Spa Etiquette - Things to do in a Spa

Things to do before going for a spa break:

Are you going to a spa for the first time? Here are a few guidelines that tell you what to do when you go visiting a spa -

1. Let your spa therapist know if you have any pre existing medical conditions like high blood pressure, allergies or if have undergone surgery recently. If you are pregnant,tell them so, as some treatments involve applying pressure in the abdomen area. In any case it might be dangerous to take treatments in pregnant condition.

2. Arrive at the venue a little bit earlier to give yourself time to adjust and relax. Some spas might cancel or shorten your scheduled treatment if you arrive late.

3. Ask the therapist upfront to set up music, temperateure, aroma of the treatment room to your liking. If you are taking a massage therapy then ask your therpist to apply pressure to your comfort level.

4. For some types of treatments you might be asked to undress. If you are comfortable with that, go ahead. Normally you can leave your underwears on, or the therapist would supply you with disposable briefs. For most part during treatment you will remain at least partially covered. whatever be the case if you have reservations about being nude or partially nude before a stranger, have a talk with your therapist about how much and what way you want to be covered. Remember, you need not comply with anything if you are uncomfortable.

5. Normally you will get 5 - 10 minutes to vacate the treatment room after a treatment. Spend some time in the relaxation area to unwind and relax.

6. If you come to the spa wearing jewellary then put it in the locker provided by the spa. The best thing of course would be to not bring jewellary items to the spa at all.

7. Switch off your mobile phone before entering the treatment room.

How to Chose a Good Day Spa

1. Go for an inspection - Ask to have a tour of their premises. Some facilities like treatment rooms or sauna might be inaccessible, but you should at least be able to inspect the changing rooms. How to the changing rooms look, neat and tidy or in a mess?

2. Observe behaviour of staff - Observe how the staff behaves with your and other customers. This will give an indication of how your spa experience will be.

3. Price suitability and size - There are hundreds of day spas to chose from. Some are overpriced for the services they provide. Some day spas overreach their actual capacity. Check out the spa size carefully and find out if the services they offer are a fit for your budget.

4. Services offered - What services do they offer? Do they offer the specislised service you want? is the therapist well trained?

5. Quality of the personnel - What is the quality of the personnel? Are they good at putting you at ease? Some therapists simply go through the motions, whereas some therapists really love what they do. It is the second category of therapists that you would love to come back to.

Day Spa Glossary

Common terms used in a day spa:

Abhyanga: Here one or two therapists pour warm and herbalized oil on your body - top to bottom. It is an Ayurvedic Synchronized Massage treatment. It helps to detoxify your body. You will feel quite rejuvenated after an abhyanga session.

Acupressure: A therapist will press certain pressure points in your blody to stimulare proper circulation of energy throughout your body. It is quite painless and you feel rechrged after a therapy. It is a traditional oriental massage therapy.

Acupuncture: Small therapeutic needles are inserted in specific points in your body. This therapy is known to fasten up healing process. This also is an oriental therapy.

Ayurveda: It is a system of health care from Indian subcontinent. Herbal medicines, hot oils, meditation, nutrition and aromatherapy are essential components of this health care system. More than a health care system it is a health care philosophy about finding the right balance in lifestyle for overall well being.

Laconium: A dry heat chamber or treatment room. Your body will get heated up slowly and gently inside a laconium. Sometimes used before some treatments, the laconium is used for opening up skin pores and detoxify the skin. Soothing lighting, sound and aroma leads to pleasant relaxation of the body.