" I no longer consider the spa to be a woman's domain".

The concept of spending time at aspa to de- stress is spreading widely among younger executives who are realising how crucial rejuvenation is to good health

WHEN 26- YEAR- OLD IT consultant Tapajyoti Kumar landed his dream job, he was -- in his own words -- prepared to be ' worked like a horse'. His words turned into a self- fulfilling prophecy; the recession resulted in many of his colleagues being laid off, and his own workload increasing steadily. As the stress mounted, so did his health problems.

Fatigue, insomnia and digestive issues became a troublesome part of his existence.

To alleviate this pressure he decided to try out spa therapy and was immediately hooked. " I no longer regard the spa as a woman's domain," he declares.

Today Tapajyoti ( or TJ as his friends lovingly refer to him) swears by Thai foot massage. " I am a regular at Blossom Kochhar's Spa and the TT Footcare Spa," he says. Though these treatments certainly do make a dent in the wallet, this doesn't seem to worry those like TJ on the lookout for quality therapy which promises rejuvenation. " Spa treatments are not all that costly -- a meal or a night out with friends costs the same or more and will be less beneficial for health. A spa treatment refreshes and re energises me at the end of a gruelling day," he says.

SPAS ARE POPULAR

MORE AND MORE people are recognising the worth of a few hours spend rejuvenating themselves to cope better with the stress and demands of everyday life. Marketing manager Antara Kundu is another fan of spa treatments and views them as quality investments, "My health is important to me and going for a spa massage helps to invigorate me after my work takes a toll on my vigour at the end of the day. Going to a spa for a massage is invigorating," she says. The buzz word is quality time for relaxation, and people are ready to pay for this, says Yogesh Sethi, CEO of Amatraa and A+ Medispa. "Perhaps people have realised that going to a spa as a rejuvenation exercise is a good investment, significantly lesser than -- say -- a foreign trip," he says.

The fact that day spas in the city are seeing a regular footfall bears testimony to this view. Sethi says that not only have the spas seen regular footfalls, they have actually improved in the last year. Rakhi Mahajan, Operations Manager of the Harnn Heritage Spa says the spa is in the process of doubling its capacity to meet demands.

This started up six months ago in New Delhi and is already popular amongst regular spa goers. " Our model of providing top quality spa services at a reasonable price has been well received by our patrons. This will help us continue to grow even in a subdued global economic environment," says Mahajan.

The recession hasn't impacted the spa business much. " There has been barely any change in the footfall figures in our spa. In April this year, we had an average foot fall of 20 per day in one branch, and now that people's finances are looking up, this figure has risen to 25," says Siddharth Shankar, director of the 4- year- old spa Mystic Cures Ltd.

The treatments at spas can cost anywhere between Rs 750 to Rs 5,000 depending on the therapies being availed of. And it turns out that those who get hooked on to spa experiences find it difficult to surrender the habit, as the figures of Ananda Spa in Rishikesh have shown.

" Ananda has its loyal guests who keep coming back. While they come for the tried and tested and for their favourite package, we keep introducing new experiences and keep evolving so we can be ahead of the times at all times," says Mahesh Natarajan, VP Marketing, Ananda Spa.

INNOVATIVE THERAPIES

GOING TO a spa is no longer about a simple massage either.

Realising that the urban crowd is highly appreciative of spas and prefer it as a way to relax, almost every spa has modified its treatments and added their signature twist to them to make them fun and interesting.

For example, the popular Thai massage technique is available at almost all spas, but if you are looking for an innovation then head to Mystic Cures Spa in Punjabi Bagh or Harnn spa in Select City Walk, Saket. Mystic uses delicious smelling orange oil during the massage -- which is traditionally dry -- on the soles and palms, which purportedly serves as a detoxifier, boosts immunity, treats constipation and dyspepsia. Harnn Heritage Spa offers traditional Thai treatments along with active ingredients from botanical extracts and plant essential oils, foot soaks, acupressure and sesame seed compresses to relieve muscle tension and minor skin ailments.

The therapist gently kneads your body along pressure points massaging the stress away while you fall asleep on the table, immersed in the smell of aromatic candles and softly chanting music. Even more unique is the " Astroveda" treatment at the Amatraa Spa which starts with a careful analysis of your dosha that also leads to an accurate understanding of your body type, health status and your unique interaction to the environment.

Personalised lifestyle and therapeutic recommendations are then designed in accordance to every individual astral chart.

However, this treatment is only available to members. And if you want to go away for a few days and luxuriate while you relax, head to the Ananda Spa in Rishikesh and try out the deep tissue massage, massages specifically designed for expectant mothers, or the Tibetan massage rituals which are popular picks there.

rituparna. mukherjee @ mailtoday. in

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