Health Spa Experience Guide
Advice for Beginners

The Health Spa industry offers a bewildering array of choices, all packaged in the most creative way - not only the treatment menus but also the choice of settings have gone to another level!

Here are some tips to help you get the most from any Spa experience, be it at the one in your neighbourhood or at the latest venue you have heard about!

What Are You Waiting For?

Do yourself a favour (often) and go. Like everything, the more you do it the more experienced you will become, and that way you will come to know yourself and what suits you best. This is also a form of self-affirmation, setting aside time for your own well-being is empowering. Find a way to work it into your budget as often as possible.

Research and Question!

If the Spa of your choice is close by, drop in and see what its about and if it appeals to you pick up a menu and speak to the reception staff, they should be welcoming and happy to assist (good staff can make or break a Spa). Alternately, you can look up the details on-line and browse the treatments at your leisure, if you have any queries you can give them a call.

Understand what your treatment is about and how to get the full benefit. Detox therapies do exactly that find out what would be the best course of action before and after the treatment to best support your body's efforts to remove toxins, for example, avoid alcohol or take a nap. The therapist should also be able to give you advice.

Eating and Drinking

Think about your diet before hand and avoid a big meal prior to your visit; be good to yourself by reducing factors which will hamper your body's detoxification process like red meat and sugar, also drinks containing caffeine or alcohol. You will be amazed at how rewarding this can be.

Drink Water

...and lots of it before your appointment, during and after. Your body will respond well to massage and you will feel and look great.

Slow Down and Relax!

Ensure that you arrive early for your appointment. This gives you time to calm yourself and get into Spa mode it also allows you the opportunity to use other Spa facilities like the steam room, sauna or pools to further enhance your relaxation, at least 15 minutes will certainly help. Arriving late really doesn't benefit anyone, appointments are strictly kept and in the end you will have a reduced session time.

Arriving early or using some meditative techniques will also help to quiet your mind, being totally keyed up during a treatment also doesn't benefit anyone. Take some deep breaths and imagine the ultimate in tranquility for yourself and be in the moment.

Don't plan hectic activities after your Spa session (unless of course you are the type of person who is invigorated by their Spa treatments) you will only undo what has been done and short change yourself, especially after detox treatments like wraps, massage or therapies known to be very effective in this regard.

Communicate

Your Spa time is your precious self investment - make it as pleasant as possible, communicate with your therapist if you prefer the music softer, more gentle pressure during massage or if something isn't quite right, but do it in a gentle and respectful manner at the time, then and there, and be considerate.

If you prefer a female therapist then check this ahead of time. Great Spa therapists come in all shapes and genders but everyone is unique and many clients are just more comfortable with one or the other gender, this can be explored with repeated Spa experiences - also bear in mind that the therapist is interested in doing the job that they are trained for, your body shape, cellulite and stretch marks wont scare them.

Advance Booking and Paying

A last minute decision to Spa may pay off, but generally it is far better for you to get just the treatment or service you want by phoning ahead of time, get confirmation directly as on-line reservations can backfire. Managing your diary and life will be so much easier. If you are travelling, make sure everything is arranged in advance at your destination, especially if time is limited in which to fit the Spa session.

Paying in advance will leave you free to depart after your Spa session happily without having to stop at reception and deal with finance. Most Spas include a gratuity in the fee (15% should otherwise be fine), but keeping some cash handy is advisable in case its not included or you would like to show your appreciation for a stunning service in which case you can arrange to leave a tip for the therapist in an envelope at Reception as you leave.

Paying in advance can also prevent any discussion about the latest skin care products and advice during your treatment, if it does come up you can ask the therapist to put the details down on paper for you to look at later (when you are in another frame of mind and you can focus on potential purchases).

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