It's SPArty time

Picture courtesy: Vidya Tikari

There is a new trend in the India spa industry: SPArties. While my main piece on SPArties will appear in Business Standard Newspaper on Saturday (in the paper's Weekend section), I thought of drawing up a list of companies that are offering services of organising parties (with spa therapies and massages as the central theme) in the comfort of your own home. Check them out

ASAP (Any Surprise, Any Place)
This company is run by a very wonderful person whose name is Ruchi Chopra. I'd met her almost a year ago and was completely stumped by how she tranformed a simple idea into a viable career option. She started some years ago with an initial investment of Rs 50,000, most of which was put into the website. By 2007, she had made a profit of Rs 15 lakh. Anyway, Ruchi is one person you can approach and she can definitely ensure that your next party is a big hit. If spa-theme is what you want, give her an advance notice of five days and who knows, maybe your next party just might be a winner. It’s a Delhi-based company but because she claims that her network is strong, she can organize parties and even send personalized gifts.
Contact: asap.co.in
Dial: 9810888498

Tattva Spa, New Delhi/NCR
It’s a mobile spa exclusively for women, one where specialized massage therapists transform – in 15 minutes flat – your humble room into a Zen-like space, complete with aromatic candles, music, flowers, even lamps and other interesting visual placements and lighting. What the company also offers is “Tattva nectar”, complementary refreshing drinks before the Tattva treatments. I received a detailed press note explaining that Tattva Sparsa – for an intimate group looking forward to premium and luxurious services and Tattva Rejuve –for bigger groups and kitty parties -- are packages which are fast becoming a hit with clients. The charges are on a per service basis (Rs 2,000-2,500 per service, per person) for Tattva Sparsa. Tattva Rejuve is charged on a per hour basis (enjoy as many services for as many number of people). Depending on the number of people and the specific services required, the billing ranges upwards of Rs 3,500 per hour for the Rejuve package. Tattva also designs special SPArty invite for clients.
From full body massages including aromatherapy, hot stone, chocolate wraps and scrubs, to back and head massage, manicure, pedicure and floral foot spa, Tattva has promised to give me an experiential service for readers of SPAlendor. So, there will be a review on Tattva home services shortly.
Contact: Tattvaspa.com
Dial: 011-64994126, 9999835852

Bangalore Mobile Services, Bangalore
This was started in January 2008 by Rubina Guleria in Bangalore. “I was tired of fighting the traffic for spa services and my “maalishwali” wasn’t really up to the mark. I wanted the comfort of my home while also getting an expert service for therapies,” she says for reasons of launching her spa service. Gradually, it extended to clients requesting her to organize SPArties too. When I spoke to her, she was busy organizing an Arabic-theme SPAarty for her client. For corporate honchos and houses, she also organizes “spa camps” too.
Contact: bangaloremobilespa.com
Dial: +91 98449 74761 (call anytime from 08:00 hours GMT to 21:00 hours GMT)

Vidya Tikari Studio, New Delhi
Well-known beautician Vidya Tikari converted her salon into a spa zone for her personal party. Soon she was getting offers to “rent” her salon for spa parties. Give her an advance notice and she’ll ensure you and your friends don’t get disappointed with what she ends up offering. The best-seller here is hot stone therapy that her trained staff does a swell job of it I’m told. (Note: I’ve been invited to review this therapy and will write on it sometime next week for sure).
Contact: vidyatikari.in
Dial: + 91 9971426867

Antara-On-Wheels, Mumbai
Touted as Mumbai’s first mobile spa, Antara-on-wheels promises to deliver the luxuries of a day spa in the comforts of offices or homes. The therapists will come to you and even transport everything required to relax you, your employees and guests. The company has a special spa party package and can be included in dinner parties, bridal showers, baby showers, mommies night-in, girls’ time-out and birthday parties. The therapies include neck and shoulder massages, mud masks, hand and foot reflexology and back massages too.
Contact: The Club, 197 D.N Nagar, Andheri (West), Mumbai
Dial: 022 66919082

