Seaside Rejuvenation

Nestling between the Arabian Sea and the River Sal, the Leela Goa has an idyllic setting in an unspoilt part of South Goa. The public areas of the 75-acre resort are designed like an Indian summer palace, while the 152 guest rooms and suites are housed in pink villas that reflect Goa's Portuguese heritage. The villas cluster around pretty lagoons and lush tropical gardens with pathways bordered by frangipani trees and trails of bright pink bougainvillea.

At the Leela Goa, you can combine five-star relaxation with healthy exercise, thus burning off the calories accrued in the excellent restaurants. Facilities include a 9-hole golf course, outdoor pools, fitness room and a tennis club with floodlit courts. There's also a hair and beauty salon and a pleasant, if unpretentious spa with eight treatment rooms. The spa has an Ayurvedic doctor and eight therapists and offers a full range of Ayurvedic services as well as yoga and meditation classes.

As I was still feeling jet lagged, Dr Arun Arvind, the spa doctor recommended an abhyanga body massage, which he said would help me unwind and boost my circulation and lymph system. I was expecting him to perform the massage and was surprised when a smiling diminutive female therapist introduced herself. (I later learned that in India it is the custom to be assigned a same sex therapist.)

My treatment was carried out in a clean but sparsely furnished room. A solitary candle provided a soft light. I took off all my clothes and covered myself with the light cotton wrap provided. Then, seated on a wooden stool, my bare feet on the floor, my head and shoulders were kneaded and massaged with warm Ayurvedic oils for about ten minutes. After this I had to climb onto the wooden table for the body massage. Despite the dim lighting, I felt awkward and uncomfortable lying exposed on the hard surface. But gradually I began to relax as warm oil was poured onto my back, and deft fingers worked on my scalp, ears, backs of knees, fingers, thumbs and each of my toes. By the end of the treatment I felt rejuvenated and totally relaxed.

While in India, I wanted to experience an authentic sirodhara treatment. Carried out in absolute silence, sirodhara involves lying on a flat surface and having five or six litres of warm herbal oil (selected according to your dosha) poured in a slow continuous stream onto your forehead - the so called Îthird eye. This takes about 30 to 45 minutes, and afterwards you are given a gentle scalp massage. Sirodhara leaves you in an almost comatose state of deep relaxation and is used as a treatment for insomnia, high blood pressure and other ailments.

The Spa at the Leela Goa now offers a new three-day BLISS spa package combining a mixture of meditation techniques, traditional yoga and relaxing spa treatments. Each day includes a spa lunch, yoga session and a spa treatment. The package price starts from $758 pp based on a double occupancy and includes a buffet breakfast.

by: http://www.spareviewmag.com