Spa-ced out

Stem cells, gold dust, caviar. It would appear that the oil massage as we knew it is passé, and exotic spas are big business.

As more and more Indians with disposable incomes discover the pleasures of being pampered with facials and massages, the spa industry in the country is growing by leaps and bounds (see box below) and spa entrepreneurs are innovating fast to keep the excitement going with new and exotic treatments.

Myrah, a luxury destination day spa in Mumbai’s upmarket Juhu area, has launched ‘stem cell therapy’, an 85-minute treatment priced Rs 5,500. “It’s considered a breakthrough in anti-ageing,” says Nisha Jhaveri, Myrah’s owner. The frozen stem cells used at Myrah are imported from Spain and contain Tropoelastin, a chemical that experts believe has anti-ageing properties. While the ‘stem cell therapy’ is Myrah’s USP, Jhaveri has other treatments, including exotic ones that use powder extracted from 1.5 carat diamonds, gold and caviar.

‘Organic’ is the USP of Aparna Raghavan’s White Mantra Spa, spread across 7,000 sq ft in Bangalore’s Rustam Bagh. White Mantra claims to use products that are not only natural, but also mostly grown within the spa premises. “Every ingredient — from the mix of herbs to the hand-pounded powders, the essential oils, the fresh, organically grown fruits and flowers — is sourced from the spa centre,” says Raghavan. White Mantra Spa specialises in creating customised packages based on individual need and body type. Some of the more exotic treatments it offers are an almond-chocolate body exfoliation, strawberry-oatmeal skin treatment, and massages using macadamia nuts and coconut milk.

Speaking of new therapies, Shen Reflexology, a wellness centre in Mumbai’s Bandra locality, has just brought in Moxibustion, an ancient Chinese therapy that aims to relieve stress around the eye area. The 30-minute treatment uses special ‘Moxa sticks’ (cigar-like, infused with herbs) that are warmed and gently massaged around the eye area and help to reduce dark circles.

Juhu in Mumbai also has the brand new Caressa Spa which offers a special ‘life spa capsule’, a spaceship-like chamber in which you lie down and are engulfed in a gush of temperature-controlled steam infused with aromatic herbs and essential oils.

It’s not quite the same, but New Delhi’s Radisson Hotel too has a special ‘aqua suite’ inside which it offers a ‘body detox’ treatment using micronised seaweed. Later, you are cocooned in a warm water blanket that gives you a feeling of complete weightlessness. At R The Spa, as the Radisson’s spa is called, the therapy is often combined with facials, body massages and body wraps such as the green coffee wrap, introduced this summer.

Anupam Dasgupta, general manager of Ananda in the Himalayas, an hour’s drive from Dehradun, well understands the need to offer unique, yet effective therapies. “That’s why 70-80 per cent of guests here,” he says, “are repeat customers.” Ananda recently introduced an exclusive treatment, a 45-minute Tibetan massage using hot Himalayan salt poultices infused with cardamom and lavender, and a blend of five types of organic oils.

Not just spa owners, spa vendors too are providing increasingly exotic stuff. Eminence Organics, a Hungarian brand of natural skincare products, has come out with a ‘chili facial’ cream that contains extracts of paprika, which heats the skin naturally, thus facilitating the opening of pores and removal of dead skin.

“Every hotel wants to give its customers a wholesome experience and that’s why they are opening spas,” explains Sanjeev Mansotra, chairman and MD, Core Wellness. The company runs Sohum Spa and Wellness Sanctuary, which has day spa centres in Baroda, Pune, Chennai and pilgrimage centres such as Shirdi and Katra, and also plans to offer certified spa courses.

Despite all these innovative new experiences being offered at spas within the country, those who can afford it — and many increasingly can — go abroad for exotic treatments at dedicated spa destinations. Dr Purnima Mhatre, who runs Gorgeous, a chain of cosmetology clinics in Mumbai, says: “Indulging in exotic treatments is a status symbol today.”

