Just sit back, and relax

At this foot spa in Bandra, their sole agenda is to get you to catch forty winks

At this foot spa in Bandra, their sole agenda is to get you to catch forty winks

Surrender is the keyword at the Sukho Thai Foot Spa. Pic/ Anuja GUPTA

From a distance, I notice a pretty attendant looking out towards Turner Road as she awaits clients, and just for a moment I am confusedu00a0-- is this a spa or an Oriental restaurant? The smiling attendant eventually allays my fears and welcomes me indoors towards the waiting area.

Once inside, I am informed about the various rituals as I soak in the Southeast Asian atmosphere. I'm told about the Thai Traditional Foot Therapy, which they say works best as a pre-work spa session. I nod my assent. I replaced my footwear with a pair of Osho chappals en route to the recliner-lined hall where the massage will take place.

Surrender is the keyword here. Vijeyta Vazkar, proprietor, Sukho Thai says, "Our aim is to make the client fall asleep during the session, as that is a clear sign that they're completely relaxed. If a client does not fall asleep, we consider it an unsuccessful session." Tough task, I think to myself as the session begins.

Thai masseuse Woreingam does a ritualistic bow before placing my feet into a ceramic bowl filled with warm water and rose petals. After a thorough scrubbing, he applies a cooling gel on my legs and wraps them in towels. My legs appear as though they've been mummified.

Sleep beckons
Next, I am tucked into a satin blanket. They were serious about the nap, then! And so, my hour-long massage session commences. Woreingam uses acupuncture and traditional Thai massage techniques to relax and detox the entire body by applying pressure at the right points on the feet. In spite of the photographer's presence, I did manage to catch a few winks, which brought a satisfied smile to Woreingam's face.

The session also includes a ten-minute head, neck and shoulder massage towards the end. Woreingam deftly kneaded all my stress away. The therapy ended with a thorough dusting of talcum powder on the legs, which didn't leave me struggling to get the oily grime off my skin. This was a clean, no-mess session that left me ready to tackle the week ahead.

At: Turner Road, opposite Tawa Restaurant, Bandra (W).
Call 9820200810.
Timings: 11 am to 10 pm