Spa Massage Treatments Delight the Senses

Massage Therapy in a Health Resort or Day Spa

Jan 24, 2010
Amy Kreydin

Massage Therapy at The Wellness Spa - dcarson924

Spa goers can often choose from a variety of massage and body treatments. Menu items may be inspired from ancient techniques.

Whether it is for a special event or the occasional indulgence the spa visitor is looking for a luxurious atmosphere and a tantalizing menu of services. Amenities vary by location but massage therapies are commonly offered at every day spa and health resort around the world.

Spas typically have a wider selection of equipment and therefore offer a greater menu of services to their guests than an independent practitioner can. Guests can also choose from other technicians during their visit – such as the aesthetician or pedicurist.

Hydrotherapy at the Spa

Health resorts may provide spa guests with access to showers, saunas, hot tubs or soaking and pools. It is advisable for the guest to arrive well before their appointment is scheduled to begin to partake in such elements. A visit to the shower after a relaxing massage or body treatment may be just the thing to finish a relaxing visit to the spa.

Sauna and water treatments may be incorporated into an actual massage treatment like the following menu items:

Watsu – a form of massage therapy done in a warm pool where the client is floated in the water, stretched and massaged by the practitioner.
Baths – some guests are invited to enjoy a private bath with therapeutic ingredients such as sea salts and herbs prior to a massage.
Steam therapies – given in a steam room, in a steam canopy over the massage table or by a machine that mists warm steam onto the body.

Muds, Polishes and Wraps in a Spa Massage

Depending on what the spa has access to for materials, the menu may change throughout the year to reflect seasonal ingredients. These types of body treatments could stand alone, or be incorporated in a relaxation or therapeutic massage:

herbal wraps – used to improve circulation herbal spa wraps will cocoon the client for a period of the treatment.
mud therapy – clay and mud are frequently used for their detoxification properties in a session.
body polish – ingredients like pineapple, mineral salts or even coffee beans might show up in a body polish treatment to exfoliate the skin.

Ancient Bodywork Techniques

Destination spas and health resorts will naturally include traditional massage techniques from the local cultures. Some day spas will add techniques to the menu that originate from foreign destinations.

Asian bodywork – pressure point therapies based on energy meridians on the body.
Ayurvedic bodywork – a variety of Ayurvedic bodywork modalities are making their ways into some spas including scalp and hair oil treatments and energetic balancing of the chakras.
aromatherapy – may be incorporated into different massage packages or available as an add-on. There is some debate in the profession about whether the average massage school graduate is qualified to use essential oils without further training but aromatherapy is not a regulated modality in many parts of the world.

Training for Spa Massage Professionals

Some product line companies offer continuing education workshops for trained massage therapists to learn how to do wraps, clays, mud and various product-oriented treatments in a spa setting. Massage schools may also offer an advanced training course in spa treatments for the massage practitioner to take.

The Informed Spa Consumer

To get the best out of a spa experience be prepared to ask questions when scheduling an appointment and don’t be shy to request further details or a call-back from an associate. Consider the following tips for a healthy and fun spa experience:

ingredients – allergic reactions are no fun after a visit to the spa so be sure to check on all ingredients that will be used in a session. If in doubt do a spot test on the thigh or upper arm and wait 15 minutes before washing off, if redness or itching occurs avoid the product or ingredient.
hydrate – be well hydrated before and after a session.
check the spas licensing – to ensure the spa is an upstanding establishment check that they are licensed by local government and that the technicians are properly trained to work on you.
ask about timing – some spas routinely factor in the time it takes a guest to dress and undress into a treatment time. This may leave the guest with only 45 or 50 minutes of actual time with the therapist in a 60 minute session.