I've been covering aspects of spa since the mid-1990s. Along the way, I've made some interesting observations about the experience and the destination. The history of spa is ancient and has always been about health and healing. That foundation has seen some interesting iterations over the years, some exciting and others peculiar. Suffice it to say, there is nothing more gratifying than a meaningful spa experience that transforms one's life and adds a positive and new or renewed perspective for the spa-goer. Enjoy!
...my first spa experience was at a destination spa in 1988…my one week experience did more than de-stress and relax me…it was a life-changing experience…by the mid-1990s, spas in the U.S. were evolving, while more and more individuals were discovering the benefits of spa, preferring to take their vacations at either destination spas or resort amenity spas…their reasons were to relax and de-stress…healthcare practitioners often recommended these types of vacations to their patients for relaxation and stress reduction…regardless of the centuries-old history of spa or even its geography, its roots have fundamentally been based in health and healing…
...I remember a number of things about my earliest massage treatment experiences...not only were my therapists highly skilled and experienced, but on one such occasion my therapist also presented me with a copy of a list of massage benefits...consider giving your clients a list of massage benefits as an informational piece, but also as a reminder of their treatment experience...
...my first spa experience was at a destination spa in 1988…my one week experience did more than de-stress and relax me…it was a life-changing experience…by the mid-1990s, spas in the U.S. were evolving, while more and more individuals were discovering the benefits of spa, preferring to take their vacations at either destination spas or resort amenity spas…their reasons were to relax and de-stress…healthcare practitioners often recommended these types of vacations to their patients for relaxation and stress reduction…regardless of the centuries-old history of spa or even its geography, its roots have fundamentally been based in health and healing…
...I remember a number of things about my earliest massage treatment experiences...not only were my therapists highly skilled and experienced, but on one such occasion my therapist also presented me with a copy of a list of massage benefits...consider giving your clients a list of massage benefits as an informational piece, but also as a reminder of their treatment experience...
...if you're a spa professional, try looking objectively at your business from the customer’s standpoint…what do they see upon entering it…
...be mindful of allergy sensitivities and toxic products
that trigger allergic reactions...
...it shouldn't take that much effort to offer properly
fitting robes for a variety of shapes, sizes and heights...be they for men or
women...an ill-fitting robe can negatively impact an otherwise enjoyable spa
experience...
...the major religions of Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism all use water to symbolically cleanse and purify the faithful in various rituals...water is intrinsic to spa and used to restore and revitalize, which are also forms of cleansing and purification...
...some spa treatment oddities...flaming facial...bull sperm hair treatment mask, snail goo facial, snake massage, fish pedicure, sparrow poop facial...face slap facial...the Dieci Mani Massage, or ten-hand massage by 5 people at QUA Baths & Spa, Caesars Atlantic City...this the 180 minute "treatment" costs a whopping $5,000...you read it right...$5,000...sensory overload, for sure...
...the best spa treatments I've ever received were done by experienced practitioners...their is no substitute for experience, regardless of the industry...
...one is never too young (or too old) to begin learning about, experiencing and cultivating new skincare regimens to maintain healthy skin as it becomes transformed over the years...
...you can't expect to take care of others effectively until and unless you first take care of yourself...doing so isn't selfish...it's an investment in self and ultimately others...
...I’ve been covering spas ever since my first experience at a destination spa in 1988...I knew back then that there was a correlation between lifestyle, stress and health and wellness...I also knew the relationship of how traditional spa therapies could impact a healthier lifestyle when combined with fitness and nutrition...unfortunately, many still don’t “get it”, despite the vast amounts of information available on these related topics...even if you don’t have the time or money to go to a destination spa, please consider taking some time for yourself as an investment in your health..even if that means taking walks for movement and contemplation and to get back in touch with yourself...taking time for yourself isn’t frivolous...it’s a necessity...
...to cool off your tired and hot feet, soak them in a large basin filled with cool water and marbles (or floral pebbles)...to gently soothe and stimulate, rub the bottom’s over the marbles/pebbles...adding a favorite essential oil to the water will add to the enjoyment of this hot weather “feet treat”...as an alternative, consider rubbing ice cubes over the feet to cool them off...rubbing ice cubes over pressure points is also a great way to cool yourself off from summer’s heat; these include the back of head, wrist, inside elbow, middle of knee, each side of the Achilles tendon, etc...
...a great hot weather tip is to chill your face toner and then spritz away...don't forget to spritz the back of your neck and décolleté...as an alternate toner, use food-grade rosewater or orange water, available at import or specialty food markets...these toner choices are all cooling and refreshing during summer’s heat...remember to also drink plenty of water..keep hydrated, inside and out...
...everything about the spa experience is sensory-driven and as such, attention needs to be placed on how each of the five senses (touch, taste, hearing, sight, smell) engage and impact the guest experience and how it affects them...delivery of the sensorial triggers is critical to making that guest experience memorable and identifiable with one’s spa and what the guest experienced...
