What is SPA? SPA means more than just some facilities (pools, saunas), a menu of spa treatments and products.

What is SPA?

Destindere for muscles and mind, relaxation total indulgence, pampering of the body and comfort of the spirit - the SPA is all of these things rolled into one. The term for the place where you find all this comes from an abbreviation of a Latin expression: Sanitas Per Aquam - Health through Water. And as the name suggests, the SPA was originally a place of hydrotherapy. The Romans, the proud successors of the Greeks, laid the foundations of this SPA, founding the first maintenance centers in which water was used for health. You can read in the article about spa history more details.

The right choice of the right spa is essential to achieve the well-being that clients crave for wellness: they should be sent to centers that meet a combination of criteria - the most important of which are: the staff and the spa atmosphere - designed to relax all the senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch.

SPA: a multisensory experience

Going to a spa gives you time for yourself. To relax, rejuvenate and take a break from everyday stress and, last but not least, to pamper yourself. The Spa experience starts right from the moment you enter such a spa, with the atmosphere it exudes: music, aromas, decor, light. This atmosphere awakens all your senses, but without overwhelming them. You meet here the most gentle and harmonious form of sounds, color, tea aroma, natural essences, perfumes, light, textures and color. Once you enter the treatment room, you're faced with oils, creams, warm pastes and other delicious ingredients that keep the multi-sensory experience going.

What is SPA? SPA is a place of health

Where you not only get healthy, but all your senses are relaxed:

• hearing: through relaxing music that we listen to on mute
• the view: through decorations taken from nature: stones, wood, plants
• the smell: delectably scented with essential oils (be careful NOT with scented sticks which are toxic)
• taste: through the fresh teas or smoothies we serve in the spa
• tactile: through massage / other therapy we receive

In addition, in SPA you should feel an effect on all levels:

• body benefits (through the direct effect of the spa treatment)
• mental (by detaching yourself from what is weighing you down - and for this, relaxing the 5 senses helps)
• emotional (if we feel good, we will be more balanced, better and more tolerant with those around us and with ourselves)
• spiritual (you connect to yourself, you feel that it is a space for introspection, for a journey inside yourself)

What treatments do we do in a spa center?

At a spa you can benefit, in addition to these therapies, of special rituals that are performed according to the same recipe in all institutions. Or, on the contrary. spa treatments signature, specific to a particular spa. Rituals typically include:

• and a session of massageof a certain type (lomi lomi, shiatsu, Thai, etc.),
• o exfoliationa packing and often a bath

Massage in general has both a relaxing and a therapeutic effect. It relieves local aches and pains, relieves stress and promotes blood circulation. This has multiple health benefits. Also, through the oils or creams used in massage, the skin is nourished and deeply moisturized. And your sense of smell enjoys aromatherapy.

What is SPA & Wellness

In addition to therapeutic massages (back and neck, for example) and relaxation massages, or massages that come from a philosophy thousands of years old (ex. ayurvedic massage(Polynesian, which diffuses and channels the flow of energy in the body and spirit, bringing tranquility and improving tone) - that have consecrated the Spas, three other elements are commonly found in a spa:  sauna yes hammamul and hydrotherapy.

There are several types of sauna (dry, infrared, aromosauna...). And everyone has certain preferences. Whatever sauna you choose, its effects are: relieving muscle tension, detoxifying, stimulating fat burning and strengthening the immune system.

The hammam is the Turkish bath or wet sauna - with steam and has the advantage of opening the pores of the skin, cleansing it of impurities.

Hydrotherapy: a pool of water between 37 and 40 degrees Celsius, filtered, treated and constantly refreshed. This pool is filled with bubbles produced by injecting water or air. The bubbles have a hydromassage effect. This pool can be installed indoors or outdoors. It can be used by one person or several.

