The New Spa Vacation Rooted in ancient history, the spa experience has evolved from simply "taking the waters" to a slew of treatments—from high-touch to high-tech. And travelers are as likely to indulge at a day spa as a destination resort. by Joyce Hadley Copeland I did a slow revolution as a Mexican woman smeared handfuls of volcanically warmed, mineral-rich mud over every inch of me—from my forehead to my toes. I dozed in a lawn chair until the goop dried to an itchy crust and then showered down to soft, tingly skin. Three days into my week at Rio Caliente, a low-key mineral springs spa an hour outside of Guadalajara, Mexico, I couldn’t remember what I did on a “typical” Tuesday. It didn’t include hiking before breakfast or an impromptu afternoon mud wrap. And feeling pleasantly sleepy—not dead tired or beat—at bedtime was definitely new. A first- timer, I wondered if the lithium-laced local mineral water was making me so mellow. "Taking the waters" was an important health ritual in ancient times. The word spa may be derived from the Latin salutme per aquam, meaning "health through water.” For millennia, drinking and soaking in mineral-rich thermal waters has been a cure for a multitude of ills, from muscle aches to sallow skin. Fast-forward a few thousand years to a world driven to distraction by cell phones and multi-tasking. A host of modern-day maladies ranging from jet lag to high cholesterol is driving us—no surprise—back to the spa. There are nearly 10,000 spas in the United States. While most of them are day spas, full-fledged "spa vacations” are among the fastest-growing segments of the travel industry, according to the 2002 Spa Industry Study sponsored by the International Spa Association (ISPA). Currently, spas generate more revenue than amusement and theme parks. Different strokes—literally—for different folks Forget the fat farm of the 1950s. Modern spas gently nurture you toward health and wellness, embracing every demographic—from singles to mothers and daughters. A few years ago, you could have knocked me over with a feather when my all-guy brother confessed he’d enjoyed a facial. Today, nearly a third of all spa-goers are men. Many day spas include a "gentleman’s facial” on the menu. ("You are the king, a god, THE MAN, and you deserve to be treated as such,” reads the tongue-in-cheek marketing for a four-hour package offered by Ettia Holistic Day Spa in New York.) The most recent wave of spa enthusiasts? Pre-teen and teenage girls (and sometimes boys), stopping into hotel- based spas for acne treatment facials and henna tattoos. Some spas even offer treatments for Fido and Fifi. And a slew of spa-branded products let you transport the experience to your own candlelit, aromatherapy bath. Our need to step off the treadmill has—in typical 21st-century fashion—opened the creative floodgates and led the way for new spa trends. Renewing the body: From lavender to lasers There’s a reason why spas smell like the Garden of Eden. Turns out essential oils—distilled, concentrated substances extracted from flowers, roots, leaves, tree resin, and wood—are essential to our physical and psychological well-being. Lavender can ease anxiety. Rosemary minimizes "senior moments.” And eucalyptus is a natural balm for sinus congestion. Hence a cornucopia of aromatherapy treatments that smell good enough to eat. Another natural treatment: oxygen. Popular in health clubs and malls, oxygen bars serve up bracing shots of 100- proof oxygen, curiously flavored with peppermint or spearmint, through a plastic tube called a cannula. Aficionados claim the 20-minute "high” includes increased energy and alertness and temporary relief from sinus problems. Of course, "temporary” is the operative word. When it’s time to pull out the big guns, an increasing number of high-tech anti-aging treatments such as chemical peels, laser treatments, and micro-dermabrasion claim to repair—and even reverse—the effects of cellular damage over your lunch hour. For vacationers: Start your trip refreshed. Treat yourself to the three-hour Jet Lag Rejuvenating Facial and Body Wrap at LaBelle Day Spa (there are several locations, including one near San Francisco’s Union Square). This set of synergistic treatments incorporating natural apple pectin enzymes and clinical-grade oxygen (applied directly to your skin) promises to buff, soak, and massage away pre-vacation stress. Feeding the mind: Embark on a new lifestyle or an exotic mind/body trip Spas offer an increasing opportunity to empty your mind of distractions. But that doesn’t mean you have to check your brain—along with your cell phone—at the door. Quite the contrary: A fresh crop of specialized workshops and lifestyle-enhancement sessions such as the Life Enhancement Programs at the famed Canyon Ranch (with locations in Tucson, Las Vegas, the Berkshires, and Kissimmee, Florida) allow you focused time to address important life transitions and personal issues. Programs such as "Optimal Aging" or "Journey Through Midlife: A Women’s Retreat" may result in small epiphanies or major lifestyle shifts. Even at a low-key, unstructured place like Rio Caliente, the clientele may surprise. I shared lunch with Caroline Myss, the internationally renowned medical intuitive and author of Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing. For vacationers: Immerse yourself in another culture. Themed treatments and packages allow you to experience exotic cultural rituals and indigenous ingredients without flying halfway