Spa Treatments: Which One to Choose
There are multiple forms of massage, facial and spa treatments. It can be completely overwhelming, to the point where you just book the basic 1 hr massage or the facial.
I have put together a comprehensive list of treatments that you might find at your local spa and their description. Maybe you’ll find a treatment that peeks your interest and you’ll try something new. Whilst doing the research for this piece, I have found a couple of treatments I’d like to try.
Accussage
A combination of acupuncture and massage that focuses on balancing neural and musculoskeletal systems. Often includes other energy therapies such as Reiki.
Acupressure
Is a traditional Chinese medicine bodywork technique based on the same ideas as acupuncture. It involves placing physical pressure, by hand, elbow, or with the aid of various devices, on different pressure points on the surface of the body, to bring about relief through greater balance and circulation of energies in the body. It is intended to affect and balance the energetic system of the body in order to treat the human body, mind, emotions, energetic fields, and spirit.
Acupuncture
One of the oldest, most commonly used medical procedures in the world. The intent of acupuncture therapy is to promote health and alleviate pain and suffering. Acupuncture is the stimulation of special points on the body, usually by the insertion of fine needles.
Athletic Massage
A deep penetration massage that focuses on the muscles in the particular sport played by the client.
Aromatherapy
The use of fragrant oils in such treatments as massage, facials and body wraps for their healing effects, both emotional and physical.
Ayurveda
A system of treatments derived from Indian folk traditions the goal of which is to restore the body to perfect balance. Ayurveda incorporates massage, meditation, aromatherapy and nutrition.
Balneotherapy
A water-based treatment using natural thermal, spring, mineral or seawater to induce relaxation, improve the circulation, stimulate the immune system and bring about detoxification whilst revitalising the body.
Botox Therapy
An injectable treatment derived from a purified protein. Botox smoothes out lines by preventing the muscles from contracting into a wrinkle. Gradually over three to six months, the Botox effect will fade, and the muscle action will return. When the frown line starts to reappear, a simple repeat treatment is all that is necessary to maintain the desired result.
Collagen Therapy
Injection of collagen beneath the skin fills out wrinkles and lines. Is most often used to plump up lips.
Craniosacral Therapy
This is when subtle movements are applied to the spinal and cranial bones, bringing the central nervous system into harmony. “Cranio” refers to the cranium, face and mouth. “Sacral” refers to the sacrum (tail bone).
Dry Brush and Tone
Dry brushing the skin removed dead skin, impurities, and stimulates circulation. A variety of exfoliating techniques can be used and are a pre-treatment for body masks.
Fango Therapy
Fango is the Italian word for mud. Fango Therapy is when highly mineralized mud is used to detoxify the body and soften and firm the skin.
Herbal Wrap
Using an assortment of purifying botanical ingredients, this wrap will detoxify the system and relax the muscles, resulting in a sense of deep relaxation. The weight loss that can be achieved is a bonus.
Hot Stone Massage
Hot stone massage is a specialty massage that uses smooth, heated stones. They are often basalt, a black volcanic rock that absorbs and retains heat well.
Hydrotherapy
A relaxing and detoxifying therapy that can include jet massage, showers, jet spray and mineral baths.
Lomi Lomi
The word Lomi Lomi simply means massage and is a unique healing massage derived from the ancient Polynesians and more specifically the master healers of Hawaii. The massage is given in fluid, rhythmic motion using the forearms as well as the hands.
Microdermabrasion
Involves the skin being gently ”sandblasted” by aluminum oxide crystals, baking soda, salt or corn cob granules to remove the stratum corneum (top) layer of the skin; dead skin cells. Promotes the production of new cells in the basal (deepest) layer of the dermis and can clean pores incredibly and hinder any future breaks outs if used on a regular basis.
Mineral Waters
Originating from natural springs and wells, these waters contain high concentrations of rare or biologically active elements. Improves circulation and detoxifies the body.
Mud Bath
The most proven reason to take a mud bath is that it’s relaxing. Being cocooned and buoyed up in the warm, soft mixture simply sucks all the stress out. Warmed, highly mineralized mud improves the complexion, relieves joint and muscle pain and remove toxins.
Phytotherapy
Healing treatment that involves herbs, essential oils, seaweed, herbal and floral extracts. Phytotherapy is applied through massage, packs or wraps, and steam therapies.
Reflexology
The Chinese-based manual therapy using pressure on different zones of reflex (feet, hands) corresponding to some organs or parts of the body. Specially recommended to alleviate tensions and improve blood circulation, this technique provides relaxation and well-being.
Reiki
Reiki healing is the usage of spiritual energy to heal a person’s aura or situation. Uses light hand placements on the body: the hand placements coincide with the seven major chakras or energy centers of the physical body.
Ryu-Jitsu
Means “Dragon Magic” in Japanese. A three-part body treatment that launched at NAO Salon & Spa in New York. Start by using the Body Master, a passive workout machine that’s like a shortened treadmill. Then it’s off to the Hot Stone Spa Room filled with lava rocks from Mt. Fuji for twenty minutes of sweating, detoxing, and cool lavender towels.Part three is a mix of Shiatsu and Thai massage.
Salt Glow
A mixture of salt, oils and water is used to vigorously scrub the body, removing dead skin, cleaning pores and stimulating circulation.
Seaweed Wrap
A seaweed wrap as a total body cleanser. It cleanses both inside and out. The wrap works by absorbing the vitamins and minerals that the seaweed contains naturally. The minerals absorbed are taken in by the skin and help break up fatty deposits in your body. It is a gentle form of detoxification for your skin and your body and it will make your skin look and feel supple and smooth.
Shiatsu
Means “finger pressure” in Japanese. Therapy involves the systematic application of manual pressure that is relaxing and can be beneficial for back pain, stress, headaches, whiplash injuries, neck stiffness, joint pain and reduced motibility and many sports injuries amongst other ailments.
Thai Massage
Is an interactive manipulation of the body using passive yoga-like stretching and gentle pressuree along “energy lines”. The effect is uniquely relaxing and energizing.
Thalassotherapy
Comes from the Greek word for “sea”, and refers to a variety of treatments that use seawater, seaweed and other marine and ocean derivatives, each designed to tone, moisturise and revitalise the body and skin, and in many cases to improve circulation.
Vichy Shower
A treatment applied to the body with several water jets set at various forces and delivering water at different temperatures. By focusing the water jets primarily on the reflex zones along the spine, sacrum and legs, the vichy Shower effectively stimulates the internal body systems, circulation, metabolism sense of relaxation.
Watsu
Is a gentle form of body therapy performed in warm water, combining elements of massage, joint mobilisation, shiatsu, muscle stretching and dance. The receiver is continuously supported while being floated, cradled, rocked and stretched. The deeply relaxing effects of warm water and nurturing support, combine with Watsu’s movements, stretches, massage and point work, to create a bodywork with a range of therapeutic benefits and potential healing on many levels.
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