Some massages are preceded by prayer (God, it wouldn’t hurt to get a happy ending this time); some have you pleading during (please, please make this prodding stop); and others have you thanking the powers that be after (it’s just what my week needed). At Inner Temple, a week-old spa in Bandra, we found a sacred space and much potential for post-knead gratitude.

Pew Good Men and Women

Run by Mandira Sharma, who used to teach yoga at The Yoga House in Bandra, Inner Temple is run out of a tiny apartment space next to hers, opposite Mehboob Studio. This “holistic healing sanctuary” is painted in shades of quiet with milky walls, big white cushions and low seating, which, despite what you’re now imagining, doesn’t feel like you’re in a mental asylum.

The keeper of sanctity and sanity here – along with Mandira –is Anand Das KS, a certified Ayurvedic therapist from Kerala who was trained at the Ananda Institute in the Himalayas and whose clients have included the likes of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Anand has designed a spa menu with seven treatments, some of which are the usual foot reflexology, Thai and Swedish massages. More interesting are the ancient Indian techniques like the Marma, based on 107 therapeutic marma or hidden pressure points, and Mukhalepam, an Ayurvedic massage and facial. Apart from offering these treatments, Mandira is also planning to conduct yoga and meditation sessions, workshops on art, dance and music and bring in visiting therapists, practitioners and teachers. Holy-istic healing!

Points To Be Noted

This writer walked into Inner Temple last evening, the perfect candidate to review a spa, considering all the stress she’s been harbouring lately. This writer is planning her wedding. Yes, you can say a little prayer for her.

As we felt around the shelves stacked with handmade products—natural flower, spice and fruit essence Sundaram soaps from an ashram in Gangotri and yummy face packs from Skin Potions by Shalini Singh – Mandira appeared in white, wearing huge dream catcher earrings, holding a silver tray with water and fresh fruit juice.

After we picked the full body Marma massage, we were told to change into a robe, curiously labeled “The Grand”, one that we hoped wasn’t a hotel souvenir, but a synopsis for what we were about to experience. Inner Temple currently has just one male therapist, which probably won’t bode well for a lot of ladies, and so they should think of hiring one more female masseuse.

The Marma massage involved potions of neem, saffron and coconut oils, hot towels and deft hands coaxing wedding stress out of 107 pressure points. Somewhere after number 20, we passed out, waking up only after it was done. There was that lulling music that made us want to drift back to the lush spice plantations we were dreaming about, but then there was a Rs 3,000 bill that brought us right back to reality. The Grand, indeed.

But if you feel like spoiling yourself, taking the edge off, we’d recommend the Marma at Inner Temple. So would this writer’s fiancé, who now has to deal with more bride, less zilla.

Getting there: B 501, Hill Heaven CHS, opposite Mehboob Studio, Hill Road, Bandra (W), book your appointment at least a few hours in advance, call 9892311024, Rs 3,000 for a marma massage, Rs 2,000 for an Ayurvedic facial.

bpb pays for its own spa treatments.