A Mystical Experience

Sheric dorairaj, director Spa, Ritz Carlton, Bangalore, shares with Priyanka Parshurami the importance of spas as a destination for holistic wellness and not just for body treatments.

Sprawling across the entire fifth floor of the hotel, boasting a luxurious space of 17,000 sq ft, The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Bangalore, is more than just an ordinary day spa. A destination in itself, it provides a range of opulent spa and massage treatments that blend Indian and Western healing traditions. The spa has ten treatment rooms, including couple massage rooms, a VIP suite, and an array of destressing and detoxifying treatments. The Spa suite is a luxurious personalised space for a private experience and fully equipped with two treatment beds, an in-built steam room, a Jacuzzi, a relaxation room and a vanity area.

Sheric Dorairaj, Director Spa, The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore, says, “We are committed to creating experiences that our guests can relive in their lives. We believe in creating personalised indelible experiences for all our guests.”

“When a guest arrives, we begin with a consultation session to learn about the person’s likes, dislikes, allergies and preferences, which allows us to create a holistic well-being menu for them. We then recommend therapies and services from our wellness menu that are appropriate for their health journey and goals.”

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPA

Vitality pool with relaxation room: The exclusive temperature controlled vitality pool is designed to provide guests with relaxation and rejuvenation. Adjacent to the Vitality pool is a relaxation lounge with eight beds, where guests may repose with a book and a cup of green tea while listening to shooting melodies.

‘We’ time: The couple suite has a living room, bedroom, bathroom, a devoted spa area as well as a private Jacuzzi where patrons may lounge with a drink after their spa treatment.

Dorairaj states, “All of our services have a unique feature, providing our guests with a comprehensive experience. The Signature service at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Bangalore, is the ‘Jaali Embrace.’ This ritual uses the energy and power of four hands (executed by two therapists) moving in harmony to restore energetic, physical and emotional equilibrium.”

It begins with a welcoming foot ritual aimed at grounding and balancing the energy of the guest. Two therapists then work in unison to initiate a 90-minute session comprising a tension-releasing four-handed body massage coupled with the use of hot stones and a head massage.

HEALING THE HEALER

The role of a spa therapist is centred around healing as they aim to alleviate pain and promote relaxation for their guests. For this reason, it is crucial for therapists to prioritise their own personal healing and self-care. The Ritz-Carlton Bangalore organises monthly yoga sessions or weekend wellness retreats for short weekend breaks.

“One more aspect we focus on is aura cleansing. There are multiple colours to an individual’s aura, which get discoloured because one goes through a lot of emotions and feelings. Aura cleansing is clearing the energy around you and restoring your positive energy. Breathing techniques and crystals are used for aura cleansing sessions for the therapists,” clarifies Dorairaj.

LOOKING AHEAD

“Our objective is to ensure that the spa grows holistically and has a well-being focused approach rather than solely being a spa. We are in the process of developing our own detox programme whereby guests may enjoy these cuisines by the ‘Marriott Bonvoy on Wheels’ programme,” she concludes.

PBHJ