Regular spas offering classic spa services like Swedish and trekker’s massages are a dime a dozen in Kathmandu Valley. But if you are in the mood to go beyond the usual, the Valley has several centres that offer healing therapies that you wouldn’t find at your regular spas. From horme (a traditional Tibetan herbal massage therapy dubbed to be helpful for those dealing with stress and anxiety) to janu basti (an ancient ayurvedic therapy for those with knee problems), there’s a whole world of treatments out there that can do wonders for your mind and body.

Tsoje Sorig Mentsee Khang, Swoyambhu, Kathmandu

Located in Swoyambhu, Tsoje Sorig Mentsee Khang is the only centre on this list that relies on the 2,500-year-old Sowa Rigpa, an ancient Tibetan medical system. The centre’s chief Sowa Rigpa Dr Dhindup Tsering Tamang Lama (Daniel) assesses clients by examining their pulses and tongue and inquiring about their pre-existing health conditions and then assigns therapies, which could be anything from sang bum (a cupping therapy using copper bowls that is known to release blocked blood circulation and relax muscles and back pain), horme (an oil massage that targets body’s pressure points to relieve stress and balance body’s wind energy) to dhutse ngalgum (a traditional hot medicinal bath believed to ease mental restlessness and promote physical strength and enhance skin complexion). Dr Lama personally conducts the therapies, but the only drawback is on busy days, you might end up having to wait for your turn.

For bookings: 9825631314

Opening hours: 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm (Sundays to Fridays)

Kundalini Ayurveda, Bakhundole, Lalitpur

As the name suggests, ayurveda is at the heart of everything Kundalini Ayurveda offers. The centre offers a staggering 29 different ayurveda therapies. But that’s not all. It also provides sound and energy healing sessions as well as naturopathic treatments. For the unaware, naturopathy is a treatment system that relies on natural remedies to let the body heal itself. Ayurveda and naturopathy treatment are offered only after consultation with the in-house ayurvedic therapist Dr Roshan Baskota.

For those looking for a regular spa massage, the centre offers 11 different types. It also runs therapeutic yoga classes and conducts yoga retreat programmes.

For bookings: 9803436520

Opening Hours: 9:30am to 7pm (Open throughout the week)

Chaitanya Health and Wellness, Bakhundole, Lalitpur

Chaitanya Health and Wellness is a beauty salon and healing centre all wrapped in one. While the wellness centre also offers your usual spa suspects, like Swedish and deep tissue massages, its service menu also features lesser-known targeted healing ayurvedic therapies like serkati basti (tailbone treatment therapy), janu basti (knee massage therapy), and greeva basti (neck treatment therapy).

Chaitanya Health and Wellness also offers naturopathy treatments that are all conducted under the guidance of a naturopathy doctor.

For bookings: 9801132922

Opening hours: 8am to 8pm (Open throughout the week)

Sotai and Kai Therapy Center, Sanepa, Lalitpur

Tucked away in a quiet lane in Sanepa, Sotai and Kai Therapy Centre has been

in operation for over 30 years. Sotai and Kai therapy is a traditional Japanese non-allopathic healing technique, and Yoshihiro Akita, a Japanese citizen, started the Lalitpur-based therapy centre. The centre is now run by Yoshihiro’s wife and their son—who is also trained in the technique.

The centre uses a combination of deep tissue massage, heat therapy, herbal therapy, and Sotai therapy to restore the body’s natural posture and give relief to muscle and bone-related problems.

Two of the centre’s more popular treatments are the body alignment

technique (which includes body alignment assessment, herbal heat treatment, deep tissue massage, Sotai alignment, and rehabilitation) and cranio-sacral therapy (CST), a very gentle but powerful physiotherapeutic manipulation of the skull.

Fro bookings: 9860980731

Opening hours: 8am to 7pm (Open throughout the week)

Arya Wellness, Lazimpat, Kathmandu

The massage menu at this Lazimpat-based wellness centre features 12 different kinds of dry and oil therapies. While most of the massages (barring spinal massage, which is specifically recommended for those dealing with back pain and bad posture) are like any other spas in the country, what sets the centre apart from the rest is its focus on sound healing and yoga. The sound therapy is done using bells, gongs, and singing bowls, and experts in the field offer yoga classes.

The centre also operates a unisex salon that offers the usual salon services.

For bookings: 9801021262

Opening hours: 8am to 8pm (Open throughout the week)