Megha Kawale, model/DJ/musician, takes regular ‘spa vacations’ and has just returned from a Polynesian spa in New Zealand. It was Nisha Jhaveri’s travels to spas all over the world that prompted her to open Myrah. In India, hotels such as Westin have developed properties in places like Sohna and Pune as quick spa getaways.

Arun Thapar, who anchors and produces the show Spectacular Spas for Men on NDTV Good Times, says, “Men, too, know the importance of a manicure or a fruit facial and are unapologetic about enjoying a spa treatment.”

Take Mohamed Morani, CEO of Cineyug, a Mumbai-based entertainment company, and his wife Lucky, who pack in a two-hour session at a spa every week getting back massages, hair treatments, foot reflexology, body wraps, etc. “Spa treatments are an intrinsic part of our lives; it’s no more a luxury, it’s a necessity,” he says. This year, they hope to go to Chiva-Som in Thailand, a luxury health resort which offers treatments such as marine mud wraps, volcanic mud facials and spiced coffee body glow, where ground coffee — which reduces cellulite, it is believed — is used to cleanse the body.

If you think that’s exotic, then some of the therapies at spas across the world would make your stomach turn — ‘snake venom’ facials to freeze wrinkles, ‘bird dropping’ massages for supple skin, snakes (non-venomous) slithering over you in a ‘body massage’, and a ‘hay stack bath’ where you’re buried under moist hay (heated to 40° C) for 20 minutes to open the pores and detoxify the body!

Clearly, spas have come a long way from the ‘water therapy’ they began as. Most people in India do not even realise that what most spas offer is ‘pampering’, without any ‘therapeutic’ benefits. “With pampering, one just feels good; but when it’s therapeutic, it works at a deeper level of health,” explains Dr Issac Mathai, medical director, Soukya International Holistic Health Centre, Bangalore. India also lacks regulations and standards, he adds, and even Ayurveda, India’s ancient medical system, tends to be widely misused.

These are important concerns, and the spa industry would do well to heed them if it is to continue to grow in India.

THE PRICE OF PLEASURE

Pegged as a significant part of the Rs 11,000 crore wellness services sector, the spa industry, says a FICCI-E&Y report of 2009, is growing at 35 per cent per annum. The report further says that there are 2,300 spas in the country now, and by 2014 ,700 new ones will be added, comprising both homegrown and international brands which will open in India to meet the demand. What’s more, by 2012, nearly three lakh spa therapists will be required in India.

Here’s what you can do this Valentine’s day

Devigarh Resorts is celebrating its 10th anniversary and offering special packages for Valentine's day 2010. Email devigarhresorts.in for further details

