Whether it’s a reward at the end of a gruelling day to wash away worries, or an indulgence simply because it’s deserved, a soothing bath has become a go-to stress reliever.
But the next time you need a boost, consider forgoing the bubbles and candles. There’s a new twist (or a new, old twist) on the basic bath, a departure from our idea of a luxurious soak, popping up in spas across the country. Based on Middle Eastern bathing rituals, hammam is more than a beauty treatment or personal hygiene routine — it’s designed to cleanse your body and soul.
“I feel completely renewed after,” says Lisa MacDonald, an avid spa-goer who has adopted hammam as her new relaxation ritual. Touted as the only spa in Alberta that offers her favourite indulgence, the Healing Waters Spa on Whyte Avenue has tweaked the ancient tradition of the Turkish bathhouse into a modern delicacy. While the mundane tub is replaced with tiled rooms, fountains and perspiring walls, the goal is the same — purification and relaxation. In fact, it’s the unique setting that appeals most to Lisa: “I’m in a different world with the marbled room and flickering candles — it’s exotic but cosy.”
Hammam, meaning “spreader of warmth” in Arabic, certainly originates from an exotic place and time. Around AD 600, hammam became a fixture of Middle Eastern culture and philosophy. Many bathhouses were humble and economical; others were luxurious and built only for the rich. Often their walls were tiled, arches and columns separated their rooms, and vaulted ceilings were punctuated with skylights. They were not only a resting place, but also a communal social and political hub where inequality disappeared and chatter flowed like the water.
Farahnaz Raboudan, an Iranian woman who performs and instructs Middle Eastern dance, says hammam is an integral part of her culture. “As long as we’ve existed, so has hammam. They were not only places for bathing and steaming, but also for social gatherings and ritualized cleansings.”
These days, not many authentic hammams remain in Iran. “Only hammams with historical meaning or religious significance are left in my country,” explains Raboudan. “With most families affording modern showers, and the expense of running a hammam, they’re no longer serving their original purpose.”
Despite their fadeout in the Middle East, hammams are gaining a second life in the West, although here they differ — tending to be cleaner, quieter and more focused on individual fulfillment.
Healing Waters’ treatment begins with a foot soak, before entering the fundamental honeycomb of tiled rooms that is solely yours for the next hour and a half; the rooms are breathtaking and very private. After a shower, it’s time to purify in the steam room, where you perspire freely for up to 30 minutes — a true nod to ancient hammam.
After a rinse, you drape yourself across the cool marble for a sugar or salt scrub. And you’re not the only one to wonder: just how naked does one get? Though you lie down with a towel fixed like a diaper, MacDonald assures that “the staff makes you feel totally comfortable.” Once everything is in place, you are ready to shed like a snake. After a thorough exfoliation and rinse, it’s off for a lotion massage in a warm, silky bed. And the rest? MacDonald says you can expect to enjoy it in a foggy, satisfying daze.
Thanks to Edmonton’s growing cultural mosaic, which encourages entrepreneurial innovation and the discovery of niche markets, Healing Waters’ owner Cheryl Reed is able to market hammam as her signature service. “It’s a unique experience that fits well with our theme as a Middle Eastern spa,” she says. “This service is popular because it’s different.”
Hammam is said to have many healing properties, including detoxification, relief of joint and muscle pain, and the release of nutrients and increased blood flow for a glowing complexion. Reed also tells her clientele that couples and friends can enjoy this service together — a great opportunity to bond or get reacquainted.
While Healing Waters’ interpretation of hammam may not be entirely true to its origins, the spa has managed to spin an ancient tradition into a modern treatment that meets clients’ expectations of the spa experience with its quiet, pampered, self-healing time. It’s the ultimate bath. Next time, nix the boring tub at home, get scrubbed at a hammam and let the sound of the water take you away.
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