Spa....“places devoted to enhancing overall well-being through a variety of professional services that encourage the renewal of mind, body and spirit. In the spa setting, not only do you benefit from the presence of another person whose role is to nurture and care for you, those benefits are deepened because they are transmitted through touch. Research has shown that people also have a physiologic
al reaction to human touch. Touch not only reduces heart rate but also levels of hormones such as cortisol that are associated with the stress response. Given the long list of serious physical medical conditions associated with these stress hormones, the ability to lessen their impact makes touch potentially one of the most powerful healing therapies known today. Another powerful benefits of visiting a spa may come simply from being in a safe space, separated from the interruptions of technology, where you can become present and tune into the thoughts in your own head. The greatest flashes of inspiration and insight arrive while lying on a massage table. Solutions appear for problems that have been lingering, ideas come without thinking and stress dissipates into the silence. The scarcity of time and space for reflection in our culture makes these moments sacred. Spas give us that time and space to tap into our spiritual side and reflect on what is important. The benefits of visiting a spa start with intention. Taking steps for your own well-being can have positive effects. Simply having the right intentions and a place to go to focus on your own well- being can have a powerful effect. Spas help us to benefit from the mind’s powerful healing properties, even when we don’t fully understand them. Consumer, Heal Thyself
Spas and the Psychology of Well-being
by Jeremy McCarthy
