Rejuvenate your senses

Azmaara, Sri Lanka’s only ISPA certified spa offers special packages for corporates

By Cheranka Mendis

The ads are hard to miss: beautiful people, a serene atmosphere, catchy phrases- spa treatment has become a popular trend all over the world and the fever has certainly caught up in Sri Lanka.

Papers are full of them, offering all kinds of discounts and all kinds of offers but what is important is to know the right place to go. No dodgy places, no funny things- a spa is meant to rejuvenate you, relieve stress and energize you both mentally and physically.

 While certain spas in activation right now may not be the best thing for your health with studies showing that diseases such as Legionnaire’s diseases, a potentially deadly pneumonia traced to a heated spa whirlpool bath in which the water is changed seldomely, it is important that you go to a right one- where your stimulation is enhanced and your body is flexible and highly energized.

 The first completely Sri Lankan owned spa chain to be recognized by the International SpaAssociation (ISPA) USA, where membership is given annually after careful testing;  ‘Azmaara’ offers its visitors a holistic spa experience of quality and excellence. Manager – Business Development of Azmaara Spa, Lucille Diaz talking to the Weekend FT stated that the 100 percent locally owned spa has been a presence in the Maldivian market and entered the Sri Lankan market in November 2009. Hoping to expand further in the Maldives and Oman within this year, the Azmaara Spa brings to you palliative treatments for a healthy living mixed with a dose of luxury and pampering.

 “We offer high end services at our spa and quality that you would not get anywhere else,” Diazsaid. To ensure that quality is maintained consistently research and development is carried out throughout the year and therapists are recruited for their experience. “Therapists at out spas are professionals. However everyone is given extensive training at our very own academy in Bali. Our training does not end there. The therapists are trained progressively and undergocontinuous testing to maintain standards. This is important because we are dealing with the human body. We want it to be done the way it should- scientifically and professionally.”

 Azmaara offers massages, facials, scrubs, wraps, manicures and pedicures with 100 per cent natural carrier oils and essential oils. Highlighting on the importance and benefits of spas, she asserted that the true meaning of a spa is miles away from the normal ‘pamper and luxury’ routine understood by many. Spas are increasingly growing in trend throughout Europe for its actual therapeutic benefit, she said and Sri Lanka should also remember what spas actually stand for. “Any massage; be it hard, soft or pressure gives the bottom line benefit of stimulating blood circulation, pumping more oxygen and nutrients into the tissues and organs..  It also stimulates the lymph; the body’s largest, natural defense system, thereby, performing a complete internal and external healing for the body. The skin being the largest organ out of all is enhanced through proper spa treatment.” expressed Diaz.

Organizations face reduced levels of performance by those who are physically present but mentally absent. In the U.K. as much as 60 percent of all absenteeism is said to be caused by stress related disorders. Anything that can reduce the damaging effects of ill-health makes employees happier and companies richer. Organizations have to bear costs such as for health-care and hospitalization bills for those made ill, and disability benefits for accidents occurring because of ill-health. In addition to this, ill-health often makes people irritable, and this affects the overall quality of everyone’s lives. For those in the corporate sector, massage therapy would bring about multiple benefits. If promoted in companies, this can lead to a healthier, more productive and efficient work force. This can mean less absenteeism, highly motivated and productive staffand better management and efficiency in work and enhanced focus. “Massage therapy is a drug free, non-invasive, humanistic approach to healing. There is no maximum limit to massages- the more you have the better it is for your body. It is recommended that one should visit a spa for a massage at least once a month.”

Azmaara, together with speaker and trainer in mind and body wellness and character enrichment Nalaka Hewamadduma will offer a unique package for corporate establishments. A special package that combines therapy with self building workshops, the program is aimed atenhancing productivity of the higher management. Diaz mentioned that Azmaara Spa hopes to have two workshops per year for companies that enroll as corporate members with the spa. This will encourage organizations to give their employees a holistic treatment. This is a newintroduction to the local business community, the packages have high demand from a number of leading companies.” she expressed.

There are three categories of packages to chose from- the green, gold and bronze packages. The green package offers ten members of the team a massage per month while the gold and bronze offer 25 and 50 members the same respectively. Hewamadduma will conduct his workshops on wellness and productivity for the companies. These sessions will be followed up through an interactive e-mail based mechanism. For more details contact Lucille on 077 2255004.

 Azmaara spa is located at the Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, Cinnamon Lodge and ChaayaVillage Habarana and at the Bentota Beach Hotel (opening25th January).