Day Spa: Useful Terminology

There are many different ways to be pampered at a day spa. Because of the variety of amenities that are available to you, you may end up being confused by some of the terminology. Here are some basic terms to help you get through your first few visits until you become a day spa terminology expert. Acupressure is a form of treatment that pinpoints the special areas on your body. A massage therapist applies pressure to those areas using their palms, fingers and knuckles to help get rid of pain and stress. This method has been around for over 5,000 years and was invented in China as part of Chinese medicine. Pilates is a form of exercise that was invented by Doctor Joseph Pilates. His original goal was to help dancers who suffered from painful muscles. Pilates uses precise movements that are muscle resistant. Pilates is usually done on a mat much like Yoga is done. The goal of Pilates is to give your body strength and flexibility. Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine that uses small needles, which are inserted into specific areas of the body. These needles are intended to speed up the natural flow of energy that comes from your body to get rid of pain and stress. A Roman bathhouse has areas such as steam rooms and ice water showers. They are beautifully constructed from mosaics and date all the way back to the year 200 B.C. The purpose of these bathhouses was to treat impaired circulatory systems. This is a concept that many modern day spas incorporate into their businesses. Asiatsu was derived from Asia and is a barefoot massage that utilizes not only deep compressions, but also acupressure as well to help with stiff muscles. This procedure can be deep if you can tolerate the intense pressure. This procedure is not used on women who are pregnant, folks who are on certain medications, those who have had eye surgery recently as well as people with cancer, varicose veins, heart conditions and high blood pressure. Body scrubs are simply amazing. This is a treatment that uses products that contain sea salt and natural oils from the earth that helps to remove dead skin and helps to increase the circulation of blood. Your skin feels soft and rejuvenated after a body scrub. Body scrubs are also known as body polish or body glow. Water aerobics have become popular over the years. They are regular aerobic exercises but they are done in a pool. Water aerobics are designed to increase your cardiovascular system, help make your bones stronger and assist with the burning body fat. A Dead Sea mud treatment is a body wrap that is made from mud that is rich in minerals. The mud that is used for these wraps comes directly from the Dead Sea. This treatment is used to eliminate toxins from the skin and body, as well as to help with painful conditions such as arthritis. Hot stone therapy is a type of massage that uses smooth mineral stones, which are heated and dipped in oil. The stones are then applied to the body to help with painful muscles and fatigue as well as restoring the energy in your body.