Day spas
– how to go about choosing one whether through reputation or word of mouth, how often one should go, questions one can ask beforehand either on the phone or on a visit prior to the treatment, how to go about deciding on treatments, whether for face or body, interacting with the therapist and how to better enjoy the whole experience.
– Part of being spa savvy is having certain goals in mind, whether one is seeking spa treatment for relaxation, treatment or pampering, and making sure the spa can help meet those goals, so feedback and interaction are important.
Spa resorts – having a destination in mind, whether beach or mountain, types of activities to look for like fitness, yoga etc., spa cuisine to consider if having a cleansing or slimming goal, and length of visit."
SPAS - WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Introduction
The spa has a long history and reflects the needs of the times and society very aptly. In ages gone by, when life was less complicated, people lived by a spring or water source in order to survive.
The hermit or holy man lived by the spring because he needed it for water but it was also a cleansing ritual and that is where the Christian idea of baptism originates. Baptism is a symbolic cleansing of the past and starting afresh.
Today, people seek the spa experience to relax, revive and start afresh, though in a more sophisticated manner. One of the first spa sophisticates surely must have been the Romans.
Traces of the Roman Empire may still be seen wherever its legions were sent to conquer and civilize. With them they spread the very first spa concept, where thermal waters formed the basis of health giving therapy.
Early spas were centers, not only to relax and refresh, but here,
people would gather to socialize, bathe, chat and generally have a good time.
Not too far away from today's spas.
However, our modern spas are much more sophisticated with a bewildering range of choices, offering a plethora of therapies, activities, architectural features, locations and service levels.
There are day spas, hotel spas, boutique spas, resort spas,
destination spas, medical spas, retreat spas, spas in cities, on beaches, in mountains, even in treetops and they’re to be found all over the planet.
So how do we choose the perfect spa and what do we look for?
Day Spas
Day spas are generally located in cities or large towns, often in hotels or as stand-alone boutique spas. They are a perfect antidote to a stressful, busy life and offer a magical quick fix, often in an atmosphere designed to calm and soothe.
Day spas have a varying range of massage and beauty treatments, including massage, facial, body scrub and wrap, hand and foot treatments and water treatments.
They may also run classes such as Yoga and serve spa meals or have a juice bar where you can drink a healthy pick-me-up.
How to choose a day spa
People usually chose a day spa because it is close to where they live or happen to be staying, if traveling. Good news travel fasts and the best way to choose a day spa is by word of mouth or reputation.
Failing that, many hotels now offer spa services and by phoning or visiting and asking a few questions, you should be able to locate a spa that meets your needs. If you are planning to be a regular spa-goer, spas offering membership programs are worth investigating as there are often many built in financial and service related benefits that are offered.
At Aravinda Spa, our staff makes a point in understanding our members’ needs and preferences and this enables us to offer a tailored service.
Members also receive offers and discount reserved especially for them.
Questions to ask (before, during and after)
It pays to telephone and ask what type of treatments is on offer, explain your main goal e.g. relaxation, rejuvenation, slimming, etc and ask staff to recommend an appropriate treatment or package.
The way your enquiry is handled is a good indicator of how well trained staff are in general and may be a guide as to the quality of treatment and level of service you can expect to receive.
Ask for information on special promotional offers. It is a good way of trying out a spa to see whether it meets your needs. If you’re planning to visit with a friend, ask if there are double treatment rooms you can share.
Not all spas have private changing or showering facilities. If privacy is important, ask if they offer these facilities. If you are planning to visit the spa infrequently, ask if there are any retail products that link in with you particular treatment that can be continued at home until your next treatment.
This could affect your choice of treatment.
It is important for therapists to know if you have any particular health issues as some of the treatments may not be suitable. If the spa does not ask you about your health and specific conditions make sure you tell them prior to treatment selection
E.g. allergies, high blood pressure…
How to decide on a treatment
Most spa users want relaxation and to look their best in the midst of a busy life.
If short of time, it helps to know what your biggest priority is. The amount of time you have and your budget are the major influences on choice of treatment. Faced with only an hour free with the goal of looking better and relaxing, a facial would be the treatment of choice. Apart from the aesthetic effects of the products used, good facial massage takes away stress held in the face, making you look and feel younger.
With 2.5 hours to spare, a total body makeover and relaxation is possible with treatments such as a body scrub, massage and facial.
Professional spa staff should be able to help you select therapies that best meet your needs in terms of your goals, time constraints and budget.
Advice given should also consider skin type, sensitivities and health.
Spa signature treatments are worth trying because the uniqueness or the delivery of the treatment will be superlative.
Interacting with the therapist
So you’ve chosen you spa, selected your treatment, and now you find yourself being escorted to the treatment room with your therapist.
You should expect to receive clear instructions on how to prepare for your treatment, what clothes to remove, whether to take off jewelry, how to lie on the massage bed. Your therapist should have your best interests in mind at all times and ensure that you are comfortable throughout your treatment. This means checking with you that the temperature is okay, the pressure applied is appropriate and warning you of any sudden changes or unusual procedures.
For example, At Devarana Spa in Bangkok, the signature massage requires hot compress towels placed on the spine to help activate the spinal energy. If someone is not expecting this it can be a bit of a surprise, not because the experience is unpleasant but because it is an unexpected change in temperature.
