asiaSpa India May June 2015

HEALTH

| WELLNESS | BEAUTY | LUXURY | LIFESTYLE

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VOL. 12, ISSUE 2 * MAY-JUNE 2015 * `100 SUBSCRIBER COPY NOT FOR RESALE

Feel good Look great with Huma Qureshi Speed Detox Fast fitness for a healthier you!

Spa Spectacular Greece, Tokyo, London... it’s a global spa-fari

INSIDE!

16-PAGE GERMAN TOURISM GUIDE

Health & Beauty Eight great products to try out now!

Wellness Break Serene Malaysia Ayurveda Food for Life Watch Couture asiaSpa India Awards

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Sole and Exclusive Distributors for Perron Rigot in India Ocea Marine Cosmetics Pvt. Ltd. Tel: 022-28910000 Fax: 022-28946259 Email: sales@thalgoindia.com

For more details contact: +919987037666 +919324646350 CIN - U24241MH2008PTC188215/2008-2009

editor’s note

Dear Readers,

U

ntil sometime back, on special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries, my husband would customarily gift and overwhelm me with diamonds and designer labels. Last year though, on one such instance, he handed on to me, an object to wrap around my wrist. Well, it wasn’t a Swiss watch or a gem-encrusted bracelet, but was a fitness band instead. Almost a year on, the relevance of this little gadget has not died down.

That’s simply because, it keeps the fitnessconscious-me alive, at all times.

So this gizmo is like your health minister that monitors your activity levels, apart from boasting a host of other commendable functions.

Not going into heavy duty technical details, ‘Where’s Your Wearable’ educates, you in very basic terms, on why you should own a wearable. Health is the biggest wealth that one can possess, and we suggest you get one soon.

Coming to the theme of this edition, I am glad to share that this is the ‘Detox Special’. While our stories like ‘Buttress Detox With Exercise’ and ‘Tame The Toxins With Ayurveda’, give you all the tips on going a fullthrottle on chasing out the toxins, we also urge you to go digital cold turkey.

This means you turn-on, the turn-off mode on your screens. Be it phones, tablets or computers, we spend hours on worthless surfing, losing out on rather precious aspects of life. Read ‘#Flushed Fresh’ to learn how to implement it.

Our cover girl this time is spa addict Huma

Qureshi, with whom we shot at the picturesque Dusit Devarana, New Delhi. Not only was she a photographer’s delight, she also wooed us with her warm and confident personality. Catch the vivacious actor spilling the beans on her beauty, fitness regime and more in ‘The Soulful Enchantress’ on page 44.

Our other sections cover health, diet and beauty, events, and spas such as luxurious ones in Toyko, London and Greece.

Do not miss the story on Hamman-e-kadami on page 36, a rare piece from yesteryear in Bhopal.

Lastly, flip through the coverage of the starstudded asiaSpa Awards Ceremony on page 90, and raise a toast to the best in business of wellness with us.

Till we meet next, keep visiting spas and give yourself the pampering you so truly deserve.

inside Memorable Malaysia Take a journey through Malaysia’s innumerable offerings and find out why it is ‘truly Asia’.

(Page 74)

Baselworld’s Best We bring to you 12 timepieces from the world’s largest watch and jewellery show that will surely steal your heart.

(Page 106)

Detox Rules Take your skin-care routine a notch higher by indulging in an all-natural and comprehensive skin detox.

(Page 62)

asiaSpa India will now be available on iPad, iPod touch, Android & web devices globally via Magzter-the Global Mobile Magazine store.

Follow us on:

6 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

In 1784, the groundbreaking Pierre Jaquet Droz established Geneva’s first ever watchmaking factory.

Grande Seconde Quantième Ivory Enamel , ref. J007033200 Ivory Grand Feu enamel, double level. 18-carat red gold case.

Self-winding mechanical movement, silicon balance. Power reserve of 68 hours.

Pointer-type date display at 6 o’clock. Diameter 43 mm.

WWW.JAQ UET- D RO Z.C O M

Contact: (91) 11 4609 2943 Chennai - The Helvetica, Tel (044) 2846 4095/96 Mumbai - Ethos SummitLuxory Watch Boutique. Tel (022) 66151308 New Delhi - Johnson Watch Co. Connaught Place, Tel (011)4151 3110 Johnson Watch Co. South Extension, Tel (011) 2464 2299

CON TE NTS

46 COVER STORY Huma Qureshi on her passion for self-pampering and more

Health Digest 14

LIFELINES PICK

16

LIFELINES

20

SPA REVIEW

22

DIALOGUE

24

AGE MANAGEMENT

28

IN SESSION

30

PRODUCT PROFILE

Blue Palace Resort & Spa, Greece The Montcalm Marble Arch London Kairali The Ayurvedic Healing Village, Kerala Club Prana Spa, Hyatt Regency Mumbai Q & A with M. Eric Ducournau Fight the ageing years with a healthy mind Valeria Cavalcante Lancome’s newest product

COVER PAGE CREDITS: PHOTOGRAPHER: VIKRAM BAWA | HAIR: AMIT THAKUR | MAKEUP: AJAY VISHWASRAO | STYLIST: RUCHIKA GOSWAMY | LOCATION: DUSIT DEVARANA, NEW DELHI | OUTFIT: WENDELL RODRICKS - OGAAN, HEAD SCARF BY PASHMA, EARRINGS AND BRACELET BY ISHARYA AT ENSEMBLE | COVER DESIGN: SURENDER KUMAR CURRENT PAGE: OUTFIT: SHIVAN & NARRESH, EARRINGS BY TURQUOISE AND GOLD

CONTENTS Features & Fashion 32

LIFESTYLE

34

AYURVEDA

38

RARE INDULGENCE

40

BEAUTY

44

DIET

56

FITNESS

58

TRENDSPOTTER

60

INTREATMENT

62

SKIN

Switch off your electronics for a digital detox Flush out toxins with this ancient healing practice Bhopal’s hidden treasure Once in a year treatments Pause the hour of ageing Enhance detox with exercise

34

Wearable gadgets of the season Detox diary

74

A thorough cleanse for your skin

Going Green 66

NATURE’S TONIC

70

VITAL SIGNS

72

ECO CHOICE

Water, the elixir of life Squash, Raspberry

Directories 86

EVENT

98

SPOTLIGHT

102

GREAT BUYS

104

WATCH COUTURE

106

WATCH IT

110

BESPOKE

111

SPA GUIDE

114

DARE TO DREAM

Banjaar Tola – Taj Safaris

60

Food & Travell 74

DESTINATION

80

FOOD

84

HIDEAWAY

Create memories in magical Malaysia Savoury detox recipes Shahpura Bagh, Rajasthan

10 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

90

Vol. 12, Issue 2 May-June 2015 Chief Editor & Publisher: Parineeta Sethi parineeta@emmindia.com EDITORIAL Group Editor: Arati Thapa Deputy Editor: Priyanka Banerjee Features Editor: Anuradha Kaul Senior Correspondents: Megha Sharma, Rama Ahuja Sub Editor: Ahana Gurung Editorial Submissions: arati@emmindia.com Chief Designer: Surender Kumar Senior Designer: Raju Darai, Saurabh Mishra Production (Senior Manager): Ritesh Roy Pre-press Executive: Dinesh Masih COMMERCIAL OFFICES Delhi NCR 323 Udyog Vihar, Phase IV, Gurgaon - 122016, Haryana Sales and Advertising Vinit Pandhi (GM), email: vinit@emmindia.com, 0124-4759650/620 Abhinav Kaushal, email: abhinav@emmindia.com Marketing Anshita Sharma, email: anshita@emmindia.com 0124-4759567/615 Shweta Chawla, email: shweta@emmindia.com Ganesh Bohra (Graphic Designer), email: ganesh@emmindia.com Mumbai Soumya Maheshwari (VP), 1A&B, Diamond House, 35th Road, Off Linking Road, Bandra - West, Mumbai - 400050, Maharashtra, India, email: soumya@emmindia.com, Tel: +91 22 2604 1735/36 INTERNATIONAL SALES Italy Mariolina Siclari, Tel: +39 02. 91 32 34 66, email: mariolina.siclari@burda.com Germany Vanessa von Minckwitz, Tel: +49 89 92 50 35 32, email: vanessa.vonminckwitz@burda.com, tobias.Jacob@burda.com Michael Neuwirth, Tel: +49 89 9250 3629, email: michael.neuwirth@burda.com, julia.meinhold@burda.com Austria / Switzerland Goran Vukota, Tel: +41 44 81 02 146, email: goran.vukota@burda.com France / Luxembourg Marion Badolle-Feick, Tel: +33 1 72 71 25 24, email: marion.badolle-feick@burda.com UK / Ireland Jeannine Soeldner, Tel: +44 20 3440 5832, email: jeannine.soeldner@burda.com USA / Canada / Mexico Salvatore Zammuto, Tel: +1 212 884 48 24, email: salvatore.zammuto@burda.com CIRCULATION Ashish Sawhney Amit Saxena subscribe@emmindia.com CORPORATE Chief Financial Officer: Puneet Nanda Manager (HR): Sonya Caroline Shah Senior System Specialist (IT): Arun Salhotra EA to Managing Director: Shrey Singh Chauhan asiaSpa India Edition is published under license by Exposure Media Marketing Pvt Limited 323 Udyog Vihar, Phase IV, Gurgaon - 122016, Haryana.

Tel: 0124- 4759649, www.asiaspaindia.com ASIA SPA is published by Blu Inc Media (HK) Ltd, a subsidiary of SPH Magazines Pte Ltd. For SPH Magazines: Chief Executive Officer: Loh Yew Seng (lohys@sph.com.sg) Managing Directors: Maureen Wee (weekfm@sph.com.sg); Dennis Pua (dennisp@sph.com.sg) Group Editor-In-Chief: Caroline Ngui (nguislc@sph.com.sg) Business Development & International Licensing Director: Foong Seong Khong (foongsk@sph.com.sg) INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Hong Kong: Tel: + 852 21652800, Fax: + 852 2868 1799; advertise@adkom.com EMM IS A COMPANY OF THE BURDA GROUP Burda International GmbH CEO Fabrizio d’Angelo Hubert Burda Media, Asia CEO Friedrich Scanzoni Hubert Burda Media India Pvt. Ltd. Burda Asia COO and India MD Massimo Monti REPRO: MEDIENPARTNER INTERNATIONAL INDIA/BURDA DRUCK INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED.

“Published and printed by Parineeta Sethi for and on behalf of the owners, M/s Exposure Media Marketing Pvt. Ltd. Published at B-1 LGF, Geetanjali Enclave, New Delhi 110017, and printed at Thomson Press,18/35, Delhi–Mathura Road Faridabad” The views and opinions expressed or implied in asiaSpa India are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Exposure Media Marketing Pvt. Ltd. Unsolicited articles and transparencies are sent at the owner’s risk and the publisher accepts no liability for loss or damage. Materials in this publication may not be reproduced, whether in part or in whole, without the consent of the owner-Exposure Media Marketing Pvt. Ltd.

14 LIFELINES PICK / 16 LIFELINES / 20 SPA REVIEW / 22 DIALOGUE / 24 AGE MANAGEMENT / 28 IN SESSION / 30 PRODUCT PROFILE

HEALTHDIGEST

L LIFELINES PICK

Cretan splendour L

ocated at one of the most serene private beaches on the island of Crete, Blue Palace Resort and Spa is the perfect hideaway that combines plush island accommodations, authentic cuisine and a soothing retreat for the senses. With its exceptional charm, architecture and style, the Elounda Spa and Thalassotherapy is an abode of tranquillity. Select from a variety of treatments ranging from Thalassotherapy, signature massage therapies, facials, salon services and discover the joys of wellness. Comprising 24 treatment rooms that feature soothing water sounds and diffused calming lighting, you can also treat yourself at the luminous relaxation pool, two traditional marble Turkish Hammams, saunas, indoor Jacuzzis, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, and a retail spa boutique at this property.

14 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

BLUE PALACE A LUXURY COLLECTION RESORT & SPA, ELOUNDA P.O. BOX 38, ELOUNDA, CRETE, 72053, GREECE PHONE: +30 28410 65500 WWW.BLUEPALACE.GR

L LIFELINES

loosen up in London

T

he Montcalm London Marble Arch is one of the much-preferred hotels for wellness aficionados, given its world-class service and stellar location that is just moments away from both Park Lane and Oxford Street.

Pick from a wide selection of soothing treatments at the Spa at Montcalm Marble Arch London, and unwind in pleasure. The qualified therapists take you through a memorable journey, of which the ultimate destination is 16 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

complete relaxation and rejuvenation. The luxurious spa includes a sauna, steam room, monsoon shower, heated loungers and an exercise pool. At the fitness centre, you can avail some of the latest cardiovascular fitness equipment and weights as well as a flat screen TV, international satellite and music channels to ensure your comfort and entertainment during your workout.

WWW.THEMONTCALM.COM

L LIFELINES

villas with a healing vision

K

airali, Palakkad is an idyllic hamlet, surrounded by mountains, forests, wildlife, rivers, temples and hosts a traditional Ayurvedic treatment retreat. Set amid 50 acres with 30 villas, the Ayurvedic Healing Village, blends the comfort of a luxurious holiday with ancient therapies. Each villa, conforms to Vastu Shastra and are zodiac sign specific, bordered by herbs and trees with curative powers. Amenities, 18 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

such as a swimming pool, tennis courts, library, recreational facilities for children, conference halls and a cultural amphitheatre, are also part of the retreat. Kairali’s Ayurvedic Healing Village offers a pollution-free environment, where vegetarian food and abstinence from alcohol and smoking is propagated, making it an ideal choice for a detox getaway.

WWW.AYURVEDICHEALINGVILLAGE.COM

S S PA R E V I E W

regain your spent energies Walk into Club Prana Spa, Hyatt Regency Mumbai, and spoil yourself with your pick from their myriad treatments, to give your body the coddling it needs

C

onveniently located minutes away from the international and domestic terminals, Club Prana Spa is amongst India’s top notch urban spa and fitness centres. Spread across a lavish 10,000 square feet, this wellbeing retreat, pampers you with the gentle healing touch of the East, amalgamated with the latest spa technology from the West. All the services and facilities at Club Prana, have been carefully selected,

keeping in mind today’s fast pace and stressful lifestyles. Apart from world class treatments, you can also indulge in an array of fitness, recreation and racquet sport facilities. Designed specifically to provide complete welfare to the body, mind and soul, Club Prana Spa, welcomes you with minimalist interiors, soothing colour themes, lush floral arrangements and relaxing aromas.

Treat yourself with Club Prana Spa’s signature treatment of Sama Abhyangam.

This traditional and rather rare ritual is based on a concept practiced in Kerala with two therapists massaging specially prepared oils deep into your tissues, in turn facilitating the removal of toxins

found in the body. Designed especially for detoxification and to address sleeplessness and fatigue, this treatment leaves you feeling fresh as ever.

