THERE can't be many spas that offer a full eight hours' sleep as part of their day package, but if you can switch off in Nirvana Spa's Celestial Pool that's what you'll get.

Apparently, a 30-minute snooze in the salt and mineral-laden waters - floating in the darkness under a starry sky - is the equivalent of around six to eight hours of normal sleep. No wonder the spa has proved popular with hundreds of new mums over the years.

Sadly, relaxation is not something that comes easily to me. I spent my half-hour pondering what I should cook for tea, what to buy at the supermarket and where to go on holiday this year.

But don't be put off by my over-active mind. All three of the other floatees' - my mum included - all managed to drop off during the session, and emerged deeply relaxed. And while I might not have managed to doze, I did at least gain some thinking time.

Nirvana Spa has been open for more than 20 years, but it is testament to the management and cleaning teams that it looks like it opened yesterday.

Other spas I have been to have an odour about them; chlorine mixed with a slightly musty smell, brought on by the constant dampness in the air.

But try as I might (and to my mum's embarrassment, I tried quite hard - peering under loungers and behind curtains), I couldn't find a speck of dirt in this place, and the only smell was of the fruity products on sale in the gift shop.

Nirvana Spa's big selling point is the fact that it has no fewer than six pools - yes, six - and we felt we ought to try them all. Then we realised that one is a dedicated fitness pool, laned off for those who want to burn some calories. We quickly decided that trying five out six wouldn't be so bad.

My favourite was the Spa Pool - a bit like an Olympic-sized Jacuzzi, with 49 jets planted around the edges and on a central island to pummel every part of your body.

The Roman Room pool is the focal point of the spa, where you can splash about, float or maybe undertake a couple of leisurely lengths.

I mentioned the Celestial Pool earlier, but what I didn't say is there are two of them - the star-lit one and a training pool where you can practice floating and regaining your feet again, easier said than done when the water contains several tonnes of Dead Sea salt.

Finally, there's the relaxation pool, an area of total quiet where you can unwind and even snooze on one of the poolside loungers.

All this, as well as a sauna, two steam rooms, plunge pools rain showers and a glorious tepidarium - if it wasn't for our treatment appointments (a massage for me and a facial for mum), we might have spent the night on those wonderful heated beds.

You probably gathered by now that Nirvana is a massive spa - the biggest in the UK, they say. Proof of its popularity is in the fact that it was busy all day, even on a rainy Monday in March.

Now I know why.

l Nirvana Spa day Floatation Experience packages are £99 and Evening Floatation Experience packages are £69. Call 0118 989 7575 or go to www.nirvanaspa.co.uk NIRVANA SPA, READING Eight hours' sleep in 30 minutes'

2:21pm Thursday 27th March 2008

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