In This Luxe Marrakech Spa, Gut Massages Are a Thing (and Good for You) - ELLE.com

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Chances are the mystical, enchanting beauty that is Marrakech, Morocco is already at the top of your travel bucket list and if it’s not, it should be. It’s easy to get lost in the picturesque North African destination flooding Instagram travel feeds by the minute, whether it’s the city’s serene gardens, historic mosques, luxurious riads or souks. But, Marrakech is also lauded for its impeccable spa experiences, given their luxurious hammams (steam baths), aromatic massages, facials and other traditional treatments.


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One of the top-rated resorts in the city is the family-run Es Saadi Marrakech Resort. Founded in 1952 by Jean Bauchet, the Hivernage-based resort began as a casino favored by celebrities (the palace counts Pierre Balmain, the Rolling Stones, Leonardo DiCaprio and more as past guests) before it expanded into a full service hotel in the '70s, later adding a spa experience years down the line. The institution has been passed down through generations and is now run by Bauchet’s grandson, Jean Alexandre and his wife Caroline Bauchet.

The créme de la créme of the resort is the sumptuous Palace Spa, a respite to travelers seeking a relaxing day of holistic treatments designed to soothe and nourish the body. Created in 2010, the Palace Spa thrives at the intersection of traditional and contemporary with sensory-driven experiences provided in an oriental-inspired structure that is built around an 100-year-old eucalyptus tree. The Palace also features a Phyto hair salon and the Dior Institute—the only other location outside of Paris.


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Among the spa services offered, one of the spa’s newest treatments is the gut massage. Yes, you read that right—gut massage. Inspired by Chinese medicine, the massage was created with the idea of “circulating vital energy” to help alleviate certain ailments our body endures daily. What does that actually mean? Allow Caroline Bauchet-Bouhlal, group development director at The Palace Spa, to break it down.

Let’s get into the process of the belly massage treatment. Where does the massage therapist begin?


The massage begins with a series of skimming touches and soft movements clockwise on the back. These are followed up with firmer and more precise circular movements with the palm of the hand. After the back, the face is gently, delicately massaged before moving on to the 30-minute belly massage. The last part of the treatment is a hand and foot massage that brings a feeling of total relaxation and absolute well-being.


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Why did you start doing gut massages?


The Palace Spa has always been innovative in its choices and always tried to anticipate the client’s needs in wellness. It became obvious to include this treatment in order to stick to our innovative and holistic philosophy.

When was it introduced to visitors?


It was introduced in September 2016.

What types of ailments can this treatment help?


It helps fighting fatigue, stress, anxiety, digestive and transit disorders.

What types of products do you use for services?


[For massages we use] Micheline Arcier body and face oils. These active essential oils are so powerful that they must be blended with suitable vegetable carrier oils. These provide an added dimension of benefit to each formulation, offering vitamins, anti-oxidants and GLAs to stimulate the production of healthy skin cells, neutralize free-radicals that hasten skin aging and protect the skin against pollutants.

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