1 A card from Sophie Creations is a must. These are greeting cards I design on my own with 100 per cent handmade paper, recycled materials and handiwork worked on by Indian artisans themselves. There’s no better way than a simple, personalized card to share your feelings. Rs 70 onwards. The link is on the blog webpage so go ahead, smile and order your cards on cardsbysophie@gmail.com
2 Pamper your taste buds with yummy and specially crafted Godrej Nature’s Baskets. The “indulgence” hampers consists of heavenly chocolates and confectionaries like Villars bar - dark chocolate with orange, Guliyan Twists Impulse - Mixed Flavors and Terry's Choc Orange Mint. And if you think your Valentine is way too health conscious to enjoy all these sinful delights, the hamper also has a host of scrumptious snacks and beverages like Venus Healthy Cuisine Saffron Pepper, Pfanner Green Apple Drink, Merba Patisserie Cranberry Cookies and Swell Apricot Nectar. PRICE: Rs 3,500 onwards. Available in Mumbai but you can order them in other cities too by calling on these numbers: World Trade Centre: 022- 22154706/22152006; Warden Road: 022-23526775; Powai: 022-25707706; Lokhandwala: 022 26300766; Bandra : 022 6425050
3 It’s time to gift your man a spa treatment. ESPACE, the spa at Radisson MBD, NOIDA, has introduced special spa treatments for men this Valentine’s day. The treatments, says the spa manager, keep in mind the specific skin care and detoxification needs of men. The ambience is, obviously, luxurious but the therapies aim at reducing body stress while removing harmful toxins from the system.
The Gentlemen’s Retreat (back, neck and shoulder massage): The massage works on the head, neck and shoulders, relieving tension and bringing in a sense of relaxation. The treatment provides relief from back aches, relaxes the muscles and other parts of the body.
Price: Rs 1,500
Duration: 20 min
Gentlemen’s Happy Feet: Time to heal thy feet. This promises to be reflexology at its best. Specialized massage techniques, concentrating on the reflex areas of the feet will have your man falling at your feet for sure.
Price : Rs 999
Duration : 50 mins
Call (0120-4300000)
4 Go fall in love all over again this Valentine's Day. NYC & Company, the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, has announced special packages for Valentine’s day, 2010. Singles, you may want to join a “crash course in dating” with some relationship experts who will, apart from giving you gyaan will also serve you Love Potion Cocktail (yikes) at Havana Central Times Square. Tickets: $15 each. If that sounds dreary, the good part is that you can join a “Valentine Speed Dating” event at Havana Central at The West End. Tickets: $59.95 each, including tax, hors d’oeuvres and one Havana Central Classic Cocktail. Cruise holidays are passé, you might want to experience walking on the clouds this Valentine’s with Liberty Helicopters, which is offering Romance Over Manhattan tour lasting 25 minutes. At the end of the tour you’ll get a souvenir photo of you and your loved one. Price: $995 onwards. For more information, visit libertyhelicopters.com. Don’t come away without the special Park Avenue Romance Package at Oasis Day Spa, which includes complementary candlelight dinner vouchers too. Price is $300. Services at the spa include a choice from aromatherapy massages, French wine facials and much more. Prices range from $70–$125 onwards. For more information, visit oasisdayspanyc.com. Mandarin Oriental New York is offering, apart from other packages, special Midnight Magic Over Manhattan spa experience. Price: $1,750+ For more information, visit mandarinoriental.com/newyork.
For more information about what to see and do in New York City, visit nycgo.com.
5 Those of you in Delhi can head away from the maddening crowds and visit KBL Farm, Number 17, Mehrauli, where well-known aroma-therapist Blossom Kochhar has set up Ishwar, her brand new spa. You can choose from a wide variety of massages and treatments, which are based on the science of aromatherapy. We would recommend her signature, deep tissue massage, which Kochar believes removes negative energy and cleans the aura. Gift your Valentine detoxifying body wraps, scrubs and facials and enjoy the day with herbal teas and healthy organic snacks. For prices and other details, dial: + 91 9711862038/9711862039
6 The Altitude Store has brought out interesting hampers for Valentine's Day. For a store that specialises in organic products, we particularly like the store's "apricot hamper", which includes apricot face scrub, soap scrub with lemongrass extracts. The hamper also includes a special hand cream as well as apricot poil and herbal tea. Visit www.thealtitudestore.com for more details. Delivery within 48 hours.
6 Quickly book this treatment for your precious Valentine. Radisson's R The Spa has a special Chocolate Indulgence treatment that has been created for Valentine's Day. This includes chocolate facial, chocolate wrap, chocolate massage and -- wow -- chocolate manicure and pedicure too.
Duration: 240 minutes
Price: Rs 7,500 ++
Where: Radisson Hotel, Delhi
Dial: +91 11 26779065
Email: rthespa@radissondel.com

Cleansing it just right

This story was published in Business Standard Newspaper http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/cleansing-it-just-right/374178/ on Sunday

After bingeing on sweets, drinks and greasy food, a detox spa is what you need.

You’ve binged on all the booze, gorged on sweets, lined the stomach with greasy but gratifying Diwali meals. Now, you’re lethargic and dreary, too. Right? Well, what you need is a detox programme, after all those nights of playing teen-patti with kebabs, chips and pakoras by your side. It’s reassuring, all right, but unhealthy eating and late-night rounds of card parties will leave you tired, especially once the festivities are over and you need to rejuvenate yourself quickly to get back to the grind of daily stress and duties.

