We did it! We made it through Golden Week with our kids home by our side 24/7, plagued by far too many cold and rainy days. Suffice to say, I’m quite thrilled and proud of myself for not having lost my temper, even coming to thoroughly enjoy my kid’s company on the best days. Now that we survived this period, however, we deserve some serious R&R. How does a spa treatment that will completely transport you through a soothing sound bath and delicious scents while you get a lovely massage, followed by a yummy snack bar, sound?

Yes, please! Join us on an indulgent afternoon as we discover a spa that goes beyond the ordinary in the video below.

YuSpa, conveniently located at Chaowai SOHO in the heart of Beijing, was introduced to me by a friend and dubbed her favorite spa in the capital. When you enter its elegant black and gold premises, you are ushered into a MUJI-esque waiting room and served a refreshing drink. Your masseuse will also introduce herself (mine was called Clover) and assist you in choosing your own personalized massage oil blend. Each wooden table holds a tray of some 30 essential oils, many of which are organically sourced and expertly curated. You get to mix in two or three scents depending on which level of spa experience you pay for, along with a base oil: grapeseed for dry skin, avocado for aging skin, so on and so forth.

Before stepping into the massage room, our masseuse made it a point to show us that the air within the rooms had been filtered to pass for forest air. The temperature is tightly regulated to hit that sweet spot between warm and cold. When you step into the minimalist massage rooms meant to resemble infinite space, you don’t quite know where the walls start and the ceiling begins. You feel endless.

Included in the price at YuSpa are fluffy room slippers that my friend likens to stepping on clouds, which you are welcome to bring home. The amenities were truly extraordinary, and even include an eyebrow pencil for after-massage touch-up, contact lens cases, and solution for storage.

Big on allowing you to be in charge, the spa also empowers you to choose the background music for your massage. Choices include rain, ocean, and forest sounds, or a classical piano soundtrack.

The massage started with a clear ringing from a Tibetan singing bowl, a familiar sound for me as I have attended several sound baths in the past. The masseuse struck the bowl again, placing it gently on the soles of my feet to allow the reverberation to echo through my body. It is the vibration of these sound waves that possess the purported healing effects, you see.

At the end of the 60-minute massage, we were treated again to a melodious symphony, this time with a rainmaker and wind chimes. These delightful noises were a welcome distraction from the faint, low thumping beats radiating through the walls from the nearby dance studio. No matter how much you try to create a refuge within your own walls, you can’t control your neighbors…

After we were clothed and left the room, our masseuses greeted us and led us on a short “tour” through the hallways, showing us the various certifications and licenses the spa holds. They also proudly display their staff’s names and smiling faces, almost like a family portrait. We passed by the bathroom, decked out in black and gold again, and sporting a rain shower. Then we were back in the MUJI waiting room, with a pleasant spread of snacks and refreshments. We stayed for a full hour, just chatting and going back and forth to the snack buffet. I am not even ashamed to say I had multiple servings of the rice cereal boat, which was a yummy fusion of Western and Asian tastes.

YuSpa currently offers a DianPing promotion for first-timers to the spa, so the one-star 60-minute massage experience will cost RMB 288 instead of the usual RMB 636. The higher level two-star massage of the same length (which I detailed in this article) is only a little more at RMB 358, which is totally worth the price tag.

YuSpa Chaowai SOHO Address: Chaoyang District Hujialou Street Chaowai SOHO Block A B1 Floor B107-108
中国北京市朝阳区国贸朝阳门外大街乙6号A座B107

KEEP READING: A Little Pre-Baby Pampering: Blissful Spa Day for Mom-To-Be

Images: Pexels, Vivienne Tseng-Rush 

Life in Beijing can be exciting, but it can also be stressful. Sometimes we all need to take some time out, to turn off WeChat and focus on what’s really important. So we’ve rounded up some forthcoming opportunities to chill out and reconnect.

Healing Crystal Bowls Spa, Mar 17
Take a break from the relentless noise of the city, lie down and enjoy the sound of Himalayan and crystal singing bowls. This sound therapy, according to the organizers, can “achieve an altered state of consciousness similar to deep meditation.” After the singing bowl session participants can enjoy the relaxing sound of the hang drum, a tuned steel drum, and take advantage of a free medical consultation with specialist doctors. Bring your own blanket or yoga mat to chill out on.

Adults. RMB 60 (pre-booked), RMB 80 (at the door). 3-5pm. Free Spirits Sound Healing. 16 Liangmahe South Road, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区亮马河南路16.

Christian Marriage Retreat, Apr 5-7
Christian couples aim to spend their whole lives together, and to create a safe and loving space in which to raise children. But this can be a long road, and sometimes it helps to make time for each other and rediscover what makes your relationship work. This retreat is led by married couple Grady and Sandy, and is open to all foreign passport holders.

Adults (childcare available for kids 4 and under). RMB 2,200. Friday 9am to Sunday 1pm. Goose and Duck Ranch, Huairou. 怀柔区北寨.

A Professional Woman’s Guide to Purpose, Passion and Profits, Apr 13
Life coach Caneisha Berry promises to help women unblock their careers, discover their unique gifts, and learn how to turn them into successful careers, at this one-day workshop.

Adults. RMB 3,500 (early bird RMB 3,000). East Hotel, 22 Jiuxianqiao Rd, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区酒仙桥路22号东隅北京酒店.

A Woman’s Healing Journey Retreat, May 11-12
Also led by Caneisha Berry, “A Woman’s Healing Journey” gives participants an opportunity to get out of the city to the peace of Singing Deer Lodge, and to discover the “soul wounds” which are undermining their happiness and confidence.

Adults. RMB 1,500-2,400 depending on room, includes meals and workshops. Singing Deer Lodge, West Bailianyu Village, Fengjiayu Town, Miyun County. 密云县冯家裕镇西白莲峪村南地.

Photos: Pixabay, courtesy of event organizers