A visit to the spa is generally not a hurried affair. You are going there to rewind and relax for an hour or two. Appointments are made especially if you want your favourite therapist, the one who knows your pressure points and your profession (does your work make you sit on the computer for hours or are you an influencer which might mean scrolling the internet for new trends to stay on top of your work?) for your chosen treatment.

As the former editor of a spa magazine here's something I have to say, if you are not comfortable walking into a spa, believe me, it could be just the choice of music, the flower selection which you see while lying on your stomach, too many choices of oil, the hardness of the spa bed or just the decor all around - just walk out. Nothing should distract you from the relaxation you seek in those couple of hours or make you stressed thinking of the surroundings. A spa is designed to make you breathe calmness when you step into it. The two hours that you are investing into a treatment which is not priced cheap has to be worth it. Choose the spa and the treatment accordingly.

If you are in Delhi and looking for a calming treatment here's one spa you should visit, the Cinqtuair Spa, at the The Claridges New Delhi. With top-of-the line equipment and products the spa welcomes you with an elegant simplicity that just grows on you while you sit and browse through the treatment menu. Once you go through the mandatory form filling that requires you to mention allergies to certain products you can sip on the herbal tea served by the spa team after which you will be led to the treatment room.

I was advised to get into the steaming room before the treatment to open up the pores in order to get the oil during the massage deep into the body which I readily did.

Cinqtuair Spa's commitment to holistic wellness with innovative treatments is worth a visit. Also since the hotel is located almost in the heart of the it is convenient. The spa's dedication to sustainability and expertise in Ayurveda further add to its appeal.

The menu looked inviting with a choice of Ayurveda and other treatments. My choice was the Cinqtuair signature treatment which began with the choosing the oil - the lavender and rose oil and the feet washing ritual. The 90-minute treatment was a combination of aromtherapy and Balinese massage. The therapist with an experience of more than a decade, first made sure I was comfortable with the pressure she was using and then proceeded to knead the pressure points with an expertise that I knew would put me to sleep. 

Her attention to every detail was such that I could feel the tense muscles giving way to relaxation. Earlier I had mentioned that my back, shoulder and neck needed focus while discussing the menu and the treatments to the smiling and welcoming Sushma Rai heading the spa, with pleasure I realised the therapist she had assigned to me was giving attention to the exact parts of my city worn body. 

With the right pressure that I wanted during the treatment and right temperature of the air con I wafted into a peaceful space that was relaxing as it should be in a spa, until I was woken up with a soft nudge by the therapist indicating that the treatment had ended.

4 Things to Tick Mark Before Beginning the Treatmement 

Make sure the spa therapist has taken into account your present state of health before agreeing to the treatment

Make sure you know the oil being used. Do a sample test. You don't want to walk out of the spa in rashes if the oil does not suit you

Make sure the therapist is wearing a mask.  Wrong breath can entirely kill the joy of a good treatment even if the therapist is good.

A glass of water and a cup of herbal tea after the treatment somehow is the finale to a good treatment, at least for me. Remember you have been in a room for a couple of hours while the therapist tries to rid you of negative energy with treatment. One does tend to feel dehydrated.

Text by Arati Thapa