Spa / Spas

A spa is a location where mineral-rich spring water (and sometimes seawater) is used to give medicinal baths. Spa towns or spa resorts (including hot springs resorts) typically offer various health treatments, which are also known as balneotherapy. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are especially widespread in Europe and Japan. Day spas are also quite popular, and offer various personal care treatments.

Spa Treatments :

A 'body treatment', 'spa treatment', or 'cosmetic treatment' is non-medical procedure to help the health of the body. It is often performed at a resort, destination spa, day spa, beauty salon or school.

Typical treatments include:

• Aromatherapy
• Bathing or soaking in any of the following:
  • Artificial waterfall, as cervical (spine) waterfall.
  • Feetbath
  • Hot spring
    • Onsen (Japanese Hot Springs)
    • Thermae (Roman Hot Springs)
  • Hot tub
  • Mud bath
  • Jet hydro massage, as swan-neck jet hydro massage
  • Peat pulp bath
  • Sauna
  • Steam bath
  • Vichy shower
• Body wraps, wrapping the body in hot linens, plastic sheets and blankets, or mud wraps, often in combination with herbal compounds.
• Massage
• Hair
• Nail care such as manicures and pedicures
• Waxing, the removal of body hair with hot wax

Recent Trends :

In the modern world spa therapies are linked to various domains including beauty, pampering, indulgence, and health.

Types of Treatments :

Day spa, a form of beauty salon.

Destination spa, a resort for personal care treatments.

Spa town, a town visited for the supposed healing properties of the water.

Foot spa

Hot tub, in United States usage.

Spa (mineral water), from the sources in Spa.

Ganban'yoku, a hot stone spa

Spas usually offer mud baths for general health, or to address a variety of medical conditions. This is also known as 'fangotherapy'. A variety of medicinal clays and peats is used.

Types of Spa :

Ayurvedic spa, in which treatments are inspired by traditional Indian medical practices. Ayurvedic spa in Goa, India

Club spa, a facility whose primary purpose is fitness or pool and which offers a variety of professionally administered spa services on a day-use basis.

Cruise ship spa, a spa aboard a cruise ship providing professionally administered spa services, fitness and wellness components and spa cuisine menu choices.

Day spa, a spa offering a variety of professionally administered spa services to clients on a day-use basis.

Dental spa, a facility under the supervision of a licensed dentist that combines traditional dental treatment with the services of a spa.

Destination spa, a facility with the primary purpose of guiding individual spa-goers to develop healthy habits. Historically a seven-day stay, this lifestyle transformation can be accomplished by providing a comprehensive program that includes spa services, physical fitness activities, wellness education, healthful cuisine and special interest programming.

Hot tub, an outdoor spa used for bathing and self cleansing

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, complementary and/or alternative therapies and treatments. 

Mineral springs spa, a spa offering an on-site source of natural mineral, thermal or seawater used in hydrotherapy treatments.

Resort/hotel spa, a spa owned by and located within a resort or hotel providing professionally administered spa services, fitness and wellness components and spa cuisine menu choices.

Mobile spa, a spa which provides services at home, hotels, or wherever you are.