Wellness Voice

Spas originated in Belgium during the 16th Century. The term spa is generally associated with a type of water treatment also known as “balneotheraphy”. Spa towns or spa resorts offer such treatment. Some also offer the medication or equipment for such treatment. Thus, the term has various related meanings.

The term spa is generally associated with a type of water treatment also known as “balneotheraphy”. Spa towns or spa resorts offer such treatment. Some also offer the medication or equipment for such treatment. Thus, the term has various related meanings.

The word originated from a small town in Belgium, where in, during the medieval times illnesses that was caused by lack of iron were only treated by drinking chalybeate or iron bearing found in spring water. During 16th century, an old Roman had an idea about having baths from medicinal plants and drinking it in order to treat diseases.

Hence, it was in the year 1571 when a certain William Slingsby discovered that medicinal effects of the Chalybeate spring in Yorkshire. He then made an enclosed room from this Chalybeate spring, which he called “Harrogate”. Thus, this is considered as the first Spa resort in England that made use of medicinal waters.

However, the practice of going to hot or cold springs, in hope of finding a cure for some ailment started from the ancient up to the prehistoric times. This is when Archeologists found hot springs in France and Czechoslovakia that revealed Bronze Age weaponry and offerings. In the United Kingdom, ancient legend credited early Celtic kings due to the discovery of the hot springs in Bath, England.

During the 18th up to the 19th Century, bathing became a more common and suggested practice by the physicians due to the benefits that cleanliness can provide.

By the mid-19th century, European spa’s started the concept of bathing aside from drinking these medicinal waters. Aside from pavillons, Trinkhallen and fountains, bath houses from the Roman era were revived. In the United Kingdom their Spas started with structures that cover the drinking function. This is from typical fountains to pavilions that emphasize Trinkhallen.

There is also a lot of regimen when it comes to bathing in the 19th century. This would include soaking in hot water, steaming in vapor, drinking hot water and relaxing in a cool room.

Thus, at the start of the 20th century, European Spas had a mixture of a strict diet and exercise as their regimen. This is set as a bathing procedure that will provide lots of benefits for the patients.

Due to its popularity, the benefits derived from Spas reached the United States, where in, some medical practitioners discovered that the thermal waters of resorts such as the Hot Springs in Virginia, and in Saratoga Springs, New York, were not as beneficial to the health as compared to using ordinary heated water.

Spa as a place for treatment

• Spa town – This is a place that is most frequently visited due to the healing properties of the water.
• Destination Spa – This is a type of Spa usually found in resorts and used for personal care treatments.
• Day spa – This is a type of Spa usually given at beauty salons.

Spa medication or equipment

• Spa – mineral water
• Trim Spa- used for loosing weight similar to using pills
• Soda Fountain-used in the United States
• Hot tub
• Foot spa- a tiny bowl where in the feet is immersed in hot boiling water, washed and also massaged

SOME TYPES OF SPAS:

Club Spa – A facility whose main purpose is to offers several professionally administered spa services.

Cruise Ship Spa – A type of Spa that available while onboard a cruise ship.

Day Spa – A type of spa which offers a variety of professionally administered spa services to clients on a daily basis, particularly in beauty salons.

Dental Spa – This is usually done in a dental facility, under the supervision of a dentist. In this type of Spa, traditional dental treatment is combined with certain Spa services.

Destination spa – A destination spa is a facility that possesses the main purpose of having individual spa-goers guided in developing healthy habits. Thus, historically, this requires staying or visiting for about seven days in order to promote a lifestyle transformation which can only be accomplished by providing a comprehensive activity that includes physical fitness programs, Spa services, wellness education, special interest programming and healthful cuisine.

Medical spa – A facility that operates under the full-time, on-site supervision of a licensed health care professional whose primary purpose is to provide comprehensive medical and wellness care in an environment that integrates spa services, as well as traditional, complimentary and/or alternative therapies and treatments. This facility operates under the practice of its staff, which can include both aesthetic and cosmetic procedures for prevention and Wellness results.

