SPA
According to the International Spa Association, spa is an entity devoted to enhancing overall well-being through a variety of professional services that encourage the renewal of mind, body and spirit. No one knows exactly where the word spa comes from, but there are two main theories. One is that spa is an acronym for the Latin phrase, "salus per aqua", or "health through water."
The original meaning of the word “Spa” is a mineral water source originating in a natural well. Now spa means the achievement of health through water treatment. Bathing in mineral water, in hot water, taking steam baths, drinking mineral water, hydrotherapy or water massage are all part of this kind of water treatment.
The History of Spa
The word spa derives from a Belgian town, known since Roman times for its baths, whose springs reputedly had curative powers. It was speculated that the town was so prominent that the very word spa became synonymous in the English language with a place to be restored and pampered. Spa has become a common noun denoting any place with a medicinal or mineral spring. Mineral springs usually contain various salts, trace minerals, and gases; many are naturally carbonated. Most thermal springs also contain minerals. Warm-water bathing aids relaxation, and high salt or sulphur content helps some skin conditions. Less well known is its
Modern spas have their roots in ancient towns famed for the healing powers of their mineral waters and
The practice of bathing in
In the 19th century,
When Spa became famous all over the globe and the method of “healing through water”, or hydrotherapy, had become a household world to everybody, the last years of the 20th century initiated some important changes, especially in the application of spa as a new method for all-round health improvement, focusing on the balance between the physical and the spiritual health by applying natural methods with the addition of macro-biotic nutrition, or nutrition with focus on fibre intake.
Today’s spa is a centre for healing and nourishing mind, body, and spirit. People go to spas for fitness, stress management, peace of mind, pampering and pleasure, and health and wellness. Spas offer a wide variety of techniques and services - traditional and modern, from the East and from the West - to meet the diverse needs of their clients: Swedish, Japanese Shiatsu, and Thai massage, European facials, acupuncture, Dead Sea salt scrubs, Moor mud wraps, thalassotherapy, aromatherapy, reflexology, microdermabrasion, endermologie, reiki, aura imaging, watsu, rasul, hypnotherapy, classes in nutrition, meditation, journaling, yoga and Tai Chi, state-of-the-art fitness centres with personal trainers, and much more.
Benefits of Spa Treatment
Imagine your mind and body is fully worked out and to get it back working again will take some time. If we try going with out proper rest, your system will protest. When we abuse our body, it let us know in the form of pains and aches. This is the time that we need to heal and the best place to do it is in a spa.
Considering that medical experts cite stress as the number one factor in illnesses, stress relief is the main priority of most spa seekers. With services that focus on de-stressing the mind, body and spirit, the benefits of a spa vacation go beyond mere relaxation and beautification.
The following are benefits from having a proper spa treatment:
- Enhancing spiritual awareness
- Increase the body’s energy flow
- Improving flexibility of our body
- Reducing high blood pressure and hypertension
- Healing emotional distress
- Reducing the effects of aging
- Soothing our tired muscles
- Toning and nourishing the skin
- Detoxifying our body
- Stimulating circulation
- Reducing weight and weight-related problems
- Reducing insomnia, stress and fatigue
Spa Venue
Destination/City Spa
A destination spa is a facility with the primary purpose of guiding individual spa-goers to develop healthy habits. It offers a full-immersion spa experience in which all guests participate. All-inclusive programs provide physical fitness activities, nutritious spa cuisine, various therapeutic spa and body treatments, wellness educational classes, and often mind/body/spirit offerings to help you jump-start a new, more healthful lifestyle. This sort of spa is sometimes part of a fitness centre in a hotel with the main purpose being relaxation. Often it offers Aromatherapy, foot massage, sauna, Jacuzzi.
Resort/Hotel Spa
A spa owned by and located within a resort or hotel providing professionally administered spa services, fitness and wellness components and spa cuisine menu choices. In addition to the leisure guest, this is a great place for business travelers who wish to take advantage of the spa experience while away from home. This kind of spa is a feature of vacation venues and offers a choice of packages including hotel rooms, food and activities. The theme of the Resort Spa is to provide fun and relaxation at the same time.
