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From DestinationSpaVacations In The News Sometimes it is the destination. What is a spa? The name "spa" is being used in so many different ways it gets harder and harder to pin it down. The answer is: "Who cares?" As long as it keeps making us feel good, that's all that matters! But as the concept of spa wellness continues to be infused into our culture, it is nice to know something about the philosophy and origins of today's thriving spa industry. It used to be you could neatly arrange the world of spa into three buckets: day spas, resort spas, and destination spas. Today's spa offerings are so diverse that they are no longer so easily defined. You can drop off your dog at the pet spa, pick up your car from the auto spa, and go for your annual teeth cleaning and reflexology at the dental spa. The fastest growing category in the industry is the medical spa, which has its own increasing levels of diversity and can include everything from centers for cosmetic surgery and laser hair removal to complete holistic wellness and weight loss programs supervised by a physician. How does a consumer today know what's what? While there is no right or wrong way to spa, it is helpful to understand the core philosophy that has helped to integrate spa into the mainstream. To get to the soul of the spa industry one must go straight to the roots: the destination spas. Most of the spa offerings available today evolved out of the wonderful teachings of the destination spas. Destination spas are distinguished from other spas in that the spa is not simply a place to visit while you are on vacation, but is the destination in and of its self. The destination spa offers the deepest level of the spa experience, typically inviting people to immerse themselves for at least a week in transformational and nurturing experiences. These spas do not sell pampering and luxury but rather offer a lifestyle which is drastically different than the way most of us live today. Days are filled with activities designed to improve physical conditioning, assess physical and mental health, reflect on values and goals, and learn how to create joy and happiness in our lives. Visiting a destination spa gives us a chance to practice a different kind of lifestyle and learn strategies that we can hopefully apply when we return to the real world. The day spa and hotel/resort spa models have evolved out of the desire to provide some of the same transformational benefits of a destination spa visit within a much shorter window of time. By giving one the opportunity to take time for oneself in a healing and soothing way, the spas, regardless of type, seek to touch people in a way that extends beyond the confines of their specific treatment. The spa experience shouldn't end when you walk out the door. You should leave not only smelling like lavender but with new tools for managing stress, new products and suggestions for self-care, and perhaps even a new perspective on life. Visiting any spa should give at least a taste of the destination spa's transformational menu: fitness concepts, nutritional practices, skin care, active aging, stress relief and, mind-body wellness. Regardless of the type of spa you visit, the biggest value comes from what you take away from the experience. Whether it is a new regimen for daily skin care, a new recipe for a healthful meal, or a tip to let go of stress, the spa experience gives us a reminder to value our bodies, our minds, and our spiritual well-being. It reminds us to take care of ourselves. While I think everyone would benefit from a few days of spa immersion, you don't have to visit a destination spa to live a spa lifestyle. Consider these principles, which are taught in most destination spas, and start applying them to your own life:
If the above homework does not come easily to you, there is private tutoring available at your local spa. Jeremy McCarthy has opened and operated luxury resort spas for the past 18 years. He is currently the director of spa operations for Starwood Hotels and Resorts and sits on the board of directors for the International Spa Association Source: Organic Spa Magazine © Copyright 2008 |