Mineral Springs Spa – This is a type of Spa that makes use of a hut that offers natural treatment via on-site sources that includes thermal, mineral, or seawater usage. This is also regarded as “Hydrotherapy Treatments”.

Resort or Hotel spa – This is a type of Spa owned by either a hotel or a resort that provides Spa services that are professionally administered, where in, wellness and fitness components are mixed with a menu selection of Spa cuisine.

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In the modern era spas are no longer limited to massages or a few therapies or for the rich and famous. Spas now a days offer a variety of treatments, in fact there are spas that are dedicated to special treatments.

Spas can be divided into a number of categories

Day spa

Mobile Home spa

Destination spa

Eco spa

Mineral health spa

Medical spa

Hotel spa

Club spa

Cruise spa

Day spa

Any hair or beauty salon, health centres or Wellness clinic, that provides at least one hydrotherapy treatment comes under the day spa category. Day spa treatments can be from half an hour to a full day. They usually offer massage treatments, body wraps, hand and foot treatments, facial treatments and hair treatments health and aesthetic maintenance services. Day spas are ideal for grabbing a quick rejuvenating session during a busy week.

Mobile Home spa

Mobile spas are ‘come home’ spas. In a mobile spa, therapists come to your home with their necessary equipments and treat you in the comfort of your house. Mobile Spa is fast becoming a desired and convenient way to experience the benefits of spa treatment in the comfort of your home. You can even host spa parties at home with friends. Mobile spas are great for bridal shower, baby shower, girl’s time-out, birthday party or indulge in a romantic spa for two.

Destination spa

A destination spa is a place whose sole purpose is to help individuals develop a healthy lifestyle. These spas are nearly always located in places with natural beauty and sublime weather, like mountains, islands, and tropical places. At destination spa, the whole environment is synchronised towards fitness, healthy eating, relaxation and regeneration. But destination spas come in a wide range of prices and personalities. Destinations spas are for 2-3 days and offer holistic treatments spa cuisine, acupuncture, aromatherapy, detoxification, body tanning, massages, meditation and body wraps.

Eco spa

Eco spas are environment friendly spas; they concentrate on using natural remedies and substances for treatments and therapies. Not only in treatments but also their recreation is wrapped around nature, and offer activities like horse riding, mountain climbing, trekking and nature trails.

Mineral health spa

Mineral spas concentrate on the use of minerals in their treatments. The best way is a mineral bath therapy, as mineral water helps in rebuilding worn out muscles, expediting metabolism, and accelerating the healing process by improving blood circulation and detoxifying the body.

Medical spa

Medical spas along with traditional therapies offer preventive healthcare and cosmetic treatments. Complementary medicine, alternative medicine, botox, laser treatments, hair removal and dermatology treatments are a part of a medical spa. They also offer rehab treatments for alcohol, smoking etc. Weeklong programs are often carried out to help varied requirements including quitting smoking.

Hotel spa

Hotel spas are basically a hotel with spa facilities. Spa treatments are offered to the hotel customers and their primary focus is not the well being of customers. The spa services are offered so as to complement golf, horse riding, tennis etc.

Club spa

Club spas are fitness centres with added-on spa facilities in clubs. Along with the regular facilities of a day spa a club spa usually has swimming pool, a sauna and a steam room. This type of spa is only for club members.

Cruise spa

A cruise spa as the name suggests, is located on a cruise ship. Its like a party with spa facilities, as food and drink is unrestricted, which is an important part of spa therapies. Cruise spas are ideal holidays for the young and restless.

May it be any type of spa, it is definitely going to rejuvenate and uplift your mood, body and soul.

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Could where you place your spa effect how often you use it? It may not seem so at first but over time the answer is a resounding, Yes. So, you finally bought that spa, now what. Wait, before you pour that cement pad and call out the electrician think about how you are going to use the spa.

