We were nearly two weeks into our Balinese vacation and that meant almost 2 weeks of restaurant eating, happy hours, and bikini wearing.

I felt like my holiday over-indulging was starting to catch up with me, and putting my bathing suit on wasn’t my favourite part of the day.

However, luck was on my side and I didn’t even see it coming!

I was on my way to Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay for an appointment at The Healing Village Spa.  Since I was in Bali, I thought I should go local and try one of the signature Jimbaran Traditional Treatments that they offer.

I arrived at the hotel and instantly felt that giddy, happy, and relaxed feeling that I imagine many women get if they can manage a few hours of alone time at the spa.  It’s indulgent!  As my huband and kids were back at our hotel napping, I settled in at the spa.As soon as I arrived I was brought a cool cloth, infused with essential oils to freshen up and a glass of chilled hibiscus tea with honey.  From that moment, the pampering had begun.

I was led to the change rooms where I found my locker and slipped into my spa robe and slippers.  Istiana, my spa therapist brought me into the room where we’d be spending the next two, glorious hours together.

We went to a private outdoor area just off the treatment room and so began my salt and lime foot scrub.  If your mind immediately went to margaritas at the thought of this combination, you are not alone.  It was like a blender drink for my feet, and my toes couldn’t have been more satisfied.

Istiana informed me that she’d be preforming a two hour Bougainvillea Slimming Treatment on me that afternoon.  I loved this woman and we’d only just met!  Anyone who could make me skinny in two hours had best friend potential in my books.  She said the treatment would reduce fluid retention and cellulite, while firming and smoothing my skin. Ummm, yes please!

Istiana said she would be focusing on my stomach and thighs.  I don’t know if those were the standard areas to target, or if my personal trainer had sent her an email in advance; but she knew exactly where I would benefit from the slimming treatment most.

As excited as I was to get to the ‘skinny’ part,  we first began with a detoxifying body scrub and lymphatic stimulation, which I was told would invigorate my circulation. I complied and assumed a comfortable position on the massage table while Istiana got to work on my skin with geranium, eucalyptus and there was even some seaweed powder mixed in there.

The scrub felt good, but the real magic happened when it was over and I was guided through the patio doors to the private outdoor shower where I rinsed off the scrub and found that every inch of skin on my entire body had been replace with that of a newborn baby’s bottom.  It was so smooth, so soft, so slippery. My spa therapist was a magician and she hadn’t started the slimming wrap yet.  I couldn’t wait.  I cut my shower short and went back inside, anxious to see what kind of bikini body I was going to leave with!

Next up was the moment I’d been waiting for.  it was time to say good-bye to the mummy-tummy and wrap my way to a poolside goddess.  The Bougainvillea stem cell wrap was going to illuminate toxins and boost cell regeneration.  I was born ready for this treatment!  Istiana rested a damp cloth over my eyes and began wrapping.

She wrapped my stomach.  She wrapped my legs…and that’s when things got blurry.  The problem was that I was so comfortable that I began to feel like a swaddled infant, completely cozy in my wrap.  There was soft yoga-stye music playing in the background,  and I was in the ultimate shavasana.  So when Istiana started massaging my head; I didn’t stand a chance.  I did exactly what you’re not supposed to do when meditating.  I fell asleep.

I didn’t mean too, and it wasn’t for long, but there was just no fighting it.  It was like floating on a cloud…while dreaming of having a very small waist and super trim thighs.

Before I knew it was time to be de-mummified.  I felt like there should have been a drum roll, or an announcer calling out, “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls-it’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for!”

I felt good, but not incredibly different.  My stomach felt flat, but it had also probably been the first time since the start of our vacation that I had gone 2 hours without a snack.  Whatever the case, I couldn’t wait to get in front of a mirror.

As I left the treatment room I was guided to the relaxation area when I was served some amazing ginger turmeric tea, that I have since tried to replicate at home.  It was delicious and I couldn’t leave without having multiple cups.  I gazed out the window in my spa robe, with my feet up and enjoyed my last few minutes of alone time.  Nap time was probably over and there was time for one more swim with the kids before the sun went down, so it was time for me to go.As I walked into our hotel room I was tackled with hugs from my bathing suit clad family and knew it was swim time immediately.  The tranquility of the spa was a thing of the past, but the results—they were confirmed as soon as I put my bikini on.

I hadn’t yet had a chance to tell my husband about my spa treatment because there was too much pre-swim excitement.  But as I walked through the room after having put on my bathing suit, I was turning heads already.

“Your stomach looks really flat?” My husband said, and I tried to ignore the fact that it came out as a question.

“I know, right!” I agreed with a coy smile.  “And that’s after drinking an entire pot of tea too.”

He gave me a confused look and I told him I’d fill him in at the pool…if I wasn’t too busy strutting around in my bikini.

Thank you to Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay for having me as a guest at The Healing Village Spa.  As always, all opinions are my own.

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