As I navigated the pre-9 a.m. bustle of a Chicago weekday, relaxation felt impossible—until I stepped through Chuan Spa’s signature Moon Gate on the fourth floor of The Langham, Chicago. Crossing that threshold, the city’s rush faded, and calm arrived almost immediately.
I settled into a cozy chair in the quiet lobby, watching the stream of commuters through floor-to-ceiling windows. It was far more peaceful to observe than to participate. After completing a brief mood questionnaire, the receptionist escorted me to the locker room to begin the spa experience.
This visit was different from my first. A year earlier I had toured the still-under-construction hotel in a hardhat and vest; this time I was wrapped in a plush robe and slippers. The contrast was striking, and I preferred the softness and quiet of the spa visit.
Chuan—Chinese for “flowing water”—grounds its treatments in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The spa encourages guests to begin with the Chuan Bathing Ritual, a sequence of hot-and-cold rooms designed to reinvigorate the body. The herbal sauna eases tight muscles while sage, rosemary and mint open the respiratory passages. The Salt Stone Sauna features Himalayan salt blocks that release negative ions to create a clean, calming atmosphere and may help reduce stress and respiratory or skin irritations. An Experience Shower jolts the senses awake before the Oriental Steam Room, where chamomile fills the air and heated, ergonomically designed recliners soothe the body.
TCM is organized around the five elements—wood, fire, earth, metal and water—and each treatment reflects those principles. The spa uses exclusive five-element oils, incense, candles, teas and juices to complement its services.
After a restful moment flipping through a large issue of Vogue in a quiet relaxation room stocked with teas and reading material, my therapist arrived and led me to a spacious treatment room. Decorated in deep purples and burgundies with Chinese-inspired details, the room felt private and serene. Heavy drapes blocked the city view, reinforcing the sense of calm.
The five-element questionnaire determined my primary element to be earth. The card my therapist offered explained: “The Earth element relates to your spleen, stomach and muscles and affects your mouth and lips and sense of taste. Emotions often include worry and overthinking. Preferences may include the color yellow, morning time, late summer, damp environments and sweet flavors.” The description matched my tendencies closely.
My therapist selected oils and lotions tailored to my element and focused on specific pressure points. She guided me through The Chuan Breathing Ritual to restore harmony of mind, body and spirit. As an earth element, I placed my right hand over my chest near the spleen, visualized the color yellow, inhaled fully, held my breath briefly and exhaled while chanting “gong.”
The 60-minute signature Chuan Balancing massage followed. This treatment emphasizes acupressure techniques to release muscle tension and improve the flow of qi, the body’s life force. My therapist applied gentle pressure to points associated with the spleen, stomach, muscles and mouth, encouraging the body’s natural healing processes. The experience was blissful; I drifted in and out of semi-consciousness throughout the hour.
Chuan Spa’s TCM offerings extend beyond massage to include acupuncture, which uses fine needles to stimulate energy channels; moxibustion, where a warmed Chinese herb is held near acupressure points; and guan, or cupping, which applies heated cups to the skin. The spa also provides facials, body scrubs and wraps, men’s treatments, Thalgo treatments and signature hand and foot therapies.
The Langham, Chicago emphasizes overall wellness with a health club, personal training and a pool and Jacuzzi. The fitness center houses modern cardio equipment, strength machines and free weights. While open to hotel guests, the gym also offers memberships for individuals, couples and corporations. The 67-foot pool, which had once been a concrete shell during my first visit, now features city views, loungers and a heated Hydro-Vitality Jacuzzi.
Chuan Dream Room © The Langham, Chicago
I concluded my visit in the darkened Dream Room on a Four-Sense Lounger. Unique to Chuan Spa at The Langham, these recliners glow from within and offer gentle vibrations and interactive elements that ease the mind toward meditation. Soft music played while I enjoyed the solitude and final moments of serenity. It was the perfect spot for a restorative nap, but time nudged me toward a late-morning meeting.
Reluctantly I rose from the lounger, changed in the locker room and passed through the Moon Gate once more. I stepped back into the city feeling renewed—calm, centered and somehow lighter—as if floating on my own small cloud.
Chuan Spa
The Langham, Chicago
330 N. Wabash Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
tel 312 923 9988
chicago.langhamhotels.com