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

What a WOW holiday

Sumitra Senapaty brings her brand new package for 2010 for women who love travelling and are spa-holics. Read the details below and go on a "nirvana" holiday. Cheers to health, then.

WOW Wellness Week at
Om Beach, Gokarna
Celebrating 5 years of WOW!
June19th to June 26th ex Goa

Where
SwaSwara is situated beside the legendary Om Beach in the small town of Gokarna in Karnataka, 170kms from Goa’s Dabolim Airport. Pampering comes naturally here because there are 26 acres of private forests of banyan, casuarinas, acacia, kokum, fig, coconut and palm trees within a secluded sanctuary for the soul right next to the Arabian Sea.
Accommodation
The sense of space is to die for! Because it is like your own private home! You can laze and linger on for the entire day, reading your favourite book, enjoying precious time for your self! Your villa consists of the following:
• A very comfortable glass and curtain enclosed air conditioned bedroom.
• A covered walk-in-wardrobe for suitcase and clothes.
• An open centre courtyard with loads of greenery.
• A sitting room that looks out over a beautiful pond.
• A staircase that leads up to your individual meditation platform, which faces the forest canopy and ocean below.
Facilities
• 24 self contained villas built in traditional Konkan style.
• 22 meter lap swimming Pool
• Meditation Dome
• Ayurveda Centre
Cuisine
• Healthy vegetarian and fresh sea catch
• Interactive cooking at the Gallery Kitchen

Things to Do
• Yoga
• Pranayama
• Meditation
• Ayurveda (separate charges apply)
• Boat rides (weather permitting)
• Kayaking (weather permitting)
• Nature walks (weather permitting)
• Exploration of Gokarna town, market and temples
• Satsangs (discourses) on important aspects of Yoga and Ayurveda.
• Glass/sand painting with Artist in Residence.
• Clay modeling
• Jewellery designing with shells and beads.
• Movie evenings.

Your days at Gokarna
• 7:00am-8:00am Progressive Asanas Yoga Shala
• 8:15am-9:15am Wellness Asanas Yoga Shala
• 10:15am-11:00am Rejuvenation Asanas Blue Dome
• 11.15am-12pm Mantra studies Yoga Shala
• 12:15pm-12:45pm Art Yoga Art Gallery
• 3:30 pm-4:15pm Yoga Nidra Blue Dome
• 4:30 pm-5.30pm Chakra Meditation Blue Dome
• 7:00pm-7:45pm MSRT Blue Dome

What you get
Sanjivani Meditation - To strengthen biological as well as spiritual link between our inner vital force and cosmic force through simple hand movements. Application of these pranic sensations to all organs will enhance overall energy level.
Chakra Meditation: Activating 7 major energy centers (CHAKRAS) of body by focusing on their colour & location. Deep breathing & “OM” chanting accelerates the supply of vital energy from all chakras to related body organs.
Manthra Studies: To avoid mechanical chanting, here we teach you the pronunciation & meaning of various mantras, to get its real vibrations & all other benefits.
Stress Management: This session include theory and practical lessons on stress management, various techniques, motivating stories etc will reduce mental and emotional stresses.
Anahata Suddhi Meditation: This is to purify and enrich your personality by removing all emotional scars and wounds that you got in life. Positive values like universal love, compassion etc will become stronger in you with this practice.
Yoga Games: Various simple indoor games to increase quality of life to maintain inner happiness and to make interaction with others, smoother and enjoyable.
Satsanga: These include teachings of great personalities and this session will give you answers for questions relating to yoga spirituality etc.
Mind Sound Resonance Technique: This is a meditation technique to generate resonance throughout the body by repeating a mental sound (mantra). Thus makes us able to gain mastery over the mind and reach subtle layers of mind or super consciousness, enhances the power of mind and leads to bless.
Pranic Energisation Technique: This is a meditation technique in which we use our prana shakti (life energy) which is activated by hand gestures to energize our entire body. Each and every organ & system of the body can be revitalized by this meditation.
Om Tat Sat

Inclusions
• Airport transfers from Goa and back to Goa.
• All meals.
• Facilities & activities listed above.
Exclusions
• Ayurvedic treatments & massages.
• Wines & soft drinks & beverages.
• Excursions & transfers other than listed.
• Anything not included in the inclusions.
• Tips, telephone calls, laundry, room service.

