If you are on a vacation, one of the uppermost 'to-do-thing' might be a visit to the wellness centre or spa in the hotel where you are staying. And if it is Resort Rio, Goa you are staying in then be prepared to get more than you ever expected from a resort's in house spa. The Zaara Spa here surprises you with an exhaustive menu which is rare. Most menus in a spa can look beautiful and lengthy but if you look closely you wouldn't find more than an actual five-six body massage treatments that could include the Swedish, Balinese, Signature, Thai, Ayurveda (mostly the Abhayanga) and the hot stone massages in most cases. Even more surprising is the choice of treatments here. They include the Tibetan Singing Bowl massage, candle massage, soon to be introduced shell and cupping massage apart from the other regular ones. It's an interesting mix that shows the spas enthusiasm and its readiness to experiment. It also employs among its staff a learned acupuncturist well versed with Wing Chun/Kung fu, Reiki, Taichi, Yoga and astrology.

A Reiki after a massage is a must-experience here. This reluctant writer was encouraged to try it out after an extremely relaxing Tibetan Bowl massage - (more about that later) by the very persuasive and affable spa head and came out thanking her endlessly. Again, it's very rare to find a Reiki treatment/healer in a spa following your treatment. You will find your relaxed body floating in a peaceful space that is beautiful and beckons you for more every time you go for a spa massage.

Now about the Tibetan Bowl Music therapy - this intriguing massage includes herbal oil, reiki, full body massage (including face and neck) and a chakra balancing ritual. You will be led by the smiling therapist to a fairly large relaxing lounge and offered a concoction of delicious herbal tea followed by the therapy in a large spacious treatment room.

As you lay calmly readying for the touch of the therapist's relaxing fingers, a tingling sensation of the bowls music reverberates next to your ears signaling the start of the massage. The sound is clear yet soft enough to take you to a space where all your nerves begin the journey of rejuvenation. A drizzle of warm oil is then felt on your back and the familiar strokes of massage, as the deft fingers work their way to de-knot and de-stress your every tied up nerve. Every stroke is felt, every knead is experienced. There will not once be an empty moment when the therapist is not touching your cells- a very important element of a any massage. The eternal sensation of music lingering all the while for the 90 minutes the treatment allocates. Just while you have dozed off peacefully and want more you will be awakened by the reverberating sound of the bowl next to your ears- the end of the treatment is signalled.

Yes, the Tibetan bowl does sing, but more importantly it will make you do the same as you leave with a sense of contentment and relaxation. Zaara Spa at Resort Rio housed in around 7000 sq. ft. is spacious with Mughal décor. This luxury spa boasts of two Ayurvedic rooms, one Thai massage room, three couple rooms, two single rooms, two steam rooms, one relaxation area and a dedicated consultation room. Complete with a beauty salon, spa pool, a foot massage lounge and a state of art gym, Zaara Spa & Wellness is a retreat for complete mind and body rejuvenation. Your next visit to Goa must surely include a treatment here. www.zaaraspa.com