october-2011

They’re placed on your back and
shoulders, then you’re wrapped
in soft blankets. The result is
deep tension release. A more
experimental option is a hot
stone massage. Heated basalt
sea stones, placed on your back,
and almond oil are used to
stimulate circulation and
pleasurably ease away painful
muscle tension and cramps. You
could also try an ayurvedic body
massage with warm herb-
40—GW
H A N N O V E R
Schwimmbad mit Weitblick im
Aspria Hotel in Hannover
The infi nity pool at the
Aspria Hotel, Hanover
infused oil. The aroma helps to
remove “blockages” and has a
relaxing eff ect.
A healing touch
Sometimes the touch of expert
hands is all that’s needed to
restore you after a taxing day.
A professional refl exology
massage is good for the heels
and toes, as well as helping ease
headaches and tension. Some
hotel spas also off er Reiki, an
ON BUSINESS IN HANOVER?
Then tag on a few extra days and soothe away any aches and pains at one of these fantastic local spas
best for backs ► Try a well-being massage at the Aspria spa, a fi rm yet soothing
experience for untangling all those knots and niggles. Cost: €55 for 45 minutes.
The Aspria spa is a members club, but day passes and off -peak rates are available.
Other facilities include: indoor and outdoor pools, sauna garden, steam room, salt room,
hammam plus yoga and cycling studios as well as a creche and family pool. Getting there:
take a taxi or go by tram Nos. 1, 2 or 8 Laatzen/Sarsted/Messe Nord. Get off at Döhrener
Turm. It is then a 600m walk. Contact: Aspria Hannover, Rudolf-von-Benningsen-Ufer
83, 30519 Hanover, +49 (0)511 8997 9700, www.aspria.com. Stay at: the 20-room Aspria
Lodge (for members and their guests plus members of affi liated associations) or the Hotel
Loccumer Hof, single rooms €70–€90, double rooms €85–€125, Kurt Schumacher Straße
14/16, Mitte, 30159 Hanover, +49 (0)511 126400, www.loccumerhof.com
best for tired feet ► After a hard day at a trade show, indulge in a treat for feet at the
Steigenberger Hotel Bad Pyrmont, to get the circulation going. This will have you back
in business mode in no time. Cost: €19.50 for a short foot massage. Other facilities
include: indoor pool, sauna, treatments such as back massages, total body peels,
hot stones, hammam. Getting there: Take the S5 train from Hanover airport, 1 hour 20
ancient form of Japanese
complimentary medicine which
gets energy fl owing and balances
body and spirit. If that’s all too
airy-fairy for you, try a vigorous
head and shoulder massage
instead.
Stretch at the desk
You can also soothe pain in the
back, neck and shoulders with
exercise. People who work in
sedentary jobs should make sure
they regularly exercise their
core muscles, in order to
prevent the onset of physical
complaints. Any physical
activity is better than doing
nothing, be it a few quick laps in
the hotel pool, a run on the
treadmill or some targeted
weight training in the gym.
You can also relieve acute
pain with gentle exercise – it’s
better to go for a walk than
collapse onto the sofa.
minutes, every 30 minutes. The hotel is a short taxi ride away from the station.
Contact: Steigenberger Hotel Bad Pyrmont, Heiligenangerstrasse 2-4, 31812 Bad
Pyrmont, +49 (0)5281 1502. Stay at: the Steigenberger Hotel Bad Pyrmont (as before)
off ers single rooms for €150 and double rooms for €250, including breakfast.
best for easing stress ► The State Spa of Bad Nenndorf’s thermal springs are heated
to a blissful 33ºC all year round. Boost your immune system and unwind as you splash
about in the indoor and outdoor pools and roast in the saunas infused with herbal
fragrances. Cost: pool area €8 per day pool and sauna area €13.50 per day. For more
info on prices go to www.landgrafentherme.de. Other facilities include: mud baths
and mud wraps, thermal mineral baths, extensive gym facilities, hydromassage, deep
tissue massage, Balinese Rajawatu therapy (a type of hot stone treatment) plus more
medical treatments for conditions such as psoriasis and rheumatism. Getting there:
take the train from Hanover, 44 minutes, every 30 minutes. Contact: Rheuma Klinik
Bad Nenndorf, Bahnhofstrasse 9, 31542 Bad Nenndorf, +49 (0)5723 702100, www.
staatsbadnenndorf.de. Stay at: Hotel Harms, Gartenstraße 5 31542 Bad Nenndorf,
+49 (0)5723 9500, www.hotel-harms.de
Text: Helen Parton