Nothing spoils a visit to another country, the way a jetlag does. Indulge in Club Prana Spa’s Jetlag relief treatment and bring your body back in balance without losing precious time. The combination of pressure point stimulation and deep tissue manipulation, helps you recover from fatigue and improves the blood flow. The aroma of lavender and Clary sage, take you to the journey of blissful state of mind, while the precise strokes combat deep exhaustion.

CLUB PRANA SPA, HYATT REGENCY MUMBAI SAHAR AIRPORT ROAD, ANDHERI EAST, MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA 400099 PHONE: 022 6696 1234 WWW.MUMBAI.REGENCY.HYATT.COM

20 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

D DIALOGUE

helming an

innovation

M. Eric Ducournau, CEO, Pierre Fabre, elaborates on the concept of dermo-cosmetics and how it has flourished with time • • •

They are designed for damaged skin, scalp or hair, and are even better suited to healthy ones.

Often recommended by a dermatologist, they optimise and accompany a drug treatment.

They are sold in pharmacy networks or equivalents, so as to be explained and recommended – ideally by a pharmacist.

In the absence of one, they should be advised by specially trained staff, to provide not just the best care to the specific needs of each person, but also as a cosmetic, they procure the same pleasure of usage, application and penetration into the skin.

What is distinct about your approach, regarding active ingredients extracted from natural sources?

The use of natural active ingredients is at the heart of the DNA of our Group. In regards to thermal water, Pierre Fabre acquired the Avène Spa in 1975, which he had heard of since childhood.

40 years later, he turned this source into the biggest dermocosmetic brand in the world, both literally and quantitatively.

To answer your question more directly, what is special about our approach, is that it is scientifically based. It mobilises the expertise of botanists, agronomists, biologists and pharmacists, who share the common attitude of being passionate about the benefits of plants, which we call the Pierre Fabre Botanical Expertise approach.

A

s the third largest French pharmaceutical laboratory boasting of names such as Avène and René Futerer, among others, Pierre Fabre offers some of the most renowned dermo-cosmetic products. We unravel the intricacies that are at the core of the brand’s philosophies.

Since Pierre Fabre is the inventor of the derma-cosmetics concept, please elaborate on the same.

The concept of dermo-cosmetics was developed by Pierre Fabre from 1960s onward, around four founding principles: • Dermo-cosmetic products are designed, developed and tested with the same rigour as a drug would be.

22 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

What key areas are your research and development teams focusing on?

To sum up, our ambition is to develop innovative active ingredients of natural, biological or chemical origin and validate their safety and effectiveness at different levels (molecular, cellular and tissue). Our research gives priority to focus areas mainly, Hydration, Cutaneous reactivity, Hyperpigmentation and Hair biology.

Where in India, can one buy products from your Group?

Our brands Avène, Ducray, and Aderma, are recommended by key dermatologists around India. They are available in India at leading chemist stores in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Noida and Thane.

For René Furterer, which is dedicated to Hair Care and formulated with essential oils, products are advised, used and distributed by top-end salons.

A AG E M A N AG E M E N T

24 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

agility over fragility A healthy outside begins with a healthy inside. Sharpen your mind regularly and experience a more youthful and confident life

By Ahana Gurung

H

ave you ever been in a situation, where you had to struggle to remember certain everyday things – things that you usually are careful about? Like where you kept your keys? How about bumping into someone you are familiar with but you just can’t seem to recall their name? These could very much be the signs of you getting older. Do not reach for the panic button yet, for with every problem comes a solution.

More often than we would like to admit, one forgets the age-old wisdom of maintaining a healthy mind, body and soul. Age related memory gets worse with stress, anxiety and poor concentration.

Additionally, owing to the changing life scenarios, the level of mental health in an average individual has drastically deteriorated. Depression, a result of weak mental health, is no longer looked down upon as a rare infliction. Deepali Bedi, clinical psychologist at Sukoon Psychotherapy Centre comments on the fact that the World Health Organisation (WHO) experts predict depression to be the second leading cause of global disability burden by the year 2020. You can readily ensure a more youthful life experience by giving equal importance to your mind’s wellbeing in order to enhance your current lifestyle significantly.

asiaSpa India May-June 2015 25

A AG E M A N AG E M E N T

“Enjoy a daily crossword puzzle or Sudoku, make it a point to read more, or opt for mental math rather than a calculator” improve your mental agility. Deepali advices to reduce as many unhealthy lifestyle patterns as possible. “Like a fit body, a fit mind is very important.

We are falling into a trap of behaviours like smoking, unhealthy diet, in-appropriate nutrition and alcohol, and many more. It is necessary to break these unhealthy lifestyle patterns which will keep us physically healthy and mentally fit,” she states.

Exercise not only helps curb depression, anxiety and other forms of emotional stress, but also improves circulation and muscle function that releases endorphins, which make one feel happy.

Dr Gorav reasons that the more active the brain is, better are the chances of memory being sharp.

There are lots of ways to do a daily mental work-out – enjoy a daily crossword puzzle or Sudoku, make it a point to read more, or opt for mental math rather than a calculator. Stay socially active, or take up new hobbies that will constantly stimulate your mind.

Understanding mental ageing First and foremost, let us comprehend what exactly mental ageing is. “Ageing causes changes in brain physiology, size and cognition,” explains Dr Gorav Gupta, psychiatrist and director of Tulasi Healthcare, New Delhi. “As we grow older, we face a certain amount of forgetfulness and loss of concentration span. Adapting to change in the environment can be difficult, but if one actively uses his mind, then one can prevent the onset of age-related degeneration of the brain. Research shows not all people go through mental decline as they age, if they lead a mentally stimulating life,” he adds.

Certain stressful situations like retirement, death, divorce or even menopause also affect mental health adversely.

Sharpening your mind You are never too old to give your mind a good workout every once in a while, especially if it helps 26 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

Regular monitoring Thanks to advancing technology, a number of health gadgets are available within an arm’s reach to keep a regular check on your mental health.

“Companies like Livonics, Apple, among others, are now providing apps to regularly monitor happiness, mental health fitness and other psychological factors,” expresses Deepali.

Dr Sandeep Govil, Consultant, Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Saroj Super Speciality Hospital Delhi further adds, “One can also take help from a professional and simple tool, the General Health questionnaire GHQ. However, this method is to be assessed only by the mental health professional.”

A healthy mind is an active mind, hence, the best way to overcome the effects of ageing on cognition depends entirely on the efforts of the individual. So take initiative, incorporate small changes on a daily basis, and enjoy a more youthful and longer life.

I IN SESSION

from Italy with a

natural touch 28 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

Italian phytocosmetic skincare brand, Vagheggi makes its foray in India in partnership with the beauty and wellness expert; Nisha Javeri. In an exclusive interview with asiaSpa India, the CEO of Vagheggi, Valeria Cavalcante shares the many outstanding features of the brand and the importance of India as a market

By Rama Ahuja

Tell us a little about Vagheggi.

The company was started in 1975 and is a family company. Vagheggi reworks the tradition of natural cosmetics with the most advanced laboratory and analysis technologies. When selecting raw materials, we follow careful fairtrade and sustainable development policies, using only suppliers that comply with local and international laws to protect and develop the environment.

Even in our packaging, we try to select packages that have minimum impact on the environment What sets Vagheggi apart from the other cosmetic brands?

We are focussed on a natural approach.

We prefer to use active ingredients which come from plants, flowers, seeds and woods and avoid chemicals, as they can be quite harsh on the skin. Vagheggi’s unique products are based on scrupulous selection of raw materials based on their geographic origins, concentration of their active ingredients, seasonality and even harvesting method. We have 300 products in our range and every single product has its own formula. I believe we are the only one to do so. Also, our range is a hundred per cent tailor made. This means that our cost of our production is very high, but the good thing is that the end user understands the difference between a Vagheggi product and other available cosmetics in the market.

ingredients such as a good carrier to carry the active ingredients deep into the skin. Without the right carrier, the cream works with lesser efficiency. In our line, we use gold as a carrier as we have discovered that gold is perfect since it enhances the production of collagen in a much bigger quantity than other carrier.

Many other companies use gold as it is luxurious, or because it is fashionable or for its anti-ageing properties. However, we use it for the sake of its goodness.

We also have a stringent set of guidelines and do a lot of tests before, during and even after production of our products to make sure they comply with our requirements. For example, in a product wherein we use lavender, if the colour of the product is not the same as the batch before, we do it all over again.

good, so you can be more confident with yourself. Keeping similar mind-sets in mind, it was only fair for us to venture into the Indian markets with Nisha Javeri as our sole and official local partner for the brand in India.

Where in India can one buy a Vagheggi product?

As of now our products are available at Myrah Spa in Mumbai. Though soon, Vagheggi will be available all over India and at various luxury spas and salons.

There will be extensive training that will be provided to staff in terms of technical knowledge, education, how to do the treatments and how it works etc.

Why India?

India is a growing market and there is a lot of potential here, from the business point of view. The real answer, however, is that we in Italy have the same philosophy as in India. Beauty is not just about wearing some makeup or applying cream. Beauty is from within. It’s not just about looking good but also about feeling

Apart from its ingredients, what makes a Vagheggi product so admired?

We are constantly researching to better our products. For example, to do a good cream, it’s important to have the right active ingredients. However, it is also important to have other components that go along well with these active asiaSpa India May-June 2015 29

P PRODUCT PROFILE

blossoms in a

bottle Opening a new chapter in cutting-edge plant biology, Lancôme’s latest offering is the ultimate elixir of regeneration

I

magine what it would be like to have a cream that simply banishes all the wrinkles and skin imperfections. The latest addition to the Absolue L’Extrait franchise; ‘Absolue L’Extrait Serum’ does just that and more. Pushing back the frontiers of cosmetic knowledge, this cream utilises the infinite regeneration technology found in the stem cells of Lancôme’s specially cultivated roses, and the effect is radiant looking skin.

Rich and creamy at first and an elixir in the next instant, this cream melts into the skin in no time, leaving the face with a smooth and nourished appearance. Its magical texture and bewitching fragrance make for a thoroughly contrasted sensory experience, unlike any other.

Packaged in a modern reinterpretation of the avant-garde codes of the iconic Nutrix jar, the Absolue L’Extrait Serum with its unique design exudes an unmistakable air of mystery and exclusivity. Priced at `31,000, the wonder cream is accompanied by an exclusive massage petal designed for optimum application. Lancôme Laboratories and the Institut Lancôme have developed a specific application procedure that alternates between the warmth and coolness of the massage petal, to awaken the skin and liberate the regenerative powers of cream, which are no less than miraculous.

30 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

32 LIFESTLYE / 34 AYURVEDA / 38 RARE INDULGENCE / 40 BEAUTY / 44 DIET / 46 COVER STORY / 56 FITNESS / 58 TRENDSPOTTER / 60 INTREATMENT / 62 SKIN

FEATURES

L LIFESTYLE

G

et up. Post a status on Facebook.

Eat something. Tweet how you love your work. Work. Let me take a selfie on instagram.

Eat. Let’s see who I can date on tinder.

Party. Maybe say hi to my friends on BBM and Whatsapp. Sleep…, oh I can’t sleep, let’s go online for 15 more minutes and the story continues.

That’s possibly how your days go by without thinking about your own self. Time and again, one comes across a point where we ask ourselves our limit or where should we stop using social media? Should we completely stop it (which is impossible) or is there a good time to stop. Before the reader starts thinking that it’s impossible to shut down our screens (and this is just another preacher, telling everyone how bad social media is) it is imperative for us to realise anything is good till it doesn’t escalate into an addiction.

Designer Chhaya Mehrotra is in complete empathy with us, when she says that we can’t stop the internet, but

#flushed

fresh

Let’s shut the screen and #detox completely.

Shall we? Read ahead and we tell you how

32 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

then we can always detox. Usually, we detox for a better physical or mental wellbeing, but when social media and the explosion of internet cause half the problems, detoxing digitally also asks for equal importance. Firstly, the need for a peaceful life, followed by the ease of mental and physical heath. Let’s begin the much required detoxing with the food we choose to eat (it’s easier to do).

Drink water: All you lovely ladies need to rise from 2-3 glass of water to 2-3 litres of water per day. This is the simplest way to detox your body.

Olive oil: Switch your regular cooking oil with olive oil, and start adding the goodness of olive oil to your food and salads.

Lemon: If you are not a fan of lemon, then you better start being one. Infuse a few drops of lemon to your morning glass of water and you are done for the day.

Green tea: Replace your caffeine intake with this healthy drink. You could try adding some honey to your green tea to make it tastier.

It only takes a little consciousness to make use of simple things that might already be in most of our kitchens.

Let these healthy habits slowly fold themselves to discover a better you.

While flushing out our toxins through our food regime is promising, we must also get away from the constant blinking of our phones and laptops.

Packing our bags and escaping for 30 days is perhaps, not doable but a weekend doesn’t hurt. A digital detox is our best bet to get away from the mandates of social communication and find some quiet time.

Designer Kanika Saluja says that before you start digital detoxing, you

“If you are not a fan of lemon, then you better start being one. Infuse a few drops of lemon to your morning glass of water and you are done for the day” need to religiously switch off you phone and make sure to leave your tab, laptop and all sorts of ‘real world’ networking equipment at home.

So, here are some simple yet significant ways to start the digital detox.

Short but sweet: Start by choosing a place that is far away from the hustle of the city but make sure you don’t go too far because you have just got two days for you and you wouldn’t want to spend it on travelling alone.

Wake up early and breathe: Do nothing but only observe nature, inhale fresh air and sip gently on your green tea.

Do yoga: You can do it alone or join a group.

Most of the resorts do weekend yoga classes, if not then you are good alone as well.

Write something: With spell check not regulating your writing, you might huddle with the words but that is irrelevant. Write something, may be a poem, a short story, your experience so far or just a letter to your beloved.

Read a book: Don’t use your Kindle, read a hardcopy novel.

Go on an adventure: Go for cycling or trekking or simply play a game; most definitely an outdoor one and not candy crush.

Take a walk: Get your better half or your friends to come with you. If not, then you should find comfort knowing that nothing beats one’s own company. So next weekend do pack your back, hop into your car and embrace mental detoxing. Have a happy detoxing.

Story courtesy: Red Door Luxury asiaSpa India May-June 2015 33

A AY U R V E DA

taming the toxins with

ayurveda 34 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

Dr Issac Mathai, a holistic physician and consultant reaffirms Ayurveda as a faith, philosophy and science, that works wonders for overall detoxification

D

etoxification, as per Ayurveda, is an ongoing process that continues seamlessly in any human body from birth to the last breath. The body comes equipped with an inbuilt system to facilitate this process in a very simple yet sophisticated manner.

This ‘detoxification’ refers to an activity that clears the system off any debris deriving out of metabolic, respiratory and any other physiological activity.

