Spas – much more than massage
Spas have become renowned for the massages that they offer and while industry surveys may indicate 85% of therapies experienced at the spa are your basic massages (Swedish, Aromatherapy, Thai etc.), there is much, much more that you could enjoy.
The main services of a Spa may well be based on massage but the element of water, which defines what a spa is, is essential. S.P.A. – Sanus Par Aqua / health through water. This water element can be varied, from simple steam, sauna and showers to soaks and baths – all of which can enhanced with chromotherapy, music and/or aromas to create a truly luxury experience. Other spa services can include exercise, nutritional therapy, dietary programs, mind therapies, herbal medicine or even traditional and complementary medicine. The content and diversity of the offering will vary, depending upon the spas concept.
Your spa experience may begin with a body scrub or wrap and be followed by Acupressure, Hot Stone, Sport and Four Hand Massage or even Lymphatic Drainage, Shiatsu or Tui Na, but there is a myriad of lesser known options for you to consider.
Abhyanga - Ayurvedic massage to improve hydration and relaxation without targeting specific areas.
Chi Nei Tsang – Internal organ massage – to improve general well being and can assist digestive blockages
Craniosacral Therapy - Massage therapy focusing on the head and neck areas.
Oleation - Ayurvedic treatment using friction massage with blended essential oils.
Panchakarma - Ayurvedic cleansing and purification treatments using essential oils, massage and meditation techniques.
Trager Massage - Massage technique of gentle rhythmic rocking movements to induce relaxation and relieve tension.
Polarity Massage - Through gently rocking, holding and massaging this technique with stimulate relaxation, restore energy flow and encourage revitalization.
Rolfing - Deep muscular manipulation for the relief of rigid muscles, bones and joints, to improve energy flow and relieve stress often related to emotional trauma. Can be painful!
Rasul - A specific body treatment, which begins with a shower, followed by a Moroccan mud application. After this is rinsed off the treatment is concluded with an herbal steam bath. Detoxifies, exfoliates and improves circulation.
Enzyme Bath - Wooden tub filled with fibrous material (such as wood chips) and plant enzymes, which naturally ferment creating a heated substance in which you are submerged to sweat out toxins; aids relaxation, improves circulation & metabolism.
Flotation Tank - A tank filled with enough salt water so a person can float in it; lights are either dimmed or turned off. Music & light therapies are often combined with this.
Hamam - Turkish/Middle Eastern communal bathhouse.
Mandi Susu - Indonesian bathing ritual using regular milk or buttermilk, sometimes yogurt.
Roman Bath - In ancient Rom numerous baths were used alternately hot, warm and cold. The varying temperatures aided in stimulating the circulatory system.
Swiss Shower - A water therapy treatment combining the use of stationary water jets (12 to 16) which are aimed at pressure areas of the body; the water alternates between hot/cold. Stimulates circulation and relieves tension.
Watsu - A massage treatment where the client and therapist are immersed in a pool of warm water. Treatment consists of pressure point massage, and rhythmic movements and stretches.
Gommage - Various creams applied in long massage-like strokes to the body and used on the face with short, quick strokes to cleanse and rehydrate the skin.
Inhalation Therapy - Treatments involving the inhalation of steam vapor, which may have been treated with medicine or natural herbal or contain curative mineral substances.
Shiro Dhara - Ayurvedic treatment of warmed oil slowly pouring over the ‘third eye’ in middle of one’s forehead to induce total relaxation.
Spa therapies may also include ones that more commonly associated with ‘alternative therapies’, lifestyle classes or even gymnasiums such as Aerobics, Body Composition Analysis, Life Coach Counseling, Tai Chi, Pilates, Physiotherapy or Yoga, but can also include those that are less common, such as;
Alexandar Technique - a method that works to change movement habits. It is a simple and practical method for improving ease and freedom of movement, balance, support and co-ordination by releasing unnecessary tension.
Bowen Technique - Holistic bodywork therapy developed by Tom Bowen in Australia in the mid-1950s. It is a therapeutic soft-tissue manipulation technique that is applied to the muscles, tendons and ligaments of the body very gently and with minimal pressure.
Feldenkrais Method - developed by Russian Doctor, Moshe Feldenkrais (1904 - 1984) to help you understand your body and explore the way you move so that you can correct yourself - aids mobility and flexibility and treats conditions such as sport injuries.
Labyrinth – a version of walking meditation
Mind Coach Counseling – concentrates on the state of mind rather than the body – a form of mild psychotherapy.
Qigong - Oriental discipline, incorporating body movements with specific patterned breathing and mental concentration. Believed to improve overall health, circulation and body movement fluidity.
Then there is those therapies that are more medically inclined, be they traditional or complementary;
Acupuncture - Oriental technique inserting needles into specific points on the body to stimulate healing and balance.
Bach Flower Therapies - the use of certain flower essences to treat emotional problems. The method has been used since the 1930’s, when Dr. Edward Bach observed that personality types had a close relation to certain patterns of illness.
Cell Therapy - This therapy involves the injection of lamb embryonic cells - believed to regenerate cell growth and reverse the aging process. Not FDA approved in many parts of the world.
Chelation Therapy - preventative or curative cleaning of the arteries by way of an intravenous fluid.
Colonic Hydrotherapy - Irrigation of the colon for the purpose of cleansing trapped debris.
Crystal Therapy - works in a similar way to colour therapy with similar results.
Ear Candling – lighted wax cones used to gently extra ear wax and improve hearing
Harmonic Resonance Therapy - encourages our body cells’ own frequency to be amplified by running a small, electromagnetic current through the palm of the hand or the ball of the foot. Its effect is an increase in energy and mental clarity.
Magnet Therapy - the specialized use of magnets to improve blood flow and oxygen supply to the red blood cells, increasing energy levels and accelerating healing.
Rebirthing - Rebirthing is a healing process that engages with the mind, the body and the spirit to cleanse away toxic patterns of being and facilitate new, healthy and fulfilling goals and choices. The core practice of Rebirthing is a breathing technique.
Stress Management – generally counseling sessions with a specialist experienced in stress related problems.
To finish you have the head & toe therapies, commonly associated with Beauty Salons or similar establishments, but a logical conclusion to your spa experience. These can be everything from a basic Manicure, Pedicure or Shampoo Blow Dry to the more luxurious Hand Scrubs, French Manicures, Foot Baths, Paraffin, Waxing and Hair Masques.
If you have been following a tried and true ritual by just booking a massage, why not explore other options and enquire of about different therapies which may be available at your spa – ones to complement your massage, your lifestyle and give balance to your mind, body and soul – for a truly whole-istic experience.