It was supposed to be soothing but I was trying so hard not to laugh. ‘Breathe. Close your eyes. Relax your mind,’ my therapist whispered in my ear in a mock lullaby tone. It’s no fault of hers actually. It’s just that with her thick Thai accent, it came across as corny and funny. But I enjoyed that comic relief, along with my two-and-a-half-hour Body Bliss treatment (RM350), which started with a corn cob body scrub and followed by a 90-minute Thai Aromatic Massage.

Unlike most scrubs that leave your entire body exposed throughout the process, this one kept me fully covered under fluffy towels, save for the part of the body which the therapist was working on. She would replace the towel after applying the scrub so I wouldn’t be left shivering in the cold.

The Thai Aromatic Massage was more therapeutic than relaxing, which was just what I needed. Prior to the treatment, I had requested extra attention on my shoulders and back. And that’s exactly where she started. Using a camphor herbal balm to help alleviate muscle ache, she kneaded rather forcefully (I asked for that as well) on the knotted muscles. I had to admit it was painful at first, which was only natural, but the relief after that was worth it.

From time to time, I noticed that my therapist was lightly kneading the muscles to locate the exact tense spots before applying direct pressure. That gave me the impression that she was knowledgeable in human anatomy (a trait which is not as common as we think it should be in the spa industry), and because of this, I was assured that it was going to be a good massage.

The Thai Aromatic Massage is not the typical Thai massage that we know, which is a form of oil-free stretching. This, however, is actually a deep tissue oil massage using palm and thumb strokes to specifically target muscular pain. Thann Sanctuary uses its namesake products and the massage oil, with rice bran oil as the base, is high in vitamin E and antioxidants.

Thann Sanctuary’s all black design-driven interior is stylish and very captivating. What I like about it is that instead of emulating a tropical spa like many others in KL, Thann Sanctuary has gone all urban chic and contemporary, and at the same time remained classy without being intimidating.

The treatment menu features nine different massages, mostly Asian in origin. While the menu may not be as inventive as its interior, this spa scores points for its attention to detail and that makes a lot of difference. Just before the treatment, I was asked to choose my favourite scent from a selection of essential oils and after I had made my choice, my treatment room was stocked with toiletries infused with that particular essential oil. The experience felt wholesome and complete. And of course, the chocolate chip cookie that comes with tea at the end of the treatment doesn’t hurt either.