At Alara Spa at Andaz Doha, by Hyatt, Sirine Boudjadi sees whether a gentle, relaxation-focussed massage can compete with the intense treatments she normally swears by.
I’ve realised I recently started to approach spa treatments like minor acts of self-punishment. If it doesn’t hurt at least a little, I tend to assume it’s not working. I book Hammams to be steamed into another dimension, choose maderotherapy that leaves me looking mildly attacked, and ask for Thai massages with enough pressure to reset my entire skeleton. Somewhere along the way, I convinced myself that it always had to feel intense to actually be effective. So when Alara Spa at Andaz Doha, by Hyatt booked me in for a 60-minute Balance Massage, I wasn’t expecting dramatic results. No sculpting, detoxing or lymphatic promises. Just pure relaxing, which turned out to be exactly the point.
I was welcomed by Nassira, who immediately made the whole experience feel warm and personal. She brought over a drink made with ginger, hibiscus and cinnamon, along with energy balls made with nuts, oats and dates. I could’ve happily stayed there sipping that for an hour alone. She then gave me a little tour of the spa, which has all the essentials for a proper reset: a Hammam, steam room, sauna and a cold bucket shower for the brave. There’s also a women-only gym alongside a mixed fitness space.
Then Ayu, a therapist from Bali, guided me to one of the treatment rooms, where I could change privately instead of going back and forth to the lockers. Before starting, she simply told me to relax my body and switch off my mind, a slightly ambitious request for someone whose brain runs at full speed 24/7. Somehow, though, she managed it.
Her technique was deeply intuitive: slow, flowing movements, gentle stretches and just enough pressure to ease the tension without turning the massage into a contact sport. Subtle upper-body mobilisations worked particularly well around my shoulders and back, and the whole experience unfolded at an almost suspiciously unhurried pace. At one point, I was convinced that at least 90 minutes had passed.
She used the Scented Massage Oil by Charme d’Orient, a sweet almond oil with soft musky notes. As someone completely obsessed with musky scents, I immediately wanted to take the bottle home. One thing I found interesting was how little oil Ayu actually used. Most massages leave you feeling like a glazed pastry afterwards, but here the amount was much more controlled. She later explained that using less product allows for more precision with movement and pressure. By the end, my muscles felt softer and my brain had essentially powered down. I walked into the spa convinced that intensity meant better results, only to be reminded that the body responds far better to gentleness.
After the treatment, Ayu guided me to the relaxation lounge, where tea was already waiting. And, in yet another thoughtful touch, Nassira arranged for a fresh orange juice and a beautifully plated selection of fruit to appear in front of me. I ended up sitting there much longer than planned, slowly eating watermelon and pineapple slices while trying to fully wake myself back up. I felt so relaxed that I could have genuinely fallen asleep on the spot.
For more information or to make a booking, please call Alara Spa at Andaz Doha, by Hyatt on 4452 4026.
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