The therapists inform the guests of this before placing the towels. As a guest you have every right to have your privacy respected and to be comfortable, so don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything during the treatment, such as more or less pressure, or feeling cold…
Professional therapists understand that this time is your time and will quietly get on with their jobs, responding only to your questions and not initiating conversation unless it is to care for you. If you want to know more about the treatment by all means ask your therapist.
How to enjoy the experience
Knowing what you want beforehand goes a long way to making sure your spa experience is everything you hope it will be. Once you’ve determined which spa suits you, chosen your treatments, made sure the spa staff understand any health issues, then,
switch off your mobile phone, breathe deeply, and switch on your senses by becoming more aware of your body.
Don’t think…. that’s what the spa staff is paid to do for you! Speak out if you are not comfortable with anything, allow yourself to be pampered and cared for and give yourself completely to the experience.
How often to go?
As often as possible or as often as time allows.
Massage every day, body scrub once a week with one home body scrub in between spa sessions. Deep cleanse facial every two weeks, with pampering facial once a week. Body wrap once a week….
With only a couple of hours choose a local day spa, preferably as close to home or office. You might have a couple of hours every other day in which case you could design a mini spa program that addresses your main needs.
Resort and Destination Spas
Having experienced a spa holiday many spa-goers re-book, feeling that they have gained so much more than they would take a normal holiday.
Differences between day spas
Resort Spas are part of a hotel resort complex that also offers spa services. Treatment menus are similar to those in Day Spas, but may be more tailored to suit local conditions and guests’ needs, such as treatments for sunburn or windburn, use of fresh, locally picked ingredients or outdoor massage facilities.
One of the attractions of resort is location and the option of combining the usual holiday activities with pampering and relaxing spa treatments.
Spa treatments can help to quicken the relaxation process and can make a week away feel more like two.
Like days spas resort spa facilities may be also linked with Fitness Centre activities.
Destination spas are often located in magnificent natural surroundings and offer a range of activities, bodywork and beauty treatments.
Time at a destination spa can help you achieve your health and wellbeing goals, whether it is simply to rest and relax rest or reaching your full human potential. The spa facilities, treatments and activities are wide ranging and you can expect to find everything a resort spa offers and much more.
Like resort spas, locations are usually in stunning locations such as mountains, beaches, islands or forests.
They are carefully chosen to incorporate natural environmental beauty as it is often important to the success of the program to keep guests on the property.
Whether holistic or more conservative in their focus, a host of therapies, activities, holistic practices, and movement therapies will be available, depending on the essence of the spa concept.
Activities and therapies
Depending on location and concept there will be many activities available and you can be as busy or lazy as you want, though if you subscribe to a program offering definite results, be prepared to participate in most of the program… no slacking!
Activities can include, walking, hiking, jogging, water sports, canoeing, rafting, kayaking, team sports such as volleyball, basketball.
Movement therapies such as yoga, tai chi, qui gong are par for the course. More unusual offerings are drumming, dance, creative movement, voice therapy, art classes.
Other treatments may include Reiki, Pranic Healing, Acupuncture, exotic bodywork such as Ayurvedic, Balinese, Lomi Lomi or Kahuna Massage.
Remedial work like Alexander Technique, chiropractic and Rolfing are not yet common in India, but sometimes visiting therapists schedule in working time at spas and health retreats while traveling or lecturing. Programs generally begin with a consultation with a naturopath or medical professional to determine your state of health.
At this point recommendations will be made about diet, the therapies most suited to your health and fitness level and your goals. Other activities will be recommended depending on your needs.
All good destination spas offer spa cuisine as nourishing food is considered essential to wellbeing.
Food
Special dietary needs such as sugar free, yeast free or low allergy.
Good spa cuisine is a powerful assistant in the cleansing process.
Of course, light nourishing food is also a great source of energy and contributes to the wonderfully light, balanced feeling people often experience when they take this type of holiday…
And our guests all looked incredibly radiant and transformed at the end of their week.
Length of visit
Pre-set or individually tailored programs from a weekend to 2 or 3 weeks can be booked and a spa holiday can feel just as comfortable on your own or going with company.
Some programs are designed for groups and others can be done solo. Many spa programs have a holistic element and address the person as a whole. Programs, therapies and activities contain physical, emotional, mental and spiritual elements that assist with the process of integration.
Because destination spas attract people who are willing to invest more time in their health and wellbeing, they tend to offer a wider choice.
If you have longer, say a weekend, perhaps a visit to a resort spa would be a good choice. With one or two weeks you can look further a field, perhaps to other countries and consider doing a complete spa program.
Ask yourself these questions:
– What do I want to achieve?
– Is it rest and relaxation, cleansing, weight loss, pampering, spiritual fulfillment, adventure?
– How much time do I have?
– What is my budget?
Spas cater to many budgets and the most expensive does not necessarily mean the best.
Goals
Whether it is adventure, pampering, relaxation, recovery, rejuvenation, weight loss or spiritual nourishment you are looking for, you can be sure that there are spas to cater for all of these. Having a goal in mind can make all the difference in selecting the right spa for your needs.
A really good spa experience should be transforming.
