Seriously, when I saw this, I had to spread the word. The cool factor is above and beyond. Especially for the beer and chocolate-loving ladies out there.

Zen Your Life, which calls itself a Center for Natural Health and Wellness, in Groot-Bijgaarden, Flemish Brabant (yep, that’s in the Payottenland) is offering a spa therapy involving hops, chocolate, and beer.

Yes, you did read that correctly.

This is the press release from Yves Panneels, which I translated from Dutch with a lot of help from a certain website:

“The health and wellness center Zen Your Life in Groot-Bijgaarden, which is distinguished by its unique spa rituals, opened a little over a year ago. To celebrate this anniversary, therapists Nadia Delens and Ilse Lindemans have created a top Belgian arrangement with central elements of hops, beer and chocolate.

Nadia and Ilse give most of their spa rituals names that refer to exotic destinations. One exception: the Payottenland. The half-hour package based on lambic beer and hopstempels contains an anti-oxidant body packing with red and blue fruit (including cassis), a facial, a nourishing mask, a facial massage with honey from the Pajottenland, and a unique ‘hopstempel’ massage. At the end of the treatment, clients are offered a glass of Lindemans Cuvee Rene Oude Geuze, or a fruit beer from Brouwerij Lindemans.

(NOTE from DBB: A hopstempel is a slightly porous bag filled with whole hop flowers. These flowers still have an oily residue, which will seep through the bag when it is used to massage a person’s skin. You can see a massage therapist with two of these bags, massaging a clients back, in the main photo with this article. There is also one in the second photo with the Lindemans Cassis bottle.)

The ‘Pajottenland arrangement’ has been so successful that Ilse and Nadia still want to go one step further. Henceforth, they now offer a whole package based around Belgian beer and chocolate.

“Our treatment based on lambic beer and hops has attracted not only people from the neighborhood, but also many foreign guests. Therefore, we have decided to put more typical Belgian products in the spotlight. Because Belgium is like no other country: it is known for its delicious chocolate and beer! “Says Nadia Delens. “Research has shown that chocolate is packed with substances that are beneficial to the skin. Our Belgian package includes a hopstempelmassage, finished with a spray of lambic, and a facial with Belgian chocolate. To feast and enjoy … “

Ilse adds: “In addition, we have for the true chocolate lovers a spa package and ritual with products based on cocoa butter that play a central role. The two-hour Sao Tome ritual includes a body packing with chocolate mousse and a full facial cleansing and exfoliation, and a body massage with vanilla white chocolate. The ritual concludes with a pairing of chocolate and beer.

Nadia says: ‘The common thread through our wellness program is the use of high quality food products. We are convinced that what is good for the inner person, is also very good for the outside. ‘

In Zen Your Life you can go for a variety of massages and treatments. The modern-looking building is located in a wooded area and is also home to a cozy bed and breakfast with two full-comfort rooms. So it is ideal for couples who want to enjoy peace and relax, or for business people at a stone’s throw from the capital who want somewhere else to stay than in an ordinary hotel. The private spa with jacuzzi, sauna, steam bath, rain shower, relaxation room and outdoor pool can be rented with a partner or as a family for a few hours or an entire day. In Zen Your Life natural health care is central. The emphasis is on prevention. Besides nutrition, naturopathy, life coaching, reflexology and relaxing and therapeutic massages soft kinematics makes Pilates, Body Firm & Stretch and Bio-relaxation part of the offer.”

End press release.

Now, back to me. I suspect a lot of ladies in the Brussels area will be wanting one of these for Christmas.

The cost is 90 euro per person when combined with a spa package, or 105 euros per person without a spa package.

The beer choices should come as no surprise, as Ilse Lindemans is the sister of Brouwerij Lindemans owner Dirk Lindemans, and Nadia Delens is Dirk’s wife.

Lindemans Cuvee Rene Oude Gueuze won the Gold Medal in the “Specialty Beer: Lambic and Gueuze” category of the Brussels Beer Challenge in early November. See: here for more info.

The Lindemans beers are imported into the U.S. by Merchant du Vin Corp.

Photos copyright Zen Your Life.