I know you are all interested in Hammam and the benefits derived there from. Indeed,I have just returned from Casablanca yesterday and visited a wonderful, Spa at Duo by Noor a combination salon and private Hammam. Now I am a firm believer in "the real thing" and therefore don't always like to wax lyrically about "fashionable" spas which cost a lot of money and provide only a modicum of real treatment. However, this was different - a fashionable personal Hammam in the traditional style.
I was initially disappointed by the delay in receiving his Hammam given I booked the day before and arrived on time. After a 30 minute delay which was assured to be very, very rare I was taken into a private Hammam of black tiles and tadaleck - the traditional smooth plaster that is rubbed and finished with black soap. I was met by Fatima who is an athletic Moroccan Berber who has been giving Hammam for nearly 15 years. She has seen it all and clearly very serious about her work. One should note- Hammam is a physical experience and say many, not for the feint of heart.
The room is heated to approximately 42 degrees- the floor and bench are heated from underneath by way of electrical piping. It is not stifling in anyway and is not akin to a steam room or sauna. It is more like hot yoga that many of you know I am a great fan.
After an initial shower in warm water, you lay on the equivalent to a yoga mat on the heated tile floor. While lying on your front you are soaped down from top to bottom. Then turn over and the same treatment is applied - And yes you are naked. If you are at all shy or timid about being naked in front of someone other than our partner or doctor then this may not be for you. However, it is absolutely professional and "above board". The creamy Eucalyptus black soap is lavishly applied and then you are left for 5 minutes just to soak on your back in a slippery and somewhat slimy state. Moroccan Black Soap is made from an Olive Oil and is 100% natural. Known to remove toxins and impurities you can actually feel the soap tingling on your skin as it deep cleans.
Next, and after rinsing off the black soap comes exfoliation. And I don't mean the type with a micro silicon particles or laser treatment, etc. but good old fashion manual scrubbing with a Kessa or exfoliating mitt. She rubs hard and indeed it does hurt as he removes the first layer of skin. This is the only true way to exfoliate and achieve smooth clean skin. Starting from head to toe and back again and back a third time he removes all the dead skin cells and toxins. She takes great care to address not only your back and legs, but feet, between toes and fingers, neck, behind the ears and even when finished she carefully scrubs your face. She even scrubs the crevasses around the nose and chin, behind the ears and eyelids!
Next is a shower to rinse off the skin - and believe me there is a lot of skin on the floor. Not a pretty sight, but one shouldn't forget that that was a moment ago part of me! Fatima hoses down the room while I take the shower.
Next, I am asked to lie down again and then he applies an interesting gel douche with a traditional loofah. Suds are everywhere and I am so clean at this stage I really don't know that is me. I look like the cat the comes out of the washing machine! This is when he gives me an energetic massage - again from toes to neck as well as practicing a few chiropractic moves given I had mentioned that I have an ailing back. Fortunately, he didn't try and re-arrange my entire spine and I did, indeed feel much better.
Again a final shower and toweling off. At this stage an Argan Oil massage would have been perfect, but I had to catch a plane and didn't have time. This is a cultural normality in Morocco and many parts of the Middle East, Turkey and the Magreb. However, most people only know a steam bath or sauna and then perhaps followed by a massage. This is different and truly an hours worth of total body repair. I left feeling energized and really, really clean. Anybody that says there is a better way to clean then they haven't tried Hammam."
There you have it - the perfect way to smooth silky skin. I felt great and cleaner than ever. There really is nothing better for body and spirit than Hammam.
Zakia Haman lives in Paris with her two children and husband. She loves traveling, meeting new people and cultures, and yoga. She is passionate about her native Morocco and their traditional approaches to beauty and health. She co-founded Zakia's Morocco with the intention of inspiring others and helping those women associated with the local co-operatives crucial to the harvesting of Argan Oil. To learn more about Zakia's Morocco visit her website, http://www.zakiasmorocco.com.
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