I don’t ‘do’ spas. I’m weird about getting massages and mostly anything that involves stripping in front of complete strangers. So after agreeing—in a fit of complete madness—to visit the Six Senses Spa, it was with a lot of trepidation and just plain nervousness that I headed to the Jaypee Resort in Greater Noida.
Perhaps the lovely people at Six Senses have met more people like me. A soothing welcome drink later, I was introduced to the charming Tracey Poole, director of the spa. She explained the treatments and facilities available—ranging from basic beauty procedures such as mani-pedis to the much more exotic Moroccan hammams, as well as the level of intensity of each treatment.
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The spa is spread out over three floors and a massive 98,000 sq ft—making it the largest Six Senses Spa in the world. The interiors are minimalistic, but warm and welcoming, with sunlight streaming in through huge bay windows and the intoxicating fragrance of lemongrass everywhere. There is a health club with state of the art equipment, a salon, a meditation cave (seriously) which incorporates the five elements, a yoga studio, a heated pool for Watsu therapy, and rooms for couples’ therapies which include the fancy hammams. The grand tour over, I went for my consult with the affable Dr. Rogneesh. He explained my Ayurvedic constitution (pitta—if anyone is interested), and based on my stress levels, recommended the holistic massage for me.
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After 5 minutes of eucalyptus-scented steam, I was taken to a dimly lit room, which to me looked like a European monastery—only more luxurious. Spartan interiors, cream textured walls, lights hidden away in tiny recesses and soothing fragrances suffusing the air. My masseuse was Somu, she of the magic fingers and noiseless tread. I hopped on to the massage table while she explained that the massage would be done with mixed oils—the base was sunflower, and the main essential oil was lavender. But first, she said, there was the singing bowl. She put a wooden bowl on my back that emanated the sweetest sound I’d ever heard. The singing bowl helps centre the person getting the massage, and align them with their masseuse, thus making them more receptive. I felt calmer, and five minutes into the massage, I promptly fell asleep. The rest of the treatment went in a haze. Eighty minutes later, when she said it was over, I was so relaxed, you could have poured me off the table. All the tension had been massaged out of me, and it felt glorious.
Still half asleep, I trudged off for another 5 minutes in the steam room and then a shower. I was no longer a spa virgin, and the only thought in my head was, “why on earth hadn’t I done this before?!” The sense of well-being lasted well into the next day—and now I’m a firm convert.
The information
Where: Six Senses Spa at Jaypee Greens Golf and Spa Resort, Surajpur Kasna Road, Greater Noida 201301, Uttar Pradesh
Contact: Tel: +91 120 674 3000, +91 120 674 3000; www.sixsenses.com