Spa Origins Co., Ltd.

The word ‘spa’ is actually an acronym from a Latin phrase “sanitas per aquam”, which can roughly be translated to wellness through water and dates back to Roman times. This creates an image of gallant Roman soldiers being bathed in healing waters by buxom beauties, steaming water being poured from ornate porcelain jugs cascading over the battle weary limbs, which probably wouldn’t be far from the truth at its time of creation.  However, I have visited many ‘spa’ facilities to enjoy a treatment where the nearest I have got to any water never mind “wellness waters” is the tap in corner of the room, drip, drip dripping and driving me insane.

ISPA International Spa Association defines spa as “places devoted to overall wellbeing through a variety of professional services that encourage the renewal of mind, body and spirit”. This is helpful in giving a better understanding of depth of available treatments and facilities in Spa. However, when the name of the product has nothing to do with the true meaning of the word 99% of the time, it’s no surprise that agents and customers alike are totally bamboozled by the unique language of spa.  There are many different types of spas with hundreds of different treatments bearing odd uncommon names. You can have your colon and chakras cleansed while Tibetan Bowls sing to you, or you can be cupped, scrubbed or even stroked in the watsu!

Not for you or your clients? Well, how about a simple massage? But would you like, Tuina, Chi, Moxibustion or four hands in synchronicity? No I am not speaking in Chinese although actually some of these treatments are in fact.  But hold on a minute - how do we make head or tail of the multitude of spa offerings and decipher the unique spa lexicon, which by the way, as ‘spa’ becomes an increasingly integral part of our lifestyle, is only going to increase?

Two very quick tips; firstly, find out the concept of the spa you are selling. Examples can be pampering, medical, holistic, urban etc. this will tell you a lot about their focus and make more sense about the treatments and the spa’s philosophy.  Secondly, don’t be intimidated by the name - read the description of the treatment. Most treatments can be categorised simply into face (facials), massage, beauty (manicure, pedicure) scrubs and wraps, mind and body.

This is where the inexperienced spa-goer – and the person selling it to them - can get lost, but don’t be put off by this new age language as there are some really amazing and potentially life-changing treatments and spa facilities out there.

By Jamie Waring

Extract from www.traveldailymedia.com Newsletter 12th March 2010