The concept of Spa is centuries old. The oldest concept of Spa dates back over 2000 years during the Ancient Roman Empire in the form of bathing. It was such an important and popular activity of the time that in 354 A.D., a building index of Rome had 952 baths documented in the city.
Today's spa is a center for healing and nourishing mind, body, and spirit. People go to spas for fitness, stress management, peace of mind, pampering and pleasure, and health and wellness. Spas offer a wide variety of techniques and services - traditional and modern, from the East and from the West - to meet the diverse needs of their clients.
What is a Spa?
A spa is a place that offers therapies for:
- Relaxation
- General well-being
- Beauty
Spas are usually unisex. However, it's always best to ask. There are even ‘Men Only' spas in some parts of the world.
Spa therapies are performed by qualified and trained therapists in a soothing ambience. Some spas offer only same-gender therapists- lady therapists for lady guests and gentleman therapists for gentleman guests - while others offer an option of cross-gender therapists.
Spas are not the same as gymnasiums or salons. They don't offer equipment for exercises. Nor do they offer hair services or basic beauty services like waxing, threading etc.
What are the various kinds of spa therapies?
Spa therapies are usually of the following types:
- Massages: A massage involves rubbing or kneading muscles of the body with hands.
- Body Polishes: A body polish involves scrubbing the body using mineral salts to gently exfoliate the skin.
- Body Wraps: A body wrap includes a body polish which is followed by application of a body mask neck-down.
- Facials: A facial involves cleansing, toning and moisturising of the skin on one's face.
What are the various types of spas?
- Day Spas: These spas are located within city limits and offer convenient spa therapies of up to a few hours long and hence no accommodation is provided. Since guests can travel to the spa and return home in a few hours the same day the name ‘day' spa is given to these spas. Day spas are the most popular and the fastest growing segment of spas in India.
- Hotel Spas: These are day spas located in star-category hotels. Although accommodation is not necessary here, their spa therapies are more expensive than those at day spas. Some hotels reserve the use of their spas for their guests only.
- Destination Spas: These spas are located a few hours away from major cities. Spa therapies here are usually available in the form of packages of durations ranging from a couple of days up to even a month. Accommodation and meals are provided for a charge.
- Medispas: These spas offer treatments that require medical supervision. Treatments such as laser resurfacing, Botox injections are commonly offered in addition to traditional spa services.
For most of the 150 million spa-goers around the world, a spa is the ultimate word in relaxation and stress reduction. A visit can leave you feeling good about yourself and the world.
