COVER STORY JANUARY 2006

China

LIFE EXPECTANCY = 68 years.
Interesting to note that 26% of their population is under 15 years of age.
- Healing Traditions of China
OMT Oriental Medical Therapies
“TCM” Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Chinese Healing Traditions
"Chinese healing modalities such as herbalism, acupressure,
cupping and scraping…spring from ancient practices and tempt
westerners with their unpretentious, no-nonsense approach."

• Oriental Medical Therapies • OMT
• Traditional Chinese Medicine • TCM
Medicine - pills, tonics, teas, poultices
Acupuncture
- needles in skin for energy flow
Massage - Tui Na & Foot Reflexology
Tai Chi - Chinese martial arts discipline
Five Elements - nature in our bodies
- Herbal Medicines = pills, tonics, teas & poultices
- Acupuncture = originally
from China, treats disorders by inserting needles
into the skin at points where the flow of energy
is thought to be blocked
- Massage Tui Na = pinching style dry massage
- Tai Chi = Chinese martial art discipline
- Foot Reflexology = Staple, standard in
all Chinese spa experiences, may be more popular than full body
massage.
The focus on points of the feet benefit body as well as organ
systems.
- Five Elements = Goal is to balance the elements, which
represent nature in our bodies.

Shanghai

The Water Room

Water Treatment Room - The
Water Room is cool, quiet and
tranquil. Frosted green tiles
represent ice, horizontal niches
holding glass bowls filled with
water and flowers are
accentuated by curving waves of
light, mimicking the fluidity of
Water. A Lotus Pond, made from
copper and set in black polished
granite, is backlit by frosted glass
, mirroring the reflective nature of
Water. 
Associated with Winter and
extreme Yin, Water is positioned North among the Five
Elements. Characterized by the season of rest and stillness,
Water Element is meditative and gentle. In Feng Shui, Water
element is widely used to promote wealth and good luck and its
colour is represented by black. 

The Fire Room

Fire Treatment Room - The
strongest Yang energy in the Five
Elements, Fire is associated with
vitality and hot Summer.
Hammered copper surfaces line
the walls of the Fire Room,
emitting the vibrancy and
dynamism of the Fire element.
Grey slate columns illuminated
with a crimson glow resemble
volcanic lava while a candle
flame floating within a tall glass
vase shows how the Fire element can be tamed. The natural
light from the flickering flame provides a warm and alluring aura.
It is the most energetic of the Elements and Yin is used to
counter the excessive heat. Situated South among the Five
Elements, it is represented by the colour red. 

The Earth Room

Earth Treatment Room - Representing the state of optimum balance,
 
The Earth Room is adorned with
the gifts of nature. Dragon Vines
creep from polished black
pebbles which contrast with
slated sandstone. Glass vases
filled with seasonal plants
represent growth and earthy colors exude warmth and relax the
senses, creating a soothing effect. 

Earth sits at the centre, regulating and nourishing the Five Elements.

It is the pivot of the cycle as it symbolises the season of late
Summer when the Yang energies of Spring and Summer
transform into the Yin energies of Autumn and Winter. 

The Wood Room

Wood Treatment Room -
Expressed as the season of
Spring, where new life begins and
hibernation ends.
 
The Wood Room's strong
rhythmic layout is accentuated by
calm and gentle lighting.
Horizontal stretches of striated
dark timber strips are juxtaposed
with softly lit niches of natural
bamboo hand-carved with Chinese idioms. Large green
bamboos stretching upwards from pebbled floor symbolise
growth and renewal. 

Wood is the start of the Yang energy. Seated East among the
Five Elements, it is characterised by growth and renewal. Green
is the colour used to represent Wood. 

The Gold Room

Gold Treatment Room - Represent the state of Purification
and Consolidation, and
symbolizes wealth and prosperity.
 
The Gold Room showcases exotic
metallic artifacts like Tibetan
Trumpets, Chinese Swords and
Opium Pipes. A hand-carved
Chinese calligraphy of the
character "Gold" sits majestically
in the center of the room, greeting guests with its commanding
presence. Panels embellished with gold leaves give a smooth
metallic finish. Gold represents autumn, when the energies are
purified and conserved for the impending Winter.

Characterised by radiance and its essence, Autumn is the
season linked with Gold 

Gold sits in the West

© SPA MANAGEMENT JOURNAL - JANUARY 2006