Aromatherapy, which dates back to the ancient Egyptians and Chinese, involves the mixing of essential oils from plants with massage oils to create scents that relax, stimulate, and regenerate. It boosts energy and eases stress, anxiety, insomnia, muscle spasms, and joint stiffness.
Cranio-sacral practitioners apply gentle pressure on the soft tissue around the scalp and down to the base of the spine, to remove any blockage in circulation. It relieves headaches, soothes back and joint pain, and boosts the immune system.
Day Spas are designed to provide a healing, beautifying, or pampering experience in a short period of time.
Deep Tissue therapist applies slow strokes and pressure on the deeper layers of muscle tissue in order to release chronic muscular tension. It alleviates pain, improves circulation, and relieves tension and stiffness.
Destination Spas offer dedicated education programs, physical fitness activities, professionally administered services, and healthy cuisine.
Hot Stone massage therapist heats smooth, black basalt stones in water at 125oF, and then glides them across your oiled body. The heat and pressure of the strokes relax and stimulate muscles at the same time. It improves circulation and loosens tight muscles.
Polarity is related to Ayurveda, a natural healing practice from India that blends herbal medicine, meditation, and bodywork. Therapist pinpoints energy blockages. It also involves stretching, light rocking, and holding of pressure points. It is considered as a natural, effective way to uplift body, mind, and spirit.
Reflexology is based on the principle that because all parts of the body are connected to the feet, applying gentle pressure on certain reflex points in the feet can have various healing effects. For example, massaging the big toe is said to relieve headaches and tension.
Reiki, which is Japanese in origin, seeks to promote whole-body healing by unblocking your qi, the source of emotions, thoughts, ands spirituality. It reduces stress and relieves pain. It is also effective for tension, minor illness, and trauma.
Resort Spas are places where spa treatments and services are offered to complement such holiday activities as golf, tennis, horseback riding, and aqua sports.
Rolfing realigns the head, shoulder, thorax, pelvis, and legs by using a variety of hands-on techniques. People say, they feel lighter, taller, and more relaxed after a rolfing session.
Shiatsu, the Japanese healing art, aims to attain emotional balance and spiritual harmony by realigning “meridians”. Deeply relaxing, it energizes low spirits and helps alleviate fatigue. It also relieves acute pain in the joints and long-standing posture problems.
Spas Abroad can either take the form of European spas that retain an Old World charm or Asian spas that make creative use of indigenous design and healing traditions.
Sports Massage is similar to Swedish and deep tissue, yet involves more pressure than rubbing. It relieves soreness, strengthens muscles, speeds up the healing process, and reduces exhaustion. Often concentrated on specific muscles, it leads to increased circulation and flexibility.
Swedish, the most common massage at spas today, involves long gliding strokes and kneading and rubbing of the more superficial layers of muscle. The strokes go in the direction that blood flows toward the heart – to increase blood circulation through the soft tissues.
Thai, which has roots in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, combines acupressure, reflexology, and yoga. It begins with gentle flexing of the feet, followed by work on the rest of the body. It stimulates internal organs, which can improve digestion and eliminate emotional and physical stress.
Trager uses gentle, rhythmic movement to release tension and realign the body. It helps change. It helps change incorrect body and muscle movements and improves range of motion. It leads to increased physical mobility, deeper relaxation, and improved mental clarity.
Trigger Point refers to a painful, irritated area in the muscles. In this treatment, concentrated finger pressure is applied on trigger points to break cycles of pain and spasms. It induces relaxation by soothing sore muscles, spasms, and cramping.
Watsu is basically shiatsu performed in water. Sessions take place in four feet of water between 94 and 96oF, just below body temperature. The therapist supports you under the head and the small of the back and guides you through a series of holds, stretches, and slow spins.
Wellness Spas are special facilities that address guests’ specific health needs and issues.
Weight Management Spas are places that specialize in lifestyle change for weight loss and weight maintenance. Most of these spas are medically oriented and include physician supervision.
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The original Reiki developed in 1922 in Japan had nothing to do with spas, nor does Reiki as it now actually exists or is misrepresented in some Western countries. Also it may be better to differentiate true Reiki from the Western developed ’3 stage’ Reiki which has nothing to do with the Japanese tradition. Reiki in Japanese has been mistranslated as ‘universal’ life energy. This is wrong and a misnomer.
Some Western authors loosely translate reiki as “universal life energy”.[16] This coinage partially mistranslates: ki means “life energy” — rei does not mean “universal”.
For more detailed correct information on this relaxation technique and the one created in the West please see this page from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reiki
Western Reiki in can be fun and relaxing with a sincere practitioner with their heart in the right place. Beware those who think they can train for it over the internet.