“We offer a warm hospitality and also have a beautiful garden to ensure a calming atmosphere.”

Who wouldn’t love relaxation after a long and stressful day at work? Heritage Spa, with a tagline ‘an invitation for relaxation’, has come up with various stress-busting therapies. The spa is located in a serene and peaceful setting within the heart of maddening and bustling city of Kathmandu. Heritage Spa, located at Sanepa Height, has proven to be an easy getaway from a tiresome and stressful day.

Kumar R Maharjan, Chairman at the Heritage Spa says that in partnership with his friend, the spa was established in October 2011. It was started with a motive to offer relaxation to people, right next to their door at an affordable cost and within a short duration. “Irrespective of the profession one chooses, s/he needs relaxation due to stressful working hours. Usually, working people suffer from body pain, stiff muscles, mental stress and similar other problems,” he says, “This is a place where they can get rid of such stresses.”

Maharjan says that there are various categories of spas. However, a spa needs appropriate location with peace and tranquillity. He believes a customer should be able to feel the positive vibe at the moment of entering the spa. “We offer a warm hospitality and also have a beautiful garden to ensure a calming atmosphere,” he says.

According to Maharjan, Heritage Spa does not use any chemical-based products for any of its service offerings. The spa even produces Aloe Vera – needed for various therapies – on its own. The company believes that anything that is not to be eaten should not be applied on the skin either.

Heritage Spa offers over two dozen services which cover treatments from head to toe. The spa claims to be the specialist in Swedish style facial and body massage. A session at Heritage Spa ranges anything from Rs 450 for a steam bath to Rs 3,500 for a ‘Shirodhara’. Maharjan explains that ‘Shirodhara’ is a therapy designed to eliminate mental exhaustion as well as stress and any ill effects on the central nervous system.

The spa offers its signature services for both males and females. Reena Shrestha, Aesthetician at the spa says that males prefer receiving services before special occasions and parties while women do not need any special occasion as they always love to feel and look beautiful.  Swedish style Facial is one of the signature services offered by the spa which involves pressing the right nodes in the face that makes the skin look younger. Shrestha says that use of natural products like almond, honey, milk, cucumber, Aloe Vera along with the right technique nourishes the skin and leaves a refreshing result.

Similarly, Raw Coffee Body Scrub would be a perfect option for those looking to purify and cleanse dead skin cells from the body that ensures smooth and supple looks. Maharjan adds that body scrubs are equally beneficial for elderly people and the youngsters. Likewise, the Camphor Oil Body Treatment is one of the most demanded signature services at the spa. Using traditional ayurvedic methods of massage, the therapy heals painful tight muscles, removes toxins and unblocks energy flow. The massage session that takes around 60 to 90 minutes releases tensions and stress from the body.

Other than these, the spa offers services and therapies that include Head and Shoulder Treatment, Purifying Bio Fruit Facial, European Style Spa Treatment, Sugar Body Polish and Scrub, Healing Package for Elder Citizens, Hot Stone Therapy and Massage for Trekkers/Hikers among 25 various services. It also has service categories for teenagers, working people and senior citizens.

Currently, the spa has ongoing seasonal offering named Sexy Legs targeted at teenage girls for the summer season. Shrestha says that teenagers like to look good and stylish so the spa is trying to cash this sentiment. The offer includes waxing of leg and removing dark spots in elbow and other body parts. “Polishing with brown sugar gives a silky smooth and glowing finish to their legs,” says Maharjan. During the winter, the spa runs grooming service as well.

Adherence to the ethical practices is the speciality of Heritage Spa while being committed to the service excellence at the same time. When a customer enters the spa, s/he is accorded a warm hospitality. Further, the confidence of the customers is gained by properly explaining the procedures and making them understand all the dos and don’ts of the services. Maharjan says that highest degree of ethics is maintained at the staff level to provide customer satisfaction to the clients. “Even if a customer does not have any idea about spa treatments, we suggest and recommend the right services for them along with service etiquettes,” he adds.

Availing services at the Heritage Spa requires at least two hours prior bookings. Maharjan says that people like his spa because it is run by aestheticians trained abroad. The spa is open from 8 am to 8 pm and can offer services to 10 people at once. He adds that 15 per cent of sales are made through Internet bookings.

An average monthly clientele comprises of 60 per cent expatriates as the spa is located right next to a number of NGOs and INGOs around where many expats and employees of these organisations reside. The rest 40 per cent clientele comprises the locals of the area.

The Heritage Spa is planning to develop itself as a centre for excellent spa services. The spa has its own training academy and is planning to operate a CIDESCO (Comite International Desthetique Et De Cosmetologie) – an international organisation headquartered in Zurich that offers trainings and diplomas on Aesthetics – affiliated spa academy by 2014. Maharjan believes that having a spa academy will help filling the gap between demand and supply of qualified therapists in the market.