Monsoon Therapy

With the monsoon season being the best time for rejuvenation therapies, Anindita chattopadhyay goes on a spa trek to find out more about the ‘wellness revolution’ which is driving away the stress wrinkles from the corporate world...

The tub covered with rose petals was inviting. The dim candlelight, the air pregnant with the fragrance of lavender - made a perfect sensual sanctuary. Slowly I stepped into the tub, the petals, somewhat coyly, made way. I slid into the water ear-deep, the skin lapped in the warmth. I stretched my hands and limbs, splashed a little to rearrange the floral cover, the ripples teased the body. Through the window, the Ganges looked like a silver serpent and Rishikesh glittered like a sequin stitched saree. The Sal trees etched mysterious shadows as the moon played hide and seek. I took three deep breaths, my soul soaked in the fragrance. I closed my eyes and let peace settle into me as softly as a dewdrop. The next 40 minutes I floated in the realm of semi-consciousness - the mind emptied of all worries - deadlines, pending stories, ailing mother.

This and much more was my experience at the Ananda in the Himalayas, which won the Conde Nast Traveller's runner-up award for the Best Overseas Lifestyle Destination Spa. Thinking of it, the serene tranquillity of nature coupled with unique rejuvenation processes has given my soul strength and taught me to gain inner harmony. Hence, it seems the current fruition of the spa culture reflect our longing for the soulful life. The celebs, corporate honchos, industry heavyweights - all are freaking out on a spa vacation these days. So much so that, Parineeta Sethi, publisher of the Indian edition of Asia Spa, a Hong Kong based wellness lifestyle magazine, believes it is the fastest growing travel segment in India. "Every other day, a spa is coming up. Seeing the increasing consumer interest in wellness lifestyle, we have even launched an India edition of this bi-monthly from March. And Asia Spa has 7,000 copies paid subscription and the print run is 50,000 copies." That speaks volume. And mind you, it is not just a fad, but is here to say. Ask Ashok Khanna, managing director, Ananda in the Himalayas and he will tell you "When it comes to health the focus today is on holistic wellness and that's what is making spas popular."

What is a spa?

The concept dates back to the Roman empire when battle weary legionnaires tried to find a way to recover from their military wounds and ailments. They identified hot wells or springs and built baths called aquae where they used to heal their aching bodies. They named the bathing treatments undertaken there as Senus Per Aquam (SPA) - which means health by or through water. A modern spa aims at providing total well being by largely focusing on three elements - relaxation of mind, fitness of the body and wellness of the inner being.

Purists, however, claim that Ayurvedic centres cannot be called spas since the European concept of treatment involves not just oil but water, steam, herbs, weeds, salts and even mud. According to Colin Hall, spa director at The Ananda, "Spas should ideally be dedicated to the enrichment of physical and spiritual health, beauty and well being. At Ananda we offer a mix of Ayurvedic as well as internationally accepted treatments like aromatherapy and hydrotherapy coupled with yoga and Vedanta discourses. The idea is to pamper as well as help guests to focus their energies on total well being."

So, when you step into a spa today, you are offered on a platter a variety of treatments and well being services ranging from a simple massage to delicate aromatherapy facial. The treatments can vary from wet treatments (wet table with Vichy shower and/or hydrotherapy) and dry treatments (oil massage, body wraps etc) to wellness therapies (such as oxygen inhalation, reiki, health assessments) and beauty treatments.

The bouquet of services are geared towards fitness (like treks, river rafting), pampering the body (massages and hydrotherapy), relaxing the mind (yoga, meditation), and a healthy diet programme in a beautiful scenic locale with five-star luxury. In fact, location is very important because proper ambience is an essential ingredient needed for a perfect wellness holiday option. So, choose a spa based on whether you like the hills, sea or backwaters.

Spa for all reasons

Since the late nineties, India has suddenly been witnessing a mushrooming of spas. Every hotel chain, leisure or business, is either setting up spa resorts or adding well-equipped spa facilities to their properties. "Customers expect a very good spa even in city hotels. It is seen as a welcome facility to unwind during a hectic business trip. Today's traveller looks for pampering between meetings and flights but no longer wants to leave the hotel," says Vinny Narang, manager corporate communications, Hyatt Regency, Delhi.

After Oberoi introduced its first spa in 1997 at Rajvilas, Rajasthan all the new resorts started adding the spa facility. Indian hoteliers have realised that they are sitting on a 5,000 year-old goldmine of Ayurveda and the country possesses some of the world's most beautiful and pristine locations and proven natural herbal remedies. Interestingly, these resorts are not relying on just foreign tourists any more but looking at the corporate world for big business. "Spa holidays are catching up in a big way with corporate houses as corporates are focusing more and more on relaxation and fitness," notes Sridhar, head - sales and marketing (India), Six Senses Resorts & Spas.

