Think of the word “spa” and your imagination starts feeding you images of long days filled with mud baths and meditation classes, exquisitely prepared spa cuisine, and fragrant eucalyptus groves. Spas have been on a rise for quite a while now. They are almost everywhere – right from your neighborhood to the Himalayas.
By Shahida Khan
It is a matter of time before spas are recognized as an industry, devoted to the health and wellness and some recent visits to them clearly indicate how India and Asia-inspired spas are much sought after, giving visitors some unforgettable experiences for the mind, body and soul.
These rejuvenating visits can be had at some unexpected places like Nantali in Finland, the Mandara Spa in the Maldives, or some emerging hot destinations like Anantara and the Chiva Som in Central Thailand.
You even have a Feng Shui-certified Avalon Hotel in Gothenberg, Sweden. And, of course, the Oberoi Vanyavilas, Spa Tent at Aman-I-Khas in Ranthambore and Ananda in the Himalayas have also joined the big league of wellness centers.
One spa known for its Asian systems is Anantara Hua Hin Resort and Spa, situated two hours from Bangkok on the Gulf of Siam in central Thailand. On offer at this 200-room resort, boasting 14 acres of gardens set around invigorating and calming lily pools is its three-hour signature treatment – called Culture of Anantara.
The treatment begins with shirodhara massage, often referred to as the massage of the third eye, considered one of the most powerful Ayurvedic treatments available. This is followed by strong massage strokes on the back that release stress and unclog tense muscles. Finally, one immerses in the sweetness of a honey and milk bath.
The Hilton Hua Hin Resort and Spa offers luxurious treatments like the “well-being indulgence” that takes a holistic approach to rejuvenation by promoting complete relaxation through body and mind.
Here, skin brushing and exfoliation to smoothen and freshen the skin is followed by a massage with aromatic oils. These oils are also chosen to suit individual visitor.
The Barai is a multiple award-winning destination spa located on the serene beachfront adjacent to Hyatt Regency at Hua Hin. It opened about two years ago and is considered not only the newest destination spa in Thailand but also the latest addition to Hyatt Pure’s resident family of spas.
This spa has not only gained a strong foothold in Thailand’s competitive wellness industry but is also promoting Hua Hin in the international market as an ideal destination for rejuvenation. Here, sight, sound, touch and taste combine to create a highly personalized and impressionable experience that ultimately leads to inner peace and tranquility.
The Cenvaree Pa-lang Experience at Sofitel Centara Grand Resort and Villas in Hua Hin offers a holistic Tibetan Himalayan hot stones treatment using stones from Indian rivers coated with Centara signature massage oils.
This amazing beautifully sequenced treatment calms the nervous system and delivers a deeply penetrating relaxation as stones are placed on key meridians restoring well-being and inner harmony.
It’s a colonial spa in keeping with the property and the Himalayan stone massage. The treatment here combines the concept of healing through stones with principles and techniques of ayurveda that travelled up India’s trade routes over the Himalayan passes.
Some of the major spa chains have already opened treatment centers in various Indian cities and this trend is expected to gain momentum with the increased consciousness about wellness.