Club Spa
A facility whose primary purpose is fitness and which offers a variety of professionally administered spa services on a day-use basis
Cruise Ship Spa
A spa aboard a cruise ship providing professionally administered spa services, fitness and wellness components and spa cuisine menu choices.
Casino Spa
Casino Spas offer vacationers a chance to try their hand at any number of exciting games of chance without leaving the premises. These high-end properties tend to attract fun-seeking travellers who like both their excitement and their spa luxury in large doses.
Connoisseur Spa
The crème de la crème of spas, this elite collection was chosen using strict criteria such as extraordinary ambience, luxurious accommodations, high staff-to-guest ratio, exceptional spa services, outstanding cuisine, and industry awards and recognition.
Mineral Spring Spa
A spa offering an on-site source of natural mineral, thermal or seawater used in hydrotherapy treatments.
Mobile Spa
Mobile spas bring professional practitioners to your home or office, making it simple for you to enjoy pampering spa services such as facials, massages, manicures, and pedicures anywhere at any time.
Spa Purpose/Activity
1. Resort/Hotel Spa – The main purpose is aesthetics, relaxation and vacation.
2. Retreat Spa – It offers a wide selection of personalised beauty and medical treatments, weight-control programmes, body enhancements, laser acupuncture, skin care clinic and cosmetic surgery, etc.
3. Medical Spa: Wellness
A facility that operates under the full-time, on-site supervision of a licensed health care professional whose primary purpose is to provide comprehensive medical and wellness care in an environment that integrates spa services, as well as traditional, complimentary and/or alternative therapies and treatments. The facility operates within the scope of practice of its staff, which can include both Aesthetic/Cosmetic and Prevention/Wellness procedures and services. These spas provide comprehensive wellness and preventive care that may adhere to traditional Western medical concepts, complementary/alternative philosophies, or a combination of the two (known as integrative medicine). Spa treatments are incorporated into wellness programs as an effective way to rejuvenate and reduce stress.
4. Med Spa: Cosmetic
These spas operate under the full-time supervision of a licensed healthcare professional. Medical personnel work alongside spa therapists in an atmosphere that integrates clinical-grade aesthetic enhancement and spa treatments/concepts. Med spas may or may not have overnight accommodations.
5. Adventure Spa - a combination of outdoor activities and spa services aiming at increased muscle activity which can include cliff climbing, canoeing, camping, etc.
6. Weight Loss And Weight Management Spa
7. Day/Salon Spa - a specialized spa service for city residents who are looking for a one-day treatment or for a specialized spa service over a limited period. A spa offering a variety of professionally administered spa services to clients on a day-use basis. This kind of spa is easy to find in every city.
The International SPA Association’s definition of the Spa Experience integrates the 4 Rs – Relaxation, Reflection, Revitalization and Rejoicing. This highlights the emphasis on the overall experience when it comes to high quality spa treatments, complementing ISPA’s stated objective to “revitalize humanity through the promotion of spa wellness.” Holistic healing is central to the spa concept, which currently encompasses everything from skin treatments and massage to healthful cuisine and meditation. The Thai Spa Concept is distinct in its approach to purifying body, spirit and mind.
- Time to Relax – for stress relief
- Time to Reflect – your thoughts will revert to an environment where you felt true happiness, to pleasant memories or you will experience the total calmness of meditation
- Time to Revitalize – you will benefit from nature’s bounty, forget about the competitive and greedy daily life, discover the truth about your spiritual transformation through relaxation and learn to understand the Buddhist proverb: The spirit is the master, the body is the slave.
- Time to Rejoice – you will enter and enjoy a newly found state of happiness, will be in good spirits and will have a new awareness and appreciation of your surroundings, the smells of the flowers and the trees, the sounds of nature, the pleasant sounds of music, the friendly approach of the personnel taking care of your needs and the soothing touch of the experienced masseur.
Spa Selection Criteria
1. Location – country, city, distance from the city
2. Service menus
3. Spa products used in the treatments
4. Spa costs/luxury
5. Cleanliness
6. Therapist gender
7. Fitness/activities
8. Facilities/Amenities
9. Spa cuisine
10. Pet-friendliness
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