For an unknown reason, I have tried to stay away from salon and spa procedures of every sort. Yours truly has been a DIY girl, right from threading eyebrows to doing her own pedicures. Friends who knew this decided it was time for my first spa visit and took me to a Fish Spa. It was a very refreshing and relaxing experience.
First, some gyaan about fish spa. This is a new concept which was brought to India only a couple of years ago. Essentially, your hands or feet are immersed in a small pool of water which contains a rather large school of fish, known as ‘doctor fish’. These fish have their place in Oriental medicine and are known for their exfoliating properties. What happens in the fish pedicure is that these fish nibble away dead skin cells, leaving behind soft, smooth skin. The fish are like combfishes in that they only consume the affected and dead areas of the skin, leaving the healthy skin to grow, with the outdoor location of the treatment bringing beneficial effects. The spas are not meant as a curative treatment option, only as a temporary alleviation of symptoms, and patients usually revisit the spas every few months. This process also tingles your feet, thereby improving blood circulation.
I was taken to a Spa in Bangalore which was the first to offer fish spa in the city. Since it was a Monday afternoon (the joy of being in college..you can relax in a spa while the rest of your class is in session :P), the place was nearly empty. We had taken appointments earlier and were led to the spa area with no fuss. The assistant carried out the preliminary procedure of cleaning our feet thoroughly to remove all traces of skincare products which can accidentally poison the fish. Here’s what the spa looks like (it has low lighting)
Next came one of the most fun experiences ever. As soon as I placed my feet in water, a hundred fish swam swiftly and surrounded my feet. Some practically fought to have a nibble of skin and it was extremely ticklish; I kept giggling non-stop for the entire session. If fish creep you out, I suggest you close your eyes or read one of the magazines they keep handy. Please don’t freak out because you’ll only be wasting your money – the fish are practically harmless and you get used to the tickle pretty soon. Here’s how my feet looked –
They had a really good collection of fashion and lifestyle magazines to read while you’re being treated. After 5-6 minutes, we were told that we can immerse our legs in water as well (up to the knee). So we did and the fish feasted on our legs!
A clever way to make the best out of this procedure is to immerse only your ‘problem’ areas or rough spots for a while. For instance, my friend who had trouble with callus formation kept only her toes in for half the session. The fish chewed up all the rough skin instantly! Likewise, if you have rough heels, let the fish work on your heels for 3-4 minutes. Also, make sure a maximum of two people occupy a fish tank. The more fish at your feet, the better.
Results: We came out refreshed with baby soft feet, tan considerably reduced due to the exfoliation. All the tingling had acted like a massage and my feet felt very relaxed.
Pros of Fish Spa
Quick pedicure – a 10 minute session is all you need.
Value for money – Exfoliation AND massage for Rs. 200 is a decent deal
Fun experience.
Cons of Fish Spa
Not something you can do alone or in a hurry.
Rating: 5/5. Definitely recommended!
I want to try this…I just hope I don’t freak out with all that tickling!!!!
I’ve tried this…. I had exima now I don’t I do this every 3 months 😀 :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2:
haiya…i tried this when i went to singapore :yahoo: …. :yahoo: :yahoo: …initially it was like tickling but then got used to it….
Rads try this…its very good…
Nice post Akshatha :victory:
hehehehe I SOOOOOOOOOO WANT TO TRY THIS …. we have it here in INORBIT MALL .. SAD THING IS ALL OF MA FRENDS N RELATIVES R CREEPED OUT !!! NO ONE READY TO ACCOMPANY ME !!! 🙁 🙁
Rids, fish spa mein fishing rod le jaao. pedicure ka pedicure aur fishing ka maja bhi 🙂
hahahahahaha …. fish dekh ke hi ma frnds n all freak out … FISHING ROD !!!! DURRR KI BAAT HO GAI !!!
i have been wanting to do this since soooo long .. it just never works out :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep:
hi akshatha,
nice review… I have got it done and literally rolled over laughing becoz of the tickling feeling…. I am very very ticklish…. one simple hand movement and i go all gigly laughy…
:lol2: :lol2: :lol2: 😆 😆 :haanji: :clap2: :rotfl: :laugh: :lashes:
Hi rids, rads, varshini, shugraa, naina, rati and sanjeev…. and also all those who would join in… Hope u guys had a wonderful holi…
Tarry, we stayed at home, put chhotu motu rang on each other, talked a lot, and spent a lazy day..not a great holi, but a peaceful one 🙂
Tarry, to spa ke andar socks pahan kar jaana tha na :toothygrin:
😆 :lol2: arre sanjeev,
I toh can’t even wear socks without gigling…. can’t go for pedicures because of this….
The worse came when me and my ‘close friend’ went to watch a movie. Poor guy kept his hand on my shoulder and I started giggling… it was a very emo scene going on and everyone started staring at me… :lol2: :lol2:
*sigh* bechara ‘close friend’ couldn’t get any closer…. O:) O:)
Ha Ha Ha
Seriously… poor guy was really embarrased….
:yahoo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo:
HAHAHAHAHAHA… HAPPY HOLI TO U TOO TARRY
thanks tinkerbell i mean rids…
Hi Tarry…hw ru ??? Hwz holi?? btwn in south ppl dont celebrate holi 🙁 ….we used to do it during school days…since i studied in a punjabi school :yahoo: :yahoo:
Varshini………………in hyderabad holi is celebrated with so much craziness…..but I don’t celebrate holi myself
Hi Varshini
me fyne… Where in a punjabi school?
