New Delhi, Nov 09: Not flying saucers and androids but the paradox of health spas and high BP is what characterises life post the proverbial Y2K!
As romantic as our notions about the turn of the millennium were, in truth, our existence is more about much longer work timings, tougher profit projections and closer deadlines. The irony is that all of this had to happen at a time man is both discovering and rediscovering some of the most luxuriant methods of self indulgence. Or perhaps this has only happened as a result of the need to find quick methods of rejuvenation.
And urban India isn't lagging behind in the world movement of do-it-your-self nirvana for body, mind and soul. The beauty parlour and the spa is moving into our homes.
"Everybody craves a little pampering," suggests Simran Lal of Good Earth, a home accessory store first started by her mother which has now diversified into the arena of personal care. Amritam, her second store at the swanky Ambawatta complex (that hasn't really gone out of style in spite of 1 MG, it just got a little quieter) is perhaps the first store dedicated to the concept of the "home spa". Stores before her have addressed products that come within this purview, though not specialised in it.
Amritam helps you create a tranquil spa within your own home. A pampering haven, where you can take time to soothe, nurture and calm your senses and look after your body and its complete well being. With the luxury of modern bathrooms, pampering yourself at home has never been easier. Amritam makes it easier for you to transform the work-a-day bathroom into a home spa that keeps you healthy, fit and radiant.



From pure essential oils to salts, scrubs, massage mats to sisal and loofah body brushes, pure soaps (as opposed to synthetic ones), floral water, green and herbal teas, aroma diffusers, soft, thick towels, aromatic candles and everything else that you would want to pamper yourself with while creating your own home spa.



"Bath salts are a great daily way to refresh yourself. You may not have the time for a tub soak, so you can incorporate these in your balti bath. Just mix the fragrant salts in a bucket, or prepare a small mixture in another vessel and scrub your skin with it while bathing. It will help polish your skin."



On soaps and candles, Simran tells us there is a difference between natural ones and synthetic ones that tend to be cheaper. Both synthetic soaps and candles could smell floral, aqua or anything else but these qualities are derived from synthetic ingredients. Both aroma oil candles and natural soaps get their smell and texture from natural ingredients like aroma oils, healing spices (in the case of soaps) and so on.



What is unique about creating your own home spa is the use of only natural products that will obviously cost you more but its exponents insist such material indulgences will reflect on your spiritual and mental being like nothing else.



Amritam offers a range of pure healing fragrant floral waters too. In special blue spritzer bottles there is a pure rosewater hydrosol to soothe your skin, as also floral waters in jasmine which uplifts your senses, lavender to relax and ylang ylang for a sensuous, heady and euphoric experience. "They're great for flights or long journeys when your facial skin gets taught and dry," recommends Simran.



Amritam isn't however the only place you can find worthy products. Lifespring outlets across Delhi also store basic spa treatments like bath-salts, Blossom Kochchar aroma oils, fragrant candles, body equipment like loofahs, pumice stones and scrubbers. However, stores with stray home spa offerings lack the requisite expertise to guide you through your purchases. And for the uninitiated, they can't out-line some basic steps to follow while indulging in these treatments.



"The five essentials of a home treatment are your five senses - taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing. To fully realise the benefits of products considered home spa-worthy, you must stimulate all five of these senses in conjunction. For instance, if you choose to tap the goodness of lavender, coordinate the use of lavender oils for touch, colour for sight, candles for smell, tea for taste and soothing music that goes with this package," recommends Poonam Malhotra of Full Circle.



Full Circle at Khan market is famous for its bookshop and the vegetarian (health being the rationale) Cafe Turtle. It also offers an extensive selection of personal products and home spa treatments constitutes a large chunk of this selection.



As for colours - purple represents the spiritual side in all of us. Brown stands for earth as in the concept of abundant growth. Green is also an earth colour from which all prosperity stems. It represents money and well being. Red is not only about looking for new love but also for rekindling a dampened flame. Blue represents the body and allows one to tune into one's physical needs. White symbolises protection and is useful in dispelling bad karma. Coral yellow (it's an energising colour) is reputed to bring joy, produce warmth, improve moods and enhance trust.



Finally, there's Blossom Kochchar, famous for her easily accessible and relatively affordable beauty products, who actually specialises in aromatherapy, which is a major part of home spa treatment.