History Of Spas

The growing number of full service hair salons and day spas throughout the U.S. may have gradually become a recently popular trend but, in actuality, they have existed as long as cosmetology itself. Credit the wide array of relaxing, luxurious spa treatments to the Ancient Egyptians, who developed elaborate bathing systems that were later adopted by the Greeks and Romans. Their public baths were equipped with heated floors and were a major form of entertainment for their ancient society. Many men and women spent entire days here, where they began by undressing in different rooms and then walked through a series of five rooms, which got hotter and hotter. Upon reaching the central bath, they scraped their sweat-drenched skin with knives and oiled themselves with light perfumed oil before bathing. When they tired of the bath, there were also restaurants, meeting rooms and exercise rooms to entertain the people.

The meaning of the word "spa" may have came from the Belgian town of Spa, which was popularly known for its baths. It is said that the baths made the town so prominent that the very word spa became synonymous in the English language with a place to be pampered. Others speculate the word may be an acronym for the Latin phrase "sanitas per aquas, which means health through water.

The roots of the modern spa have also descended from the ancient practice of bathing in hot springs and mineral waters. Although it is believed to have began much sooner, this practice is at least dated to the Babylonians and Greeks. These springs and pools of mineral water may have also served to heal and restore the wounds and aching bodies of worn and tired warriors during the Roman Empire.

In Europe the Spa culture developed in several different ways, from the traditional use of mineral water, to the incorporation of sea water and marine substances to create numerous variations of body treatments and other restorative therapies. Even to this day, the concept of health and the healing benefits of the spa culture in Europe has remained defined by hydrotherapy. Comparatively, in the United States popular spa treatments have centered more around services provided by professionals, including massages, facials, manicures and pedicures.

Although many modern resorts and spas have adopted various new forms of body treatment services for guests such as elaborate peels, scrubs, and skin cleansing techniques they still tend to mimic the design and concepts developed centuries ago by the Ancient Egyptians by offering a wide array of entertainment options aimed at promoting relaxation and meditation.

At spas across the nation and around the globe, body scrubs like a sea-salt scrub or salt glow exfoliate, cleanse, and soften, leaving skin moisturized, glowing, and restored. Aromatherapy services with fragrant plant and flower oils improve guests' psychological well-being, and numerous different types of massage target an increased oxygen flow in the body and the release of toxins from muscles. Still other services offered by most spas include facials, hair removal, hydrotherapy, manicures, and pedicures. Whatever your preferences in pampering may be, there is surely a spa specializing in treatments best for you.