‘Spa’ring time for relaxation

Climbing the career ladder brings with it hectic and frenzied lifestyles. Preeti Kannan explores how corporates and MNCs are increasingly embracing spas to help their employees unwind and relax.

As I walk into Chennai's Oryza spa for a Thai foot reflexology, a sense of calm descends on me and I let the instrumental music transport me into a different world. The trained masseuse skillfully massages my feet and the tension in my body seems to magically ebb away. She delicately applies pressure on the soles of my feet and before I know it, an hour has passed. I leave, feeling refreshed, aching to go back again next week.

If you are a working professional, life is always on the fast forward mode. Family, weekends and holidays - all blur out faster than you can imagine in the face of work pressure. Stress, anxiety and tension are the unsaid perks of the hefty pay package in any company. Long work hours and sleepless nights are now an integral part of the Indian work culture. While stress levels are increasing at an alarming pace, health problems have become a common feature.

For long, corporates and multi-nationals have been well aware of the high expectations and demanding nature of jobs. They have understood that to increase the employee's productivity, it is imperative to see that they are physically and mentally relaxed. Family outings and team lunches slowly graduated into paid holidays. But vacations to hill stations are now passé. The new-age mantra is fitness. People want to relax, rejuvenate their body and mind and recharge their batteries to gear themselves to handle the pressure when they get back to work. This explains the increasing popularity and growing interest for spas.

The concept of a spa 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 would 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 holistic wellness by largely focusing on three elements - relaxation of mind, fitness of the body and wellness of the inner being.

For corporates and multinationals, it is not just about sending their high achievers on an all-expense-paid trip to a serene, calm atmosphere for massages and soaks. It is also about evolving a distinct work culture that will go a long way for the company. For instance, Aditi Technologies, a software company in Bangalore encourages teams to take their pick of a holiday. Spa holidays and adventure holidays are the most sought after among them, depending on their age. "Our teams work continuously up to six months and then take off to spa resorts like Angsana Spa on the outskirts of Bangalore. They want to chill out and the various treatments at the spa help them de-stress and unwind", says Ajay Vij, vice president, Aditi Technologies. He also acknowledges the fact that to prevent attrition in the challenging work environment, it is important to keep the employee happy. Corporates realise that these small incentives go a long way in shaping the company's future. Also, night schedules and posture-related problems of IT companies have resulted in them embracing the spa culture.

Gone are the days when spas were tagged on as an attractive feature of hotels. Spas are cashing on health buffs willing to spend time and money on their bodies. There are both destination spas and day spas with specific packages, depending on the clients visiting them. Even executives like to combine a business trip or conference with a dash of rejuvenation. And both hotels and resorts are ready with offers galore.

Ananda in the Himalayas boasts more than 79 body and beauty treatments to choose from for detoxification and relaxation. The resort offers Swedish, aromatherapy and Thai massages, including water therapy using spring water from the Himalayas. Skin care, exfoliation and other body care treatments are a part of it.

Resorts like Golden Palms and Angsana, managed by Banyan Tree 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 has long-staying guests like expatriate heads of software companies who are working in Bangalore. Located at the outskirts of the city, these resorts offer the ideal weekend getaway for many working professionals.

These spas promise weekend and three-five night packages to their clients, depending on the time at their disposal. They even prescribe a special spa cuisine, comprising a light meal with low fat. As Aditya Mata, general manager of Bangalore-based Angsana, points out, "A spa is a journey into an ambience and it has to soothe the nerves and the senses. From the welcome drink to the music and the treatments we offer, everything is planned perfectly to suit the client's requirements." After an in-house doctor's consultation, the package, including the kind of food, is designed for the client.

Park Hyatt, Goa, offers special spa packages to corporates for conferencing and incentive meets. These packages include de-stressing and rejuvenation programmes, team building exercises and fitness programmes. Day spas like Oryza are perfect for people rushing between meetings and changing flights - be it airline crew or business travellers. The Thai foot reflexology is the preferred treatment here because it is believed to revitalise the entire body. These massages are aimed at stimulating the blood and lymph circulation, and increase the body's immunity. Recently, Citibank had given their top employees and clients gift vouchers for the foot reflexology at Oryza and this turned out to be a hit as most of them promptly turned in to en-cash their Diwali gifts.

When you step into a spa today, you are offered a variety of treatments on a platter, with 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. Even men are no more averse to pampering their body and are queuing up for manicures, pedicures and even facials.

In India, broadly, ayurvedic treatments and aromatherapy are the most popular kinds of spa offerings, though Thai and Swedish massages are getting increasingly popular. The Isha Rejuvenation centre in Coimbatore specialises in ayurvedic treatments like abhyangam, snanams and mud baths. With the thrust on natural treatments, chemicals are consciously avoided and manual spas are more popular vis-à-vis the tech-oriented spas of the West.

With international spas like Banyan Tree, Six Senses and Sanctuary Spa making a foray into the Indian market, hotels like the Taj group have re-positioned their spas and created their own brand. The Jiva spa was re-launched in Mumbai, Gwalior and recently in Chennai, because of the “tremendous potential” the hotel sees in these spas, as Aamir Faisal, sales manager of Fisherman's Cove puts it.

Shekhar Mehta, senior vice president, Dawntrader Ventures, a German company with interests in the Indian market, agrees that while spas keep up the promise of relaxation, it is still a very elaborate experience, given the constraints of time. "Now with the stress levels going high and the HR department of every company realising this, meetings have taken a new form, further to which we have a very casual set up of meetings often in a resort, with a lot of focus on relaxation and yoga. Spa is often a part of it these days and it does give a new twist to the entirely new experience of stress-free corporate meetings. But, I just wish that the experience is made a lot simpler than it currently is. Today, the spa experience is too grandiose and can fit in our day's schedule only on rare occasions when we have enough time. More stress is on yoga and simpler methods of relaxation," he says.

With several spas mushrooming across cities, there is an apprehension that the authentic spa experience may land up losing its credibility. However, the fact remains that the spa culture has made inroad in the country and is here to stay.