R&R in Goa: Spa Treatments We Love

From The Spa at the Leela to the personalised retreats at the Coco Shambala, we tell you about four Goa hotels that offer the best, most pampering or simply the most relaxing treatments.

The Shamana Spa, Bambolim Bay: The spa at Grand Hyatt, which gets its name from the Sanskrit world for balance, is state-of-the-art and offers a variety of South East Asian treatments. Of the 19 treatment suites, the Royal Suite is the most indulgently designed. It has a sunken bath, vitality pool with a waterfall feature, multi-sensory rain showers, and an ice fountain to cool you off after a steam.

What to Try: One of the Shamana's most royal-sounding treatments is the Rebalancing Discovery Journey (offered at the Royal Suite). It involves getting a full body scrub with crushed and is followed up with the passing of a magnet over the skin to help unblock bio-energy. A massage and facial follow.

The Spa at the Leela, Cavelossim:  With Mobor beach on one side and Sal River on the other, the Leela is located off the beat track in Goa. And to help its guests unwind, the hotel's spa has become known for its extensive range of Ayurvedic therapies. For those looking for some heavy-duty spa packages, the spa offers tailor-made 3- and 5-day packages.

What to Try: The spa's Marigold and Basil Sand Scrub, which won the Best Detox Treatment Vogue India Beauty Awards in 2010, is an intensely hydrating treatment. Using ingredients include like white sand rice and aluminium silicates from river beds in the Himalayas as well as flower and herb extracts, the scrub targets fat deposits and also cellulite while smoothening the skin.

Spa Alila, Majorda Beach:  The Alila Diwa is a contemporary Goan style property that sprawls in emerald green paddy fields. The Alila Spa too, extends out into a landscaped garden. Inside, it has nine state-of-the-art treatment rooms with an in-built steam room and outdoor chilled showers.

What to Try: The hotel recommends its Beauty and Balance signature treatment. Using cocoa, coffee and coconut the treatment exfoliates, draws out impurities and then deeply conditions the skin to give it a glow. A foot bath, massage, scrub and mask are also included.

Two Heavns Complete Body Spa, Bardz: Located at Nerul in Bardez is Coco Shambala. Made up of four 2-floor villas that come with their own plunge pools, the boutique hotel is set in a lush garden. One corner of said garden has been set aside for massage therapies by Josef from Two Heavens Complete Body Spa. Or you can book a massage in your own villa. Since the focus is on R&R here, you can also book 3-, 5- and 7-day rejuvenation courses. And best of all, the chef at the Shambala will cook meal tailor-made for you.

What to Try:  The Dynamic Stretch is a non-oil based treatment that uses passive stretching to convert lactic acid into glycogen, which in turn help release endorphins or happy hormones in the body.