First you should know that most of the serious injuries and deaths involving spas are deck mounted spas. If your are thinking about sinking your spa in a deck, turns out leaving it at least bench high can make all the difference as far as safety. Bench high will still make getting in and out of the spa with ease but your guests or children will be far less likely to step into it by accident. So, safety first, make sure the spa stays at least bench high out of the deck and you will be less likely to end up a statistic.

Next, make sure you leave plenty of room around your spa. It is natural to think putting the spa in the corner or up against the house. But in order to keep debris out of your spa and keep the water warm you are going to need to use a spa cover. Once you have the cover off and you are in your spa it will not matter if the spa is in a corner or hanging off the edge of the deck. However when you go to put the cover back on, in order for that to be easy, you need to have easy access around the spa.

If you think about putting the cover on your spa like you would make your bed it will make more sense. If you have your bed shoved into the corner of your room, you may open up more floor area but making the bed, tucking in sheets is going to be a struggle. With your bed you can grab it and pull it away from the wall. You can’t do that with your spa. No matter what kind of cover you decide to use, it will always be easier if you can get around at least three sides of your spa.

I know what you are thinking. I can open my spa cover standing on one side, and when I put it back on I just push it across the spa. And that may be true of your brand new rigid foam spa cover. Unfortunately no rigid foam cover in the history of man has ever stayed light weight. Once the cover begins to get heavy, it will be a lot easier if not necessary to have two people to take the cover off and back on the spa.

One more thing to mention. As humans it is our nature to get by with as little effort as possible. When you first get your spa, you may have plenty of energy you are willing to expend to get into your new toy. As the new wears off however, you will be less likely to exert yourself just to get a little relaxation. If you are using the typical rigid foam cover, you will almost certainly start to open only one side of your spa. You will flop the spa cover halfway open and just use the one side that you can get at. In my humble opinion, this is the beginning of the end.

What I mean by this is as humans when we begin to justify having half as much enjoyment, or telling ourselves we really don’t want to sit in the soothing pulsating jets of the spa we once were so excited to get home to, we begin to have less quality of life. I am convinced that if we make the right choices now we can keep a quality of life well into our twilight years.

You already bought the spa. That was a big expense and given the way spas are built by most companies these days that spa can last you the rest of your life. Where you decide to place your spa can make all the difference between using it later on or deciding to give it away because you just do not use it as much as you used to. The secret is making it easy to use, not just now, but later when the cover starts to get heavy and when you get older and lazier. When the new wears thin, you can still benefit from a dip in the spa.

Back in the annuals of time, Hippocrates, the father of medicine, thought it important enough to include regular spa use as part of the healthy lifestyle. If you want to live a healthy life well into your later years, using that spa is going to be a part of it. And because we are naturally lazy beings, making that easy now will be a big part of how often we use it later. Like brushing your teeth.

If you still have your teeth when you are old, it is largely because you planned for taking care of them when you were young. You made it part of your daily routine by planning on making it easy to do so. You put your tooth brush in the bathroom where you knew you would end up at some point in the morning. To a large degree you now face the same kind of decision in placing your spa.

If you place your spa too far away, walking out to it in your bathing suit seems far less inviting. I heard one person say he placed the spa as far away as his wife was willing to walk in the nude. I would add that she is going to get older and that distance may be less. Make the cover easy to get off and on. Like I said earlier having easy access to at least three sides of the spa will be important but maybe you should consider that eventually you might add a cover lifter of some sort. Leaving space around the spa will make a lifter a lot easier to add later too.

Having the spa partially sunken into the deck can assist in getting the spa cover off and on because as it gets heavier, and it will, and you get older, you will have less distance to move it. Leave room to fasten the cover easily on to the sides of the cabinet. In order to be as safe as possible your cover should be secured to the spa.