Ayurveda proclaims that any substance, that is meant to be removed from the body, can be called a ‘foreign body’ or ‘toxin’ and that can be potentially harmful and pose a threat to other systems too, if not removed from time to time. The abovementioned inbuilt system works pretty well in a human body, provided it follows a healthy lifestyle.

Four Seasons Spa, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai

Failure of automatic detoxification There are multiple reasons for this detoxification process to go haywire. Some of the prominent ones being, abuse of the body, unhealthy lifestyle, diet and climate changes. Apart from this, mental stress and strain acts as a major factor which can influence the physiology, and thereby disturbs the clearing process.

This failure of detoxification from the system is capable of causing genetic mutations, leading to auto-immune diseases and accelerating the progress of degenerative disease conditions. This is where Ayurveda can step in and play a huge role in bettering the process.

Purpose of Ayurveda The very purpose of Ayurveda is twofold. One, maintenance of good health of a healthy individual and two, helping the system restore normalcy in a diseased condition through various means. asiaSpa India May-June 2015 35

A AY U R V E DA

The first objective is achieved by choosing the right kind of lifestyle, diet, exercise etc, by each individual, based on their physical and functional built or constitution, what is referred to as ‘prakruti’ in Ayurveda parlance. Where one does not have an option to choose is the climate, and thus is expected to make changes in the lifestyle in order to not hinder with the smooth physiology of maintenance and detoxification.

Objective two is to restore normalcy, just in case, if one is not able to maintain a healthy lifestyle for whatever reasons. This can be achieved by prompting the body or facilitating an environment in the body to clear the backlog of toxins, thereby keeping the system updated of detoxification.

In either case, the bottom line is that it’s a carefully executed detoxification process.

From this, we can draw a conclusion that Ayurveda=Detoxification=Good health.

36 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

“The medicines used in Ayurveda, are derived from mostly plant origin, occasionally mineral and rarely metal” How Ayurveda facilitates detoxification Ayurveda, in a nutshell, is a set of principles for one to adapt in one’s life. A blind following of these ensure that the good health is maintained by everyone.

Unfortunately, by virtue of the compulsions and the constraints of the environment we live in, and the striving to meet the requirement and demands of the highly competitive world today; we end up not doing the right thing at the right

time. This in turn, invariably, burdens the system resulting in an improper activity within our system. However, this level might not translate into any gross clinical presentation of symptoms in an individual, but will certainly form the bedrock for bigger things to surface later.

A realtime correction is possible with some Ayurveda medicines and minor therapies in cases with trivial alterations in lifestyle and a threatened physiology, where medications with advanced Panchakarma therapies are required, in grossly abused system, to restore normalcy.

In fact, it is only Ayurveda, which suggests ways to carry out detoxification, in a system friendly manner even before the onset of any clinical symptom presentation, in a truly prophylactic fashion.

Panchakarma procedures or therapies, form the cornerstone of Ayurveda detoxification methods. There are five procedures, as the name implies, namely: Virechanam (induced therapeutic purgation) Vamanam (induced therapeutic emesis) z Vasthi (medicated cleansing enemas) z Nasya (nasal drops application) z Rakthamoksha (controlled and Induced bleeding from the affected areas of the skin) These therapies are conducted under the supervision of expert Ayurveda specialists after detailed evidence based diagnosis, and assessing the extent of accumulation of toxins. A wellequipped facility is necessary for the above to be carried out. z z

The medicines used in Ayurveda, are derived from mostly plant origin, occasionally mineral and rarely metal. There are close to 1200 varieties of plants mentioned in Ayurveda text books with various therapeutic properties for application in multiple conditions.

Ayurveda as a ‘user’s manual’ Ayurveda believes that each human being on this Earth is a unique entity with different genetic fashion and configuration that needs different management strategies, both for maintenance of good health or treatment of disease. Ayurveda serves as a mother manual that has a set of instructions for each person, along with trouble shooting option for as and when one falls sick.

One is expected to refer to the manual and select the right kind of lifestyle for maintaining good health. The challenge is to identify the body constitution or prakruti and then choose the right instruction from the manual of Ayurveda. An even bigger challenge could be to stick to the lifestyle for that is almost the converse of the current so called modern day life style. A careful dissection of these advises and procedures mentioned in the text, reveal that the whole concept revolves around the theory of detoxification as an everyday affair in a milder form and a seasonal detoxification at the end of each climate seasons, in a relatively elaborate way.

In conclusion, the fact remains that Ayurveda is meant for the humanity, irrespective of the race, creed or geographical existence.

Dr Issac Mathai Chairman, Managing and Medical Director, Soukya www.soukya.com

asiaSpa India May-June 2015 37

R RARE INDULGENCE

India’s best kept

nawabi secret

Opens at Deepawali and closes at Holi, the Hammam-e-Kadami, built by Dost Mohammad Khan in the 17th century in Bhopal, is a piece-de-resistance in its own right.

By Preeti Verma Lal

P

icture this. You are in a 300year old domed room. Peeled down to basic clothing with not a thread on the torso.

Almost naked in the midst of complete strangers. Mercy, only women. All in a state of undress. Jewellery stashed in a plastic box. The hair loose. Payments made first. Rs 450 for steam. Rs 50 for head massage. Rs 100 for ubtan (herbal scrub or pack). Time: 90 minutes. You lie flat on your belly on a concrete floor.

No pillow. No marble. No mattress. Just quintals of wood burning in the arched basement below you, and the steam trickling in through copper pipes that run like a maze in the walls and the floor. Remember, this is no modern steam room complete with thermostat 38 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

“Hammam-eKadami has three rooms - the steam room, the warm room and the cold room” and chandeliers. The weather outside decides the room’s temperature, keeping it just right for the bath. Here, you pay heed to instructions of matronly women.

Before you pick the dos and don’ts, the steam starts running through your skin.

The sweat swathes you. Do not fret.

That is the first step to get the grime

off your skin in a traditional Hammam, a Turkish Muslim ritual of bathing and ritual cleansing.

Well, you cannot head to Turkey to acquire that cream and peaches skin of Cleopatra. There’s one in Vidya Vihar, Bhopal - the only functional traditional Hammam in the city. Built by Dost Mohammad Khan in 1718, Hammame-Kadami has three rooms - the steam room, the warm room and the cold room. The dome has five naak and kaan (nose and ears). Wait, the room does not need to breathe. The nose and ears are to let natural light in and maintain ventilation.

At Hammam-e-Kadami, the Hammam begins with a steam that makes the skin supple and preps it for an oil massage wherein the masseuse (masseurs for men) kneads, twists, pummels the muscles as if one were a lump of dough. The body massage is followed by head massage, and a fullbody herbal pack. The bath concludes with soaping and a hot water bath.

The Bhopal Hammam opens on the night of Deepawali and closes a night before Holi. The timings are different for men and women (9 am to 3 pm for women; 8 pm to early morning for men).

Interestingly, women are massaged with hand while masseurs use their feet to massage men.

Hammam-e-Kadami is a tad dingy and unkempt. However, the bath sloughs off all urban malice. Perhaps, it was not donkey’s milk that made Cleopatra so beautiful. Possibly, she sneaked into a Hammam too often!

B BEAUTY

once a year

will do!

Between regular salon and spa visits, there comes a time, when you need to take the turn for more serious procedures that guarantee greater impact and last longer, says Abhilasha Ojha

40 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

M

ilestones ahead of the regular beauty treatments cosmetic procedures, both invasive and non-invasive, are ensuring people stay younger, fitter and fresher for a long time. Take the case of Afsana Sheikh Akhtar, a 45-yearold lady from Bangladesh, who was experiencing sleepless nights. She was dealing with a number of concerns – the extra ounces she had put on her abdomen area, the wrinkling skin on her face and her stained teeth. All of this made her feel less confident, depressed and miserable. Since money was not an issue, Akhtar decided to start the New Year with a promise – to give herself a complete head-to-toe cosmetic makeover that perhaps, cost a fortune but ensured long-lasting results. She came to New Delhi, promising herself a journey of awareness, and going back to looking her fabulous self.

Armed with credit cards, health documents and some of her old pictures, Akhtar went to the city’s leading hospital’s cosmetic clinic. In her own words, “It was here that I decided to look ageless, just like those classic, timeless beauties.” On their part, the doctors starting ticking the boxes on Akhtar’s behalf, indulging her in long discussions, understanding her requirements and giving cosmetic treatments, effects of which would last for a long time – the 45-year-old underwent a tummy tuck treatment, a surgical facelift to tighten the skin and treat sagging skin, and give it a more youthful appearance. This was done with incisions made around and above the ears and skin lifted from cheeks and neck area. That apart, Akhtar went in for cosmetic dentistry to improve her smile and a bleach session to make her teeth appear sparkling white.

All these treatments were rather serious in nature than regular salon

visits or monthly spa sessions that Akhtar was used to. All the more, she preferred these ‘intensive’ and definitely more ‘expensive’ treatments – primarily because they needed to be done far less frequently, and promised long-term results.

Akhtar is not the lone person in her fight to be fit and fine. Like her, many more women and men are storming numerous cosmetic clinics and discovering that undergoing, both invasive (or major surgeries) and noninvasive, cosmetic treatments, can bring that vital difference you are looking for. The best part; once done, you don’t have to bother repeating the treatments thanks to their long-lasting effects.

No surprise then, cosmetic surgery, as reports suggest, is a Rs 240 crore

market, growing at 40-50 per cent annually. In fact, of the total medical procedural segment, 10 per cent of the revenue is contributed by cosmetic surgery alone. The most sought-after cosmetic services, say experts, are Botox, face lift, hair transplant and neck lift procedures, among others. According to Shahin Nooreyezdan, cosmetic surgeon at Apollo Hospital in New Delhi, “It is not just the older ones but many youngsters are opting for treatments like lip fillers. What is also getting people interested in these procedures is the fact that they don’t take very long.”

Adds Anil Maini, Executive Director, Batra Hospital and Medical Research Centre, “Cosmetic procedures like hair transplant, liposuction, are short-stay and convenient procedures.”

“The most sought-after cosmetic services, say experts, are Botox, face lift, hair transplant and neck lift procedures, among others” asiaSpa India May-June 2015 41

B BEAUTY

Time and Price tags • Face-lifting: Rs 75,000Rs 2 lakh or more depending on what area you want to concentrate on (repeat between 5-10 years or never).

• Tummy tuck: Rs 2.5-3 lakh (repeat procedure not required provided the person exercises and eats a healthy diet).

• Botox: Rs 500, per injection (repeat after five-six months).

• Rhinosplasty: Rs 2 lakh (repeat procedure not required).

• Breast augmentation: Rs 2.5-3 lakh (follow up required every five years).

• Dental cosmetic treatment: Rs 9,000-3,00,000. For example, bleaching, invisible braces, crown lengthening process, tooth jewellery, (follow up once in six months).

• Laser treatment for hair reduction, mole and scar removal: Rs 30,000-50,000 or more (monthly settings initially that are reduced in six months time).

• Ultheraphy: Rs 1.5 lakh. Noninvasive procedure for face, neck and chest to lift, tone and tighten loose skin using ultrasound and healing process (repeat after 3 years).

42 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

Those in the business of providing these specialised treatments, reiterate that the biggest benefit is once done, they don’t need to be regularly repeated. “The effects of many of these treatments are longlasting and you don’t have to come back to us again for a long time. While some treatments can last for a lifetime, Botox injections or lip fillers can be repeated after 10-12 months,” explains, noted cosmetic and plastic surgeon Dr PMC Naidu.

So what are people coming to the cosmetic doctors for? Laser treatments for hair reduction, blemish reduction and mole removals, liposuction (to remove fat from different areas of the body), lip filling, blepharoplasty (to reduce puffiness and bags under the eyes), tummy tuck, microdermabrasion (to remove crow’s feet, age spots and acne scars through a mechanical hand-piece that is applied to the skin and removes oves dead skin cells and stimulates new w cell and collagen growth), face-lifting, ng, breast augmentation procedure, among mong others. Naidu says that while many y of these procedures are done to enhance ance self-confidence, it is also wonderful ul for for people who have met with accidents nts nt and are trying hard to get back to their thei h r normal life. Doctors also warn thatt many of these procedures can have e side-effects and worse, if not done by an expert can go horribly wrong. True, rue, given that many are still talking off a leading actor’s lip-job-gone-wrong ng episode after she appeared on some me talk talk shows last year.

The risk factor notwithstanding, both g, bot b h men and women are flocking to cosmetic smet metic ic clinics in a bid to get a makeover, and it is no surprise that people in the business usiness are doing everything in their capacity city to ensure that the treatments are done

super quickly to keep pace with their target clientele’s packed schedules. So picture this; you have a client meeting after the one hour lunch break. Yes, you go in for a ‘lunch-hour facelift’, complete with several small nonsurgical procedures, including Botox injections, laser skin resurfacing, and dermal filler injections. Or there are Botox parties, even quick Rhinoplasty (nose correction) and lip filling appointments where in just 30 minutes, you can walk out with the perfect nose, the perfect smile.

There’s a warning here, however, too; “The ‘lunch time label’ is misleading.

There is minor redness, swelling that takes time to subside. However, the fact these non-invasive cosmetic treatments (where there’s no surgery involved) can be done quickly and saves time is attracting many people,” says another doctor who didn’t want to be identified in the story. For now, it’s thumbs up for cosmetic surgery.

asiaSpa India May-June 2015 43

D DIET

arrest the hour of Caring for yourself is a cardinal key of looking and feeling great.

Dr Kalpana Gupta Shekhawat gives an inside look into the facets of an ideal diet that will help postpone the ageing process

44 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

“I

t is not time that ages the body, it is abuse that ages the body.” As Dr Herbert Shelton, rightly said, as much as ten years of your age can be taken off the body, if proper care is taken to ensure correct nutrition and weight management.

One just needs to be extra careful about what we consume; after all, you are what you eat.

Numerous studies have discovered that one of the major mechanisms underlying most age-related cellular damage is due to inflammation, resulting from food items that augment the condition.

Therefore, adherence to an anti-inflammatory diet is critical if one expects to win the aggressive war against ageing. Free radicals lead to cellular damage and causes ageing of cells by initiating inflammatory response in them.

So, don’t wait any longer and take matters into your own hands. Be sure to incorporate the following list of foods in your daily diet which will help slow down the ageing process and prevent age related cellular damage: • Cold water fish, ground flax seed or lignin rich flax oil, walnuts.

• Vegetables: Yellow orange and red veggies (peppers carrots and beets), dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, arugula, broccoli).

• Deep coloured fruits: Berries, melons and citrus fruits.

• Whole grains: Whole rolled oats, sprouted grain breads.

• Anti-inflammatory spices: Turmeric, ginger, rosemary, oregano, cayenne.