Yeah! south mein holi no fun… my uncle stays in Hyderabad and we went thr for Holi once… it was such a boring holi… we ended up splashing colours only with family member…
wow.. this sound more fun than actual spa :yahoo: :yahoo: … hav seen it here in GVK once but didnt kno at tht time wht it was :toothygrin: :toothygrin: … njoyed readng ur post Akshatha..nice name u hav :rose: :rose:
OMG it actually got published?! This was my first post..thanks Rati di for publishing it on IMBB. 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
@ Varshini, Tarry, Nids: Thank you soooo much. 🙂
Nids, you absolutely have to try it out..can’t describe the feeling. Also, you get laughter therapy too. :toothygrin: :toothygrin:
Rati….
Akshatha got blue box …. waaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh….
I also want one….
I agree with u on the laughter therapy thing Akshatha…
OMGG!! i dunno.. how that is happening. 😛
Rati….
?:) ?:) ?:) ?:)
lolll!!! I am not doing anything. Trust me tarry. 😆 😆 😆 😆
wats this big secret about the blue box yaar… tell me na… ?:) ?:) ?:) ?:) ?:)
@ Rads, Naina: Please do try it out..soon!
@ Rids: Come over here to Bangalore. I’ll go with you. 🙂
sanjeeeeeeeevvvvvvvvv !! what conspiracy u did against all of us … why only some get bloo box and some of us dont get … me no likey :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep:
Me supporting u Naina….
Wow….Akshatha……I wanna do the fish spa too……I feel very ticklish in my leg area….I don;t know why if anyone touches my neck or feet, I feel giggly piggly….same pinch tarry :wilt: :wilt: :wilt: :wilt: :wilt: :wilt: :whistle: :whistle: :whistle: :whistle: :whistle:
Same pinch to u too Jomo dahling…
hey sanjeev, we need to have a emoticon for same pinch too…
Can anyone tell me if there is a fish spa in hyderabad :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo:
its in GVK..chk jomol g…
hi nids… ru frm hyde too ? ?:)
yess varshini.. i’m frm hyd :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: .. but not a hyderabadi.. :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo:
sacchi nids….i will get a fish spa when I go there…..can’t wait :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:
Jomol ji hello….O2 Spa has Fishy spa i guess….heard from my frnd
@ Jomol: Oh I am JUST like you! I start giggling even if someone says ‘I’ll tickle you’. :toothygrin: :toothygrin:
Just close your eyes and put your feet in the fish tank. :silly:
Yeah Akshatha,
Same pinch for u too….
Akshatha….I am definitely going to get the fish spa in GVK…. :thanks: :thanks: :thanks: :thanks: :thanks:
Jomol get it done by gold fish :tongue: :tongue: :tongue:
Gold fish…..good idea rati….I will then take the fish home after the spa and fry it in olive oil :plate: :plate: :plate: :plate: :plate: :plate: :plate: :plate: :plate: :plate: :plate: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:
:fart:
Rati…………fish is non-gaseous….no acidity….no gas……….aap tho bas aloo ki sabji kaake :fart: :fart: :fart: :fart: :fart: :fart: :fart: :fart: :fart: :fart: :fart:
i wantd to do this in delhi but this was so expensive it was abt 500!
sad
I tried this at the same place! It was nice! But then i was wondering if it will cause any kinda infection! 🙁
Thr was ths fish pedicure in a renowned parlour near my place and I always wanted to do that. One day when I went to the parlour for the fish pedicure they said they no longer have it for 2 reasons.. 1-fishes were dieing 😯 😯 😯 2-they banned ths pedicure [ dono who banned] :suspense: :suspense:
i want to try tis :smug: :smug: but don where they offer in chennai ?:) any ideas AARTHI?? O:)
They were in Naturals before.. Jus chk out Oryza Shweta..
shewta….kenko spa in Express avenue mall has it….i saw when i was shopping
I have been longing to try this since so long but i was always scared..what if the fishes bite me :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin:
May be now i’l give it a try
Ritika, ofcourse they will bite you… for them you have a big ‘LUNCH’ written all over you :tongue:
You are scaring me now 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐
What if some of the fishes have teeth and they bite,nobody checks each and every fish :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep:
Yeah, some fish have big big teeth like this:
http://www.anglersfishingguide.com/Articles/tiger_fish1.jpg
Don’t take the risk.. plus all those fish susuing in the pool..you putting your leg in that fish susu..
right… point toh hai…..
No Ritika….there doctor fish dont have teeth,….they jusst nibble the dead skin….I have done this twice…trust me it so much fun :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:
That pic is so scary Jinal :shutmouth: :shutmouth: :shutmouth: :shutmouth: :shutmouth: :shutmouth: :shutmouth:
:tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble:
Me not going for any fish spa ever now :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick:
nibble nibble nibble nibble.. crunch crunch…nibble nibble nibble…crunch.. nibble nibble..crunch.. O:)
ya Ritika…even i have also tried this………. I think i am the only one who hated it………. 😛
this is so much fun yaar… par vadodara me ye hota hi nai hai… :(( :((
Akshathaa- very well written 🙂 welcome to IMBB
I had heard this from frnds but after seeing ur pics I soooo wanna try this out 😀
I have done this pedicure twice at City Centre mall here…..I love the tingling feel….hehe
I could just not control my laughter,….and then others who looked at me could not contrrol theirs :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo:
then afterwards it felt nice….. :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:
dis has really catched up fast in india…n now in all malls..
m soo gonna try this..
I wana tryy this too! Looks so inetersting..not to mention a whole lot of fun!! :dance: :dance: :yahoo: :yahoo:
me wanna try this soon…Thanks for the review Akshatha else would have never gone for this. :thanks:
Thank you for the kind words, girls. Glad you liked it. 🙂
What’s this thing about a blue box? I’m new on IMBB..would somebody explain? 🙂