Spas today are valuable spaces that address all aspects of our self-care, from wellness to mindfulness, from nutrition to exercise, with consideration to the uniqueness of our Self beings... And it has deep roots tracing back to the world's oldest healing practices. So how was the Spa concept born? What does it cover today and what kind of benefits does it promise? In this article, we have compiled some details you might actually want to know about...
The Origin of Spa
In terms of etymology, the origin of SPA is based on two theories:
According to one theory, SPA comes as an abbreviation of the Latin phrase 'Salus Per Aquam', meaning "health from water" and dates way back to Ancient Greece. Indeed, the first found written records on bathing regarded as a healing treatment rather than a simple hygiene care belong to Hippocrates, a.k.a. the Father of Medicine. Thanks to Hippocrates, who argued that all diseases had resulted from some imbalance in bodily fluids and claimed that “the path to health is to take an aromatic bath and a scented massage every day”, the healthful approaches of Spa spread from the Greek nobles to the civilian population and then further to other countries.
As per the other theory, the foundations of the spa were laid by an iron merchant, Collin Le Loup, who soaked his injured arm in a spring water rich in iron salt, in 1326 in a Belgian spa town called Lüttich and established a curative resting spot called “Espa” which meant a fountain. And in 1571 another resting spot called “Spaw” was established in England and this spot’s name was changed to “The English Spaw” in 1596. In the early 1600s, the word Spa was already a widely referred phrase.
In ancient times, water was believed to be a spiritual source and was used in physical and spiritual cleansing rituals. The “Mikvah” baths used by Jewish women to cleanse and the meditative methods of the Kabbalistic tradition also took in its center the water. In the ablution culture of the Muslims, water was used. South African healers made use of flower baths to achieve a spiritual cleansing. In ancient Celtic culture there was a spring water temple named Sulis in the Bath region of England. The Indians of America used to have steam sheds to cleanse their bodies of the toxins, which is in fact the foundation of today’s modern saunas. In the Inca culture, having running water flowing through temples was viewed as a ceremony. The Japanese, Chinese, Greek and Romans used to apply physical and spiritual cleansing rituals in baths they constructed as post-war therapy centers. Around 500 B.C. the bath culture started to become a part of human life and the Roman Baths gained an expansive fame.
Bathing Culture in The Roman Era
The Bath culture of the Romans is believed to be the first spa experience in history and was divided into 6 main sections. The cleansing was accomplished in these sections in a sequential manner. After getting undressed in Apodyterium, men would be oiled in the Palestrae by slaves before the exercise and then they would receive a peeling application. While Tepidarium was the warm transition section, Caldarium was the section where the body would be heated up using hot steam by the underfloor heating system. Laconicum was a section where we could call a modern sauna and Frigidarium was the plunge pool section to stop the body from sweating and tighten the pores.
During the Renaissance era bath rituals regained their popularity and in the 1700s Roman baths almost became centers for carrying out social activities. The use of spring water for medical purposes was being prescribed by European doctors according to their mineral content in the 1800s. While the applications of hydrotherapy were on the rise during the 19th century, the advocate of this trend, the Bavarian pastor Sebastian Kneipp, started using water in different applications and proved that water helped calm the nerves, reduce fever, increase blood circulation and was generally good for lymph nodes. Back then the “spa for health” concept that was popular in Europe, started to turn into a concept that included relaxation and treating oneself…
What SPA Means Today?
In the scientific definition prepared by ISPA (International Spa Association), spas are described as places dedicated to promoting health through professional services that help renew the mind, body and spirit as a whole.
The journey of the spa universe, which began with the healing power of water, has diversified and glorified with ancient treatments such as Indian Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine, Indonesian Jammu, Thai Herbal Massage, American/Indian, Aboriginal and Islamic medicine. Over time, it has expanded to include modern technological approaches alongside these traditional therapies. The Spa concept, which encompasses holistic treatments including hydro-therapies, facial and body treatments, a wide range of massages and energy rituals, mindfulness, nutrition, meditative and physical exercises, is now regarded almost as synonymous with the term of Wellness (i.e., maintaining our holistic health at an optimal level and balance).
According to ISPA there are 7 spa categories that are accepted globally. For more information on these classifications, you can make use of our
Spa Types article.
