Marie Madden heads the impending winter blues off at the pass with a trip to The Spa

With the West being lashed by every cloud in the sky and that summer holiday becoming more and more of a distant memory, it's easy to fall victim to those winter blues. However, there is a way to escape from it all, without breaking the bank.

In many other countries, spa treatments are regarded as very important for maintaining wellbeing and are seen as an essential rather than a luxury. Luckily, with a wide range of therapeutic and affordable treats now available in Galway, it has never been easier to incorporate some rest and relaxation into your routine.

With this in mind, I recently took a trip to the newly re-launched Spa at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel on the Headford Road. Just off one of the city's busiest roundabouts, 'The Spa' is the perfect spot to take an hour off for a relaxing treatment and beat the traffic at the same time.

Offering everything from deep tissue massages to targeted facials in a relaxing setting, it sounded like the ideal place to take a break from reality and give myself a little treat.

And it didn't disappoint. As soon as I walked into The Spa, I was instantly put at ease. The rich interior design features wood, dim lighting and a soothing water feature, designed to make you forget the stresses and strains of the outside world.

On arrival, I was met by Spa Manager, Melissa, who gave me a tour of the facilities and explained my upcoming treatments.

The Spa offers two very different ranges, which work together to meet the client's needs. Inspired by an Asian blend of healing and therapeutic remedies, the Ytsara Spa range uses herbs and essential oils to achieve radiant skin, healthy bodies and total wellbeing. The Spa's skincare line Dermalogica takes a more scientific approach, with a targeted and tailored system, which promises to deliver maximum benefits.

On my visit, I decided to treat myself and try both, so I opted for the Ytsara New Mohom body treatment and a dedicated Dermalogica facial. Before starting my treatments, I took full advantage of the Spa's thermal suite.

This mosaic-style room features heated loungers shaped to your body contours, where you can catch up on the day's newspapers and magazines, a Finnish sauna with heat up to 95 degrees, aroma steam room, aroma cabin and experience showers. However my personal favourite was the ice cave. After a good spell in the sauna, you can enter the ice cave and use the fresh crushed ice all over your body. This hot/cold sensation feels extremely invigorating and is also good for firming up the body and regulating soft tissue.

Shortly after, I was collected from the thermal suite by my therapist, who showed me to the luxurious suite where my body treatment would take place.

Each treatment room is very spacious and cosy, a welcome departure from the clinical cubicles found in many other spas. This is typical of the ethos at the spa. While offering many targeted and affective treatments, the overall emphasis is on ensuring the client has a memorable and luxurious experience.

Every Ytsara treatment begins with a welcome foot cleanse and finishes with the Ytsara tea ritual and these little details really make your feel like you are being pampered. The Mohom treatment uses a steamed indigo herbal poultice to pummel the body to ease any muscular aches and pains. This is followed by a deep tissue massage using palms, thumbs and elbows to dissolve muscle tensions and give you a feeling of serenity.