil and performs a wonderful if not slightly uncomfortable oriental head massage (I have a very ticklish head). Now I can't tell you how frustrating I find it when therapists put product in your freshly washed hair, leaving you to leave the spa like a slicked cousin ITT from the Addam's family. So the fact that they have considered this is very welcomed. 

When the hour long massage was complete I was placed in their relaxation area with a cold glass of water and magazines. The perfect way to bring myself back to life. 

Overall a wonderful massage that has definitely alleviated my aching back, reduced my swollen trotters and established a sense of calm. My skin is also feeling much softer. 

If your looking for a present for an expectant mum to be or a post birth present, then look no further as the Thai Square Spa offers the perfect remedy. 

Finding peace and quite in London can sometimes be quite a challenge but Thai Square Spa offers an oasis of luxury tranquillity in central London. I look forward to visiting their new premises soon. 

What's your favourite spa and treatment? 

www.thaisquarespa.com
25 Shelton Street, 
Covent Garden, 
London
WC2H 9HW