Relaxing on a sublime beach with only the murmurs of rolling waves and the rustling of palm leaves in your ears will definitely make you forget all about your 9-to-5 and your demanding boss.

By Eugenia O’Neal

Just being in the beautiful British Virgin Islands is relaxing. Life flows at a different, slower pace than in larger countries. Reclining on a beach chair with a good book or maybe an exotic drink in hand is a perfectly acceptable way to pass the day. And if you're lulled to sleep by the gentle wash of the waves and the rustling of the palm trees, well, you can always finish the book another day. But don't think that's all the islands offer in the way of soothing restfulness.

The spas of the BVI offer a wide range of therapies, massages and more, all designed to make you forget stress. Time-tested treatments based on a variety of local shrubs and trees are designed to refresh and revitalise both body and spirit. The famous aloe vera grows wild everywhere, and has been known for its healing powers since the time of the Tainos. It is a favourite ingredient, as are the leaves of the neem tree, with their powerful antibacterial properties. Body scrubs, facial masks, and hand and foot treatments made with sea salt from nearby Salt Island, local goat's milk and honey are other popular and effective ways to beautify and de-stress.

Been hiking the Sage Mountain National Park and would like nothing better than a massage for your tired muscles? Then head to Road Town and visit one of the wonderful spas. The Solé Day Spa offers a wide range of treatments to meet any need. Its Spa Indulgence package, four-and-a-half hours of head-to-toe pampering, will leave you feeling like new. Another popular Road Town retreat is The Oasis Salon & Spa at the Village Cay Hotel & Marina. Here you can take advantage of a whole range of services and treatments, get the hairstyle of your dreams or wow your friends back home with acrylic nails that are tiny works of art. Housed in the remains of a 17th-century Dutch fort, the Bougainvillea Clinic overlooks Road Town and offers world-class plastic, reconstructive and general surgery. Restylane to fill in tiny lines, microdermabrasion for skin affected by sun damage and laser treatments are also available.

Located on the splendid Cane Garden Bay Beach, the Sea Spa at Myett's brings you outdoors to get in touch with nature and enjoy the balmy Caribbean winds during your treatments. Float away into wistful relaxation as the Atlantic Ocean washes up onto the sand nearby. Treatment options include wraps and facials — but it's the Relaxation Massage that keeps those who've experienced it coming back.

To get away from it all, a stay at the secluded Surfsong Villa Resort on beautiful Beef Island may be just the ticket. Surfsong offers massages for couples, which are done side by side in the upper level of the beach pavilion overlooking the waters of the Sir Francis Drake Channel. The resort, designed to complement its surroundings, also offers a second seaside pavilion for massages directly near the water's edge, as well as manicures, pedicures and facials for guests. Options include Thai, deep-tissue, Swedish and Indian-style massage, hot-stone treatments and more — all done by a therapist who's chosen based on your needs and preferences. Pilates and yoga classes are also offered for guests of the resort, as well as kayaking, hiking, sailing, snorkelling, fishing and more.

On Virgin Gorda, there's Sense, the Rosewood Spa at Rosewood Little Dix Bay, which offers guests a full range of exotic treatments found nowhere else. Your Sense spa experience will begin with a comprehensive consultation to determine your needs and then segue into an individualised programme designed just for you. Many of the ingredients for the treatments come straight from the resort's lush gardens. Others like the luscious Virgin Gorda Goat Milk and Honey Wrap and the Gentleman's Facial, featuring pumpkins and yams, are sourced elsewhere on the island.

In addition to the treatments and massages you may already be familiar with, the Spa at Leverick Bay Resort offers an exotic range of massages based on ancient Eastern techniques. The Thai massage will unblock your meridians and other areas of your body to accelerate blood and lymph circulation, improve your flexibility, balance your nervous system and leave you deeply relaxed. Reiki therapy is also available.

A few islands away, the Spa at the Peter Island Resort is a 10,000-square-foot ode to luxurious self-indulgence. Ten treatment rooms, a relaxation lounge, suites for couples, a steam room, an infinity pool and a hair salon offer a variety of therapies and experiences. Indulge yourself with one of the Caribbean Kur treatments, based on thermal mineral water, algae, and essential oils and herbs, or get an introduction to Ayurveda, the 5,000-year-old system of traditional Indian medicine aimed at preserving health and promoting longevity.

Myett's Sea Spa
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
Tel: 495-9649
Fax: 495-9579
E-mail: myettent@surfbvi.com
Website: www.myettent.com
Extend the bliss of your holiday with a relaxation massage at Myett's Sea Spa. Customized to suit your needs, this gentle but firm massage will relax your mind and body, bringing you into balance with the rhythm of island living.

What would make your BVI vacation complete? Whether its boating, biking, hiking, team sports, horseback, surfing, snorkeling, diving, windsurfing, kayaking, kite boarding, sailing, fishing — get the 411 on who to contact right here.

Learn more about each island of the BVI and its beautiful pristine beaches, here.

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