BE Ad Features If only every indulgence that felt great at the time was actually good for you.

Well, some things can bring a warm glow to your physical, mental and emotional states while alleviating the stresses of everyday life - and quite a few of them can be found at Dharma Studios on the edge of downtown Calgary.

Founded on massage therapy but newly expanded to include acupuncture, Thai yoga massage, yoga, craniosacral therapy, reiki and other treatments, the studio can be found at 104, 620 12th Ave. S.W. in the historic Lorraine Building.

On a typical day, soothing music washes over Dharma Studios' various rooms, decorated simply but elegantly to set a calming mood. Meanwhile, co-owners Tonja Berg and Andrea Leonard are finalizing arrangements for on-site massages at a local corporation's headquarters to demonstrate their services and spread the word about their new location.

Tonja Berg (left) and Andrea Leonard moved their thriving massage business to the Lorraine Building on 12 Ave. S.W.

Dharma Studios was formerly located on 1st Street S.W. but its success demanded larger premises. Also, when the 1913 Lorraine Building - gutted by fire in 1998 - was reopened with a sparkling new interior, the Dharma business partners couldn't resist the place.

"We were attracted by the brick exterior and the building's history, even when it had been burned," Andrea says. "When this beautiful building was renovated, we fell in love with it."

That's not surprising considering the two women's respect for history and culture. Their brochure's list of services and treatments reads like a mini-tour of ancient civilizations. Specialists in each discipline work on contract alongside Andrea and Tonja.

Massage, of course, is a traditional Swedish method of relieving muscle tension and rejuvenating the body through therapeutic and relaxation techniques. Thai yoga massage, practised for centuries, uses various body movements to relax and release tension in the body.

Dharma's treatments and classes also include shiatsu, a Japanese form of massage; ayurveda, a holistic system of healing that originated in India about 5,000 years ago; yoga, the sister science of ayurveda,well known for its combination of relaxation, exercise, breathing, and meditation; and LaStone Therapy, a highly restful procedure in which warm, smooth stones distribute heat to various body areas.

"The cultural inspiration is very important," Andrea says.

"Everything we do is based on another culture or another era."

Tonja adds: "We do a lot of herbal body scrubs, essential oil blends - taking care of your body through natural means, treating the conditions and not just the symptoms."

First-time visitors typically start with a 60-minute massage but there are numerous add-ons available, too - all designed to enhance health and well-being while relieving stress and tension naturally.

Clients can come as individuals or in couples or groups and enjoy customized treatments and programs to suit their lifestyles. Tonja and Andrea are flexible about people's treatment choices and free time. (The studio is open daily from 9 a.m. till 8 p.m. or so, and also on Saturdays. It's best to call ahead and make an appointment.)

Now in their 20s, the two women who founded Dharma Studios have been best friends since Grade 4 in Lethbridge. They both attended Calgary's Mount Royal College, taking a certification course in massage therapy.

"We were near the end of our course and we knew we both didn't want to work for anybody else," Andrea says. "We were just driven. We found a space before we even knew what to do with it."

But they soon knew. They wanted facilities that were cosy, tranquil and inviting - qualities they have retained in the new, larger space.

"We really wanted to keep the feeling that we had at the old studio," Tonja explains.

"We're not a big spa/salon and we're also not just a clinic.

"We wanted to design a versatile studio so we could integrate many therapies. We also added the steam room to facilitate our ayurvedic treatments that focus on detoxifying."

Before anything else, however, came the company name.

"It's Sanskrit," Andrea explains, "meaning living with purpose and service. Tonja thought that would be an excellent name for our pending studio, and we just went with it."

If you watch a certain American TV sitcom and get tempted to wisecrack, "Which one's Dharma and which one's Greg," be aware they hear that one a lot.

"Always, always," the two say in unison with a smile.

But that's OK. Humour, too, is good for the body and soul.

For more information, to book an appointment, or to purchase gift certificates (great for employee incentives/rewards!), call 508-9921 or drop in at #104, 620 12th Ave. S.W