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Growing up, I was never raised as a girly-girl. My dad’s magically adventurous spirit made sure we were always outdoors, engaging in sports or heading off for rough and tough treks. So, clearly, spa vacations or pampering getaways were never on the agenda.

On a partially gloomy, monsoon day in August, I had my maiden spa sojourn at Antara Spa at The Club in Andheri, Mumbai. After walking through the club, I reached the spa wide-eyed because the entire property is very spacious and calming, with never-ending greenery all around. Now, I have to admit, I was nervous about going in for my treatment since I’d never been to a spa before. My spa therapist, Shang, walked me to the therapy room and gave me the necessary instructions. I listened carefully thinking if I missed something, things would go terribly wrong! The spacious square room looked so tranquil and cosy; I had half a mind to curl up on the comfortable daybed in the corner with a good read.

Antara Spa has special therapies every month and in August it was the Citrus Caress Body Polish. Shang first massaged my entire body with a cinnamon and bitter orange cream and then pressed my head and temples firmly but not too harshly. Wow! So this is what I’d been missing all this while. I know I was meant to feel more relaxed (and I did), but I started stressing out trying to stay awake so I could live through every moment of it. Well, the exfoliation with the green tea and bitter orange scrub really did the trick. It left this sort of cold, tingly, menthol-feeling on my skin that made me look up from my bed, wondering if the air conditioning had suddenly been turned up. Shang must have sensed this and laughingly told me it was the effect of the scrub. Now this is what I liked — a half-hour massage to relax me followed by a refreshing pick-me-up! Once this was done, I walked into the steam room and sat in for my last 15 minutes of bliss.

After showering, changing and sadly saying goodbye to that cosy daybed, I was greeted outside by concerned staff members. I think they, too, had read my health sheet with the ticked option stating I’d never been to a spa before and were anxiously wondering how the experience was for me.

I was given a lovely tour of the entire club and saw most of its vast property with a number of sports facilities and dining options. Though The Club is only open to members, anyone can visit Antara Spa with a prior appointment. Of course, I left the spa feeling rejuvenated but was also converted for life. I may be a tomboy at heart but now that I’ve had a taste of what pampering feels like, sign me up for a spa date any day!

Add: Antara Spa, The Club,
197, D.N. Nagar, Andheri (West),
Mumbai 400 053.
Tel: 022-66939999;
Website: www.theclubmumbai.com