Care must be taken to try and avoid food high in trans and omega 6 fats, as they enhance cellular damage. Processed and red meat, dairy products, partially hydrogenated oils, corn, cotton seed, peanut and soy oil all fall under this category. Stay away from refined carbohydrates (that are high on the glycemic index) such as white breads or bagels, English muffin, white rice, rice and corn cereals, crackers, cookies and cakes, for these have been proven harmful in the anti-ageing process. Instead, select better options like brown bread or quinoa so that you can look younger for longer.

Ideal diet Although it is not possible to prescribe one standard diet which is ideal for everyone, there are some basic tenets of a diet that are universally beneficial.

There is enough evidence to suggest that years ago, people were very healthy and rarely suffered from the degenerative diseases of ageing that

A summary of the basic view of an optimal diet Carbohydrates

60-75% of total calories

Types of carbohydrates

90 % complex (whole grain bread, brown rice, wheat pasta,Oatmeal) 10% simple (table sugar, fruits, syrups, etc.)

Proteins

10-30% of total calories(mostly from plant sources) , such as legumes, nuts seeds, or lean natural animal sources of protein in moderate amount

Fat

20% of total calories (Substitute extra virgin olive oil to other vegetable oils, butter or saturated fats) Types of fats 80% unsaturated fats (omega 6 to omega 3 ratio 5:1)

Total calories

minimal to maintain low body weight

Fibre (mixed soluble & insoluble)

50-100gms

Sodium

500mg-1gm

Potassium

8-10gms

Flavonoids & antioxidants

very high levels & a broad spectrum

Fruits & vegetables

2-3 servings of fruits & 5-6 servings of vegetables

Soy bean products

if tolerated 4-5 times per week.

Processed foods

none

we face today. If we compare the kind of food that was consumed then, to the healthy menu culture today, there exists many common threads, which refer to the possibility of a healthy diet, in spite of our busy schedules.

Early ageing and age related diseases that we see today are relatively new and are, most probably, a direct result of the way we live. We are exposed to incredible amounts of environmental toxins, be it from cars, factories, pesticides, tobacco smoke and ultra violet radiation, among many more.

Such rampant pollution asks for extreme care on our part to slow down the effects of rapid ageing.

Antioxidant nutrients, in particular, have been associated with the prevention of many diseases including cancer, atherosclerosis, autoimmune diseases, birth defects, psoriasis, asthma, allergies, to name a few. We have much to do to bring our toxic exposure down, while we simultaneously increase our intake of antioxidant nutrients to maintain our health and prevent early ageing.

Managing stress, limiting alcohol intake, smoking cessation, increasing exercise and ensuring adequate sleep, keeping weight under control also play major a major role that help regulate a disciplined and healthy life.

Dr Kalpana Gupta Shekhawat Director Freedom Diet, Integrated Medical Practitioner, Medical Nutrition Consultant

asiaSpa India May-June 2015 45

C C OV E R S TO RY

46 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

the soulful

enchantress Meet Huma Qureshi, the diva who writes her own rules. A dynamo of talent, we had a freewheeling chat with the wellness buff at Dusit Devarana, New Delhi.

Read on to explore her myriad traits

By Priyanka Banerjee

Location: Loca oca ca ation ttiion ion on: Dusit Du itt Devarana, Dus Devar e ana, New Delhi Phot Pho hot h otog o ogr pher ogra p : Vikram Bawa Photographer: Styl Sty tyl ty y ist: is st: t: Ruchika t: Ruc Ruch Ruc u uch chika iik k ka a Goswamy Gosw G osw wamy am my Stylist: H Hair Ha air airr: A Amit Am Ami mi Tha mit m T ha aku ku kur urr Hair: Thakur Make ake eup: p:: Aja Aj A jjay Vi V shwa hwa h wa wasra srao ra ao a o Makeup: Ajay Vishwasrao O t it: Wendell Outf Out Wend end dell e R el Rodr Rod od odr o drriic d ick icks cks c ks - O ks gaa gaan g ga aan Outfit: Rodricks Ogaan Head H He ead ead d sca ssc ca carff b yP Pa ashm shma hm m scarf by Pashma Earr E Ear arr r in iing ings ngs n ng g gss and an a n bracelet bra br b rra acele cel ce ele e le let et by b Ish IIsharya sh sharya hary arya rya rry ya at ya at En Ense E ns nse nsemble nsemb mbl mble m ble b le. le e.

Earrings Ensemble.

Fo Foot Foo F o oo otwear ot twear wea w ear arr by a

by Hy Hyde Hyd H yde y yd de de O Ou Out utt u Footwear

asiaSpa asi a as ssiia aSp aS Sp S pa IIndia ndi n nd d diia M MayMay-June aya ay y y-Jun un u ne 2015 20 015 4 015 47 7

C C OV E R S TO RY

“Dropping sizes by the month is not my game. It is far more important to be fit and achieve long-term wellbeing�

48 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

Outfit: Shivan & Narresh Cuff - Amethyst by Rahul Popli Candles by Illuminati

I

t was a salubrious spring morning, and it seemed someone had calibrated the sun’s radiance to soft and medium, as if telling the photographer, ‘as you like it!’ It was also a blessing for the muse of the day, Huma Qureshi.

Since, this was a concern, communed to us, it so appeared that the Sun God had eavesdropped and consequently obliged. Apart from a rain forecast lurking, rest everything was arranged with a hint of anticipation in the air.

A thing that worked in our favour was, a dekko of Huma’s conduct – she was the winner of the ‘Charismatic Personality’ award at the asiaSpa India Awards 2015. Apart from being affable, she had dealt with the most annoying picture-hungry fan with utmost dignity, only saying, “Would you please step aside, I will give you a shot.” As onlookers, we just whispered, what a polite angel, indeed!

Cut to the picturesque Dusit Devarana, our chosen venue. Huma was briefed – underplay made-up glamour, and let a relaxed and natural self be the highlight. “That’s such a relief,” pat came her reaction. There wasn’t an iota of fret visible on her face, and we exactly knew why.

Huma is intrinsically so pretty, she doesn’t need to hide behind layers of bronzers, concealers, and foundations.

Furthermore, this natural and original attribute of hers, extended to not just her personality but was also one of her life’s philosophies. Ditto for her body. These days, where everyone seems to be aiming at size zero, Huma is way too self-assured to be succumbing to this fad. “Dropping sizes by the month is not my game. It is far more important to be fit and achieve long-term wellbeing,” said she, as we ushered her into the Devarana Spa and Salon, for a milk bath and some shots.

asiaSpa India May-June 2015 49

C C OV E R S TO RY

Beauty & Body Basics Click. Click. Click. The photographer was shooting at a rocket speed, and Huma-thestunner was posing with élan. We asked Huma to open her Pandora’s box of secrets. “During childhood, it was Lacto Calamine for summers and Nivea for winters,” said the diva, who grew up admiring Waheeda Rahman.

Gravitating the conversation to her current regimes, considering Huma is always in front of cameras and arc-lights, she maintained, that she limits chemicals to the point of necessity, and prefers to make the best of nature’s bounties.

“I begin my day with water, and through the day, drink plenty of juices like carrot, spinach, green apple and beetroot. They are extremely nutritious and miraculous for the skin,” informed she, moving on to fitness. “I balance my fitness routine with a mix of cardio and functional training, a bit of Pilates and free-hand exercises, backing it with a healthy diet,” she told us as without a speck of hesitation.

The Person & the Persona There was a drizzle, and thankfully it stopped, while Huma readied for the shot outdoors. We asked her to encapsulate herself in three words.

“Spontaneous, witty and cool,” said she with aplomb, as we asked her about one memorable compliment. “I was once told that it’s more important to be cool than hot, and that I was very cool indeed.” Whoever had said that was bang on, though we supposed she was both.

An active theatre personality, a twist of fate made her debut with an offbeat role in Gangs of Wasseypur, and thereafter, there has been no looking back with a repertoire of meaty roles.

“Each film has been a part of the learning curve,” pointed out Huma, who was gracious enough in admitting, “All my contemporaries are doing fantastic work, and pushing the envelope, which is commendable.”

50 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

asiaSpa India May-June 2015 51

C C OV E R S TO RY

Outfit: Resort Wear by Ensemble String - Amethyst by Rahul Popli

Quick Bytes SUNBLOCK: Don’t step out without it and reapply.

ESSENTIAL REGIME: Remove makeup before going to bed. Our hair is overloaded chemicals. it is important to wash off the chemicals.

HANDED DOWN TIP: Egg whites for hair, coffee for the body and besan and dahi for the face.

SKIN TIP: Understand your skin and it will respond better.

MULTI-PURPOSE POTION: Vaseline. It’s excellent for lips, feet, elbows and superb for a quick pedicure. Just put lots of Vaseline on your feet and dip it in hot water. It is a great ache-buster for tired heels as well.

WATER QUOTIENT: 4 litres apart from other liquids.

DE-STRESS: Take a nice shower and burn incense.

HEALTH FIND: Sabja Seeds.

LOVE BUYING: Perfumes.

ENJOY: Reading and dancing.

ON COLLECTING: I am opposite of a hoarder, and I throw everything that I have not used for over two years.

SHARE CAMARADERIE WITH: My brother Saqib Saleem, he is my 3 am friend, advisor and best buddy.

52 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

“When I am extremely caught-up, and can’t visit a spa, I call in a masseuse. People usually don’t understand the significance of pampering the body”

While Huma is doing some brilliant work herself, we asked her to define success. “Success is doing what you know, and to be loved and paid for it,” said the admittedly die-hard optimistic. She leaves no stone unturned, while picking and preparing for her roles. “I could even unnerve the director with a million questions regarding the role,” she confessed with a childlike verve. However, acting is just the tip of the iceberg of the experimental life Huma wishes to lead. In the future, she sees herself as a traveller and a writer.

While at lunch, we watched Huma carefully browsing the menu giving us a hint into another hidden trait – she is an absolute foodie and enjoys cooking as well.

A classic example being, “Once I was holidaying in Italy and staying at JK Palace, Capri. I went to the spa fives time in a one week stay,” exclaimed she, with an indulgent flair. Huma is also fascinated by Turkey and its Hammams, while she prefers Europe for holidaying and shopping.

“I am also an Ayurveda person, and make the most of it, back home in India,” she signed off.

As we wrapped up the day, we were more than thrilled, to discover, that we had added another ‘spa addict’ to the club.

When Huma goes Holidaying, Spa-ing & Shopping The last shot was done and by now, we had caught Huma in several frames. In spite of being in a hectic career, Huma takes out ‘me’ and ‘family’ time regularly. Besides that, “I am a total spa person,” she pleasantly surprised us. “When I am extremely caught-up, and can’t visit a spa, I call in a masseuse. People usually don’t understand the significance of pampering the body. It not only relaxes the body but also soothes the mind. In fact, I plan my holidays keeping spa visits in mind,” she said candidly.

asiaSpa India May-June 2015 53

A

fashion A DV E RTO R I A L

with a purpose

Study by Janak has made a mark of its own as a brand of distinction and continues in their endeavour to celebrate the spirit of women

Clockwise: Dr. Jamuna Pai, Alpana Gujral, Nilofer Currimbhoy, Vesna Jacob, Neelap Pratap Rudy, Dr. Prachee Javadekar, Brahma Kumari Sister Shivani, Vandy Mehra, Sminu Jindal and Shivani Wazir Pasrich

54 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

V

andy Mehra, Director of Study

By Janak, is a known name in the city’s entrepreneurial and fashion circuit. Study

By Janak, a brand with a legacy of three decades, has been making its mark in the fashion world, and has become the preferred occasion wear brand of the crème de la crème. Vandy, a graduate from the esteemed Lady Shri Ram College, embodies the many number of successful women, who today are striking a harmonious balance between their family, work and social life. Vandy recently organised an evening, to celebrate the power of women, where nine women achievers were brought together on a panel to discuss their success stories.

“My idea of organising this evening was not to bring about the same thought that has been resonating on Women’s Day for years – that in spite of being a woman, one has been able to achieve their goals. I genuinely believe that being a woman brings to us resilience, passion, peace and the art of multi-tasking. Being a woman is hardly a sign of weakness, but stands for great strength. Yes, one cannot ignore the fact, that there exits strong gender biases across the world. Yet such discrimination does not make women any lesser. There is a prevalent lack of opportunities across both genders, owing to socio political and economical circumstances. Thus, I genuinely believe that I can handle boardroom pressures and kids wailing at home with equal ease, because I am a woman. That being said, I can also challenge men to the fact that they can’t do the same,” she said assertively.

Vandy joined the business a decade back and was initially involved in the designing and merchandising for the retail outlets. Post that, she also took over the reins of the marketing and branding of the brand, and since then, there has been no looking back. “All my marketing ventures and events, are meaning based. I would rather not do something that doesn’t add value to

the brand and vice versa, and be part of a tie-up where my presence does not justify itself. We consciously do only six to eight events a year, all undertaken on different theme lines, so whenever someone attends our event, there is always something new to look out for,” she added.

For this particular Women’s Day event, hosted by the brand, an array of prominent names such as spiritual leader Brahma Kumari Sister

“There is a prevalent lack of opportunities across both genders, owing to socio political and economical circumstances”

Shivani, jewellery designer Alpana Gujral, entrepreneur and author Nelofar Currimbhoy, cosmetologist Dr Jamuna Pai, educational consultant Dr Prachee Javadekar, entrepreneur and compere Shivani Wazir Pasrich, golfer Neelam Pratap Rudy, MD of Jindal Saw, Sminu Jindal and fitness expert Vesna Jacob, all came under the same roof to inspire their fellow women with some of intriguing anecdotes. These accomplished women from varied backgrounds, some of whom, are regularly spotted in the social circle, while some rather elusive, made for an interesting evening, as they shared their personal experiences. A stand-up comic act and a concluding musical performance of an artist ensured that the guests and panelists thoroughly enjoyed the enchanting evening. Mili Bhandari of Hiatus (experience partner) and Ratna Verma of Ratsies Boulangerie (gift partner) were chosen, as the partners for the evening, considering their stellar success as women in their respective fields. asiaSpa India May-June 2015 55

F FITNESS

buttress detox with

exercise One of exercising’s lesser-known and appreciated benefits is that it can actually lend able company to the natural purgative method of detoxification

By Sumaya Dalmia

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A

healthy body and mind is a necessary pre-requisite to leading a more fulfilled and pleasurable life. The human body undergoes through a lot of wear and tear as part of our hectic daily routines. This necessitates a thorough cleansing of the system at regular intervals, which in turn acts like a reboot procedure that helps set things right and the internal mechanism of the body back to functioning effectively.

Detoxification, as commonly understood, refers to the elimination of toxins and other pollutants and remnant contaminants from within the body. The main organs involved in this natural process are the lungs, colon, kidneys, liver, skin and the lymphatic glands.

Though our bodies are naturally predisposed to and equipped for detoxification, we can also externally aid and help accelerate this process through the right diet as well as exercise.

Exercising to decontaminate Physical exercise gets the body moving, which in turn leads to increased blood and lymph circulation. Enhanced circulation consequently ensures better supply of oxygen to various organs of the body.

