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Origins of SPA
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Nowadays we hear everywhere about SPA centers, but what exactly means SPA?
Once upon a time, it was a Roman Emperor named Nero who said the famous expression "Sanitas Per Aqua" meaning "health through water". In other words SPA towns or SPA resorts (including hot springs resorts) are based on water to cure you or to improve your health.
The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy.
Some say that the term comes from a town called SPA in Belgium. This town is still a well known resort for baths and mineral springs.
But all in all SPAs they typically offer various health treatments using the curative powers of mineral waters.
SPAs usually offer mud baths for general health, or to address a variety of medical conditions. This is also known as 'fangotherapy'. A variety of medicinal clays and peats is used.
Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are especially widespread in Europe and Japan.
The practice of traveling to hot or cold springs in hopes of effecting a cure of some ailment dates back to pre-historic times. Many people around the world believed that bathing in a particular spring, well, or river resulted in physical and spiritual purification.
Forms of ritual purification existed among the native Americans, Persians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. Today, ritual purification through water can be found in the religious ceremonies of Jews, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, and Hindus. These ceremonies reflect the ancient belief in the healing and purifying properties of water.
In present, SPAs are considered places devoted to overall well-being through a variety of professional services that encourage the renewal of mind, body and spirit.
The benefits of spa treatment
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- enhancing spiritual awareness
- increase the body's energy flow
- improving flexibility of our body
- reducing high blood pressure and hypertension
- healing emotional distress
- reduce the effects of ageing
- 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 treatment
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A SPA treatment is non-medical procedure to help the health of the body. It is often performed at a resort, destination spa, day spa, beauty salon or school.
The most popular spa treatment and a good place to start is massage. Other popular spa treatments include facials and body treatments like salt glows and body wraps. Most spas have a nail salon offering spa manicures and spa pedicures. Spas with salons offer hair cutting and styling services.
Typical SPA treatments include:
- Aromatherapy
- Bathing or soaking in any of the following: Hot spring, Onsen (Japanese Hot Springs), Thermae (Roman Hot Springs), Hot tub, Mud bath, Peat pulp bath, Sauna, Steam bath, Body wraps, wrapping the body in hot linens, plastic sheets and blankets, or mud wraps, often in combination with herbal compounds.
- Facials, facial cleansing with a variety of products
- Massage
- Nail care such as manicures and pedicures
- Nutrition and weight guidance
- Personal training
- Skin exfoliation, including chemical peels and microdermabrasion
- Yoga and meditation
- Waxing, the removal of body hair with hot wax
Types of spa
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Ayurvedic spa, a spa in which all treatments and products are natural and it's often used as alternative medicine.
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.
Day spa, a spa offering a variety of professionally administered spa services to clients on a day-use basis.
Dental spa, a facility under the supervision of a licensed dentist that combines traditional dental treatment with the services of a spa.
Destination spa, a facility with the primary purpose of guiding individual spa-goers to develop healthy habits. Historically a seven-day stay, this lifestyle transformation can be accomplished by providing a comprehensive program that includes spa services, physical fitness activities, wellness education, healthful cuisine and special interest programming.
Garden spa, an outdoor spa used for bathing and self cleansing
Medical spa, these spas typically use balneotherapy, employing a variety of peloids. Balneotherapy treatments can have different purposes. In a spa setting, they can be used to treat conditions such as arthritis and backache, build up muscles after injury or illness or to stimulate the immune system, and they can be enjoyed as a relief from day-to-day stress.
Mineral springs spa, a spa offering an on-site source of natural mineral, thermal or seawater used in hydrotherapy treatments.
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.
Mobile spa, a spa which provides services at home, hotels, or wherever you are.