About Spa Massage & Treatments 

Spa massage is popular. Whether you make an appointment at a local day spa or take a vacation at a destination spa, you usually have a range of options.

Popular techniques include Swedish, deep tissue, lomi-lomi, hot stone, or Thai massage. Plus, many spas offer their own uniquely designed massage treatments. You can even get a chocolate spa massage.

Spa Treatments

In addition to massage, spas offer other treatments to help you relax and feel good, including:

• Facials.
• Salt scrubs use sea salts to exfoliate and cleanse the skin, improving its appearance. 
• Mud wraps are another body treatment that many spas offer. The wraps can cover your whole body, or you can just get a mud facial. Mud wraps purify, polish, hydrate, and smooth the skin. The treatment may include skin exfoliation before the wrap and a moisturizer for the skin after the wrap.
• Herbal body wraps relax and may detoxify your body, helping to get rid of excess fluid. Steamed towels infused with herbal blends or essential oils are wrapped around all or parts of your body. 
• Options such as hot tubs, steam rooms, and saunas.

If you want to create spa treatments at home, see Nature's Beauty Secrets: Recipes for Beauty Treatments from the World's Best Spas.

For spa-goers, the International Spa Association (ISPA) maintains a list of frequently asked questions. 

For massage therapists who want to learn more about spas and spa treatments, see SPA: A Comprehensive Introduction by Elizabeth M. Johnson and Bridgette M. Redman.

Spa Links

Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat and Conference Center in the mountains of Oregon is a natural retreat maintained by a community dedicated to living mindfully. Enjoy soaking in the hot springs, participating in daily well-being programs, eating organic vegetarian meals, walking in nature, and much more.

AVI Day Spa is an European day spa for men and women in Great Falls, Virginia. Services include glycolic acid peel facials, laser hair removal, permanent make-up, microdermabrasion, and more.

Image credit: Kurhan/123RF Stock Photo

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