What Are The Benefits of SPA?
Relaxes: From the moment you enter the Spa, you are greeted by a gentle atmosphere that smoothes your senses. Every service offered there is primarily for your relaxation.
Calms your mind: In addition to physical relaxation, Spa treatments can help you relieve your stress and calm your mind by inviting you to feel the present moment and get closer to your inner self.
Enhances your sleep: From hydrotherapy to massages, from meditative exercises to healthy eating, Spas offer a wide range of selections to restore your sleep balance.
Improves your mood: Spa treatments can literally make you positive! For example, one study
discovered that massage therapies reduce the release of stress hormones and can even stimulate happiness hormones including serotonin.
Beautifies your skin: Whether it’s the signs of aging or annoying cellulites, you may indulge in a myriad of face and body treatments to answer to your every care-requiring need in Spas.
Contributes to your health: Spa treatments generally assist in stabilizing your blood pressure, relieving your muscle tension and calming your nervous system. This in result can help you combat intense headaches, back pains and neck stiffness, and even risk of heart disease due to high blood pressure.
Supports your vitality: Nowadays, at almost any spa, you are likely to find a plethora of traditional and technological treatments and fitness activities to help you get rid of that stubborn excess fat or maintain your fitness level, depending on your needs.
To explore more benefits of Spa, especially on your soul and mind, you may find inspiration in our
6 Good Aspects of Spa article.
How to Dress At the Spa?
Whether you’re visiting a day spa to unwind from the week, a destination spa to rejuvenate from the inside out with holistic programs, or a resort spa retreat to experience deep relaxation, the clothes you should pack for your spa journey should match the spa concept as well as your Wellbeing goals, and the treatments and therapies you choose. For example, should you be participating in a fitness-oriented spa program, you should pack more than one piece of sportswear for your workouts. If you’re planning to experience wet Spa areas like pools, saunas, hot tubs, etc., it’d be a good idea to take your swimwear such as swimsuits, bikinis and shorts.
Spas generally recommend that you wear comfortable clothing that would not restrict you during your visit. In addition, most spas offer a wide array of clothing equipment prior to your treatment, bathrobes, slippers, loincloths and kimonos, also disposable underwear for your un-or-half-clothed massages or special clothing for clothed therapies like a Thai massage. Though it varies from spa to spa, these equipments may be offered in different options based on size. With the developing grasp of "Self-care has no age or size", it is becoming easier and easier to access spa wear equipment from larger to smallest sizes to better accommodate the plus-size guests, small children and teenagers. Of course, this should not be construed as that you are not allowed to take your own towel or spare clothing items with you. Don't ever forget: The most important, crucial thing for Spas is to ensure your comfort.
Some luxury spa hotels may have a smart dress code, for example, to attend lunch or dinner. So if you are visiting such a spa hotel, you may need to pack an elegant dress or smart pants and shirt. Either way, if you somehow need clarification on the venue’s dress code, the size options offered, etc., it will be valuable and advisable to contact and confirm with the respective spa hotel.
How Long Should You Stay in the Spa?
Actually, what we try to infer here is more about how long you should stay in ‘wet spa areas’. Because, the scope and duration of the massage therapies, facial and body treatments and rituals you will experience might vary depending on the Spa center and the type of treatments. But to give you a basic idea; facials, excluding express treatments, will usually last between 60 and 90 minutes, while body treatments with body wraps last around 75 minutes, and massages mostly last between 50 and 90 minutes.
However, the case is slightly different when it comes to wet areas. Hot areas such as saunas, steam rooms and Laconium accelerate your blood circulation as they usually have high humidity and temperature levels. If you stay in there too long, your blood pressure can be affected and you may experience dizziness, headaches or even faint. Therefore, it is generally recommended to stay in hot areas for an average of 15 minutes and rest in between. Similarly, it is recommended to stay in cold areas such as ice rooms for a maximum of 10-15 minutes.
Spa centers often provide their guests with informative guides and verbal information as to how long you can or should stay in which spa area. However, when in doubt, do not hesitate to consult with the advisors and therapists at the center. As we said above, from the moment you enter until you leave the Spa, and even after you return home as part of certain programs, everything there is to contribute to your tranquility and Wellbeing...
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