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Something special in these spas lifestyle
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Health is not just freedom from disease. It's beauty and poise and letting the hair down too, discover ANJANA RAJAN and RANA SIDDIQUI, checking out some spas around town
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A NEW SPRING IN GRIMY SUMMER: Rejuvenate the body at a spa, then show it off in just the right clothes, like model Sucheta Sharma, shown here in swimwear by Aigner Photo: S. Subramanium
If your body's beautiful, flaunt it, they say. But don't worry if it's not beautiful. You can always polish it! Or massage it, treat it, pamper it. In short, improve it. Spas are here to help you. Gone are the days when a spa denoted a town by the riverside where the well-heeled characters of 19th Century English novels used to retire for rest, recreation and gossip. Spas are now available within the chrome and glass air-conditioned comfort of five-star hotels across the Capital. The only similarity perhaps, to the resort towns of old, is that they still cater to those with deep pockets. Or do they? The times, it seems, are changing, and fast. Just as the definition of spa expands to include massage, oil therapy, reflexology and a spectrum of other treatments, there is a `luxury' spa experience to suit many an income.
Not many would disagree that in the dust and grime and dirty politics of Delhi's white-collar world, we all feel entitled to pamper ourselves once in a while. Maybe that's why Ayush Therapy Centre in South Delhi's Panchsheel decided to stress on health and beauty treatment at a range of rates from the affordable to the pricey.
Ayurveda may be a part of daily life in Kerala, with its range of medicines to apply or consume for the treatment of diseases, aches and pains, or simply to enhance well-being, but in upmarket locales of cities across India, it is a lifestyle statement too - competitive pricing notwithstanding.
Asian Roots, a newly opened spa at Safdarjung Enclave, goes further. Ayurveda is not the only system offered by this luxury day spa, with its exclusive treatments from ancient cultures including Bali, Japan, Thailand, India and others.
Medical consultancy
They may be luxurious, but the business of well-being is taken seriously here. With an Ayurvedic physician and a senior consultant on the rolls, Ayush offers treatment only after a free medical consultation. By looking at a client, avers the doctor at Ayush, she is able to decide what kind of oil should be used in the therapy.
Asian Roots has specific therapies, besides beauty care from hair colouring to pedicure, the intriguing sounding "body polishers" to bridal packages. On its list are impressive names like Swedish body therapies, Shiatsu massage, traditional Balinese massages, phytomer treatments - marine-based French cosmetics for detoxifying celluloid - and Javanese Lulur body therapies. Swiss beauty treatment is provided in the La Prarie studios.
And if it's pampering you're after, Ayush has hit on nothing less than Moksha: Summer Moksha packages! Besides treatment for those tired eyes - netra shuddhi - there are trained masseuses and masseurs to liberally pour cooling oil over your body and head and then wash it off with a powdered preparation of gram. Moksha is within your reach for Rs.400 onwards. Separate therapies might cost less.
For those with reservations about privacy, Asian Roots caters only to women, while at Ayush, only women are on duty with women clients and men with the men.
"Many people come to us for facial glow. We first check their skin and suggest whether they should go in for it or not. So we are not a money minting spa," claims Srijana, the Asian Roots spokesperson. The charges here start at Rs.650 and go up to 10,000.
Poise and grooming
Therapy, fitness and lifestyle seem to be the headiest corporate cocktail around. Perhaps it only stands to reason then, that Espace, the spa and fitness centre at Hotel Radisson MBD, Noida, organised a two-day grooming workshop recently, led by top model and grooming consultant Nayanika Chatterjee.
The workshop focussed on every aspect of style, make-up and hairstyle trends. Some of the topics covered were deportment and posture, hairstyle tips, make-up, wardrobe, correcting improper make-up and choosing the right accessories to go with one's wardrobe. "These grooming workshops are for any woman from 18 to 40 and from all walks of life - any woman who wants to look and feel her best and needs that slight degree of confidence and know-how that takes her the above-average category," says Nayanika. She's not alone in her efforts to spruce up the health of the wealthy. Mini Thapar Shastri conducted Yoga for Weight Loss workshops this past week. Asian Roots too holds yoga and aerobics classes five days a week. Ayush offers yoga and meditation.
But seriously, if the world inside a spa is only for you, yourself and your body, meeting the outside world requires just the right wardrobe - one that skims the line between dress and dishabille. Completing the lifestyle statement is a special swimming collection for the summer from Aigner. Just right to make a splash before heading for the cool-off zones of the city.
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