...spas that do the green thing not only help reduce their carbon footprint, but they usually realize a cost savings through the elimination or modification of a particular aspect of their operation...going green is good for the environment and also the spa's bottom-line...
...when approached and experienced with purpose of intent, spa is an investment in one’s well-being…it isn’t hedonism, pampering, or indulgence…it is and can be a necessity…spa traditionally and historically was about healing through restorative therapies that primarily were based on water, massage and body work...the introduction of esthetics, such as face and nails, co-opted these fundamentals…today, many go into a spa for a treatment thinking it will cure all their ills, when in fact they haven’t approached their experience to include the understanding of what the triggers or reasons for what ails them impact their daily lives…over time, and left unchecked, one’s health will be impacted…
...the health benefits of massage have been known for many years...more recent and updated press on its many health benefits, however, is helping to inform and educate younger generations...my concern now is how soon will it be before our government starts poking its nose into this and attempts to classify it as medicine and regulate it as a medical treatment…such intrusion, which is typical of our government, would definitely limit massage therapists and the therapy...all one has to do is recall how the FDA recently wanted the nut company, Diamond, to label its packages of walnuts as a drug, since the labeling touted the health benefits of walnuts on its packaging…the FDA similarly ordered other companies to also label their products as drugs…
...cosmetics icon, Elizabeth Arden, would go on to open the first-ever "fat farm", a precursor of the "destination spa"...it focused on fitness, beauty and healthy eating...and avid and accomplished horsewoman, she'd name her establishment, "Maine Chance" after her stables...when the original one burned, she'd open another one in Texas...curiously, her salon hair stations were actually designed like a horse's stall...the Red Door became her trademark to compete with the pink colors of her arch rival, Helena Rubenstein...her salons, later day spas, were also trademarked as the Red Door Salon and later, when the term became vogue, Red Door Salon & Day Spa...
...cosmetics icon Helena Rubenstein tried her hand at an original "day spa" concept in the 1920s, but the Great Depression ended it...she'd also open a "men's day spa" in the 1950s, which flopped...the term day spa wasn't around in those days, but her concepts were the same...Rubenstein was also a staunch supporter of fitness, healthy eating and esthetic treatments...she was definitely ahead of her times...
...the Pilates Ring, used by fitness enthusiasts and physical therapists alike, reminds me of hot 1990s Suzanne Somers "Thigh Master" and "ButtMaster" devices...Somers cashed in on her celebrity-dom by having her two devices marketed to the masses...the Pilates Ring appeals to a more targeted group of fitness enthusiasts savvy to the overall benefits of Pilates...I confess that I've used all three devices and find that the concepts aren't that much different from each other, with strength and endurance due to repetitiveness, aided by resistance…
...those suffering from arthritis (like myself) benefit from a hot stone massage treatment...the heat radiates and penetrates, alleviating the discomfort...don't hesitate recommending a heat-based treatment therapy as a way to alleviate arthritic discomfort to your guests...consider listing this as part of your treatment descriptions online and in printed brochures...when it comes to heat-based therapies, like hot stone massage (or even body wraps), not everyone may be aware of the benefits of heat-based therapies...share your knowledge and expertise...
...the major religions of Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism all use water to symbolically cleanse and purify the faithful in various rituals...water is intrinsic to spa and used to restore and revitalize, which are also forms of cleansing and purification...
...some spa treatment oddities...flaming facial...bull sperm hair treatment mask, snail goo facial, snake massage, fish pedicure, sparrow poop facial...face slap facial...the Dieci Mani Massage, or ten-hand massage by 5 people at QUA Baths & Spa, Caesars Atlantic City...this the 180 minute "treatment" costs a whopping $5,000...you read it right...$5,000...sensory overload, for sure...
...the best spa treatments I've ever received were done by experienced practitioners...their is no substitute for experience, regardless of the industry...
...one is never too young (or too old) to begin learning about, experiencing and cultivating new skincare regimens to maintain healthy skin as it becomes transformed over the years...
...you can't expect to take care of others effectively until and unless you first take care of yourself...doing so isn't selfish...it's an investment in self and ultimately others...
...I’ve been covering spas ever since my first experience at a destination spa in 1988...I knew back then that there was a correlation between lifestyle, stress and health and wellness...I also knew the relationship of how traditional spa therapies could impact a healthier lifestyle when combined with fitness and nutrition...unfortunately, many still don’t “get it”, despite the vast amounts of information available on these related topics...even if you don’t have the time or money to go to a destination spa, please consider taking some time for yourself as an investment in your health..even if that means taking walks for movement and contemplation and to get back in touch with yourself...taking time for yourself isn’t frivolous...it’s a necessity...
...to cool off your tired and hot feet, soak them in a large basin filled with cool water and marbles (or floral pebbles)...to gently soothe and stimulate, rub the bottom’s over the marbles/pebbles...adding a favorite essential oil to the water will add to the enjoyment of this hot weather “feet treat”...as an alternative, consider rubbing ice cubes over the feet to cool them off...rubbing ice cubes over pressure points is also a great way to cool yourself off from summer’s heat; these include the back of head, wrist, inside elbow, middle of knee, each side of the Achilles tendon, etc...