*Please note that SwaSwara has no room service, no soft drinks and only Indian wines.

WOW Wellness Package cost per person on twin share is as follows:
• For 7 nights RS 22,000
• For 5 nights RS 18,000

To reserve your place on this exciting tour, please courier to the below address your full package amount in favour of WOW Club along with the filled in WRF that is attached. The last date for booking is 20th May 2010.
Below are the payment options:
• Courier an At Par Cheque in favour of WOW Club at the given address.
• Online transfer or deposit the money at any Axis Bank close to your area and send in the deposit details.

Bank Details
Current account no.296010200008051
AXIS BANK
Mayur Vihar, LSC, Phase 2, ND 91
IFS Code: UTIB0000296

Address for sending cheque and/or WRF
WOW Club
703/704 Som Dutt Chamber II
Bhikaji Cama Place
New Delhi-110066

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.

Summer packages at Soukya, Bangalore

The Indian tourism ministry, on its website http://visitindia2009.incredibleindia.org/ has begun advertising a lovely spa centre from Bangalore. Called SOUKYA Indian Holistic Health Centre, http://www.soukya.com/ it has announced its 2009 wellness packages for tourists.
A Basic Ayurvedic Rejuvenation programme for 21 days, complete with accommodation, food (vegetarian cuisine which also includes fresh, organic herbal drinks), daily consultations and dietary advice, treatments, yoga programmes implemented twice every day, along with complimentary use of recreational and swimming pool facilities, costs Rs 15,812 per day.
Other programmes at the Soukya centre include Shareera (Body) treatment that concentrates on weight loss using Naturopathic hydrotherapy, Yoga and Diet Simple Ayurvedic package. (Rs.19,057 per day for a 14-day treatment) There’s also SUNDAR (Beauty) treatment that spread over 15 days this treatment offers over 66 different therapies that include natural Ayurvedic products which are anti-ageing. Additionally, guests are also given mud and herbal packs. (Rs 19,942 per day).
The most expensive treatment is Shakthi (power) treatment that’s designed to rejuvenate and soothe and calm the nerves through specially designed Ayurvedic revitalising treatments besides mud packs, reflexology and even acupressure. This is ideal for corporates and foreign tourists who obviously don’t have much time on their hands. Spread over just seven days (the minimum time you have to spend at Soukya, the programme offers as many as 42 treatments for a price of Rs 27,022 per day.

Actually, for those of you planning to travel to south India, where a plethora of spa treatments are available anyway (*beware of touts and unclean places that pass off as spa centres) it would be a good idea to make Bangalore your base, try out Soukya treatments and then proceed to different destinations. Better still, round off your India holiday with a trip to Soukya and the luxurious treatments that it offers.

*Soukya package rates (excluding taxes) valid from April 1, 2009 till September 30, 2009.
* Meals served are primarily vegetarian. Low fat, low salt and very little spice.
* No smoking and alcohol allowed on the property
* Select treatments cannot be done on women when they have their menstural cycle
* Cash, cheques, debit and credit cards (Visa, Master and American Express) accepted

Green tea spa treatments

I was speaking to a friend about spalendor.blogspot.com and she was kind enough to tell me about this very unique spa in the heart of Kurseong. Nestled in the midst of tea gardens in north East India, it’s a wellness resort which specializes in — what else — tea massages besides other therapies. My friend, who has experienced a green tea facial here (60 minutes, Rs 400) swears by it, claims that the perfect ambience and the trained therapists with their amazing skill make a trip to this resort a truly memorable one. Called the Cochrane Place, the resort offers yoga and pranayama sessions, Ayurvedic treatments, in addition to what they call, Himalayan Spa.
Cochrane Place is on the outskirts of the main town and is essentially a restored British colonial home. One of the best things about engaging in spa sessions here is the fact that you’re gently teased by the aroma of Darjeeling tea, gardens of which surround the entire property. Not surprising then that many guests opt for tea spa treatments here. While the green tea facial is there, there’s also an ayurvedic “leaf-bag massage” especially created to relieve body aches and pains (Rs 750 for 45 minutes; Rs 800 for 60 minutes).
Do give their website http://www.imperialchai.com/ a look to find out other details. While at it, I also suggest you take a look at one of the tickers which advertise an interesting site called calcuttawalks.com. Cochrane Place has just announced some of its new packages and maybe you’d like to give this place a try this summer.