While it’s absolutely essential to eat right (a good idea is to go on a healthy fruit diet for a week), what I’d personally recommend is spa treatments to leave you relaxed and completely recharged.

A quick-fix weekend break at Ananda, a leading premium spa property, for instance, could be the perfect choice for the post-Diwali detox session. While the property is breathtakingly beautiful, the treatments at Ananda don’t disappoint either. As a post-Diwali fix, Ananda has a host of Ayurvedic treatments which, coupled with yoga and healthy food, aim at complete detoxification of the body. The signature treatments, perfect for post-Diwali detox, include wild rose salt glow (with rose oil and Dead Sea-salt cleansing scrub) and a 45-minute Indian body mask (dry exfoliation with therapeutic clay application for 45 minutes).

If a marathon detox session is what you need, then head to Goa’s Park Hyatt to experience the Samudra Ritual, a three-and-a-half-hour-long treatment that promises to leave you feeling revived from head to toe. The treatment combines hydrotherapy, dry scrubs and algae wraps with rigorous massages using creams that come packed with sea mineral scrubs. The cost: Rs 9,500.

If time is a constraint, we recommend Sole2Sole, a foot reflexology service started by Mallica Singh in Delhi’s Uday Park area. It makes sense to go in for a rejuvenating foot reflexogy treatment, especially because all the hectic Diwali activities have a direct impact on your feet.

Natasha Shah of The Nature Co adds,“Celebrations are bound to take a toll on the body, so it’s important to pamper oneself.” Shah says that a spa-at-home is also an option, what with the availability of quality products, soothing music and candles to create a soft glow. The Nature Co has introduced a special “white pepper cleansing milk”, with antiseptic and purifying qualities, that penetrates the skin to remove impurities. The company’s special range in the “detox” category includes cleansing milk creams, rose hydrating facial mist, corn-based exfoliating face packs and special aroma oils (rosemary-sage-thyme, for example) that promise to treat dull skin.

My personal suggestion, despite all the products you can purchase at stores, would be to get detox treatments done by experts. Thanks to mobile spa vans, you can get masseurs to come to your doorstep. They’ll recreate the magic of a spa in your humble room and transform it radically into a dreamy, wondrous place. Try Tattva, a mobile spa van which has introduced festive specials, including chocolate scrubs, foot spa treatment, facials, traditional Swedish back rubs and much more.

Like Tattva, The Park’s Aura Spa has introduced special spa treatments that are perfect for post-party souls. Our pick: Soothing Pumpkin, a treatment which comes packed with the goodness of beta-carotene, anti-oxidants and vitamins A and C, as well as zinc and alpha-hydroxyl acids. Blended with sesame seeds, the treatment helps sagging skin (something that happens when you consume too much alcohol) and hydrates the skin layers. Available at Rs 2,000 for one hour.

But the ultimate high in a spa experience would be the signature treatments that Aman offers. For an oil-free experience, try Saleekha, a special 90-minute Thai massage which aims at gentle yoga stretches while also using pressure points to energise tired muscles. At Rs 7,000, it’s the perfect recipe for a soothing tomorrow. The best part at Aman is that you can simply surrender yourself to the expert who, after studying your skin type and other details, will suggest a therapy for you. And if time’s a constraint, you could try Shiro, a simple head massage and wrap treatment where the therapist massages rosemary and hibiscus oils into the scalp. At Rs 1,500, it’s your answer to the hangover that you may have experienced after a night of drinking.

Amatrra offers special detox packages for the festive season, in which therapeutic massages are designed to remove toxins. Radisson Espace has designed special therapies, including a lime and pink ginger body scrub, for example, that help in fighting pimples, skin infections and eruptions. Who said you can’t gorge on sweets, then?