If you have already placed your spa and when you read this you realize your spa is not going to be easy to use, move it now. Drain your spa, move it to so you can walk around at least three sides of your spa. If you have shrubs or other landscaping right up to the sides of your spa so you can not walk around it, move them. Back them away from the spa. If you have a privacy fence surrounding the spa, take it down or move it back.

If you got one of those cute little gazebos or tea houses that fit right on to the spa, take it off. Move it to some other place in the yard. Make it a play house for the kids, a shed for the mower, or a tea house or gazebo, but get it off the spa. Either that or eventually you will get to the point where you can not remember the last time you got in the spa. You will get tired of paying to heat the water you are never in and you will drain the spa and shut it down. It will sit there until your wife decides to reclaim her yard and tells you to get rid of it. That will be a shame considering when you first got it, you could not wait to get into it. And your life was better. Do it now, you will thank me later.

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Some ideas take a little getting used to. Even so, countless spa goers need no persuasion when it comes to being nibbled by small fish at designer spas and spa resorts in countries such as China, Japan, South Korea and Turkey. This growing trend is spreading swiftly throughout the world and has left some people feeling both perplexed and others feeling both beautiful and relaxed.

So how do fish treatments work and how do they aid in enhancing both wellness and beauty? Spas store small tropical fish called Garra Rufa, also known as doctor fish, nibble fish, Chinchin Yu, Kangal Fish and Turkey Fish, in warm pools of water or hot springs. These fish thrive in hot water from 15 degrees to 43 degree water and are used for various reasons such as for foot, facial and body treatments as well as for the natural treatment of skin disease.

The fish, as many spa goers say “kiss the skin”, ridding it of all affected and dead skin areas, leaving the healthy skin untouched to continue to grow and repair. The process is both painless and strangely wonderful, leaving behind a unique pleasant tingling sensation. Skin is left smooth, glowing and looking healthier. Although, also used for individuals suffering from Psoriasis, fish treatments are not a cure for the disease but a temporary treatment cure which can aid in preventing symptoms if repeated on a monthly basis. Nonetheless, there have been some individuals who claim to have been completely cured of Psoriasis after undergoing fish treatments. The fish treatments are also recognized as treatments utilized to release fatigue, increase blood circulation and aid in relaxation.

So why not immerse yourself into a hot spring or fish pool, or enjoy a foot, facial or body fish treatment before a massage, and experience a treatment like no other. This strangely unique and wonderful feeling cannot be described in words and will make you return every few months to take advantage of the fish treatments principal purpose and function, to protect and beautify your skin.

Find spas and more Wellness related information at: http://healthspaguru.com

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650.559.8819 www.babodywraps.com Best Of The Bay is television show on KRON 4 showcasing the best in entertainment, shopping, healthcare and dinning in the San Francisco Bay Area. www.bestofthebaytv.com

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The period of viewing the spa industry as primarily serving and attracting female clientele has changed. Men have swiftly joined the spa movement and are rapidly changing the way spas work and develop. According to various sources, more than 35% of spa goers are now male and the increase in male only spas has been predicted to only increase further in the upcoming years.

Spas have become and are becoming more and more gender neutral in response to changing times. Men no longer need to fear having their masculinity stripped from them while being massaged in a frilly, pink treatment room with vanilla and floral essence. Special treatments have now been designed with the male in mind. Unscented and masculine scents are used for treatments; longer bathrobes and massage tables are now being provided for improved comfort; masculine magazines and newspapers of interest are available for reading pleasure, and if you are really lucky you may even catch a glimpse of a flat screen T-V in the corner of your spa space. So what’s not to like? Apparently the only complaint that seems to still surface from time to time, is the treatment duration and even this has been resolved with some spas offering quick 20 – 30 minute treatment slots for men.

Generally speaking, men have realized that spas not only have positive effects on their skin and sporting aches but also aid in reducing their stress levels more than a visit to their local pub would accomplish. Men are recognizing that by taking care of their skin they not only look younger but their skin also looks smoother after shaving. The benefits of visiting a spa after a sports workout has also been noted and a number of sports related massages have been designed to alleviate stress, improve muscle aches, increase circulation as well as improve flexibility in support of sports training.

