Spa for peace, health

There is nothing quite as invigorating as spending a few hours getting yourself pampered in a luxurious spa, says Shobita Shivshankar

The plush interiors of a spa resemble a luxury hotel. Clients are treated like royalty Photo: NF

Need a break in life but have no time to go vacationing to a hill resort? The answer is new age spas that have sprung up in major cities that promise to take the load off one’s mind and body. They promise you an experience of rediscovering the old-fashioned health benefits of sun, sand and water, packaged with a lot of gloss.

The word spa is drawn from Siena Par Aqua – Latin words, meaning healing with water. But are spas really good for you, or are they just for those with money to burn? Experts say that gyms are only for the body while spas are excellent for both mind and body.

Unlike gyms, spas offer more. Their plush interiors resemble a luxury hotel and the services offered are no less. Here clients are treated like royalty. Many have staying facilities where people can spend a leisurely weekend or more.

For those who want to shed kilos, there is usually a fully equipped fitness club and a yoga and aerobic studio. Most have what is termed an aqua aerobic pool that is ideal for aquatic exercises. Then there is the jacuzzi and a heat treatment suite with sauna and steam. There are also body massages, body wraps and body scrubs.

To pamper, tone and beautify the face and body, these spas offer exclusive treatments, seaweed wraps and hydrotherapy baths, a wide range of facials using fruit acids, pure plant oils, marine nutrients and collagen.

The treatments have three major components – water, massage and mud. The water maybe drunk, bathed in or soaked in the body through a steam bath. Massage can include aromatherapy and underwater jets. In mud baths one is covered in natural clay that has matured with bacteria and algae to create a biologically active and mineral-rich potion.

Specially treated mineral water and mud stimulate the skin to produce new and healthy tissue. Mineral-enriched water is also said to reduce blood cholesterol. Mud therapy has been shown to stimulate cartilage re-growth.

Couples keen to de-stress and spend a relaxing weekend or afternoon together, frequent these spas. This, in part, because spas are health rather than beauty oriented, and so hold an appeal for both sexes. They are less about physical strength and more about de-stressing as they mainly cater to one's inner health and well-being.

A full day at one of these places could cost a minimum of Rs 3000, plus the services one avails of. One can also opt for membership, wherein one has to pay an yearly amount starting at around Rs 100,000. But there are again plenty of schemes to choose from, depending on the amount money one likes to spend.

"Spas are the ideal place for people who have high-powered and stressful professions. This is a place that demands no deadlines and promises complete relaxation," says fitness trainer Rajiv Paran. He adds: "They are not just about fitness and herbal treatments. Visiting a spa means taking time out for yourself, listening to the sound of your heartbeats and enjoying your inner peace."

Kalari Kovilakom on the foothills of the Annamalai range, near Kochi, will bring a newfound zing to jaded nerves. You can attend sessions in meditation and yoga and eat organic food grown in the premises. The ambience bespeaks of harmony and close-to-earth peacefulness.

Nestled in the verdant Shimla hills, this former residence of Lord Kitchner is today counted among the top 10 spa resorts of the world. The Wildflower Hall offers holistic treatments in private spa suites with spectacular vistas of the Himalayas. The fairytale resort has all it takes to seduce the senses. — NF