Today's corporate executives like to combine a business trip or conference with a dash of rejuvenation. Corporates are sending high achievers on all expense paid vacations to spa resorts so that they come back rejuvenated after the break. And resorts are ready with offers galore. According to Vrushali Londhe of Park Hyatt Goa, the property has an almost equal mix of the corporate sector and FIT leisure travellers. "At Park Hyatt, we offer specially designed spa packages to corporates for conferencing and incentive meets. These packages include de-stressing and rejuvenation programmes, team building exercises and fitness programmes," says Londhe. "Recently, we had an MNC offer an incentive for their top dealers at Soneva Gili," adds Sridhar.

Resorts like Golden Palms and Angsana in Bangalore get big business from MNCs and technology firms who hold their annual office meetings or parties at these spa venues. In fact, Golden Palms also have long-staying guests like expat heads of software companies who are working in Bangalore.

Also, an increasing number of hotel chains are turning to day-spa and massage treatments to court not only corporates, but families as well. There are also spas attached to popular health centres like Ozone or VLCC. The need for a good fitness centre and spa has moved from a nice-to-have to must-have in the priority list. 'Spa cuisine' and terms like music and dance therapies, lounge therapy, health tourism are not just words added to the wellness vocabulary, but to people's lifestyle at large. Today's corporate executives, professionals and celebs are putting up with mounting job pressures, tighter deadlines and growing ambitions, but not any more at the expense of health. Lokesh Mudaliar, associate director, Astute Consulting Pvt Ltd says, "For me a spa experience is more for the unique therapies than just the peace and tranquillity. As a business traveller, I visit a spa to get instant rejuvenation, which would help combat both mental and physical fatigue."

Nikita Anand, Femina Miss India, a member of Club Olympus at Hyatt Regency Delhi, visits a spa for de-stressing. "I unwind myself at the Club Olympus with a massage that really helps me to relax. It is a place where I like to be all by myself," she says. And to meet such lifestyle demands hotels like The Oberoi are playing a sport by offering a range of 60-minute breaks incorporating aromatic, Balinese, Hawaiian, and Thai massages. The Grand (erstwhile Hyatt), Delhi offers half-day and full day packages as well as a two-night Executive Revival Plan.

Make the right choice, baby

You can visit a spa for any and every reason. Be it de-stressing, cellulite control, treating ailments like arthritis, or diabetes, or to just relax. However, consultation with the spa doctor is vital before deciding on your treatment because it must match with one's objective, say of reducing blood pressure, or relieving backache. If you plan to have a Swedish massage and the doc says it's not for your body type, forget it. For the simple reason that the whole point of a spa treatment is to help you achieve a better lifestyle and inner balance. "A consultation is important because some treatments have contra indications. While aromatherapy can help in smooth childbirth, there are certain oils that can lead to a miscarriage. Or say a Swedish massage won't be good for a person with porous bones. So the doc needs to know what you want to achieve and what is your present health condition," explains Hall.

When you take a spa treatment such as a scrub and a Swedish massage, the body may experience a feeling of fatigue, dizziness, loose motion, or nausea. Don't be scared. "This is a natural reaction to the treatment as toxins that have built up in the body over a period of time are released into the circulatory system on their way to being excreted from the body. Therefore, we have a saying - you get worse for a short period of time before you get on to the road of total wellness," points out Hall.

Food is also an important ingredient though Indian spas are not very strict about offering only a spa menu. Most offer a normal cuisine with focus on healthy cooking. However, there is also a specialised spa food section in the menu. For instance, Ananda offers personalised menu to treat the doshas (ailments) of one's body.

Pay the price

As we know all good things come for a price, so does the spa. As Himmat Anand, COO, Sita Inbound, who has introduced a seven-day spa and wellness tourism package recently for Rs 1 lakh per person, puts it, "Spas are premium products so they don't come cheap." Rates at top spas range from Rs 10,000 - 12,000 per night excluding spa treatments. While an aromatherapy massage at Ananda costs Rs 2,500 and a lithos therapy Rs 2,900, a Swedish massage is priced at Rs 1,400 at Golden Palms and a Thai massage at Rs 2,200 at Angsana. Well, don't lose heart. You can always book during off-season when these health sanctuaries come up with week-end packages or offer discounts for the not-so-rich. Of course, going to a day spa is a more economical option. And Club Spa memberships are quite affordable. So, let your hair down and enjoy such an experience that your heart with pleasure fills.

(With inputs from Jyoti Koul in Delhi, Vyas Sivanand in Bangalore and Reema Sisodia in Mumbai)