While countless men are enjoying the benefits of spas alone or with their loved ones, some men still feel intimidated or feel they do not have the time due to demands placed on them from work and home pressures. So, why not give your husband or special someone a little nudge and spoil them with a treatment or spa relaxation break at your local spa? – Don’t be surprised if they book the next spa treatment before you do!

Find spas and more Wellness related information at: http://healthspaguru.com

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Most of the fantasies will never come true, they either require to much time away from the family or are to expensive. Instead women find themselves using little things to fulfill their need for self-indulgence, savoring a piece of chocolate, reading a chapter from the latest bestselling romance novel, or taking fifteen minutes to cover their faces with a mud mask. Although these are excellent ways to temporarily boost a woman’s spirits a trip to SB Day Spa Tampa will do even more to rejuvenate the soul.

The Services

SB Day Spa Tampa offers their customers a variety of services. These services include a variety of massages, wraps, facials, make-up, tinting, waxing, manicures, pedicures, hair services, body contouring and many other indulgent services. In addition to the traditional massages and facials, it also provides its clients with an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of hydrotherapy Yoga.

Plan Ahead

SB Day Spa Tampa has many services their clients can choose from. When planning a trip to this wonderful oasis woman should take the time to read about each of the spas activities. She should also take a good look at her calendar and figure out when the best time would be to arrange a trip to the spa. If at all possible she should try to spend time revitalizing herself when she won’t have to deal with a great deal of stress right after she leaves the Spa.

If possible she should try to arrange to do something relaxing like going out for drinks with friends or making a date with her spouse. The one thing a woman should avoid when making time to pamper herself at SB Day Spa Tampa is the feeling that she is rushed, she won’t be able to relax if she is worried about having enough time to get her children to soccer practice.

A Romantic Getaway

Every couple knows that there are times when you just need to get away together. Wind SB Day Spa Tampa not only offers women a chance to relax and improve their over all body Wellness, they also provide the means for a romantic weekend for two. The couple can spend the day being massaged, oiled, and pampered. This great day spa offers several inviting packages their customers can select.

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Imagine a smoked ginger and crimson skyline towering down over a diverse natural landscape of wild flowers, untamed wildlife and restless waters. Imagine lying gazing at this distinct setting whilst enjoying the pampering and revitalization that goes along with South African traditional customs and massage techniques. A spa experience in South Africa has often been viewed as being one of the most unique and beautiful experiences that one can wish for. So what makes it so unique and what can one expect at a South African spa?

Spas in South Africa can be simple, uncomplicated and traditional as well as both sophisticated and chic. There is a little bit of everything for everyone. Spas are either set in safari or remote country settings or in classy city or beach hotels. However, it is not only the diverse settings which capture the attention of travelers worldwide, but the fusion of customs and traditions into the spa techniques and treatments. A number of South African spas utilize traditional oils and plant extracts in their treatment products and a great emphasis is placed on age old remedies and secrets.

A truly unique and not to be missed experience can also be found within the beautiful wine lands of South Africa. It is here where you can experience Vinotherapy, an innovative treatment originating in France that utilizes grapes and wine to assist in preventing or assisting in the effects of anti-ageing. The antioxidants as well as other properties of the grape are highly beneficial for the skin and for this reason the ingredients has been utilized in massages, full-body exfoliations and hydrotherapy treatments. With South Africa, boasting some of the best wines in the world, a day of wine tasting and Vinotherapy may just be the treat you have been waiting for.

A number of spas also provide you with a complete African experience. You can expect African dances, food and celebrations incorporated into your day or stay at some of the spa destinations in South Africa. The spa experience becomes one of the elements of your experience and allows you to experience both the African culture and the African therapist’s skilled techniques and products. If you are staying over at the spa, you may even be able rest in a traditional yet elegant African hut. This is a wonderful option if you are looking for both serenity and for a place to reflect in an uninterrupted natural setting.

