Finding your center in Boracay's Mandala
BY REYMA BUAN-DEVEZA abs-cbnNEWS.com

A customer enjoys a spa treatment at Mandala. Photo courtesy of Mandala

Mandala is the Sanskrit word for "circle" or "whole," and is often illustrated as a palace with four gates.
It is also believed to represent a person's spiritual evolutionary path.

But in Philippine tourist favorite Boracay island, Mandala is an award-winning spa that claims to be a place of healing for both its local and foreign visitors.

"The best thing Mandala can give is an alternative means to life. Sure, we have the best treatments, but the point of coming to Mandala is because they (customers) want to change their lives," resort manager Jove Schrottmann told abs-cbnNEWS.com.

"You come here because you want to learn how to become healthy and stay well. That's the point," he added.

Mandala's four private day spa villas and 12 luxury resort villas sit on a 2.5-hectare land.

The place, owned by Diether Schrottmann and Karen Villarica Neff, features Filipino and Italian styles with its capiz doors, woven bamboo floors, Italian bathroom fixtures and sliding walls.

"The concept was to put up a high-end spa, which is Mandala Spa today, that delivers Watsu and all kinds of treatments," Schrottmann said.

Since it started operations in 2002, Mandala has received several awards, the latest being the Philippines' Leading Resort Award from the 2010 World Travel Awards (WTA).

Aside from the WTA, the spa has also earned recognition from the Spa Finder Reader's Choice Awards, the Baccarat Asia Spa Award, the Boracay WOW Awards and the Spa Asia Crystal Awards.

"The idea was to become a destination spa and resort," Schrottmann said.

Treatments
Mandala is known for bringing Watsu -- a modality developed by Harold Dull in California -- to Boracay.

Short for water shiatsu, Watsu allows the muscles to relax through massage techniques combined with the sensation of floating in water.

The service is said to help a person enter "a very profound state of relaxation physically and mentally."

Other treatments include facials, masks, body scrubs, body wraps and a variety of massages.

Schrottmann said the best bet for first-timers is the Mandala Signature Massage, which combines ancient healing techniques, long-stroke pressure and gentle stretches.

With more premium spas such as Mandala being set up, Boracay is giving people more reasons to visit the tropical island