Various types of SPAS
A Day Spa
offers spa treatments, such as massages, facials and body treatment on a day-use basis. Most such institutes offer manicures and pedicures as well. Many hair salons have added day spas, which allow you to combine spa and beauty services in one day. Facilities will vary among day spa, but most have treatment rooms, meditation or waiting room, and a locker room with showers. A “wet room” is a tiled room with special shower facilities for more elaborate body treatments. Hydrotherapy tubs are not that common at day spas, but desirable.
A Destination Spa
is where the whole environment is geared towards the four cornerstones of a spa experience: mind and body fitness, healthy eating, relaxation and treatments. You generally go there for at least two or three nights and immerse yourself in the spa atmosphere. Some people go to such place seeking help in makeing lifestyle changes. Ideally such a spa will have hydrotherapy tubs, wet rooms, steam-baths, saunas and some unusual/special (signature) treatments. Expect a wide selection of exercise and stress reduction classes, as well as outdoor activities. Healthy spa cuisine is generally served.
A Resort Spa
is sometimes confused with destination spa. As the name suggests, a resort spa is found at a resort, along with golf, tennis and as much fatty food as you feel like eating. The resort’s spa is a facility that is just one of the many guest amenities at the resort, not the sole or primary attraction. This can be a good choice when one person loves spas and the other just wants to relax.
A Club Spa
is attached to a fitness club, and the Hotel Spa is generally a luxury facility attached to an upscale urban hotel.
Finally, the Medi Spa which has been popping up in large cities offers treatments that require a doctor’s supervision, such as laser resurfacing and Botox injections, in addition to traditional spa services.
What does a Spa actually do ?
It basically offers:
- Massages
- Facials
- Body treatments
- Wellness treatments
Massage or the manual manipulation of the body’s muscles has been around for thousands of years and has a number of health benefits:
- It improves blood circulation,
- prevents and treats muscle pain and spasm,
- reduces tension and anxiety,
- calms the nervous system and promotes a sense of relaxation and well being.
The second most popular service is the facial, which involves skin analysis, deep cleansing, massage, “extractions”(removal of blackheads and whiteheads), toning, and moisturizing.
Body treatments are essentially facials for the whole body. The most popular body treatment is a salt glow or body scrub, an exfoliating treatment where the therapist rubs off the outermost layer of dead skin cells. This leaves your skin feeling velvety soft. The body scrub is often combined with a detoxifying or hydrating treatment. Products like mud, algae, or seaweed are detoxifying because they stimulate your blood circulation and lymphatic system which aids your body’s own ability to carry away waste products. Rich creams or oils soften and condition the skin and act as a hydrating treatment.
Spa treatments and therapies are perhaps the best way to heal body and mind. Every spa in the country has its own special spa menu that lists a number of exotic spa therapies and treatments. Most spas offer both modern and traditional treatments, such as aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, herbal body glow, shirodhara therapy, Hawaiian massage, Thai massage, Balinese massage, and various Ayurvedic therapies and treatments.