Incidentally, Delhi's Galaxy Hotel (pitched as India's first lifestyle hotel complete with five-star services, spa and shopping centre) does a unique body wrap with green tea extracts that are mixed with multani mitti (Fullers earth) and sandalwood powder which makes the skin feel younger and lighter. Green tea is said to have anti-oxidant properties which detoxify the skin. This treatment is available for Rs 950 and lasts for a luxuriating 45 minutes.
Happy spa holidaying, then.

* picture courtesy: Cochrane Place

The hot spa therapies for Indian summer 2009

Tamarind Polish: Tamarind mixed with oatmeal, milk and honey for an exotic body polish at Aura, The Park Hotels, across the country. Price: Rs 2,000 for 35 minutes. Log on http://www.theparkhotels.com/ for further information

Caviar Facials: For men, at Tamaya, the spa at Jaypee Hotels. Price: Rs 6,000. Basically, the treatment uses caviar extract creams and other related products from Pivonia, a brand with which the group has partnered with. Pivonia has top-of-the-line spa products that do not contain any artificial colors or fragrances, lanolin or mineral oil. Every product is alcohol and papa (Para amino benzoic acid) free.

Vinotherapy: Massaging and scrubbing the body with crushed grapes but not before drenching clients in a pool of wine. Available at Myrah in Mumbai: Rs 8,000. Contact: 022-26253968. Myrah Spa, Binoli Palm Spring Society, JVPD Scheme, Mumbai

Chocolate and strawberry wraps: At White Mantra, Rs 3,500 for a little over an hour. Also check out White Mantra's "summer cooler" packages that include facials like “mint and cucumber” or “rose and milk.” Also indulge in the body cooling Javanese Lulur Scrub-n-Soak. (This treatment is also available at The Aman, Beijing). White Mantra also has a cooling sandalwood tan removing package which includes a spa treatment for the entire body, hands and feet too. Contact: White Mantra Spa and Salon, #142, Pop Cottage,Rustam Bagh, HAL Airport Road, Behind Manipal Hospital,Bangalore 560017, India.Phone: +91 - 80 -32429960 / 25214870Email: contact@whitemantraspa.com

Rain Mist Splendor: Available at Oberoi’s The Banyan Tree for in-house guests only, under its hydrotherapy section, this is a brand new “deep cleansing and conditioning” therapy that involves exfoliating body polishes and body conditioners to soften the skin. The treatment begins with a rain mist in order to prepare the body for deep cleansing and conditioning. This is followed by a lemon-yoghurt scrub/orange-oats scrub that aims at softening the skin. This is once again followed by a relaxing rain shower after which cucumber-yoghurt mask is applied. You can also opt for cucumber-honey if you wish. Price: Rs 6,300 for 90 minutes. Log on: http://www.oberoihotels.com/

Indoceane treatment: Available at Quan Spa at Mumbai’s JW Marriott, this involves a scrub with soft granules of sugar. This treatment, Quan’s super exclusive one, is priced at Rs 13,000 for a couple and is followed by two-and-a-half hours of blissful aromatic bath and massage.
Log on: http://www.quanspa.com/

Mango Orange Wrap: At the Renaissance Club Spa in Renaissance Hotel, Mumbai, you can spend 45 luxuriating minutes in a mango and a delicious orange texture wrap which repairs the skin giving benefits of butter, beeswax and honey while the trace elements mineralize the skin. This real body balm can leave the driest skins a velvety texture and a satin finish . Price: Rs 2100. Contact: Renaissance Hotel and Convention Centre, 022-66927777, 66927570

Photo courtesy: Quan Spa, JW Marriott, Mumbai