Our digestive system too benefits greatly from regular exercising. Moreover, when you exercise you breathe deeply. This invites a surge of fresh oxygen into your lungs, which then travels to various parts of your body via the blood. Increased lung capacity, stronger heart muscles and clearer skin – which too flushes out many toxins by way of perspiration – are just some of the many positive upshots of regular physical workout.

There’s another way in which exercising aids detoxification. This is through a reduction of the body’s subcutaneous fatty tissue. Toxins and impurities have a tendency to get stored in this fatty tissue of the body. When the same is reduced owing to working out regularly, the toxins too are released and thus out in the open for the cleansing organs to eliminate.

The Dos & Don’ts The choice of exercise depends on the choice of detox you pick (does it include massages?

Are you on liquids only? Are you avoiding dairy and grains etc?). In case you are undertaking something extreme like a juice only diet, then it is a good idea not to try any strenuous fitness activity but rather stick to walking and gentle yoga, along with some Pranayama.

Make sure you alter your fitness regime according to the detox path you follow. Your body needs to recover from training sessions, and while on a detox plan, it might not be getting adequate protein to aid the recovery process, thus leaving you tired and in pain.

Breathing exercises are a good idea as they rejuvenate and relax the body. Pranayama, when done one to two times a day, will greatly help to get the body to a calm and tranquil state. You can combine this with a gentle 1/2 hour walk once a day, preferably outdoors, which also helps the body by letting it absorb the fresh air outside and have a serene influence on your mind as it is brought closer to nature.

Apart from Pranayama and yoga, lowintensity aerobic exercise too works well for detox. Running, walking, cycling, dancing and swimming are examples of aerobic regimens that get the body moving, the heart thrusting and your lungs inhaling and exhaling deeply.

Amidst all this, one critical fact to bear in mind is that exercise should be done only at the pace at which you can breathe evenly.

When in office…

A hectic work profile does not mean you cannot incorporate some exercise into your routine: • Ditch that elevator, and take the stairs instead.

• Abdominal flexes can be easily done while sitting at the desk, and will help tackle belly fat effectively.

• Calf and leg raises too can be easily done while at your desk.

• If you have a personal office space, exercises like toe raises and push-ups can be easily carried out without causing too much of a hassle.

Sumaya Dalmia Fitness Expert, Owner and Founder, Sumaya www.sumaya.in asiaSpa India May-June 2015 57

T T R E N D S P OT T E R

where’s your

wearable Everyone’s talking about wearable gadgets being the next big thing. Nimish Dubey takes a closer look at this phenomenon

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earables are not really new, in the strictest sense of word – we had James Bond talking to his wristwatch decades ago. However, a wearable gadget (be it a watch, a band, a shoe or a glove or whatever) was considered something niche and not for the common person – a thing to be more flaunted than actually used. Well, that could change this year with every major company announcing plans for wearable smart devices. However, of course, the big question is whether you actually need a wearable? At the time of writing, most wearables can be classified into two categories.

Smartwatches: These run on their own operating systems (such as Apple’s iOS or Android Wear) and deliver phone like features on your watch – some even let you make or receive calls.

Smartbands or fitness bands: These are much simpler bracelet-like devices that are worn on the wrist and deliver fitness related information like distance run, calories burnt, and so on.

A third category would have been glasses, but Google seems to be going slow on its Google Glass project at this time. However, to return to the original question: do you need a wearable? There are some, who say that there is enough technology around us as it is, and as most wearables just replicate what happens on a phone – the Apple Watch and Android Wear devices need to be connected to a phone for best results and so do most smartbands. However, there is something to be said for wearables. No, we are not talking about the flaunt factor, but of realistic benefits such as: Fitness information: Although phones can track your location, wearables do a much better job as they are always on you. Thus, it’s more accurate.

Convenience: Phones are getting bigger and bulkier by the day – it is infinitely easier to check mail or even make and receive calls from your wrist, leaving your phone comfortably in your bag or pocket. Sure some people will stare, but that is a small price to pay for ease of use.

Health information: This is a side of wearables that is likely to acquire immense importance in the coming days. Some wearables come with a number of sensors that let you measure heartrates and even analyse health information throughout a day. Once

“Some wearables come with a number of sensors that let you measure heartrates” again, a wearable on your wrist can collect this data better than a phone in your pocket.

Keeping the phone inside: Oh, this might not sound like a big deal, but honestly, we think that any device that lets you keep your phone inside and focus more on the world is a good thing. You don’t pull out your phone for every single task, if you have a wearable handy. This is specially the case in navigation, where taking directions from a watch seemed infinitely easier than fiddling with a large and bulky phone.

Of course, these are very early days, but the fitness and health implications of wearables in themselves are enough to make them worth investing in. Being able to look at your heartrate data whenever you wish or getting a light buzz on your wrist if you have been relatively inactive for a period can lead to a healthier lifestyle. Besides, contrary to popular belief, wearables are not that expensive – the Xiaomi Mi Band costs as little as USD 13 and you can get the LG G smartwatch for under Rs 10,000. No, I won’t say wearables have arrived yet – we need much more hardware and software innovation before we can say that - but I would say, they are worth investing in for the sheer convenience and information they provide. asiaSpa India May-June 2015 59

Detox Diary

I I N T R E AT M E N T

Ananda窶的n the Himalayas, Uttarakhand Allowing a detox of not just the body but also your mind, The Ananda Detox programme has been carefully designed to include stimulating and purifying dosha specific Ayurvedic therapies, yoga, meditation and dosha specific Ayurvedic diet to help to detox, reduce stress and improve overall health. The healing process involves herbal medication, massage, periodic liberation of toxins through two Sneha Vastis (enemas with medicated oils).

Duration: 7 days Price: `20,000 (per night) onwards

Shanaya Spa at Kempinski Ambience Hotel, New Delhi Surrender yourself to the soothing touch of spa therapists at Shanaya Spa at Kempinski Ambience Hotel for a top-up of wellness. With the help of a special therapeutic massage using Ayurvedic herbal powders, Udwarthanam therapy is the best detoxifying therapy there is. Not only does it purify and tone your skin but also strengthens and tones up the muscles.

Duration: 90 minutes Price: `3500 (+taxes)

Espa Spa, The Leela Palace, New Delhi Head to Espa Spa for an uplifting and skin firming massage that will visibly improve the skin and promote feelings of vitality.

The detoxifying Contour and Firm Lymphatic Massage works towards reducing water retention and is

60 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

beneficial for those who spend hours at their desk, and for those with excessive cellulite. It stimulates the circulatory and lymphatic systems using light pressure and gentle rhythmic strokes.

Duration: 60 minutes Price: On request

The Khyber Spa by L’Occitane, Gulmarg Feeling sluggish? Visit one of India’s most luxurious spas; The Khyber Spa by L’Occitane and treat yourself to an almond detoxifying treatment and instantly feel lighter and reinvigorated! Making use of 100 per cent natural origin formula Almond Tonic Body Oil and a blend of five essential oils promote the elimination of toxins and stimulate drainage, which usually cause tiredness.

Duration: 60 minutes Price: `3550 (+taxes)

ila Only, Raas, Jodhpur If the crazy summer has taken a toll on your face, and you are seeking a refreshing facial, look no further than the ila Only spa at Raas Jodhpur.

Their Marine Flora Face Therapy uses sea lettuce to improve circulation, vitality and tone, sea lavender to boost collagen production, and nerve point therapy to detoxify and relax facial micro-muscles. End result, a fresher and happier you.

Duration: 90 minutes Price: `8250 (+taxes)

Spa Hibiscus, Park Plaza Hotel Faridabad Delivering all aspects of wellbeing to you, the Tan Trayati therapy at Spa Hisbiscus is an award winning Signature Hibiscus Ritual which incorporates the ancient rituals for dead skin removal by a specially made dough. This is followed by a chakra balancing massage, while a paste of Hibiscus is applied to the scalp. Finally it is followed by steam shower that gently brings you back to the real world and sealing the experience with a perfect blow dry.

Duration: 135 minutes Price: `3750 (+taxes)

asiaSpa India May-June 2015 61

S SKIN

take a break, from

chemicals Let chemical laden pots and tubes be on the shelves and not make their way onto your skin.

Turn to nature, as Dr Nirmala Shetty advises

M

odern eating habits and lifestyle defile our bodies, so the need to detoxify and remove these pollutants is extremely mandatory. A simple detox, just fasting or only fruits, will make you feel revived and energised, if done correctly. Now what about your skin? Have you looked into what’s in the product that you apply? The skin is one of the largest organs of the body, with great capacity to absorb, and everything that you feed it, it eats.

So have you fed it with something edible? While creams and lotions provide short term support, the way to great skin is to treat it with fruits and veggies, not just from inside, but outside too.

62 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

First and foremost, let’s give our skin a break, a big break maybe once a week or twice or probably daily. Your skin requires vitamins and minerals, all of which could be received from fruits, veggies, dry fruits and even herbs. All of these when consumed internally and externally would help in a great skin detox. The primary step to any detox, is cleansing, preferably with some effective natural cleansers that replenish the skin with essential nutrients and aid in good health of skin.

Number one rule – let’s avoid soap. Being alkaline in nature, they rob the skin of its natural moisture.

The preferred natural cleansers for skin are green or yellow gram and red lentils. While most skins react

asiaSpa India May-June 2015 63

S SKIN

QUICK FIXES Cleanser 2 tsp of green gram flour 2 tsp of oats Some milk for mixing Mix all of these and apply on face and neck for 5 mins with massaging strokes. Wash off with lukewarm milk and then cold water. (Those with acne need not massage.)

De-tan pack 1/4th cup with strawberry or papaya or banana paste.

2 tsp of almond powder 2 tsp of milk Mix all the ingredients to form a smooth paste.

Apply the paste on your face and neck. Leave the pack on for 5 mins. Wash off with some milk and then water.

to yellow gram or besan, green gram is loaded with vitamins B and C, and helps those with oily skin to control acne. Moreover, as it is rich in protein, it helps the skin build new skin and healthy cells, while also granting the body sheen.

Oats is also a natural cleanser which is rich in vitamin E and zinc, both of which are good for your skin. Additionally, it suits all skin types. In case of dull flaky skin, the polysaccharides in oats, which become gelatinous in water, form a protective, nourishing and hydrating film on the skin.

Milk rich in vitamin A, D and E has moisturising properties. The fats and proteins in it hydrate the body and helps treat inflammation. It also eases the redness caused by sunburn and sun damage. Others simple cleansers which can be used in its raw form are yoghurt, apricot paste, strawberries or even common fruits like bananas, oranges and cucumbers.

Removing makeup is the most common situation that requires a good cleanser to get off the chemical from your skin. Mix lentil powder or oatmeal powder to coconut oil and use it as a mask. Scrub it gently and rinse to find not only the makeup gone but bask in the suppleness of nourished skin.

64 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

“Milk rich in vitamin A, D and E has moisturising properties. The fats and proteins in it hydrate the body and helps treat inflammation. It also eases the redness caused by sunburn” Another common problem that one goes through on a daily basis in the form of skin damage is tanning and discoloration of the skin, due to pollutants, sun damage, excessive use of chemicals, etc. Find rescue in the form of papayas, strawberries, bananas and avocadoes – all great in toning, brightening and nourishing. Papayas rich in vitamins A, C and E, make for an excellent skin food. It also contains papain, a natural skin enzyme that activates skin renewal and cell turnover.

Nature’s loaded with nutrients and the right permutations and combinations for your skin type can work wonders for your skin on a daily basis. Go natural with confidence!

Dr Nirmala Shetty is a naturopath, certified health coach and author.

66 NATURE’S TONIC / 70 VITAL SIGNS / 72 ECO CHOICE

GOINGGREEN

N N AT U R E ’ S T O N I C

66 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

an

elixir

of life

Whether you want shinier hair, younger skin, a healthier body or all three; pure water is your one stop shop for looking and feeling good

By Rama Ahuja

R

epresenting the very essence of life, water is the lifeline that not only freshens us but also feeds us. Playing an integral role not just in the history of countries, but also in religion, mythology, and art; water is involved in a crucial part in the history of mankind.

Holy water In various parts of the world, it is believed that water cleanses not just the body but also the soul through its holy properties. The water at Lourdes, France is thought by many religions to be sacred water with healing powers. In Egyptian mythology, the Nu was the beginning of everything and represented water. Closer home as well, holy places are usually located on the banks of rivers, coasts, seashores and mountains. For example, in the Ganges, the pure are thought to be made even more pure, and the impure have their pollution removed, if only temporarily. asiaSpa India May-June 2015 67

N N AT U R E ’ S T O N I C

Hot spring central Here are the top 5 hot spring destinations in the world to put on your travel agenda: • Iceland: Home to many famous hot springs such as the famous Blue Lagoon Spa in Grindav√k, Iceland is one the best destinations to experience hot springs. The Blue Lagoon holds 6 million litres of water, renewed every 40 hours and is known for its miraculous healing properties.

• Chile: Being on the Pacific ‘rim of fire’, Chile is one of the world’s most seismically active regions and experiences high level of thermal activity which accounts for around 275 hot springs spread across the country.

• Taiwan: With a great variety of springs (hot springs, cold springs, mud springs, and seabed hot springs), Taiwan’s resorts are some of the best for some unmatched relaxation and rejuvenation.

• Greenland: Hot spings are are a common phenomenon here.

There are over 2000 hot springs just on Disko Island. You’ll surely have a multitude of hot springs to choose from!

• Greece: Greece’s many mineral-rich therapeutic sites have been a lure since ancient times. There are over 700 mineral-rich therapeutic sites in Greece and because most of them are near well-known archaeological sites, bathing in these curative waters is a unique and interesting way to learn about the country’s past.

• Germany: A favourite of royals and celebrities alike, the spa town of BadenBaden is situated in the countryside on the fringes of the Black Forest. The hot springs here, well up from a depth of 2,000 metres, while the water reaches temperatures of upto 68°C, and is used to treat a wide range of conditions, including cardiovascular problems, rheumatism, joint complaints, metabolic disorders and respiratory ailments.

68 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

Matrix of life With over 71 per cent of the Earth’s surface being covered by water and almost 65 per cent of the human body comprising of water, one can safely and rightfully label it as the ‘matrix of life’. Its unique chemical structure comprising of both hydrogen and oxygen endows it with unmatchable life-giving properties and a preserving force to our systems. Guzzle this magic potion in abundance and watch all your health woes melt away into oblivion.

Working wonders on your body One of the most important functions of water with regards to the human body is its ability to dilute, eliminate toxins and balance the pH levels. In fact, numerous diseases as well as premature ageing are a direct result of increased accumulation of toxins and high levels of acidity in the body. It is advised to drink a minimum of 8-10 glasses a day so that the toxins are

“Water gives resilience, radiance and freshness to the skin.

