Newly renovated Steenberg Spa has launched its spring-summer spa and wellness treatment menu, which strongly focuses on refreshing and detoxing after the winter months, which tends to exacerbate feelings of stress.
As much as spa treatments are about pampering, they are also essential for managing the effects of exhaustion that often result from trying to keep up in today’s fast-paced, information-saturated society.
A study by the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) found that as many as one in three South African employees suffer from burnout. Internationally, various studies indicate that as much as 80% of workers experience the state at one time or another.
These statistics are not lost on experienced wellness therapists like Monique Pereira, manager of Steenberg Spa at Steenberg Farm in Cape Town’s Constantia Valley.
“We get quite a few guests who are experiencing fatigue. These guests need to seek treatment when they are experiencing low energy levels, but if they are experiencing stress and anxiety, they should probably seek treatment every two- to four weeks.”
“We have a holistic approach to wellness – it’s not just about a massage and nails and ‘out you go’. We focus and address physical, mental and emotional well-being,” she says.
While the spa’s spring-summer menu is extensive, Pereira is excited about three items in particular:
The first is the ila Scalp and Head Reviver, which combines scrub, mask and acupressure to relieve tension in the head and neck while nourishing the hair and hair follicles with vital minerals and oils.
The second is the Relieving & Toning Black Leg Masque Treatment. Popular with international guests, businessmen and women, it helps stimulate circulation and reduce water retention while providing a cooling sensation to soothe puffy, swollen, or tired legs. The products contain the key ingredients of Legance to help reduce water retention and refine the adipose tissue and the V-Tonic Complex to aid circulation and act as a venous decongestant and vasoconstrictor.
Pereira is certain the Couples Connect option will be one of the spa’s most popular items this season. “This sensual ritual helps calm the nervous system and promote reconnection for couples on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level. Focusing on the heart, sacral and crown chakras, it draws on the strength of three exquisite oils – rose (the flower of love), orange blossom (the flower of bliss) and jasmine (the flower of uniting love).”
Earlier this year, Timeout Magazine ranked the spa among the Top 12 spas in South Africa, while TripAdvisor named it the Top Spa in Constantia for 2024. Last year, Steenberg Spa also won Cape Town Tourism’s Best Couples Massage Award.
A major factor contributing to its success is its specialising in helping people on their fitness or weight-loss journeys by providing muscle recovery treatments. Additionally, detoxifying treatments complement other health goals.
Steenberg Farm is renowned as a sought-after tourist destination for its five-star hotel, award-winning wines, five star restaurants and spectacular scenery. The spa is targeted at visitors wanting a luxury treatment experience.
“We offer special packages or unique treatments that highlight our local cultural element,” Pereira says.
“Our outdoor spaces, for example, are very popular with tourists during the spring-summer season. People spend the day at the spa, lunch at our Tryn restaurant, and then have dinner at the estate’s Bistro Sixteen82 restaurant.
“Many Cape Town residents have friends and family who visit them during summer, and they often treat them to a day at Steenberg Farm.”
Pereira says choosing a spa for rejuvenation, pampering, or self-care should never be done in haste. Every individual has specific needs, and selecting the wrong treatment facility will likely not produce the desired results.
She has compiled a checklist for treatment-seekers to consider:
Check reviews and ratings online platforms, and pay attention to feedback on the quality of treatment and therapist care received as well as the overall experience;
Explore the menu and specialities and review these to make sure they match needs and preferences;
Visit the spa’s website and social channels, which will give insight into the facilities, staff, skillsets, promotions, and events;
Always communicate your needs and preferences so that the therapist can curate your service or treatment;
Arrive early. When guests arrive early, they have time to disconnect from the pressures of daily life, enjoy the amenities and change into luxurious robes.
Avoid heavy meals and alcohol to ensure relaxation and enjoyment;
Be open to any after-care suggestions that can help maximise the benefits of treatments.
Steenberg Spa sees the value of investing in international trainers to help train its team on a regular basis. Exposure to global and leading techniques helps to keep its therapists energised and aligned with best practices. It focuses intensely on curating its services to create a specialised experience for each type of guest, from initial consultation to final offering.
“What we believe makes our sanctuary special is that we integrate with other facilities – the hotel, wine, and golf – so guests can enjoy a full day of relaxation and indulgence. But as much as we pride ourselves on our uniqueness and being the only spa in the Western Cape to offer ila to harness energies and create connections, our greatest asset is our ability to elevate our guests’ spa experience,” Pereira says.
