Introducing Tala, natural hammam products for your at home spa.
Tala-Natural Hammam Products for a Home Spa , or Bliss in a Box, by Mr. Steam
As I mentioned before, the theme for #BlogTourCali was “a well designed life”. This,of course, is right up my alley as Sonoma Style™ is all about quality of life; and a well designed life is all about quality, isn’t it? AND, personal well being is a distinct and integral part of a well designed life. To that end Modenus set up a day for sublime personal well being on our road trip!
Introducing Tala on #BlogTourCali #RoadTrip-image via Chasen West Photography
It started with the drive OUT of LA and north along the coast to Santa Barbara and the Bacara Resort and Spa. The intention was to experience a full relaxation and spa experience where we were introduced to the new Tala line of Bath & Body Bliss kit from Mr. Steam. A spa in a box!
From Yoga overlooking the beach, to their fabulous spa where we soaked, steamed, fluffed and buffed with the all natural and authentic Tala product…we were thoroughly relaxed and in our happy zone!
Bacara Resort and Spa for a Day of Well Being…Do you Tala?
Introducing Tala-natural hammam product for your at home spa
And then we ended the day in Cambria, on the ocean, with a short bus ride into the Paso Robles Wine Country, to Caliza Winery for an extraordinary dinner with great wine…sigh, take me back!
Introducing Tala- Evening at Cambria-Paso Robles Wine Country- Caliza Winery-images via Chasen West Photograpy
But the story that truly touched my heart was how Martha Orellana and Susan actually were inspired to create the wonderful Tala products. Tala product is truly authentic to a Moroccan hammam experience, and to that end I want to share the story of how this amazing product line came to be.
Tala, inspired by The town of Azrou-image via Wolpy.com
When Susan and Martha (from Mr. Steam) were visiting Morocco last year, they visited Azrou, an ancient and tiny village up in the mountains of Morocco. Their friend and guide took them to the local hammam where the people of the village visit weekly. It seems that every town in Morocco has a hammam, very similar to Turkey.
Sign for a Hammam in Morocco-Tala-image via Memoirs of an Adventure
The hammam in Azrou is old, read, no frills at all. Nothing at all like what we here in the west think of when we think of a spa. But their experience, as told to us by Susan, literally brought tears to my eyes.
It seems that the women and small children are together in one room, the men separated in another. Dress, well there is no dress except for a towel, perhaps…
Hammam, women’s and children’s room-Women Without Men- Movie, by Shirin Neshat 2005, Foto: Larry Barns
It begins by washing yourself, all the while slowly relaxing in the sauna-like conditions. At the door, you typically get a dab of Moroccan black soap, which basically just looks like dark brown goop.
Black soap is a part of the Tala gift package-image via Maroc Mama
The next step is to scrub yourselves down with a VERY rough washcloth. This clearly removes all of the dead layers of skin that have accumulated over the years and exposing the new ones underneath. If you can’t reach, well, your neighbor, friend or stranger, pitches in and helps you out. It seems like a very natural thing to do.
After that they apply a mud pack to their hair and face and once it drys they sit in the steam to simply relax. When this was complete and they were done they used a local oil from the argan tree seed all over their body and face. After experiencing these products myself from the Tala Body Bliss Kit, I can attest to the soft skin and incredible glow my skin had for the several days.
argan-oil from the argan bean-also a part of the tala package-image via The Beauty Bean
Susan explained that once they got over their initial discomfort and American expectation of what a spa experience should be, they relaxed into this ancient ritual. Then they got into the rhythm of this slow and quiet bathing ritual, and all that was left was a true connection of spirit with all the other women in the spa. It didn’t matter about rudimentary space at all, or that they were literally outsiders in this small town.
Well, inspiration comes when we feel an inner quietude and connection, doesn’t it? With a space, a person, a place…and this deep connection between the women, and their weekly ritual is what inspired the incredible Tala line.
Do you Tala in your very own Mr. Steam at home steam shower?
Made of all natural ingredients sourced in Morocco, Tala is about as pure a line of spa products as you will ever find! Tala which means, “ A palm, a cool fountain spring, a beam of bright morning starlight…simply heavenly”, is just that, simply heaven. And, combining these products at home with your very own steam shower…well…Bliss. You’ve got your very own spa ritual.
And at home spas are still the number one trend in bathrooms today!
Doesn’t it inspire you to want to travel to Morocco?-image via Passage To Tangier
It just makes me want to create my own “Moroccan” Hammam experience. How about you?
Check out the Tala process below! If you want to buy this bliss kit for yourself, look for your local Mr. Steam Dealer.
And when you are ready to renovate your bathroom, do it the Sonoma Style™ way, add a steam shower for your very own at home spa!
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