by Margaret Butterfield

Created on: October 06, 2010

A spa’s main concern is recharging both the physical and the emotional well-being of the person. This connection is symbiotic and essential to maintain if a person wants to be considered healthy. Having gone to a few day spas myself, I have noticed the attention paid to the five senses, that is, the sensual stimulation used to inspire stress relief and physical relaxation.

When one enters a day spa, they are not greeted with loud rock music and bright fluorescent lighting. Most spas attract attention by having muted colors or soft accents. Take the Total Woman Day Spas in Southern California or example: these spas exhbit soft colors and lighting, and do not use windows in order to create that sense of privacy. This soft yellow lamp lighting, usually accompanied by quiet classical or meditation music, are what appeal to the sight and sound senses. When you move through the spa and experience the services, the different oils and creams used are usually natural extracts and promote health benefits even just by their scents, thus appealing to our noses and lungs.  Many spas will have a quiet/meditation/waiting area where, after you get your robe and slippers, you may sit and enjoy healthy snacks like nuts, broth, dried fruit, dark chocolate, and hot tea or water. Finally, the touch element comes in with the actual treatments, which promote good circulation, detoxing effects, and other positives that affect brain function for the better.

Thus, in taking “me time” at the spa, you are actually doing something positive for your physical health and thus rejuvenating your mental health. All of these sensual stimulations make one feel cleaner, lighter, and refreshed. Many treatments, such as body wraps can reduce water weight and toxins that add inches; this feeling of health influences one’s self esteem for the better. A wax, haircut, mani/pedi, or facial give the feeling of refreshment and beauty, which, let’s face it, always make us feel more confident! By feeling more confident and fresh, we are encouraged to make other good decisions for our health, such as exercise, eating well, and social development.

Massages, facials, body wraps, and scrubs, not to mention Jacuzzis and saunas (I’m not a fan of steam rooms though you could put these on the list), are all designed to make people feel physically better, thus directly influencing their mental health for the better. Take advantage of spa treatments when you are on vacation-many

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