Sufficient water intake helps skin fight infections and reduces problems like acne” eliminated and the joints are well lubricated thereby allowing the vertebral columns to move smooth and easy. “Pain appears when there is too much friction between the bones due to dehydration. Consuming water helps in the free movements of joints and also keeps pain at bay,” says Dr Soma Sarkar, Cosmetologist and Dermatologist, Clinical Head, About Face, Mumbai.

“When we don’t drink enough water, it affects our heart function making it incapacitated to begin showing signs of dysfunction. In moderate to severe dehydration, the process begins with a spasm and then leads to the permanent obstruction, of the small artery,” she adds.

Younger looking skin “Consider a person who has been denied water for a few days; you will find his skin turning dry, dull, scaly and sagging,” ” says leading dermatologist Dr. Simal

Soin of Three Graces, Delhi. “The reverse is true for a person who has fed her body and skin sufficiently with water. A deficiency of water in the body can cause water imbalance in the cells–this leads them to draw water from the skin, depleting the reserves of water from the skin. Water gives resilience, radiance and freshness to the skin. Sufficient water intake helps skin fight infections and reduces problems like acne. It gives skin elasticity to reduce the appearance of scars and blemishes. Dry skin is less resilient and lacks elasticity, making it more prone to wrinkles and signs of ageing. Lack of sufficient water over time also makes eyes look dark and sunken,” she adds. Interestingly, the popular hyaluronic acid based beauty fillers like Juvederm are based on this very principle that water retention in the skin gives it radiance and glow. Not just skin, sufficient intake of water is also crucial to the health of hair.

Solarised water Rooted in the ancient science of Ayurveda, Solarised water or colour therapy is once again becoming a preferred choice of healing. The therapy is based on the premise that certain colours are infused with healing energies and it uses the seven colours of the rainbow to promote balance and healing in the mind and body. When exposed to sunlight, water in a coloured container absorbs the vibrational energy of that particular colour. This can then be had by sipping the water for healing a particular part of the body.

Water is charged with the energies of specific colours with the help of sunlight. This therapy is known to work not only on the external layer of body and the internal system but also on various other aspects such as wealth, relationships, career and even spirituality.

Water therapy Usha Kala Chikitsa or water therapy has been practised for centuries to live a healthier life and heal various ailments. According to this ancient system, 1.5 litres of water should be consumed each morning on an empty stomach, as well as throughout the day.

An especially important result of this treatment is that it cleanses the colon, which makes the body much more able to absorb nutrients from food. It is considered to be a material way of taking an ‘internal bath’. Doing so will help you overcome a number of illnesses such as arthritis, diabetes, asthma, obesity and anaemia amongst others. asiaSpa India May-June 2015 69

V V I TA L S I G N S

licence to lose weight Curries, soups, sandwiches or even spaghetti, the wholesome squash is a delectable vegetable to include in your staple fare

A

nutritious vegetable that has made its presence felt in its numerous avatars in Indian kitchens; and widely recognised by its tinge of fleshy sweetness, the versatile squash asks to be a part of your daily diet, and rightfully so. A kin of the Cucurbitaceae family of vegetables, the highly beneficial squash is not just incredibly low in calories and carbohydrates, but is fat free, making it the ideal ingredient to add to your weight loss regime.

70 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

Negate the effects of diurnal stress with a regular helping of squash that protects your heart with its magnesium and potassium content. Squash also helps in reducing high blood pressure and prevents the oxidation of cholesterol. A natural antioxidant, it aids in the removal of free radicals, while beta carotene shields the body from pollutants and chemicals that could lead to cancer.

The abundance of miraculous vitamin C acts

as an organic agent against ageing, and keeps a cautious check on cold and allergies.

Continual consumption of fibrous squash is an effective way of cleansing your colon and rid it of harmful toxins.

Ample vitamin A lets your skin stay in the scheme of youth, while also dodging the harmful results of prolonged sun exposure and dehydration.

Let this healthy alternative take over from your starchy and carbohydrate content, giving your body an organic makeover.

Why squash?

• Strengthens bones and joints • Good source of nutrients for healthy eyes • Provides excellent care for your mane

ruby resplendence Health and a happy palate find their fairy tale ending in a mouthful of succulent raspberries

W

hat could possibly make your mid-afternoon sweeter, if not a refreshing bowl of raspberries. Known as the wonder fruit of weight loss, raspberries are of the rose family and a luscious alternative to sugar laden snacks. Low in calories and saturated fats, raspberries are highly fibrous, that help in speedy weight loss. With a water content of 95 per cent, raspberries safeguard the body against dehydration, making it the ideal workout snack.

Rich in vitamin C, phenols and anthocyanins, this antioxidant berry defers the ageing process and gives you glowing skin, while taking your immunity up by a notch.

The presence of ellagic acid,

which is said to be effective against the growth of carcinogenic cells, is another reason to dive into bowls of this delightful fruit.

A source of essential minerals and vitamins, raspberries boast of potassium, manganese, copper, iron and magnesium, which are beneficial for the body, especially when it comes to caring for the heart. This superfruit also enhances fertility in both men and women. Diabetics struggling to curb their sugar cravings can rejoice in this berry as it regulates insulin levels while fulfilling their cravings. So cut down on the guilt and let the nutritious sweetness of raspberries infuse you with goodness.

Why raspberries? • Extremely potent in combating arthritis • Fights depression and an instant mood lifter • Eases menstrual cramps and labour pain

asiaSpa India May-June 2015 71

E ECO CHOICE

responsible retreat Holiday with pride, as you head to Banjaar Tola, designed to maximise the positive impact on the environment, while minimising the ecological footprint

I

f living in a concrete jungle has taken a toll on you, and some peace and quiet is what you seek, look no further and check yourself in at Banjaar Tola, Taj Safaries. Rested on the edge of the Banjaar River, this luxury lodge offers the best way to experience the wonder and majesty of Kanha, one of India’s best maintained national parks. Epitomising the design mastery by renowned environmental architect; Sanjay Prakash, it consists of two elegant camps, containing nine tented suites, each featuring its own intimate private deck overlooking the river.

These tented suites feature bamboo floors, canvas walls and glass doors that lead you onto a spacious deck with a beautiful view of the river. Giving you a sneak peek into the beautiful art of the region, the suites also feature rich block72 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

printed cottons and silk handwork that is native to Madhya Pradesh.

Linger over coffee and a book, at the intimate lodge café or simply browse in leisure at the Safari Shop. For some unmatched relaxation, take a dip in the refreshing swimming pool and relish your meals on the dining decks with stunning views for company. After a suitable orientation, depart in a rugged 4X4 through Kanha’s timeless landscape, keeping an eye out for tigers and Barasinghas, and discover the pleasures of being in an actual jungle.

KANHA NATIONAL PARK, BANJAAR TOLA, MANJITOLA MUKKI, TEHSIL BAIHAR, BALAGHAT - 48111 MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA PHONE: +91 22 6601 1825 WWW.TAJHOTELS.COM

74 DESTINATION / 80 FOOD / 84 HIDEAWAY

FOOD&TRAVEL

D D E S T I N AT I O N

Malaysia’s

myriad charms

As one of the most diverse countries in its region, culturally as well as geographically; Malaysia offers you a perfect holiday full of surprises

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D D E S T I N AT I O N

F

rom mesmerising urban landscapes, ancient heritage sites and stunning beaches, to unspoilt nature and innumerable culinary delights, Malaysia truly offers you the world on a platter.

Whether you are seeking a family escape, a shopping trip, a romantic getaway, exciting adventures or just a peaceful wellness retreat, there’s hardly another destination that provides you as many options. Still not convinced? Read on to find out what makes Malaysia such a variegated surprise package that will make you instantly extend your trip.

Arts Museum, the National Mosque, the atmospheric streets of Little India and Chinatown, for a glimpse into its rich heritage.

Tropical Taman Negara

Pedas offers Hot Springs

No holiday or vacation in Malaysia is complete without visiting its rich tropical rainforests. Well, there’s no better rainforest than Taman Negara. Reputed to be ‘The Oldest Jungle’, ‘The Best Kept Tropical Rainforest’ and also ‘The Great Natural Wonders of the World’, here you have the opportunity to enjoy flora and fauna that have evolved naturally over hundreds of millions of years without any disruption or major calamities. Marked trails and boardwalks snake between the trees, offer you the chance to spot monkeys, snakes, deer and tapir.

Natural hot springs are one of Malaysia’s finest hidden secrets. The little town of Pedas in Negeri Sembilan has been famous for its hot springs. For over 60 years, locals have been visiting it to enjoy the hot spring water; which contains minerals, and is believed to have healing and therapeutic qualities.

Magical Kuala Lumpur The capital city of Kuala Lumpur is a beautiful blend of contemporary urban landscapes and traditional charms. You will often spot hawker stalls and heritage shop houses, siting alongside tall skyscrapers with modern architecture. A fascinating colonial history and rich cultural diversity make Kuala Lumpur one of Asia’s most invigorating capitals. Visit the Islamic

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Sunbathing in Pulau Perhentian The twin islands of Pulau Perhentian with their crystal clear water, white sands and thick jungles make for a vision of paradise. At this place, you will discover that life moves at a slow, tropical pace and apart from basking on the sand or swinging beneath a palm tree, diving and snorkelling in the pristine waters are the only distractions.

Scuba-diving adventures Known as one of the finest world-class diving destinations, Malaysia’s teeming reefs and sunken islands attract plenty of megafauna, including schooling hammerheads and rare whale sharks. You will find dive sites all over the country, but the best lie around the islands of Sipadan and Layang Layang, offshore from Sabah in East Malaysia.

MUST VISIT SPAS Vivanta By Taj – Rebak Island, Langkawi.

Imagine being on your very own private island where the azure blue Andaman Sea gently flirts with secluded beaches and jungles across 390 acres of discovery. Vivanta By Taj – Rebak Island, Langkawi offers you exactly that and even more. Helping you get back in touch with yourself, Jiva Spa pampers you with ancient Indian wellness and beauty wisdom.

Berjaya Langkawi Resort Cocooned within a rainforest sanctuary, Berjaya Langkawi Resort boasts of boundless views of emerald sea and lush green mountains. Taaras Spa at the Berjaya is a private sanctuary tucked away between the pristine beaches and lush tropical jungles, providing you with a beautiful juxtaposition of modern interior facilities and bountiful elements of nature.

The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, Ipoh Nestled in a 16.19-acre valley, The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat is cradled by 260 million-

year old towering Paleozoic limestone hills, verdant rainforest, rejuvenating geothermal hot springs and cascading waterfalls. 25 sumptuous Garden and Water villas, a pampering Spa and Wellness Centre and a host of retreat experiences come together to provide you with the ultimate in relaxation. Restore what life takes from your body and soul, as you dip into the Geothermal Hot Springs Dipping Pools, or stare and be overwhelmed by the near-vertical rock formations around the retreat.

Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa, Penang Spend a day at CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa, Penang and experience sheer bliss. Drawing inspiration from the origins of the Shangri-La legend, CHI, The Spa, at Shangri-La is a place of personal peace, enchantment and wellbeing. Set within a secluded corner of the resort that is enclosed by centuries-old rain trees and beside a tranquil seashore, it offers 11 spa villas along with a yoga pavilion. Indulge in their traditional tropical treatments and emerge refreshed and rejuvenated.

asiaSpa India May-June 2015 77

Term

Issues

Cover Price `

You Pay `

Free Gift

1 Year

6

600

540

10% off on Cover Price + KIANA Aqua Soothing Cleansing Gel

2 Year

12

1200

960

20% off on Cover Price + KIANA Stem Cell Serum

3 Year

18

1800

1260

30% off on Cover Price + KIANA Stem Cell Ampoule

F FOOD

guilt free

serving There’s no better way to beat the rising mercury than to indulge in some do-it-at-home detox

Detox moi Ingredients • • • • • • • •

Parsley 50 gms Cucumber 150 gms Carrot 150 gms Beetroot 100 gms Lime 1 Salt to taste Pepper to taste Crushed ice 50 gms

Method Mix all the ingredients in a blender and serve chilled.

Garnish with beetroot or lime wedges.

Recipe courtesy: Eat Thin Café, New Delhi

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Mexican spinach quesadillas Ingredients • • • • • • •

Refined flour 50 gms Corn flour 20 gms Maize flour 30 gms Spinach puree 10 gms Baking powder 4 gms A pinch of salt Luke warm water required for soft dough

For Mixture •

•

Different coloured bell peppers 10 gms each cut in strips Tomato puree 15 gms

•

• • •

Mexican spice 10 gms (A mixture of roasted coriander seeds, cumin and whole red chilli in equal quantities) Salt to taste Crushed pepper to taste Coriander chopped 10 gms

Method Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and slowly knead the dough by adding warm water to it. Knead it until the dough is soft and smooth. Take olive oil in a pan and add the bell peppers to it and

sauté them nicely. Once done add tomato puree and cook it well.

Add the Mexican spice to it, add seasonings and finish with coriander and set aside. Now roll the dough in a round shape similar to roti and semi-cook on a tawa. Take it off the tawa and put the mixture inside, place a slice of cheese, fold it into half and grill it from both sides until well cooked. Serve hot.

Recipe courtesy: Head Chef Rishi Verma, Sattviko Restaurant, New Delhi asiaSpa India May-June 2015 81

F FOOD

Chickpea & homecured cheese salad Ingredients

Method

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Wash and clean the lettuce and keep them in ice bath for 15 to 20 minutes so that the leaves become crisp.

Blanch the asparagus and cut them into 2.5 inches and keep aside. For the orange vinaigrette, reduce the orange juice and blend well. Thinly slice the beetroot into petite roundels and set aside.

Iceberg lettuce 60 gms Leaf lettuce 30 gms Rocket lettuce 30 gms Roasted chickpea 25 gms Roasted beetroot 45 gms Asparagus 30 gms Orange vinaigrette 20 gms Orange wedges 50 gms Burrata cheese 80 gms Salt 2 gms Pepper 2 gms Garlic bread 1 slice

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Arrange the lettuce on a salad plate followed by beetroot, asparagus and orange wedges.

Sprinkle salt, pepper and drizzle the orange dressing over the salad.

Tier the burrata cheese and arrange over the salad, spread roasted chickpea over the salad and serve cold with the garlic bread.

Steamed fish with balsamic lime wedges Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Sole fish 220 gms Pommery mustard 20 gms Galangal 5 gms Garlic 5 gms Basil 12 gms White wine 15 ml Lemon juice 10 ml Fresh red chillies 2 gms Olive oil 10 ml Butter 15 gms Carrots 25 gms French beans 30 gms Broccoli 30 gms Balsamic vinegar 10ml

• • •

Rocket lettuce 5 gms Salt 2 gms White pepper 1 gm

Method Marinate the fillet with salt, pepper, lemon juice, mustard seed, galangal, basil and fresh red chilly and keep it aside for 20 minutes, so that the fillet gets marinated properly. Let the fish steam in the oven for 8-10 minutes. Cut the carrots into thick juliennes, and the beans into diamond shape, chop the broccoli florets and leave the

vegetables aside after blanching them. Melt the butter in a pan, add garlic and sauté, then add white wine, lemon juice and balsamic vinegar. Let it boil, stock and simmer, then add the blanched vegetables, and toss them.

