We live in interesting times. However, that is often cited as a Chinese curse (although the origins might be Western). It implies that ‘interesting times’ can be a lot more stressful than normal daily routines. Today, we are faced with unprecedented levels of stress.
It seems that the news and social media are filled to the brim with gloom and doom – and this takes a toll on our increasingly fragile group (and individual) psyche. Sometimes it is a good idea to take a step back from negativity and simply treat yourself to a relaxing and indulgent personal experience – and this is one of the reasons that day spas are seeing increased numbers of clients.
If you are considering taking that much needed time off at day spa to recharge drained mental batteries what can you expect from the experience? Let’s take a closer look.
The most popular treatment in the United States offered by day spas is massage. Of course, that is not to say that massage is a vanilla experience.
There are numerous options to choose from. Two of the most popular are Swedish Massage and Deep Tissue Massage. Swedish massage therapists use firm, even strokes across the entire body, but will not engage in the deep focused work that tight and painful muscles may require to promote real relaxation.
Deep Tissue Massage, on the other hand, uses much firmer pressure and focuses on problem areas. Day spas are also offering other massage options to suit the requirements, lifestyles, and preferences of clients, including aromatherapy and hot stone massage. Aromatherapy massage has proven extremely effective in lowering stress levels and encouraging relaxation.
The therapist will work closely to identify those essential oils which appeal to them – and promote a feeling of relaxation. A hot stone massage uses basalt stones that creating heat for long periods. These rounded stones warm muscles and promote relaxation.
Of course, you will be attending a ‘day spa’ – and that implies that massage is not the only service that will be available – there are numerous other treatments that will fill up the hours of the day. One of the most popular of these is facials
. However, the sheer number of different types of facials can be intimidating – which to choose? Deep cleansing, anti-aging, European style? In fact, most facials have the same foundations and steps. First cleanse then exfoliate, move on to extraction, massage, and finally the mask. The difference is often in the products that are used. The staff esthetician will be on hand to provide an in-depth analysis of your skin – and just which facial would suit you best.
There are also a number of body treatments that are available such as scrubs. The experience will vary according to what type of exfoliating scrub is used. Day spas, like In the Clouds Day Spa in Fort Lauderdale, FL often have choices that range from the use of salt, which is rough on the skin, sugar scrubs (which are far gentler), or other exfoliants such as coffee grounds or even fruit enzymes. This is often followed by wraps that can use seaweed, mud, or a variety of creams.
The point of spending the day being pampered is to revitalize both body and mind. A day spa is a perfect antidote for the stresses of modern living – and something that should be contemplated regularly.