A dear friend recently gifted Peter and me a couples massage at East Day Spa, located within the luxurious Grand Hotel SkyCity in Auckland. Blown away by his generosity of spirit and yet very quick to accept the invite I did the only thing a foodie like me could think to do to show my appreciation- trotted down to Daily Bread Britomart and purchased him a box of those divine sour cherry Xmas tarts. Return bliss with bliss said my inner nourisher!
From the moment we arrived, I knew this was more than just a massage — it was an immersion in luxurious serenity. Then again, it is the Grand Hotel.
Like so many small business owners in this long, hard recession, we’d both been running on empty. Being spoilt like this stirred up mixed emotions — gratitude, relief, and a few unexpected tears.
There was something about the Balinese women — their warm tea, their gentle “mamma energy” — that took me straight back to those afternoons with my mum when I’d turn up, as a young adult going through teachers college and flatting frazzled, and needing tea, talk, and motherly care.A total projection on my part when you take into consideration I’m 67 years old and they less than half my age!! They exuded good humor and compassion and it was nice to be on the receiving end of this thoughtful ritual rooted in care and mindfulness.
Our Balinese therapists, Reni and Kristi, were artists in the language of touch. Their intuitive awareness and expert technique released layers of tightness — especially a stubborn shoulder stiffness I’d developed from long days of weeding at our Kawau Island Yoga Retreat Centre, where we’re working toward a predator-free sanctuary.
As the treatment unfolded, tension dissolved. I drifted between wakefulness and dream, shedding both muscular and mental fatigue. When the session ended, I felt reborn — lighter, calmer, and utterly restored . This was a version of myself I’d not been in touch with for sometime and it felt so good to be that person again!
The following morning, the benefits revealed themselves on the mat. My body felt open, supple, and energised. For the first time in months, I experienced a breakthrough in Urdhva Dhanurasana (full backbend) and flowed through the Ashtanga Primary and half of the Second Series with newfound grace and ease.Amazing how mind body effects spirit and touch relieves all three!
A skilled massage can do more than relax muscles — it can unlock subtle energy pathways, improve circulation, and awaken the body’s natural intelligence. That’s exactly what East Day Spa delivered, and I can only hope Peter was paying attention when I hinted that Christmas presents are well and truly sorted!
SkyCity Grand Hotel, Auckland
auckland@eastdayspa.com
+64 9 363 7050