more-in Soothing Tibetan music fills the air at Le Mantastic on a Sunday evening. A ‘memory wall’ at the main hall showcases a motley collection of curios used for memory tests. Avaneesh M courteously engages guests as the ‘image consultancy’ at Jawahar Nagar warms up for a debate session on the topic, Friendship: real or virtual. The exercise is part of a programme to help participants “think and communicate better” to improve their personality. “I believe in the immeasurable potential of the human mind. Every individual can find the raw material needed for success and happiness from within,” says the 30-year-old. Billed as an ‘image makeover’ point, Le Mantastic (portmanteau for ‘man’ and ‘fantastic’) focuses on sessions on personality training, confidence-building and communication skills through a creative harnessing of “the inner self with the help of a team of experts on call,” claims Avaneesh. The process starts with an ‘awareness session’, where a client is allowed to express himself freely to learn about his/her basic personality traits, based on which further tailor-made programmes would be drawn up. It may have a ‘mannish’ name, but Avaneesh underscores that Le Mantastic is a platform “for everyone” wanting to better their interpersonal skills. “What affects us deeply is often our own perception of ourself. If I am happy with myself and can cope with my problems, then it’s well and good. But, unfortunately, many find it hard to cope with problems and seek help from the wrong sources,” he says. Avaneesh, who prefers to be called ‘the selfish philosopher’, says a background in psychology helps him better understand “what’s missing” in a person. Avaneesh says developing a well-rounded personality often starts with making that first impression. Appearance and elegance are key here and what many fail to realise is that something as simple as dressing up well can significantly boost one’s confidence. “By image, I mean our self-image. Not necessarily the image the society has about us. The idea is to empower yourself to come up with your own answers and solutions. After all, nobody knows you better than yourself,” he says. Le Mantastic’s artwork and design too are done to tap into one's creative instinct. For instance, the ‘Idea Window’ is a collage of doodles around a window before which group activities are conducted. Or the ‘Stair of Creativity’, where “brainstorming sessions” are held. In the pipeline are ‘Light Balcony’ and ‘Meditation Chamber’ for mindfulness meditation. "Every wall or a corner has a story or reason behind it. I wanted my space to be an expression of myself,” says Avaneesh. Activities like painting, writing, acting, dancing or even applied arts come into play in some of the ‘creative sessions’, while weekends often feature ‘community events’ such as discussions, workshops and sports and games meant to boost “collective confidence.” Duration of sessions can vary from person to person and Avaneesh points out that charges are “customised” as well depending on the client’s requirements. So, next time, don’t let butterflies in your stomach stop you from speaking up when it matters.

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