Spa. What does this three letter word bring to your mind?? A luxury or just a cosmetic route for relaxing your mind and body? Majority of you readers would have answered with the first one had we been living in the 19th century. Spas and the various services they provide in terms of their packages are becoming more and more accessible to people of different social status. Cosmetic therapies and alternative medicine practices for mind and body relaxation are gaining traction with people these days. Naturopathy, aromatherapy, acupuncture, reflexology are just few forms of alternate medicine.
A spa is a place for illegal activities is a popular misnomer among sections of society. However, it is a total misgiving and false assumption. A spa to put in simple terms is a therapy center that offers facials, massages and other cosmetic services. Spas are registered with appropriate governing bodies.
Visiting a spa for any of their massages or facials is an immensely relaxing experience. It not just helps you feel relaxed but also aids in getting a good and peaceful sleep thereafter. It won’t be an over-statement exactly if for once you ditch your play station for a spa session for getting rid of stress. Read on to find out more about spa services and know what makes it a step ahead of cosmetic therapy:
Thai Massage – This therapy type is native to Thailand and is said to have been practiced by monks there in the 5th AD. It is a unique amalgamation of Ayurveda, acupuncture and Yoga. The person undergoing one, needs to wear a loose and comfortable outfit. You are made to lie down on the floor or on a table depending on how mobile your body is in terms of flexibility. A lot of compression, pulling and stretching goes on in this type of massage. You can find the cost of Thai massage in India here.
Health Benefits:
- Reducing stress levels – Thai massage is a known method of reducing mental stress effectively.
- Pain management – Thai massage increases tolerance of pain in people suffering from any kind of bodily pain due to accident or injury
- Improved metabolism – Metabolism receives a boost, blood circulation increases and immunity also increases after undergoing this massage. Further toned muscles are also an added benefit.
Swedish Massage – A Swedish massage is your best bet, if you haven’t tried your hand at massages or anything to do with a spa.
Health Benefits:
- Relaxation – Studies have shown that a Swedish massage is an important mode to reduce stress levels in the body by bringing about a drop in stress hormone levels.
- Immune systemic benefits – Quantity of White Blood Cells in the body also improves after this type of massage leading to a healthier immunity.
- Improves energy levels – Energy levels in the body receive a boost after a Swedish massage as it relaxes muscles and tissues.
Deep Tissue Massage – As the name suggests, a deep tissue massage goes for deeper and inner layers of muscles. It is similar to the Swedish massage, but only difference is the pressure used for massage.
Health Benefits:
- Hypertension – Deep Tissue Massages are known to bring down high blood pressure readings in men and women.
- Joint pain – Symptoms like chronic joint pain and affected range of motion in sportspersons maybe relieved with deep tissue massage sessions.
- Sleep problems – Since deep tissue massages have the ability to reduce cortisol levels in the body to a large extent, sound sleep is restored because of it.
Balinese Massage – Balinese massages are aimed at stroking the pressure points on the body for ridding muscles of strain. This massage combines stretching and kneading the muscles and use of acupressure for the same.
Health Benefits:
- Detoxifies body – A Balinese massage helps in cleaning the body of toxins collected, in a way improving metabolism.
- Skin softener – One’s skin becomes soft and supple after undergoing this type of massage.
- Mood booster – Some rarely used essential oils in a Balinese massage improve one’s mood and the fragrances in it help one to relax.
- Blood flow improves – Balinese massage stimulates flow of blood in the body.
Aromatherapy – Natural oils extracted from flowers, roots, bark of trees, herbs, medicinal plants are used for massage in aromatherapy.
Health Benefits:
- Breathing issues – Oils used in aromatherapy cleanse the air of bacteria that give rise to respiratory issues or aggravate existing ones. These oils are instrumental in treating flu, coughs, sinus infections and throat issues.
- Sleep problems – People suffering from sleep problems and insomnia benefit from the essential oils used in aromatherapy. The oils promote relaxation that helps the person get sound sleep.
- Skin quality – Skin problems like acne, itching, rashes, inflammation can be treated organically with oils in aromatherapy.
- Reduced depression – Symptoms of depression are kept at bay through aromatherapy.
Body Wraps – A Body wrap comprises of exfoliation and salt scrub. Natural ingredients like clay, herbal elements, or mud are used for the same. Plastic or sheets are also used for wrapping purposes when you are left to relax in a dimly-lit environment for 20-30 minutes . Unwanted toxins are pushed out through skin pores by way of body wraps. Slimming body wraps are aimed at weight loss.
Health Benefits:
- Moisturized skin – The elements used for wraps contain moisturizing qualities. Hence your skin becomes soft and radiant at the end of the session.
- Hydrates the skin – Body wrap treatments hydrates your skin and makes it get rid of dead skin cells to give you a top-toe glowing appearance
Prenatal massage – If you are an expecting mother, then this one’s for you. Visiting a qualified therapist for the massage is advised. A qualified therapist knows the exact regions to work on without causing any harm to your health. A prenatal massage is similar to a regular massage and aims at reducing stress from abdominal muscles, shoulders, back and neck regions.
Health Benefits:
- Immature birth – Prenatal massages reduce your risk of delivering the baby before the complete term of pregnancy
- Depression – Prenatal massage improves your overall state-of-mind and disposition. It also reduces signs and symptoms of prenatal depression such as feeling lost, moody, anxious, hopeless and so forth.
- Relax – Like a regular massage, prenatal massage helps expecting women get rid of stress and body-ache, thus also improving blood circulation.
- Improves sleep – After a prenatal massage, women are able to sleep better
Facials – Facials rejuvenate the skin on your face and neck region instantaneously. Facials are what come to the rescue of women who have to look good for any important social functions but do not have a penchant for makeup.
Health Benefits:
- Glowing skin – Dead skin cells, whiteheads, acne marks all are removed during a facial. That imparts a glowing appearance to the skin.
- Bright look – Steam provided during the facial opens up skin pores making it light in complexion
- Relaxing feeling – The facial session lasts for 30-35 minutes and also consists of massage that leaves you refreshed and relaxed
Going for a spa session is highly relaxing. Above mentioned were few spa services which you can avail of or can gift your loved ones with for important occasions.