When it comes to de-stressing in a modern world, spas offer the latest in health and wellness treatments. But, in case you were not aware, the spa has actually been around for thousands of years! The spa celebrates its origins in water. Espa is the Latin word for fountain. Sanus Per Aquam, SPA, means health through water. From Roman baths to the mountain mineral springs of Switzerland, from Turkish hamams to the communal hot spring baths of Japan, hydrotherapy is an ancient wellness concept our ancestors have enjoyed through the centuries.
Today's spa is more like a holistic healing centre. It's the place for rest and rejuvenation, the getaway that offers respite from the demands of daily life. Once you enrol in a spa, the idea is to unwind in sylvan surroundings, forget your problems, and get yourself pampered from head to toe!
In India, the spa culture is highly evolved. If you suffer from aches and pains, therapy is available. If you want to lose weight, “diet” spas help you to shed the kilos. Even specialised therapies, curing skin problems like acne,treating disorders like arthritis and rheumatism, or offering a full de-tox regimen, can be a part of a spa package.
Dhara, nasyam, pizhichil, navarakizi, lepam, udvardanam, body scrubs, body wraps are some of the other treatments your ayurvedic doctor may recommend.
Take a look at some of the popular types of therapies
Reflexology
Reflexology taps into the body's reflex network, stimulating the pressure sensors located on the soles of the feet. Every pressure point in the foot connects to a particular part of the body, with the demarcated “zones” for the internal organs as well.
Pressure is applied to the feet using specific thumb, finger and hand techniques. Using just the right amount of pressure is essential, as too much pressure can lead to injury. Gentle manipulation of joints also provides relaxation and relief to the foot. Oils, creams and lotions are generally avoided in traditional reflexology work.
You should always inform your reflexologist if you are feeling any unusual pain when the pressure is applied. Each session generally takes 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Sports massage
A specialised form of Swedish massage developed for athletes, but useful for anyone with chronic pain, stiffness or injury. The massage is usually localised or focused on the problem area. Sports massage is also useful before and after sporting events, in which case the areas addressed are those that are used in the particular activity.
Underwater massage
Water treatments can be used to enhance health and treat a variety of health problems. A form of underwater massage is the hydrotherapy bath , consisting of several water jets. The pressure of the water from these water jets promotes circulation, provides relaxation and results in elimination of toxins and reduction of cellulite.
Thai massage
A fluid style of massage developed 2,500 years ago in Buddhist monasteries as form of healing practice. This type of massage uses pressure points to actively stretch muscles and ligaments. Through manipulation of muscles, the spine is elongated, and the entire body is stretched to relieve tension.
Ayurvedic massage
Ayurvedic massage, developed 5000 years ago, offers physical and mental benefits. The purpose of the massage is to assist the body and its organs to repair and renew themselves. Practitioners concentrate on energy centres and muscle manipulation, to treat individual needs. During this process, warm herbal oil is lavishly applied on the body to assist in the therapeutic cure.
Massage: a therapy
By definition, massage is a form of therapy which uses different techniques to promote increased blood flow and subsequent healing.
The uniqueness of this therapy is that it doesn't just affect the skin – the largest organ in our body – but the entire system gets an overhaul. You could benefit from a weekly massage regimen, or fortnightly sessions, to help you relax and re-charge.
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Fact File
Traditional Chinese medicine has gained a huge following in the West. In Chinese medicine, charts dating back thousands of years target certain points in the body as “trigger points” for energy channels. This is based on the knowledge that these points correspond to internal organs and joints, and that manipulating them can have direct benefits for the corresponding body part.
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The writer is a certified Clinical Exercise Specialist, Lifestyle and Weight Management Specialist.
