Pooja Bhula
New Delhi: Pooja Bhula gives you a peek into Suko Thai`s newly introduced summer treat, Mango Scrub Spa Therapy.
Off late my Saturdays often involve 3-4km of running early in the morning, followed by an hour-long dance class at noon. So the invitation to try out Sukho Thai`s `Mango Scrub Foot Therapy` sounded delicious.
The Walkeshwar branch is small, but the soft cloth slippers offered are big (for me), my feet usually fit into an Indian size of five or six. Directed to the changing room, I temporarily trade my well-fitted jeans for their loose and comfy pallazo pants that you can tie from front. A quick climb took me to the massage area–dimly lit, calm and silent except for the sound of practiced hands chopping at someones back. This space isn`t too roomy either, but wooden barricades on the sides and open front gives you a sense of seclusion and privacy without causing claustrophobia.
I welcome the feel of the well cushioned chair and its reclining option even more as my masseuse readies to pamper me. A major portion of the 60-minute massage is spent on the knees and below. She first cleans each leg with with water and dries them with a towel. And when the scrub is applied you will know; it smells distinctly of mango, but not in an overwhelming manner, instead like a light tease that compels you take a deeper breath in. If you like mango at all, your mouth will water. Whether its scrub, cream or balm—the three things during the therapy—she applies it in circling motions considered good for blood circulation. Although Sukho Thai uses oil in Thailand and some other countries, the branches here don`t. Their officials tell me that it`s because Indian skin is already oily and doesn`t need more oil, it needs to be moisturised, something that cream does. And the mango in their scrub is not included for the exotic appeal alone, they explain that unlike apricot scrub, which is better used in winter when the skin is harder, mango is much more beneficial in summer. It has a soothing effect. Besides removing dead skin, scrubbing your feel also relieves your body off toxins.
My lower thighs get her attention next; she not only does massages them, but also makes them stretch by pushing my legs to one side and using the pressure of her arms (elbow down) to ensure they stay put. To my surprise and delight, the foot therapy doesn`t end with the feet (or legs)–towards the end she also massages my neck, skull, back and stretches my back, arms, neck. It reminds me of malish given to new born babies to strengthen their muscles. But officials at Sukho Thai say that they provide this service in India because people here lead a very stressful lifestyle and besides the feet, which are the nerve end of the body, stress immediately affects the shoulders and neck. Stress combined with lack of sufficient movement increases lactic acid levels and stretching is included in the massage to address and reduce it. I get the chop chop of her hands too and dose off for a bit.
While I surely feel relaxed, there`s also a subtle sense of freshness and this is only enhanced by the fruit bowl—a piece each of watermelon, kiwi, banana, pineapple and mango!--and ginger tea served in the end. By now a slight smile began curving my lips.
The duration of the massage ranges from 30-75 minutes and its price from Rs.990-2970
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.