Those of you seeking more sophistication and modern elegance will also find yourself spoilt for choice at some of the many exclusive spa destinations and resorts. Gaze down at the city nightlife from your treatment suite or relax for a day in spas boasting top of the line facilities and therapists. These classy spas can be found both in the city and in the more remote areas of South Africa, so your selection would be based purely on personal choice.

Nonetheless, South Africa is a spa crazy country which promises to offer an array of spa destinations as well as unique experiences. If you wanting to truly experience African culture at its best, booking into a South African destination spa or resort and choosing between the many traditional and natural spa products could set you on the right path.

Find spas and more Wellness related information at: http://healthspaguru.com

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This is a sampling of our Kundalini Yoga Class at Point Pleasant Wellness Spa in the Fort Lauderdale area. We hope you will come join us for a combination of breath, meditation, and movement to elevate your spirit.

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Has Mother Nature wrecked your spa cover? If you need a new spa cover because your old foam cover was damaged by the elements, consider something different. The typical rigid foam filled hot tub cover covered with vinyl is doomed to end up heavy or broken no matter how well you treat it.

No matter what you treat it with all vinyl is rated by hours outdoors. Really top quality marine grade vinyl is rated for 1500 hours outdoors. That equates to about one hundred days of sunshine. I know what you are thinking, why would anybody put vinyl on something that is meant to be used outside? But that is not even the most common failure of the typical rigid foam filled spa cover.

What generally happens before the vinyl falls apart is that the foam gets so heavy you can not lift your spa cover by yourself. No matter how it is wrapped and sealed inside the cover, the foam fills with water. What happens is the little air spaces in the foam that are supposed to help the foam insulate your spa get filled up moisture. Here is a tip why the whole foam cover is doomed, if you never put the cover on your spa, it would never get heavy. If you just took a brand new spa cover out and put it on your picnic table instead of your spa, the vinyl would fall apart before the cover got heavy.

Why? Because the hot spa water is way below the bottom of the rigid foam spa cover. Some of that warm spa water turns to steam and rises up. Steam molecules are smaller than water. The steam works its way into the little crevices and spaces in the foam where it condenses back into liquid. If you live in an area that gets snow, the snow will land on the saturated foam and freeze the water inside it.

How? because just as heat rises, cold sinks. When it comes in direct contact with the foam it freezes the moisture. The warm spa water is not in direct contact with the bottom of the spa cover so it is in a loosing battle trying to beat the cold. The steam rises from the water, hits the bottom of the now frozen spa cover, condenses and falls back into the water below working like a radiator to actually cool the water.

You may look out at the snow piled on your frozen spa cover and think you have great insulation. But you would be wrong. Snow sits perfectly on a frozen pond too. It does not mean the pond water is still warm. So why does anybody still sell rigid foam covers? Well two reasons really. First, it has been the standard of the industry for nearly thirty years. When the acrylic spa began to be sold in the states, it needed to be covered with something to keep the debris out and to assist in keeping the water warm. Foam boards covered with vinyl was cheap and since everybody was selling the same thing it was all they needed to offer. Remember definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over expecting a different outcome.

The second reason is worse in my opinion. Spa dealers know that the cover they are sending you home with will need to be replaced again because it will end up the same as the one you are replacing now. They know that like clockwork every couple years you are going to need to get another cover if you intend on using your spa on a regular basis.

So what are your choices? Thanks to the internet you now have the world at your finger tips. Look on line for a different kind of spa cover. Find a spa cover that is not covered with vinyl that is rated by hours if your spa is outdoors. There are Spa Covers available factory direct that do not use rigid foam that is just going to end up to heavy to lift. If you plan on using your spa for the rest of your life like I do, you owe it to yourself to get a better kind of spa cover.

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