around the world. Often treatments are performed in an environment that’s completely authentic, from music to imported silk furnishings. Guests of L.A.’s Spa Mystique wrap up in a kimono-style robe to participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. The Bali Ginger Spice Scrub at San Francisco’s Nob Hill Spa uses the same ground rice powder and warming spices generations of Balinese rice farmers have used to relieve aching muscles. Inspiring the spirit: Quiet the mind with ancient wisdom Busy lifestyles leave little time for contemplation, so spas are filling the gap by introducing ancient spiritual practices and rituals ranging from Native American sweat lodges and labyrinths to workshops on Tibetan spirituality. For vacationers: a meditative walking tour. Take a break from your prescribed itinerary to follow the winding path of a labyrinth. Unlike a maze, which can lead to dead ends, a labyrinth is an unobstructed path leading to the center of a circle or square and back out. For centuries, labyrinths have provided a symbolic journey toward a spiritual center. At spas, labyrinths may be indoors or outdoors and constructed of stone, etched on concrete, painted on carpet, or cut in grass. The labyrinth at Golden Door Spa at The Boulders Resort outside of Phoenix is inspired by ancient Hopi medicine wheels. Different kinds of "ahhh" Some spas are all about pampering. Others have more of a goal-oriented, boot-camp mentality. Most offer a more balanced approach. Choosing the right spa comes down to deciding what you want to accomplish, where you want to travel, and how much time you want to dedicate to "spa-ing." Destination spas: The first vacation of the rest of your life Destination spas bring together all the components necessary to coach, pamper, and educate you through the process of improving your health and lifestyle. You’ll find destination spas in some of the world’s most beautiful settings—even at sea. Costa Cruises turns gorge—and—gain on its ear with "A Taste of Well-Being," a specialized Caribbean cruise featuring spa treatments, cooking classes, feng shui workshops, and lectures by health gurus. Traveling to a destination spa is a great way to experiment. During my stay at Rio Caliente, I discovered that a vegetarian diet wasn’t at all painful, especially when it contains fresh-picked organic lettuce and fruits. At some spas, exercise masquerades as a salsa lesson and "fusion" classes combine the best of yoga, Pilates, and Tai Chi. Day spas: What a difference a day—or even an hour—makes Accessible and affordable, day spas are based in hotels and resorts, and popping alongside neighborhood businesses. They offer treatments ranging from highly personalized skin care and maintenance for clients of all ages to mini-vacation pampering packages. Spa suites are the thing for couples. Splurge on the romantic Paris Pour Les Amoureux package in the privacy of the Grande Suite at Paris Las Vegas and you’ll enjoy side-by-side massages from your own personal attendants, a whirlpool, dual-head shower, and private lounge area. Just last weekend my husband and I stumbled across the newest evolution—a "2-minute spa" at The Zen Zone on Pier 39 in San Francisco (there are also locations in Los Angeles and Las Vegas). Park your shopping bags and lay face-down, fully clothed, in what looks like a tanning bed. The hands-free Aqua Massage pummels you with 95-degree water, moving from your feet to your shoulders and back again like a car wash. A waterproof covering keeps you bone-dry while your personal headset pipes in music of your choice. I was skeptical about the lack of human touch, but my husband emerged after 15 minutes very near nirvana. What next? —A latecomer to spa life, Joyce Hadley Copeland is making up for lost time with monthly facials, weekly massages, and nightly aromatherapy candlelight baths. Plan a spa-tacular vacation BE CHOOSY. Not all spas are created equal. Accredited members of the Day Spa Association meet a range of quality standards from licensing requirements for spa technicians to hygiene. You can search for accredited day spas near your vacation destination at www.dayspaassociation.com. BOOK EARLY. As spa treatments become more popular, last-minute appointments are harder to manage. It’s best to book in advance, even months before your trip. SAVOR THE EXPERIENCE. Don’t shortchange yourself by shoehorning your spa visit into an already packed itinerary. Clock-watching and missing lunch are not conducive to the total relaxation you deserve. Lay back and let yourself be pampered while you’re in the spa and allow yourself some downtime afterward. Another way to savor the experience is to purchase specific products used during your treatments so you can recreate the experience at home. Health centers and medispas What do aging, technology, and multitasking have in common? They’re all components of a new kind of spa combining massage with medicine. A growing contingent of spa-goers (29 percent, according to ISPA’s survey) who want to measurably improve their physical health are signing on for high-tech health screenings at spa- based health centers staffed by licensed physicians, nutritionists, and spa professionals. At Holistica Hawaii in Honolulu, you can sign up for comprehensive health screenings such as bone-density tests and heart scans. Your results are the foundation for a highly personalized nutrition and exercise program. Originally Published, ATA Journey Magazine March 2005 Back to About Joyce