Saturday night, at the end of a long hard week at work, this little bird really needed some relief from stress and fatigue.  I found it at Ahavia Lounge Spa, the newest spa in the city that’s already making some noise as early as its 3^rd month of operation.

My very first visit at Ahavia was their first night of dry run.  Barely 2 months and I can see a huge jump on improvement from the opening night.   

A meter away from the door and I can already smell the minty scent that reminded of the first night we met the owner Carlos Benavides.  The 2^nd time I was here at almost 12mn (right after the URCC XII Supremacy event), the place was packed!  My lumbering body was too spent to wait in line so I had to take a rain check. 

This Saturday like the past 4-5 weekends had a tight schedule starting with a 9am 2-hour dental appointment, a lunch at Dampa Macapagal with my Sabi friends and a High School Musical on Ice with my family at 430pm.  The day’s schedule did not end there as we had to attend a despedida party of CW’s friend from Xavier at 10pm.  Since we had 2 hours to spare, we decided to drop by Ahavia to relax our mind.  One thing I really love about Ahavia is their operating hours, which is daily from 11am to as late as 3am.  Since I live nearby, it is so easy for me to drop by Chiva Som, Clark Hatch or Neo Spa when I need my massage fix, but since they close at 10pm I have nowhere to run to when my schedule only allows me an almost midnight break.   

CW stopped me right before the door and asked me to breathe deeply.  And breathe out all the stress before entering what we render as our hopeful sanctuary.  He gave me a big hug.  The third time I stepped into this body and wellness abyss, I was expecting to see the vibrant Mika by the reception.  Instead it was a middle-aged woman who was in the same breath as the vibrancy of Mika.  It turns out that it was her mother who was managing the counter.  After looking at their informative menu of select services, we picked our choice of massage.  I was inclined to get another body scrub since I felt my skin recalling the scent of the sweet ginger scrub I had last time.  After some musing, we both decided to get the signature massage.   

Finally, it was time for our massage.  Halfway through it, I fell asleep as my mind escaped to blissful dimension. The description of the Signature Massage is a 2-hour service that combines Western blend and Oriental ritual giving you a total body experience.  It kept that promise.  The masseuse used an essential oil that enriched and enhanced the experience. 

Try out the Ahavia experience with their reasonably priced offerings.  Dessert Essences and Organic Body Spa, which is a 1 hr 30 min body scrub includes a soothing and moisturizing body massage.  An array of sweet choices from Botanical Strawberry Scrub, Sweet Chocolate Body Polish, and The Organic Coffee Experience costs only PHP 599.  Silky Milky Aroma Glow is priced at PHP699.  The Oriental Ginger Scrub and Anti-stress Aroma Glow is at PHP 799 each.

Resist if you can on the PHP 199/hr deals.  Choose from the following spa services:  point pressure massage, reviving peppermint hair therapy, that minty feeling hair remedy, hands and feet treatments…. There are also express spa treatments for as low as PHP 99.00.  Wi-fi connection is also available. 

Book an appointment at 744-0343 or 0922-8055600.  Ahavia Lounge Spa is located at 173 Wilson Street corner Barcelona St.  Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila.  Coming from Shaw Blvd going to Wilson, Ahavia is in your left side (3 blocks before you hit the corner of Wilson and P. Guevarra Streets)