Arrange the fish fillet over a bed of vegetables in a pasta bowl and pour the jus from the pan over it.

Garnish it with sprouts and arugula (rocket lettuce) and serve hot.

Recipes courtesy: Fio Cookhouse and Bar, New Delhi asiaSpa India May-June 2015 83

H H I D E AWAY

a royal rendezvous Experience the surreal side of Rajasthan in the majestic realm of the exclusive nine suite Shahpura Bagh

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aiting for the final few hours of the watch to tick its way into the weekend but still unsure of the destination to quench your wander lust?

If leisure and home-like hospitality, steeped in a lineage of history sounds tempting enough, then there can be no better address for a luxuriant getaway than the boutique homestay of Shahpura Bagh.

At only two hours from Ajmer, Shahpura Bagh is a world in its own, far removed from the desert and dance of Rajasthan, yet deeply entrenched in the city’s trademark of tradition and cordiality. The rulers of Shahpura reside in this extravagant 40 acre estate and greet their guests with great care, inviting them to the stays of Nahar and Umed Niwas,

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that house nine suites, five of which are royal.

The roomy air-conditioned suites speak of an era of indulgence, with the finesse of contemporary times. Take a plunge in the newly added pool or soak in the serenity of the Shahpura scenery at the outdoor dining area, a weekend here will wash you off of every stress.

A sanctuary of solace and sumptuousness, Shahpura Bagh is an epicurean experience to make you feel no lesser than the royals of Rajasthan, who continue to make a mark of their magnificence.

SHAHPURA BAGH SHAHPURA, DISTRICT BHILWARA, RAJASTHAN – 311404 PHONE: +91 1484 222077 WWW.SHAHPURABAGH.COM

86 EVENT / 98 SPOTLIGHT / 102 GREAT BUYS / 104 WATCH COUTURE / 106 WATCH IT / 110 BESPOKE / 114 DARE TO DREAM

DIRECTORIES

E EVENT

PRECIOUS TEE TIMES

The Millionaire Asia PRECIOUS Golf Cup 2015, gave players a good reason to put their talent on show and socialise as well

Golfers gather for the ceremonial photo-op before the tournament kick off at the Noida Golf Course

Carl Vaz with Radha Bhatia

Wolfgang Will with Mariam Ali

Farhat Jamal felicitating Sidharth Arora

Winners and Participants posing for MillionaireAsia India PRECIOUS Golf Cup 2015

Khalid Al Awar presents the winner’s trophy to Shiraz Singh

PH Narayanan

Saed Mohamed Almheiri, UAE Ambassador

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rmed with gusto, on a glorious spring morning, the players of the Millionaire Asia India PRECIOUS Golf Cup 2015, began their tee off at the lush Noida Golf Course.

The fifth edition of the friendly tournament, witnessed the country’s elite, exhibit their golfing skills at the exclusive gathering, presented by Dubai Tourism in association with TUI. With Omega as the official timekeeper and other event partners, such as Austrian Airlines and Shangri La’s-Eros Hotel, the event presented a well-organised and fun affair, where everyone had a gala time playing and also

exchanging pleasantries. The winners of the tournament were felicitated at ShangriLa’s-Eros Hotel, New Delhi over cocktails and dinner.

A dazzling fashion show organised by fashion designer Pawan Sachdeva, enthralled the guests, as the players themselves took to the ramp with elegance and flair.

Commenting on the whole occasion, Parineeta Sethi, Chief Editor and Publisher, Exposure Media Marketing expressed, “We are thrilled with the response of the audience and look forward to making PRECIOUS Golf Cup bigger and better.

We would like to thank our sponsors for all the support and confidence in us.”

Joseph Koshi, Sonia Singh, Puja Batra and Harinder Sikka

Winners Trail The winners for the MillionaireAsia India PRECIOUS Golf Cup 2015 Over-all Winner PRECIOUS Cup 2015

Shiraz Singh

Team Runners Up

Mariam Ali and Deepak Yadav

Team Winners

Puja Batra and Harinder Sikka

0-18 Handicap Category Nett Runner Up

Rana Alam

Nett Winner

Neetu Bansal Aggarwal

Gross Runner Up

Sunita Kataria

Gross Winner

Ashna Monga

19 & above Handicap Category ory Nett Runner Up

Ritu Lumba

Nett Winner

Situ Puri

Gross Runner Up

Bubbles Suneja

Gross Winner

Sunita Dutt Shiraz Singh

Sangeeta Sharma with Parineeta Sethi

Sunita Dutt and Usha Kothari

Contestants posing after ramp walk with designer Pawan Sachdeva

Sangeeta Chopra and Brig. Raja Dhillon

Col. Amjad Ali and Dr. Deepali Bhardwaj

Anupama Singh, Ritu Lumba and Renu Singh

Huma Qureshi

Raveena Tandon

Vidya Balan

A MAGNIFICENT AFFAIR The most awaited event of the year in the wellness industry, the 8th GeoSpa asiaSpa India Awards held at JW Marriott, New Delhi, Aerocity, culminated on spectacular note

Vandana Luthra

T

Siddharth Shukla

his time at the 8th GeoSpa asiaSpa India Awards ceremony, while it was raining awards, there was also a dazzling deluge of Bollywood glitterati – Vidya Balan, Huma Qureshi, Raveena Tandon, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and along with heartthrob, Siddharth Shukla – all of them won prestigious awards themselves.

While the exclusive gathering, boasting corporate honchos and stalwarts of the fitness, hospitality and wellness industry got together, to celebrate wellness, the crème-de-lacrème present were seen clinking glasses, raising a toast to asiaSpa India award winners. Though, a spirit of merriment

Riddhima Kapoor Sahni

was overriding the ambience, the guests were treated to a scintillating men’s resort wear fashion show by Dubai-based fashion designer Varoin Marwah. Joyous and warm words filled up the ears and everyone left the venue overwhelmed.

Special mention goes to GeoSpa, who were the Title Partner to the Awards for the Third year. The other partners for the 8th edition of the GeoSpa asiaSpa India Awards were Innovativeinvitations by Ravish Kapoor, Thailand as the Tourism Partner, Episode as the Trophy Partner, Grant Thornton as the Process Validation Partner and Godrej Properties.

Tarendra Singh, Chandan Kar and Romit Theophilus

Devika Sahni, Rajiv and Ruchi Makhani

Ankur Bhatia, Kushum, Birgit Holm with Pankaj Arora

Partha Datta Gupta

Mr. & Mrs. Shaktikanta Das and Parineeta Sethi

Devika S and Ruc

Jainee Rajni, Chahat and Inayat

Veera Ve V eer era SSi Singh ing ing ngh

Rachna Kohli, , Shrishti Khanna and Garima Parashar Tanisha Mohan

Farhat Jamal

Sujit Bajaj and Sunil Bajaj

Shweta and Amanveer Singh

Prerna Malhotra

Michele Finessi and Dmitri Lafiandra

Ashit Taneja

Pinky and Nageen Arora

Vibha Mittal Rekha Chaudhary

Show-stopper Tina Chatwal takes a bow with designer, Varoin Marvah

Sahni, Rajiv chi Makhani

Ashok and Mamata Goyal

Blanca Peralta and Shweta Kohli

Deepali and Rajiv Kohli

Megha Kaushik

Punam Singh

Ankush and Priyanka Nijhawan Tanieya Khanuja

Vidya Tikari, Christine Mukharji and Pranita Baveja

Dr. Ramesh Kapoor with his wife

Sangeeta and Kapil Barera

Rohit Bahadur, Martin Hilton and I P Singh

Anjana Kuthiala

Chanyuth Sawetsuwan and Thomas Abraham

Pankaj Arora with Kiran Bawa Nischint Singh

Amitabh and Ranjeeta Kant

Saurabh Rai

Sumil Mudgal

Vinaya Narang and Arati Thapa

Siddharth and Manvendra Singh Shekhawat

Bejan Dinshaw and Vijay Wanchoo

Simon Clays

Alia Gulati and Nalin Gupta

Kate Sim

Vibha Rastogi

Massimo Monti and Ivana

Shalini Tewari and Ravish Kapoor

Ram Chatterjee and Tracey Poole

Bhagwan Balani

Kashiff Khan

Shalabh Verma with Betty Remedios

Shalini and Ashish

Vishal, Juhi Sinha and Sheema Vohra Preeti Ghai

E EVENT

Shaazia Ilmi and Shivani Wazir Pasrich

Vandy Mehra, Brahma Kumari Sister Shivani and Angel Mehra Ahuja

Alpana Gujral and Dr. Jamuna Pai

Study by Janak serenades women Study by Janak paid an ode to the spirit of womanhood at Clarion Collection, Qutab, New Delhi

Neelap Pratap Rudy and Dr. Prachee Javadekar

Mili Bhandari and Thenny Melija

Sminu Jindal

V

andy Mehra, Director, Study

By Janak – a name to reckon with in the world of evening g wear and designer suits; hosted an evening, dedicated to women achievers. “My underlying message is that being a woman is a sign of strength and not a challenge to overcome,” said Vandy. A panellist of nine, including Nelofar Currimbhoy, Shivani Wazir Pasrich along with Dr Jamuna Pai, among others, engaged in interactive question and answer sessions, punctuated with humour. Study by Janak dressed the ladies for the evening, and were equally supported by Hiatus, gift partner – Ratsie’s Boulangerie – a home run bakery by y Ratna Verma and support partner – SWP Productions.

Vesna Jacob and Nilofer Currimbhoy

Shabnam Singhal and Bubbles Sabharwal Ratn Verma Ratna

96 asiaSpa India May-June 2015 Caption r Seasons Spa

beyond Buddhism His Holiness The Dalai Lama enlightened his patrons with exclusive sessions at The Taj Mahal Hotel

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hants of Om mani padme hum filtered through the DiwanI-Am at The Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi, where expectant faces of excited children and ardent followers of His Holiness The Dalai Lama awaited his blessed arrival. This was only a glimpse of the precious ‘Teachings by His Holiness’, hosted by the hotel for the fourth time in a row. The annual teachings of this Nobel Laureate and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people was spread over three days, which included a ‘Cultivating Peace & Compassion’ session on 20th March, dedicated to school children. Around 200 students from 16 prominent schools across DelhiNCR, Kashmir and Tibet, engaged with His Holiness in thoughts of love, peace and forgiveness. An interactive session for all his devotees, including the likes of actress Sharmila Tagore, celebrated dancer Geeta Chandran and artist Anjolie Ela Menon, was held on 21st March at Long Champ. The Taj Mahal Hotel also marked the start of celebrations for The Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday with a chocolate cake created by the expert pâtissiers at The Taj Mahal Hotel. Being a part of such sessions are truly enriching experiences on their own.

asiaSpa India May-June 2015 97

S S P OT L I G H T

Smile Right On occasion of Women’s Day, Dr Ekta Chadha, Director Smile Studio, organised the perfect afternoon of merriment at The Taj Mahal Hotel, Mansingh road.

Attended by the who’s who of the city, the guests also witnessed the unveiling of Dr Chadha’s latest coffee table book, Power Woman Power Smiles. An interactive session soon followed with personalities such as Neelam Pratap Rudy, Ritu Dalmia, Rina Dhaka, to name a few. “We first experience the strength of a woman, and the beauty of her smile through our mother and then at so many junctures of our lives. The book is a tribute to that smile and we at Smile Studio, who are in the business of designing the perfect smile recognise the talent power of a smile and are committed to put a dazzling smile on every face,” commented Dr Chadha.

Physics at Play As an ode to the Father of Modern Science, Sir Isaac Newton and the laws of Physics, Graham has launched an exquisite timepiece at Baselworld 2015.

The automatic Geo.Graham Tourbillon applies the principles of physics to show gravity antipodes with the tourbillon which overcomes gravity, contrary to the micro-rotor which uses it to wind the movement. It is furthermore distinguished by its sophistication and extreme thinness. Offered at a limited edition of 100 pieces, this magnificent timepiece is George Graham’s legacy to Sir Isaac Newton.

Hatha yoga reaches Sardinia A luxury hideaway in Sardinia is all set to begin an exclusive Hatha Yoga workshop, which will be available to all guests. This enlightening experience at Su Gologone will provide hands-on experience to the traveller with an opportunity to unwind in the tranquil Sardinian hills. Luca Mori, one of the most celebrated yoga instructors in Italy is scheduled to run bespoke workshops on the hotel’s sun-drenched terrace surrounded by vineyards and olive trees. “This new offer will meet the interests of more health conscious luxury travellers looking for an alternative wellbeing break combined with lifelong memories,” commented Giovanna Palimodde, owner and creator of the Su Gologone experiential hotel.

98 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

Bridging the Gap Ardent fans of Gap in India are in for a shopping treat as Arvind Lifestyle Brands Ltd, a subsidiary of Arvind, is set to launch Gap stores in the country. Arvind recently announced this tie-up with Gap Inc and plans to set up over 40 stores all over India, with the first two debuting in New Delhi and Mumbai. The leading global retailer plans to open its doors with its exclusive Summer 2015 collection for adults, kids and babies. Commenting on the exciting update, Steve Sunnucks, Global President, Gap stated, “India is an emerging, vibrant market and an important next step in our global expansion strategy.”

Achievement unlocked Touching a new milestone, Kent RO, known for Mineral RO Technology, has been granted one of the most coveted and stringent ISI certification

by Bureau of Indian Standards. Lauding Kent RO’s innovative efforts and state-of-the-art purification technology that has benefitted millions of users, this prestigious credential was bestowed on them.

“An ISI mark on our products range, will help consumers choose a product which swears by its quality, efficiency and lifelong performance,” explained Mahesh Gupta, Chairman, Kent RO Systems Limited.

Treating tiny tots Shoppers at DLF Promenade witnessed an action-packed weekend, teeming with excited children who were fully entertained by a host of fun activities. Organised at Kiddyland, which was specially designed to entertain children throughout the year, the children got busy with activities such as Easter egg hunting, painting and much more. While the winners were rewarded with exciting prizes, everyone revelled in the spirit of Easter. Kiddyland is the largest outdoor play area for kids in Delhi at DLF Promenade, and offers a wide range of outdoor play structures, with swings, rope climbs, slides and ship.

asiaSpa India May-June 2015 99

S S P OT L I G H T

Strength of a woman A distinctive event was organised in JW Marriott Hotel in Juhu, Mumbai on the occasion of International Women’s Day, which saw the presence of the who’s who from many walks of life. It was organised by Anu Ranjan, in an attemptt to use, readdress an extremely important social cause, crimes committed against women such as female foeticide, acid attacks and other such instances of oppression and exploitation. The movement, appropriately named Beti, has been relentlessly pursued

by Ranjan over the past nine years. “#bewithBeti is a mission closest to my heart and it pleases me no end to see that it has found resonance with people who matter in the widest spectrum of the society, be it films, TV, corporate sector, media or public life,” stated a rather zealous Ranjan. Pampering sessions of foot ich massages were offered at the occasion, which rector, was organised by Kiran Bawa, Managing Director, Iosis Wellness.