...a great hot weather tip is to chill your face toner and then spritz away...don't forget to spritz the back of your neck and décolleté...as an alternate toner, use food-grade rosewater or orange water, available at import or specialty food markets...these toner choices are all cooling and refreshing during summer’s heat...remember to also drink plenty of water..keep hydrated, inside and out...
...everything about the spa experience is sensory-driven and as such, attention needs to be placed on how each of the five senses (touch, taste, hearing, sight, smell) engage and impact the guest experience and how it affects them...delivery of the sensorial triggers is critical to making that guest experience memorable and identifiable with one’s spa and what the guest experienced...
...spas that do the green thing not only help reduce their carbon footprint, but they usually realize a cost savings through the elimination or modification of a particular aspect of their operation...going green is good for the environment and also the spa's bottom-line...
...when approached and experienced with purpose of intent, spa is an investment in one’s well-being…it isn’t hedonism, pampering, or indulgence…it is and can be a necessity…spa traditionally and historically was about healing through restorative therapies that primarily were based on water, massage and body work...the introduction of esthetics, such as face and nails, co-opted these fundamentals…today, many go into a spa for a treatment thinking it will cure all their ills, when in fact they haven’t approached their experience to include the understanding of what the triggers or reasons for what ails them impact their daily lives…over time, and left unchecked, one’s health will be impacted…
...the health benefits of massage have been known for many years...more recent and updated press on its many health benefits, however, is helping to inform and educate younger generations...my concern now is how soon will it be before our government starts poking its nose into this and attempts to classify it as medicine and regulate it as a medical treatment…such intrusion, which is typical of our government, would definitely limit massage therapists and the therapy...all one has to do is recall how the FDA recently wanted the nut company, Diamond, to label its packages of walnuts as a drug, since the labeling touted the health benefits of walnuts on its packaging…the FDA similarly ordered other companies to also label their products as drugs…
...cosmetics icon, Elizabeth Arden, would go on to open the first-ever "fat farm", a precursor of the "destination spa"...it focused on fitness, beauty and healthy eating...and avid and accomplished horsewoman, she'd name her establishment, "Maine Chance" after her stables...when the original one burned, she'd open another one in Texas...curiously, her salon hair stations were actually designed like a horse's stall...the Red Door became her trademark to compete with the pink colors of her arch rival, Helena Rubenstein...her salons, later day spas, were also trademarked as the Red Door Salon and later, when the term became vogue, Red Door Salon & Day Spa...
...cosmetics icon Helena Rubenstein tried her hand at an original "day spa" concept in the 1920s, but the Great Depression ended it...she'd also open a "men's day spa" in the 1950s, which flopped...the term day spa wasn't around in those days, but her concepts were the same...Rubenstein was also a staunch supporter of fitness, healthy eating and esthetic treatments...she was definitely ahead of her times...
...the Pilates Ring, used by fitness enthusiasts and physical therapists alike, reminds me of hot 1990s Suzanne Somers "Thigh Master" and "ButtMaster" devices...Somers cashed in on her celebrity-dom by having her two devices marketed to the masses...the Pilates Ring appeals to a more targeted group of fitness enthusiasts savvy to the overall benefits of Pilates...I confess that I've used all three devices and find that the concepts aren't that much different from each other, with strength and endurance due to repetitiveness, aided by resistance…
...those suffering from arthritis (like myself) benefit from a hot stone massage treatment...the heat radiates and penetrates, alleviating the discomfort...don't hesitate recommending a heat-based treatment therapy as a way to alleviate arthritic discomfort to your guests...consider listing this as part of your treatment descriptions online and in printed brochures...when it comes to heat-based therapies, like hot stone massage (or even body wraps), not everyone may be aware of the benefits of heat-based therapies...share your knowledge and expertise...
That’s it for this edition. Until the next one, remember to take care of
yourself and those you love.
By Terry Herman
Terry Herman is a recognized expert in the industry, and
regularly covers issues that include business, management, operations, customer
care, treatments, products, and trends. In addition to writing and reviewing,
she is also a management consultant and motivational speaker. She also serves on EXPERIENCE
| PREMCHIT Journeys In Retreat To Wellness Advisory Board, which is comprised of ten international
experts in various fields of wellness and spa.
She also serves as a Group Manager for the popular LinkedIn group, The
Spa Buzz. You can email her at
terrysspabeautywellness@gmail.com.
ALL MATERIALS COPYRIGHT PROTECTED
(Introductory photo credit from depositphotos.com.)
N.B. Google’s blog platform is incompatible with my
Mac OS X and Firefox browser latest software versions, which is why some web
links appear in different colors and why when attempting to have embedded
images their sizing is consistent and/or can’t be sized.