What is SPA? A wellness lifestyle

The Spa is a space for regeneration and rest, but also for meditation. Relaxation and meditation areas have been designed for this activity. The Spa is characterized by a holistic concept, which treats the human being as a whole.

The concept is based on the idea that health and well-being can only be achieved through harmony of body and mind. Wellness encompasses water therapies, but also massage, physical exercise (e.g. Pilates), body treatments and nutrition. 

Benefits of SPA

General benefits of spa therapies, according to scientific studies:

• Decreased levels of stress, confusion, anxiety and depression
• lower cortisol levels after massage
• increased levels of dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline
• increases delta wave levels which results in improved sleep: deep and restful sleep
• improved trunk flexion performance (improved range of trunk motion (ROM) - in adults with chronic back pain
• less neck, shoulder and back pain after treatment sessions
• reducing back pain
• increased vigor
• reducing the risk of preterm birth and decreasing the duration of labor in women who had massage during pregnancy
• reducing muscle tension
• improving blood circulation
• stimulating the lymphatic system
•  increased mobility and flexibility
• improving skin tone
• increasing the power of concentration
• combating signs of ageing: smoothing and protective effects (facial treatments)
• removing toxins from the body
• strengthens the immune system
• improves breathing

What is SPA? Types of spa & wellness centers, with locations selected according to the criteria in this article

Relaxing spa centers

What is SPA? They are oases of tranquility and peace in urban agglomerations and they appeal to all of us, mainly because of the limited time for activities and trips to recharge lost energies. Expect to find:

• A variety of facial and body treatments, including relaxing or therapeutic massages.
• They can also include manicure and pedicure spa services, but they are not mandatory in a relaxation spa.
• Hydrotherapy services
• Private treatment rooms with shower facilities.
• Qualified staff, professionals and holders of recognized diplomas.
• A range of cosmetics you can use at home
• A relaxation area
• Towels, slippers and everything you need
• Consultation / health questionnaire

Rarely, but you can also find services:

• Nutrition and weight management
• Fitness facilities, pilates, yoga
• SPA cuisine

Spa hotel

A hotel spa center offers classic spa services, with wellness, fitness and spa cuisine menu options of your choice. They can be right inside the hotel, but also adjacent.

In addition to vacationing customers looking for relaxation, there are favorite places for the business segment. The spa offers relaxation and the possibility to recover your energy quickly.

When the hotel is in the center of a city, then the spa takes on the characteristics of a relaxation spa, serving not only hotel guests but also locals looking for peace and relaxation.

Spa centers

There are spas that generally also offer a source of mineral, thermal or sea water, used in hydrotherapy treatments. If you go to a spa, you benefit implicitly and free of charge from the natural healing factors of air therapy.

It is not necessary to have health problems to visit them. The reason for visiting can be relaxation, wellness and prevention. Europe is well-known for its mineral springs and Romania has 1/3 of them.

Medical Spa

This category includes institutions served by individuals or groups - physicians, whose purpose is to provide medical, wellness and beauty services in an environment that integrates Spa services in addition to conventional medical treatments. Sometimes they also offer complementary therapies.

SPA & Wellness Destinations

aim to offer their guests solutions to improve their lifestyle and health, through Spa services, fitness and various wellness education programs.

These spas offer accommodation and exclusive spa cuisine. In addition to spa hotels, Spa & wellness destinations should also include:

• Beautiful gardens or parklands
• Diet Spa cuisine
• Nutrition and weight management
• Daily fitness and health programs
• Outdoor wellness activities
• A variety of complementary therapies

Other forms of centers where you can enjoy spa services: Wellness Center, Detox Centre, Spa salon

When you want to book a spa appointment, check also the Special offers which we update every month.

Visit also SPA Romania to choose your spa center by county / town

Did I whet your spa appetite? We can program you in one of our partner spa centers!

Study sources:

The Touch Research Institute, University of Miami, www.miami.edu/touch-research

Global Wellness Institute, www.wellnessevidence.com

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/massage