Kenya Calling A multi-city workshop was organised across three cities in India by Kenya Tourism board, which collectively witnessed a large participation of Indian travel trade delegates. At the workshops, travel partners from Kenya updated the agents on the expansion of their product portfolio, and elaborated on the same.

Commenting on the event, Betty Ichan, Marketing Manager, Kenya Tourism Board stated, “India is a very important market for us. We will continue to aggressively market our products in the Indian market, through various initiatives such as online training programme, joint ventures, oneto-one interactions with the travel trade, cinema campaigns, media Fam trips and consumer campaigns, etc.”

100 asiaSpa India May-June 2015

G G R E AT B U Y S

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pamper paraphernalia Before you buy that lovely dress or that haute pair of heels, set your hands on these superlative products that would make you feel and look like a new you 1 Problem area: Uneven skin tone Solution: Oriflame The ONE IlluSkin Powder This party season, make heads turn by reaching out to magnificent, even skin tone with a stroke of The ONE IlluSkin Powder. Keeping in mind the warm Indian skin tone, it is available in three shades; light, medium and dark.

Price: `649/Available at: Your nearest Oriflame consultant or SMS Oriflame to 59994 2

Problem area: Flaky skin Solution: Natio Ageless Daily Moisturiser UV Protection SPF 30+ Enriched with organic rosehip oil, lavender and lemon, this daily moisturiser helps in hydrating, softening and smoothening the skin. What’s more, its lightweight and nongreasy formula ensures full protection from the harmful rays of the sun and reduces fine lines and pigmentation.

Price: `1,130/Available at: Exclusive Natio brand outlets, Sephora

3 Problem Area: Dull skin Solution: Dermalogica PowerBright TRx C-12 Pure Bright Serum Get rid of brown spots, discoloration and uneven skin tone with the help of this new serum from Dermalogica.

It works around the clock to control and prevent hyperpigmentation, and leaves you with the most even tone and brightest skin ever.

Price: `8,695/Available at: Dermalogica accounts nationwide 4 Problem area: Flat hair Solution: L’Oréal Professionnel Tecni. Art Beach Waves – Texturising Salt Spray Recreate volume and texture, while maintaining beautiful waves with L’Oréal’s newest spray that offers an easy stepby-step process and assures you of professional results to constantly keep summer season’s trendiest hair style.

Price: `700/Available at: Exclusively at L’Oréal Professionnel salons

5 Problem area: Pale complexion Solution: Bipha Kumkumadhi Thailam Pamper your skin with the purest Kashmiri saffron in the form of Kumkumadhi Thailam, an ancient ayurvedic beauty potion for radiant skin. Massage it daily as part of your night-time beauty ritual to make the best of its age-protection and blemishcorrection properties.

Price: `2,340/Available at: Select retail outlets and online websites Text: Problem Area: Dark circles

6 Problem Area: Dark circles Solution: Kiehl’s Clearly CorrectiveTM Dark Circle Perfector with SPF 30 Banish those dark circles with Kiehl’s latest offering. Not only does it reduce discoloration but also instantly brightens and protects the skin against future darkening. Blended with mineral pigments, titanium dioxide, caffeine and activated C, this is one cream that works like magic.

Price: `2,700/Available at: Select outlets across the country

7 Problem area: Dry skin Solution: Iraya Invigorating Lemongrass Foaming Shower Oil Immerse yourself in the goodness of lemongrass with Iraya’s shower oil. It is suitable for all skin types and is packed with natural moisturisers.

With its heavenly fragrance, the oil makes for the perfect skin soother and refresher.

Price: `495/Available at: www.iraya.in 8 Problem area: Dismal complexion Solution: Bobbi Brown blush shade extensions With the newest blush shades from Bobbi Brown, spruce up your face with shades from pops of pink to pretty coral to warm berry. There is something to suit and brighten every skin tone, personality and occasion.

Price: `2,690/Available at: Bobbi Brown, Select Citywalk, Saket, New Delhi

Problem area: Dry skin asiaSpa India May-June 2015 103

W WAT C H C O U T U R E

craftsmanship captivating

One vivacious, and the other versatile, Breguet reinvents two legacies with unmatched precision

Rare Resplendence This year, the artisans at Breguet decided to create the Breguet Reine De Naples Haute Joaillerie 8909, a scintillating piece in rose gold. While the first model evoked the immaculate snows of the North, this version calls to mind the warm tones of the East. The clarity of the diamonds on the bezel and the caseband are as stunning, while the sapphires on the bracelet have given way to flaming red rubies. In this version, the dial is more contrasted, with the crimson glow of the rubies contrasting the Tahitian mother-of-pearl. Fitted with a selfwinding movement, this timepiece shows the hours and minutes on a subdial in silvered gold set with dazzling diamonds.

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Slender Silhouette It was in the 1810, when AbrahamLouis Breguet produced the first wristwatch for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples. The heritage lives on, in the form of novel interpretations of the erstwhile masterpiece, the Breguet Reine De Naples Princesse 9807 and 9808 Mini models, measuring 32.7 x 27.3mm.

Owing to the dainty shape of the case, a cambered ovoid with gemset attachment and crown, they are perfect for slender wrists. Powered with a mesmerising appeal, the first version comes in a steel case, and its domed dial is in white natural mother-of-pearl. The other is in a rose gold case, with the dial in Tahitian mother-of-pearl. The beauties are rounded off with a leather strap and also boast rubber alternatives.

asiaSpa India May-June 2015 105

W WAT C H I T

Indulge in the finest of timepieces from the leaders of watchmaking, launched

Dazzled Desires

Christian Dior’s love for grand balls finds poetic expression in the new diamond encrusted Dior Grand Bal Reine Des Neiges. This pink gold beauty is accentuated with pink and yellow sapphires, and flaunts the exclusive ‘Dior Inversé 11 ½’ caliber movement.

Python Plushness

The Calvin Klein Spellbound draws a plush palette with its python embossed leather strap in rich mineral-inspired tones. Adorned with a polished stainless steel case and dial or PVD pink gold and black dial, it’s accorded the perfect finish by the minimalist logo of this exemplary brand.

Gold Grandeur

Pioneers of opulence, Versace unveiled their Dylos Limited Edition watch that bears the brand’s essence of luxe living. It flaunts a striking display on rotating discs and an intricate dial, which is mostly covered by a guilloché sunray IP gold structure.

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exclusively at this year’s edition of Baselworld

Sparkle of Sunstone

Jaquet Droz’s new collection Sunstone- A ‘Pierre de Soleil’, interweaves within itself the magic of solar and astral worlds.

Sunstone is their latest offering which has had a tradition of mineral dials, carved of jasper, lapis lazuli or meteorites.

Black Beauty

Tag Heuer serenades fashion’s favourite child, supermodel Cara Delevingne with a special edition watch as part of their TAG Heuer Carrera collection. This watch features a padded and stitched, aged black calfskin strap for a striking edge of haute couture.

Exquisite Enamel

Ulysse Nardin pays tribute to the 1926 German-built, four mast ship Kruzenshtern with its new Classico Collection enamel cloisonné timepiece. Powered by the UN-815 caliber, this beauty offers a Chronometer Certificate and is water resistant up to 50 meters.

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W WAT C H I T

An Alluring Alarm

In the 10th anniversary of the Big Bang model, Hublot pays tribute to its innovation of the alarm clock.

Incorporating one of the oldest known intricacies, the Big Bang Alarm Repeater is the flawless meeting of a mechanical alarm clock and a second time zone.

Elegance of Equestrian

Inspired from the iconic elements of the equine world, The Longines Equestrian Collection embodies the grace of the world of riders and their mounts. The polished black lacquer and mother-of-pearl dials are adorned with diamond indexes, while the other versions feature Roman and Arabic numerals respectively.

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Spectacular Ceramic

The Rado HyperChrome Automatic Diamonds beautifully spells out the ceramic innovation of Rado watches. The intense brown high tech ceramic and rose gold detail is embedded with 56 Top Wesselton diamonds, and bears the limited edition number engraved on its caseback.

Studded Sea Stunner

Chopard celebrates the eternal affair of women and their diamonds with their ‘métiers d’art’ Happy Fish watch. Designed with a turquoise and gold dial, the watch comes to life at night owing to the shimmering mother-of-pearl and lyrical movement of the diamonds.

A Cult of Its Own

The Cellini collection from Rolex brings together the best of contemporary and classic. These models feature a single or double diamond-set bezel, with the black lacquer dial edition enhanced by 11 glittering diamonds at the tip of the hour markers.

Unparalleled Elegance

Inspired by the dynamic equestrian motif, Gucci’s Horsebit collection weaves a charm of vintage verve. The white-lacquered dial complemented by a curved case is given a bright pop of colour in soft leather straps, available in hues of red, brown and brick red.

asiaSpa India May-June 2015 109

B BESPOKE

Omega dazzles in Pune At a glamorous affair, the city of Pune warmly embraced the inauguration of illustrious Swiss watchmaker Omega’s, ninth boutique in the country

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atch enthusiasts in n Pune, now have exclusive e access to beauties from Omega, ga, thanks to the recent store launch in the e city.

With a total of nine exclusive boutiques outiques in India, the newest outlet is located ated conveniently at MG Road, a hub for commercial establishments and high-end shopping destinations. ion on was Gracing the momentous occasion chan, n Brand Ambassador Abhishek Bachchan, who officially marked the opening of the hestore with a traditional cutting-of-theribbon. “I am happy that Omega has its s own house in Pune now. Watch lovers will now get to experience real es watchmaking and the finest timepieces

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created in the world,” commented the exuberant star. Stephen Urquhart, President, Omega, also sent his greetings, stating, “We are excited about the opening of our new boutique in Pune.

This remarkable city, whose fascinating history and culture are complemented by a dynamic commercial and industrial base, is a fitting home for our newest house of Omega.”

A comprehensive collection of Omega products from its four renowned families, Constellation, Speedmaster, Seamaster and De Ville, apart from Fine Leather and Fine Jewellery collections, are available catering to every watch lover’s fancy.

At Omega’s luxurious space, browse through, shop and get inspired by the De Ville Prestige Dewdrop, a magnificent timepiece inspired by the Fine Jewellery Dewdrop collection. The dewdrop-shaped beads created from 18 carat red or yellow gold come together to form an opulent, fluid bracelet that is held together by a butterfly clasp. This exquisite timepiece, offered in 32.7 mm and 27.4 mm, are available in two uniquely different versions – one in pearled white motherof-pearl and decorated with diamond indexes, and the other edition with an enchanting golden butterfly design accompanied by white mother-of-pearl and diamond indexes.

112 ANAMMYAA WELLNESS, GURGAON / 113 EVIAN SPA, PALACE HOTEL TOKYO

SPAGUIDE

S S PA G U I D E

trailing with tradition Anammyaa Wellness, Gurgaon is an Ayurvedic oasis right in the heart of the city, specialising in treating tired limbs from deep within

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ebates on the good and bad for the body are an endless cycle, with the modern scales of nutrition constantly opposing the old beliefs of our grandmothers. That being said, one ancient practice that has stood the test of time is the well-known healing of Ayurveda that has nourished and revived for centuries.

The warm interiors of Anammyaa welcome you to an authentic hub of health, as it creates just the right temper to prepare you for soothing sessions of their services. Catered to by a host of highly skilled staff , supervised by senior Ayurveda doctors and Wellness Directors,

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Anammyaa Wellness is the modern city goers’ refuge to fight ailments of various kinds; be it joint aches, skin problems or the very pertinent stress management.

An all encompassing menu directed devotedly to resuscitate, includes the ancient favourites of Abhyangam, where an hour is given to alleviate ageing and exhaustion, while enhancing your skin. Boost your brain with the classic Shirodhara or indulge in continuous cycles of Udvartanam. Anammyaa makes use of only the best products and techniques, to bid byes to your former fatigued self and emerge with a new surge of spiritual strength.

ANAMMYAA WELLNESS SHOP NO 9, DT MEGA MALL, DLF PHASE 1, GURGAON 122002, HARYANA. PHONE:+91 9560024178 WWW.ANAMMYAAWELLNESS.COM

tempted in Tokyo Experience some Alpine pampering at the first ever evian SPA in Japan at the Palace Hotel, Tokyo and unravel the beautiful mystery of optimum health through pure water

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n a fast-paced city like Tokyo, there’s just one place, where you can watch time pass at a leisurely pace – the evian SPA Tokyo. Located in the Palace Hotel, Tokyo, the spa features panoramic views of Imperial Palace gardens and is designed as a metaphorical reflection of the journey that evian natural mineral water takes through the Alps. Each treatment room is named after a peak in the Alps, and is complemented by huge windows that overlook Tokyo’s most compelling vistas.

Apart from the five private, multifunctional treatment rooms, you can avail a number of facilities such as

heated baths, a marble sauna, cold plunge pool, dry sauna, reclining baths and separate men’s and women’s relaxation lounges.

Indulge in their facials that make use of well-known Parisian brands that are tailored to your individual skin needs such as, Anne Semonin and Omnisens. A must-do would be their Vitalising signature treatment. Inspired

by Japanese Seitai, acupressure is applied to your master trigger points to stimulate from within. This deep tissue massage not only restores your body’s balance but also leaves you feeling invigorated and clear-headed.

EVIAN SPA PALACE HOTEL TOKYO 1-1-1 MARUNOUCHI CHIYODA-KU TOKYO 100-0005, JAPAN PHONE: +81 3 3211 5211 WWW.PALACEHOTELTOKYO.COM

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D DA R E T O D R E A M

cinematic superstar

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uxury fleet Rolls-Royce have had a long standing romance with the silver screen, and their newest stunner Wraith ‘Inspired by Film’, poised as the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever made, pays a tribute to this lineage. ‘And the World Stood Still’, the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Wraith launch film has already been accepted into the BFI (British Film Institute) National Archive. Synonymous as James Bond’s mean motor, the opulent Rolls-Royce Wraith has been featured in cult movies such as Goldfinger, The Yellow

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Rolls-Royce, The Thomas Crowne Affair and The Great Gatsby, among many others.

The super hero of the Rolls-Royce stable is dressed in Anthracite leather interiors topped off with a Casden Tan. A shorter wheelbase, matched with swiftness of 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds (0-100kph, 4.6 seconds) gives it the final stamp of sumptuousness. While the Wraith is priced from `4.6 crore upwards, this version is truly bespoke – it is a special edition and comes with a battery of unique customisations.