Feng Shui Concept in Spa

There are various stimulating factors in the course of life. Even though we are accustomed to live based on consumerism, with an enlightened and transformed mentality we all long for a calm life that is in harmony with nature.

Otherwise, it would not make any sense to feel better after sitting by the shore and breathing, or feel refreshed after taking a long walk in a quiet forest. Creating feng shui areas to expand spiritually and to integrate the already existing energy of nature with our lives, help us become centered again. In this article we lift the curtains of the mystical gateways of Feng Shui philosophy and invite you into infinite peace. 

About Feng Shui 

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese philosophy that enables people to find balance by designing their living spaces in harmony with nature through spatial design. If we take a closer look at the root of the words, Fēng (风) means the wind, and Shuǐ (水) means the water. When translated, the combination of these Chinese words creates a name that means “the road of wind and water”. According to this philosophy, it is believed that  in living spaces designed considering the Feng Shui rules, energy flows without any limitation and therefore the quality of life is improved. 

There are some supporting terms used to give better meaning to Feng Shui philosophy. Some of these being Chi (energy) and Bagua (map of energy). Most probably you have heard of the Yin and Yang symbol, in other words the complementary opposites theory. This symbol is a perfect description of the opposite poles of the universe and their intertwined coexistence. And Feng Shui principles are believed to be what provides the balance and harmony between them. 

Use and Effects of Feng Shui Energy 

Even though nowadays Feng Shui is viewed simply as a decoration guide for people who are into spirituality, it is actually based upon a belief system far beyond that. Applying Feng Shui principles in finding the most ideal location for graves in the Zhou Dynasty could be given as an example of this. Reason being, in accordance with the belief system of that era, choosing the ideal spot for a grave was believed to bring good luck and fortune to future generations. On the other hand, not applying Feng Shui while choosing the right grave plot was believed to bring negative energy and bad luck. 

“Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum” is a great example of graves that are built to be aligned with Feng Shui energy. Because the mausoleum is built on the mountains that look upon water. In today’s China Feng Shui is a commonly used practice in finding grave spots. 

Nowadays, Feng Shui is still used as a popular life philosophy not only in China, but in a lot of other countries too. Feng Shui energy principles can be applied in various areas such as construction, architecture and decoration. Positioning of buildings, placing the windows and gardens planned in accordance with energy maps are also in line with this belief. Many take the direction of the building and its position into consideration according to the principles of Feng Shui when planning to purchase a house or property. 

Businesses and offices pursue success in adapting their workspace into life energy or chi and the Feng Shui philosophy. It is known that companies and billionaires, who get listed in Fortune 500, are getting guidance on office design from Feng Shui specialists. Many A-list celebrities such as Madonna, Johnny Depp, Oprah Winfrey, Sting, Julia Roberts, Steven Spielberg, Sophia Loren and Cher are known to use Feng Shui in their living spaces. 

Tune of Feng Shui Philosophy in Spa Designs 

While Feng Shui is working its magic in all areas of life, other areas that include this magic are spa and wellness centers. Feng shui touches made starting from the entry areas of spa centers to therapy rooms and to the reception areas take guests' spa experiences to the next level. 

In Feng Shui philosophy, the entrance of a space represents flowing opportunities and acceptance. That is why spa centers that adopt this philosophy pay close attention to easy layouts that can be completely opened and accessed easily. Meanwhile, the reception section is designed in a way that allows a positive energy flow for the guests’ movement. For this reason, in these areas you can come across mirrors, decorative water fountains, pools, nature-inspired decors and tropical patterns. In addition to that, aquariums, paintings of natural landscapes are frequently used. 

Because sharp-edged objects are believed to have a negative connotation, spa centers that adopt Feng Shui philosophy use rounded curves in the waiting area with hopes of calming visitors’ minds. The rounded and curved seats are supported with dim lights to give a feeling of tranquility. 

In the Feng Shui belief system, whoever has their feet directly pointing to the door is identified as the most defenseless position. In the Asian culture, this is accepted as the “death/coffin position” since coffins are carried in this position. That is why, where clients will be laying down in the therapy rooms, they must be positioned away from the door and their backs should be facing the door. 

The most ideal color to be used in these areas of wellness centers are nude colors that evoke softness and calmness or pastel green tones that are associated with healing. In addition, it is highly recommended to use rounded leafy and lush green plants as decoration and to avoid thorns and weak plants. 

Spa Centers Designed with Feng Shui Philosophy 

Here we present to you some of the spa centers that stand out with their design based on Feng Shui philosophy: 

1) Workinn Hotel - Gebze

Workinn Hotel is the first hotel where this philosophy is applied, not only in the spa center but in all construction. Due to its location the hotel usually attracts customers who only visit the region for business trips and it offers a relaxing ambiance to its guests. In the spa center of the hotel the “Five Element Massage”, which is inspired by Feng Shui teachings, is mostly preferred. 

2) Mandarin Oriental- New York

Mandarin Oriental in New York is home to a spa center designed by the Feng Shui master Pun-Yin, who appeared in many TV programs and worked as a consultant for Donald Trump for a while. In addition, the hotel has facilities like Thai Yoga Suite, VIP Spa Suite and amethyst crystal steam room. 

In this article we touched upon the Feng Shui philosophy that is widely used for free energy flow and is based on Ancient Chinese culture. Keep following Spatopia for more information and recommendations on spa culture and spiritual practices that inspire spa designs!