Preen and proper

Aurah spa and salon offers almost every possible service and is a good bet if you're looking for a quick spruce up session

In the Buddhist religion, aura is defined as the colours surrounding the Buddha's head in the Buddhist flag, perhaps a reason why a mid-sized figurine of the lord is the first thing that catches your sight when you enter Aurah spa. It has two branches in Indiranagar, and the one I visited was the newer one on 80-feet road.



Spread over 3000 square feet, the eight-month old spa and unisex salon uses products from Thailand and believes in providing holistic head to toe beauty and wellness services.
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"Aura is the positive feeling that enhances a person's state of being. When your aura is good, everything else falls into place. The massages here connect all the chakras; when your aura is fine, your health is fine," says Ram Chittaranjan Das, who runs the place.

The staff, mostly from the north-east, has been trained by a specialist from Thailand. From the endless list of massages including Thai, Swedish, hot stone, Ayurvedic and plenty more, I ditched my favourite Swedish massage for the Balinese one.
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There was just one reason for that. I have always harboured dreams of holidaying in the Indonesian island but it remains elusive. The massage would give me a virtual tour as I close my eyes and imagine myself right taking a leisurely stroll along the black sand beaches that Bali is so known for.



Whatever my reasons for picking it might have been, the massage turned out to be amazingly relaxing, and that precisely is the aim of a good Balinese massage. Traditionally done with aroma therapy oils, they chose almond oil for me. The masseuse identified the pressure points and the light strokes coupled with a destressing head massage with aroma oils did the trick.

Here I must mention that the interiors of Aurah are far from spectacular. Yes they do have a robust rose on the bed, and dim the lights to aid soothe your nerves, and even play mild instrumentals, but don't go looking for scented candles here.

Post the massage, they put you in a steam room, something I'm not terribly fond of. It's not a great substitute for a Jacuzzi. So I made do with a warm shower.

By then a tall glass of fresh strawberry juice was awaiting me. I can never have enough of that fruit, in any form, I told the masseuse. And the choice for the facial was made quite easily. It had to be the strawberry one.

I had never experienced a strawberry facial. Fresh fruits like papaya, oats, honey and strawberry were used for all ingredients used in this facial. But I didn't get a whiff of strawberry. Moreover, due to the steam machine not working, the facial was incomplete and didn't make much of a difference to the skin.
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At the salon(that offers everything from hair smoothening to dry and water-based make-up) I tried the manicure, and it was like any other and quite satisfactory.u00a0

And then it was time for the hair spa. And what a calming effect it had on my frayed nerves. A hair spa does wonders for your crowning glory. And Aurah custom makes the treatment for you.
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They have solutions to pretty much every hair woe: thinning hair, damaged, frizzy hair, dandruff and lifeless hair. What's my woe, you ask? Let that be a secret between my stylist and I.u00a0

AT Aurah, No 2726 Lakshmi Narayan Nivas, 80 feet road Indiranagar
Next to Sapna Book House
CALL 42043375
FOR Rs 150 to 3500