Sacred Origins, Mumbai
Another luxury mobile spa, the therapist from Sacred Origins places a floral and scented candle display along with a tray of essential oils resting on a bed of flowers. A portable music system pipes in to create the mood. And there’s even herbal tea and dry fruits on offer after the therapy. Sacred Origins’ massages range from pure aromatherapy (Rs 2,000) to the La Stone massage (Rs 3,500). The spa also offers body polishes and body wraps (Rs 1,600) and facials like the oxygen facial (Rs 4,000). You can call in its therapists and host a spa party too.
Contact: sacredorigins.net

Vedic Village: get well soon

Writing has been sporadic and will continue being so till next week. One, I've been caught up with too many things, including regular office work, theatre workshop, home management -- or lack of it -- and much else.
But what can one write when one of the premium spa properties in India is set ablaze by a furious mob. Yes, we are talking about Vedic Village, that amazing property tucked away 40 minutes away from central Kolkata. A resort which offers luxurious packages and therapies and is also home to many celebs and well-known personalities from different walks of life, Vedic Village had plans firmly in place for the upcoming Durga Puja. The Pujo Package for a deluxe room, for instance, is supposed to start from Rs 25,000 (two nights) and includes, besides other offers, also a spa treatment for a couple (Abhyangam or deep tissue massage/relaxing orange oil massage/vitalising back therapy and floral oil massage).
Considering the level of destruction caused due to the fire -- it didn't help that the property used a lot of thatch for its design aesthetics -- has been immense, one wonders if the packages on offer will still continue to remain for visitors.
Here's wishing the resort speedy recovery.

Ayurvedic products by Iraya

Inspired by Ayurveda, Iraya, a three-year-old brand unveiled its new range of products for the Indian market recently. The beauty and wellness brand from Sadatan Pure Ayurveda, Iraya reaches out with its range of “natural” beauty products. Natural is the key word here especially because the brand’s range comprises of products that believe in nature’s own healing process, bestowing complete wellness and lasting beauty from within. Needless to say, none of the products have synthetic colorant or fragrance.
Appreciated — and used — by spa professionals and wellness patrons, Iraya products are present at over 50 spas in India and overseas destinations. This includes spas like Sereno Spa at Park Hyatt, Goa, Quan Spa at JW Marriott, Mumbai, Blu Spa at Marriott Hotel Goa, Club Prana Spa at The Hyatt Regency (Mumbai and Kolkata) and The Spa at Shangri-la, New Delhi, to name a few.

Kumkumadi Balm
Prescribed in Ayurveda as a “miraculous elixir’ for the skin, this balm is a concoction of pure saffron and 10 precious Ayurvedic herbs that lighten and brighten the complexion. It evens skin tone, clears blemishes, minimizes fine lines and surface imperfections and helps improve skin texture and complexion. Excellent for dry skin.
Rs 475 (50 gms)

Orange & Green Tea Scrub
With extracts of green tea, orange, walnut shells (yes, that’s right) and almonds, this face scrub gently removes dead skin cells, improves skin texture and tones up the skin. Regular use will aid in a luminous complexion and a healthy glow. Other ingredients in the scrub include bael fruit (amazing!), aloe vera (trusted), apricots, almonds and grapefruit seed extracts. Who knows, maybe it’s delicious to taste too ;)
Rs 195 (50 gms)

After Shave Gel With Tea Tree
With extracts of tea tree, wild grass and aloe vera, this soothing gel calms irritated skin and wonderfully moisturizes while also reducing any inflammation. An excellent unisex product, it can be used as an after-shave soother to soften and heal the skin as naturally as possible.
Rs 195 (150ml)

Oatmeal Soap
A wholesome, mildly-exfoliating soap that leaves skin soft, smooth and fresh. With the calming aroma of oatmeal and the goodness of cold-pressed oils, step into the shower armed with this soap to de-stress at the end of a long day. Containing oat flakes, coconut oil, rice bran oil, vanilla, olive oil, vegetable glycerine and aqua, this could be you next pick.
Rs 115 (100gm)

Triphala Face Tonic
Iraya’s signature Triphala face tonic balances the metabolic mechanism and opens up the channels of the skin with its cleansing action. Triphala helps to enhance the skin's natural resistance to free radical damage. The nutrition that your face gets with the face tonic includes amla, sandalwood, vetiver oil, vegetable glycerine, natural “grain” alcohol besides essential oils of neroli, ylang ylang and Indian rose.
Rs 225 (150ml)

Orders can also be placed online at www.iraya.in
Picture courtesy: Iraya