A woman in her late twenties had a short discussion with the manager of the salon, after which she was directed to a room. The ritual started with cleansing followed by scrubbing of the entire body, with specific creams. Then she was massaged for twenty minutes with aromatic oils and then sent to a steam room. A few minutes later she was out and the therapist applied a pack and wrapped her entire body with silver foil. It was evident that she was enjoying a spa session for the first time. Ms. Chitra, a trainer in the salon, says, “We have many young customers who visit our day spa because we provide a wide range of spa packages and slimming massages.”
Good remedy
Spa therapy is a good remedy for stress and what more does one need when everything is done by the therapist. All one has to do is lie down and submit to the process of rejuvenating the body, mind and soul. Mrs. Sakthi, who owns a parlour, says, “Women, mostly between 20 and 55 years of age, prefer regular spa sittings.” There are standard day spas and Ayurveda spas in Madurai, although garden spas, mineral springs spas, hot tubs and sauna chambers are still a distant luxury.
The day spa offers a variety of spa services from head to toe. Vinita’s Salon and Day Spa has expanded its spa area with increasing demand. The steam room is a luxury which is available here, and in many spas in the city. A variety of body wraps such as mud wrap, fruit wrap and other organic wraps are used according to the skin type of the customer. Mrs. Darshini, a customer relations manager, says, “My profession demands a lot of travelling and is strenuous. I started with hair spa treatment for hair fall and later I tried full body spa. It is a good stress buster and makes me presentable at work. The friendly staff, serene ambience and low cost bring me to Vinita’s more often.” Her favourite is the ‘Royal beauty therapy’, which she tried for her brother’s wedding. Wedding spa packages are in vogue at Naturals Salon and Spa, Manasa Beauty Parlour, Green Trends, Chill Breeze Salon and Spa, and many other outlets.
Ayurveda spas are the highlight in most of the star hotels in the city. Professional therapists from Kerala are employed in these spas. Svasti in Heritage, Ayush in GRT Regency and Nalam in The Gateway Hotel specialize in aurvedic spa therapies. Apart from the tourists who stay there, a good number of locals, especially men, enjoy the benefits of such spas. The main attraction is the shirodhara, used to treat migraines. A brass pot with a hole hangs on one end of the bed, and oil is poured through it on the forehead of the person. It is said to rejuvenate the mind as the oil seeps through the hair. Pizhichil is massage of the entire body. While oil is the main ingredient in such massages, a variety of fruit massages are also offered.
The Orchid in Fortune Pandiyan is staffed with therapists from Bali. There are separate rooms for dry massage and oil massage, apart from the steam room. Organic products and mineral salts are used in this spa. Mr. Balaji, a businessman, says, “I make it a point to pamper myself in spa sessions amidst my busy schedule.”
Complete package
In the words of Mr. Murali Krishnan, a franchisee of Naturals Salon and Spa, “Spa is not an extravagance, it is a therapy with good response (especially fish pedicure) and the cost of each spa sitting ranges from Rs1500 to Rs 5000.” If you feel such therapies only make a big hole in your purse and if getting undressed is out of your comfort zone, there are salons that provide hair, foot and hand spa services separately which are comparatively less expensive. The good news for moms-to-be and new mommies is that foot reflexology relieves pain, aids natural childbirth and speeds post-natal recovery. A complete spa package revitalizes the skin, improves blood circulation, relieves stress and revives the youth in you.
Vinita’s Unisex Salon and Day Spa: 2587692
Naturals Unisex Salon and Spa: 4500100
Chill Breeze Unisex Salon and Spa: 2611033
Svasti Spa (Heritage hotel): 2385455
Ayush Spa (GRT Regency): 2371155
Nalam Spa (The Gateway Hotel): 6633000
Orchid Bali Spa (Fortune Pandiyan): 4361020
Manasa Beauty Salon: 3043636/37/38.
