Kathleen Gardenswartz
1. Spa Delivered, there’s an app for that.
Yelp.
You are at work, home or traveling and you feel the need to spa. Now it is very easy to find a spa in your neighborhood. Just click on the Yelp iphone application and they will use your GPS location to produce a glorious list of spas in your area. Better yet, get some peer advice by reading spa reviews that are available for you. It’s all there ready for you and right in your hands.
Deepak Chopra.
Feel the stress releasing its hold as you hear your personal stress coach, Deepak Chopra, guide you toward peace and tranquility. This is a new iphone app that will be part of a guided series centered in traditional Vedic principles and designed for living a better life one day at a time.
Good Guide.
This iphone app and website allows a consumer to find “good” products in stores by scanning barcodes with your phone. This is putting your environmental impact values into action by allowing you to find safe, healthy and green products for you and your family. Follow their blog and twitter feeds to get the latest information on the products we purchase every day. Download this applications and start testing the beauty products you use every day.
2. Preventative Spa Therapy, live longer, live healthier.
Forward thinking spas are developing overall wellness programs geared toward making our bodies work better for much longer. Think of the Jack Lalane lifestyle, his existence has been devoted to wellness and he is still jumping at age 94.
“More Americans are gingerly tiptoeing into their golden years than ever before. At the same time, modern healthcare is helping ward off life-shortening disease at a tremendous rate. The result is a growing population that is expected to live longer than any generation before, how they live those years is dependent on how they live their lives today, and massage and bodywork can be instrumental in making the process a graceful one.”
Many spas are establishing age management programs that incorporate regular spa treatments to enhance appearance and overall health. Massage has been shown to increase flexibility, circulation, boost the immune system and reduce stiffness. There isn’t a pill out there that can deliver those results.
3. Hammam.
The Turkish bath conjures up images of Moroccan tiles, ancient aromatherapy and sipping exotic teas while gazing at beautiful landscapes from ancient terraces. The traditions of the Hammam reach back to the Roman’s and Greeks but were improved by the Turks into luxurious bathhouses with sophisticated architecture. The Turkish bath, or hammam, incorporates cleansing and purification, exfoliation and massage treatments all together along with a final cool down and tea.
Lucky for us, hotels and day spas in larger cities, like Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York are incorporating the traditions of the Hammam within modern, full service spas. They are becoming social hubs within the spas for individuals but also to allow us to step back, renew and enjoy the benefits of these ancient traditions.
4. Indigenous Spa Treatments.
Imagine linking back to the earliest known indigenous cultures through their massage and health treatments and tradition. Many spa tourists are taking advantage of local exotic ingredients known among indigenous cultures to produce glowing results during spa treatments. These indigenous products and traditions are making their way to the US, creating the opportunity for state-bound spa enthusiasts to enjoy treatments like the Kodo massage. This spa treatment comes from the traditions of the Australian aboriginal culture and is designed to expand consciousness and honor dreamtime. Even the indigenous healing powers of Shamans are being shared today. There is a growing practice of these guiding intermediaries ready to help you connect, body, mind and spirit.
The thread of ancient cultural wisdom runs deep within many existing spa treatments and can be clearly traced back to their roots. This trend of rediscovering indigenous treatments, uncovering their benefits and adapting them to the modern spa will have an overall impact on the industry.
5. Mind.Body.Spirit.
The body-mind connection is the link between the physical body, our mind and spirit. True and lasting health pivots on bringing balance to those relationships. Our basic health is intrinsically connected to the body and how it physically reacts to our emotions.
Spas are harnessing the power of balance in their practices through treatments, energy focused bodywork and spiritual awakening. Silent retreats are growing, as is the importance of guiding clients toward a more balanced lifestyle. Spas are using massage as a way for patients to reconnect to their most basic senses and have more restorative and mindful spa experiences.
6. Spa Amenities.
Evidently, the word “amenities” as applied to spa will mean very different things to diverse spa goers. Consumers will weigh their specific spa amenity preferences when choosing a spa experience. The top identified spa facility amenities are:
Locker room.
Relaxation room.
Hot tub, steam room and sauna.
Fitness facility.
Top treatments: Massage, facial, body scrub and wraps.
7. Massage therapy merges with mainstream hospitals.
Hospitals around the country are now using body-mind exercises and therapies to help patients in the emotional and physical healing process. They are currently using body-mind connection therapies to allow patients to actively participate in managing their health and have been shown to enhance the healing process, reduce the number of medications required and give patients peace of mind.
Therapists are using the body-mind connection in conjunction with traditional therapies to help PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), anorexic and other eating disorder patients to re-establish the body-mind link, facilitate self-acceptance and initiate a more caring relationship with their bodies. Ultimately the goal is to incorporate these skills and exercises as life tools to handle emotions and ultimately achieve long-term health for these patients.
8. Scandinavian Water Therapy.
The bathhouse is a traditional Scandinavian treatment that incorporates a mix of hot and cold baths to rejuvenate, relax and enhance overall wellbeing. The mix of hot and cold-water therapies is becoming very popular; particularly near large winter sport and ski areas. The changes in water temperature during the spa experience will invigorate the body, increase circulation and eliminate toxins from the body.
9. Holistic Spas.
A holistic approach to spa and healing emphasizes treating the whole body. It includes consideration of a client’s environment and all the integrated variables that make up the individual’s well being. A holistic spa may incorporate yoga, silent meditation and detox along with more traditional spa treatments for an overall regimen designed for the individual.
10. Simplify.Relax.Rejuvenate.Appreciate.
We have all experienced or know others who have been touched by the economy. Difficult experiences give us the clarity to see what is truly important and allow us to change our lives for the better.
While the last year has been difficult for families and businesses, it has also given us the collective motivation to simplify our lives and appreciate the things we have now. Spas are responding with treatments and spa experiences that are designed to reduce stress and create environments that allow clients to rejuvenate and relax.