This dreary weather calls out for a sneaky self-care treat.

And if you want to escape the puddle-strewn streets and put your weary muscles in the magical hands of a professional for a few hours, November might be the perfect month to do it.

The Kingsley Hotel at Victoria Cross has introduced a new Nordic Zen Ritual promising a deep feeling of peace and harmony, baby-soft skin, and a glowing complexion, and honestly, who couldn’t do with a bit of that before Christmas cranks up the heat in the coming weeks?

The treatment

After arriving at the Kingsley Hotel and being guided by the staff to the dressing room, I left the phone, glasses, and outside clothes and shoes in the locker, popped on the togs and robe, and off I trotted down to use the facilities before my treatment.

As I sat on a bench downstairs, Thermal Suite to my right, and pools to my left, a member of the team gave me a brief rundown of what facilities were available in the Luxury Thermal Suite. Aromatherapy Steam Baths, outdoor pools, an infrared room, lanconium chairs, saunas… heaven.

I took a quick sweep to find my feet before gravitating towards the steam rooms. Outside each door is a little plaque which tells you what kind of infusion awaits inside: lemongrass, the passion fruit and guava steam bath, and lavender. The lemongrass was by far my favourite as it was the strongest.

There’s just something very cleansing about smelling like lemons.

After a trip to the infrared room (they recommended at least 15 minutes), I took myself over to the outdoor heated pool, which looks out over the River Lee and on this particular cold but dry-ish day, she was in full flow.

Soon my therapist, Chloe, arrived and whisked me away upstairs to her therapy room.

The Nordic Zen treatment at the Kingsley Spa offers a blend of Eastern-inspired therapies and indigenous healing traditions. Chloe explained the treatment that lay ahead, which included a scrub, hot stones, and oil massage.

After a gentle all-body scrub, followed by a quick shower, Chloe prepared the hot stones and massage oil. She applied just the correct amount of pressure throughout the massage and the smells of the oil, made with juniper, eucalyptus and minerals, along with the soothing rainforest sounds was enough to make me fall into a timeless trance, punctuated only by the need to turn myself over every so often, like a very relaxed pancake.

Once the treatment was over, Chloe guided me to the relaxation area where a tray of assorted chocolates awaited me, as well as an herbal tea, ice cream and fresh fruit.

If you were so inclined you could also order some bubbles here but as a non-drinker, I was very much satisfied with a mocktail.

After all that, there was nothing else to do but sit back and relax and let the world melt away once more before finally emerging into reality and heading back home again.

You can book Kerstin Florian Nordic Zen treatment at the Kingsley Spa from €165 here.