Accomplished spa entrepreneur Taneth Jiraswakedelok busies himself overseeing six operations, now dedicating more time to the newly-opened Divana Nurture.
Pampering with lotus petals.
The former flight attendant and two other co-founders were inspired by their visits to Swiss spas and wanted to offer a similar experience but with Asian treatments and charming Thai hospitality, leading to the opening of a Thai boutique garden home spa 15 years ago.
Taneth Jiraswakedelok.
“Switzerland is famous for its health and wellness industry, with spas and alternative medicine clinics, such as in Baden, operated in a homely environment. This inspired us to create our first spa on Sukhumvit 25, to offer treatments employing natural products,” he said of the beginning of Divana, which is an Indian word meaning “the passion for love”.
Taneth’s passion had him pursuing a master’s degree in tourism management, of which his thesis on the spa industry was a basis for building the successful Divana brand.
“Twenty years back, before the spa boom in Thailand, it was more about offering massage and relaxation,” he said. “As people became more health-conscious, spas evolved following various trends such as holistic health and wellness. However, we predicted these trends before conceiving each spa concept, and this has been a key success factor for Divana over the 15 years.”
The second Divana Divine on Sukhumvit 55 uses organic products, while Dii in Central Embassy is the brand’s flagship medical spa delivering medical and aesthetic treatments to make one look and feel younger.
The new Divana Nurture was designed as a Thai retreat and longevity spa with its treatments integrating traditional Asian with modern medicine to promote well-being.
Tucked in a quite sub-soi on Sukhumvit 11, a two-storey house has been impressively transformed into the chain’s biggest spa in terms of the number of rooms — 16 — which include luxurious villas located behind a white wall with sculpted lotus leaves. The interior design, from the wall decoration to the bath tub, also features the lotus motif.
Lotus tubs.
“A sacred offering in Buddhist rituals, the noble lotus flower symbolises birth and growth as well as the bloom of youth and longevity,” he said of the spa’s emblematic flower. “It has been said that lotus seeds buried for thousands of years can preserve their energy and wait for the day to be ‘reborn’ and bloom.”
The signature Longevity Phikat Bua combines six body treatments that include a body polish with ancient lotus powder, traditionally used for skin ailments.
After the exfoliation, prepare yourself for the invigorating cold sato (Thai rice wine) that is poured onto the body, to also nourish the skin with antioxidants. This is alternated with heat from taking a Thai herbal steam, which is followed by the Yokee massage described as passive yoga, and a detoxifying jade stone therapy with the massage technique aimed at promoting the body’s filtration and cleansing systems.
Each treatment is available as à la carte for those who don’t have the time for the 210-minute session. A longer version, the four-hour Phikat Bua Arokya, rounds off with a facial involving a lotus seed compress and lotus petal eye treatment as well as the use of skin-lifting amethyst.
Taneth affirmed that the lotus treatments are not a gimmick, and are inspired by phikat bua (lotus remedies) in Thai traditional medicine. The spa treatments can be complemented by acupuncture as well as tai chi, reiki and yoga classes available at Divana Nurture.
“These classes holistically strengthen the mind, body and spirit. As people live longer, they want to maintain optimal health at whichever age. As important is to have a young-at-heart attitude otherwise they wouldn’t really possess the vitality from within,” he said.
Divana Nurture Spa.
This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.