What is a spa? What does spa mean?

In spa or spa center(sometimes also thermal center, hydrotherapy center, wellness center or spa) is "an establishment that offers treatments, therapies and/or relaxation systems, using water, generally running and non-medicinal, as the main base", according to the Real Academia de la Lengua Española (RAE),

Some say that the word 'spa' responds to the Latin acronym salus per aquam (that is, health through water), but for the RAE the term spa derives from the toponym Spa, a town located in the Walloon part of Belgium, near Liège, which has thermal waters attributed with healing qualities and a long tradition in spas.

Moreover, Spa was one of the recreational pools of the wealthiest European classes until the 20th century arrived and with it the First World War.

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What is the difference between a spa and a spa?

Are spa and spa words synonymous? No.

Balnearios and spas share characteristics but are not the same.

As we will see, both a spa and a spa good places to combat stress, an escape from the maelstrom of everyday life capable of calming the nerves and getting a person to relax quickly, but there are notable differences between them.

Thermal water vs tap water

The main difference between a spa and a spa is that although both spa and health resort are hydrotherapy centers, that is, establishments that use water as a therapeutic agent, generally spa water is tap water, 'normal', and spa water is thermal water or medicinal water (also mineral-medicinal water) which usually comes from a source or spring.

Also, although both spas and spas seek to promote relaxation, the spa usually lacks a 'medicinal' character, as well as physicians in its facilities.

Luis Ovejero Ovejero, director of the International Chair of Medical Hydrology and Hydrotherapy at the Catholic University of San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM), explains it very clearly in an article published in issue 32 (2) of the official journal of the Sociedad Española de Hidrología Médica. Under the title, Medicina Termal: nuevas tendencias, Ovejero Ovejero points out that "spas emerge as leisure and health establishments" and that "the most notable difference between the spa and the spa is mainly the type of water used in their treatments.

In health resorts, mineral-medicinal waters are used, while in spas ordinary tap water is used".

Does thermal water relax the same as ordinary tap water?

But beware, because the composition of the water does not influence the "relaxing capacity" of hydrotherapy techniques

The waters of spas relax as much as those of spas or thalasso centers, but as they are usually ordinary, "normal" waters, 'tap' waters, spas can be located anywhere.

And this is something to be grateful for, because thanks to the fact that a spa can be opened anywhere, access to hydrotherapy, once a luxury only afforded by the wealthier and more affluent classes who had the time and money to travel to them, has been democratized.

Innovative spas for all tastes

Not only that. In addition, spas are great innovators as far as enjoyment and care are concerned and are knowing how to develop and invent new treatments to enhance our beauty and well-being

From beer spas to nail spas, through all kinds of massages and toppings, from sessions to go to the spa with children or family, to the spa with friends (with original proposals for bachelorette parties), to the spa as a couple (with interesting private and romantic spa sessions) and even to the spa with your pet (as long as your pet is a dog or a cat and, if possible, not too big). You think about how and with whom, surely there is already a spa with an interesting service to offer!

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What do you do in a spa?

We classify into five categories or types of spas:

• Urban Spa

The urban spa is the everyday spa, the one you find at the gym, at the pool or any other spot in your town or city.

It is a center that is or can be part of your daily life, at an affordable or reasonable price, and that has, at least, a swimming pool with a thermoludic circuit.

It also usually has a sauna, shower, or jacuzzi, and its menu of massages, treatments, and therapies can be more or less generous (usually depending on their price).

• Hotel spa

That's why it is a spa hotel because its hydrotherapy facilities include accommodation so you can stay there to sleep.

Almost always, a spa hotel has, at least, a swimming pool with thermoludic circuit, sauna, jacuzzi, and a menu of massages, treatments, and therapies more or less extensive, again, depending on its price.

Generally, it also has food services(bar, restaurant, etc.)

• Private spa

The private spa is the spa you can enjoy privately, the one they close for you and whoever you want.

Private spa areas can be found in both urban spas and hotel spas, and their facilities vary from one spa center to another.

The only element that is usually present in private spas is the jacuzzi, which is often accompanied by champagne, strawberries, and/or chocolates.

The private spa sessions are usually more intimate and include a massage (when you go to the spa as a couple) or pedicure and manicure treatments (when you go to the spa with friends or bachelorette party).

• Holistic spa

A holistic spa is one that seeks the relaxation and well-being of the whole body, one that is convinced that mens sana in corpore sano (that is, mindfully healthy in a healthy body).

That is why, in addition to hydrotherapy facilities, massages, facials, and more or less traditional beauty and health body treatments, in a holistic spa it is common to find activities such as meditation or yoga of different types (kundalini, hatha, tantra, etc.).

A holistic spa may also offer nature-related activities (such as, for example, hiking), Asian medicinal techniques (such as Ayurveda or Chinese medicine), food services (nutritionist, dietician, vegetarian or vegan menus, fasting or intermittent fasting dynamics, etc.), and even other types of esoteric services (which we recommend you contemplate with caution and common sense). They can be quite an experience!

• Spa experience

We call spa experiences those thermal centers that have a unique proposal, impossible or difficult to replicate.

heir facilities, treatments, and therapies can be of any type and can include accommodation and catering services.

A spa experience can be, for example, a spa center that recreates Roman baths or a Japanese onsen that transports you to the Orient as soon as you dive into the pool.

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What is a spa like? What are the facilities like?

Although there are no specific facilities, treatments or therapies that a spa must have by law to be considered a spa, the truth is that almost all spas, whatever type they are, usually have at least one pool and a sauna of some kind.

But the world of hydrotherapy is advancing faster and faster, and there are more and more spa facilities, treatments and therapies!

What a spa usually has?

Swimming pools with a thermoludic circuit

Generally, all or almost all spa centers have at least one thermoludic hydrothermal or ludic-thermal circuit (also thermoludic or ludic-thermal pool), designed in one or more pools that can be indoor or outdoor.

This hydrothermal circuit is usually for shared rather than private use and includes classic hydrotherapy elements such as pressure jets of different types, water beds, jacuzzis, waters of different temperatures, etc.

Whoever spends a couple of hours in the thermoludic circuit of a spa center is practically guaranteed to sleep better!

Pediluviums, pools, showers and saunas

Often, in addition to swimming pools, spas' thermoludic tours include other facilities.

Among the most common spa center facilities are pediluviums (for the feet), flotation tanks, contrast pools (hot and cold water), and showers, the most popular being the misting shower, the Vichy shower and the contrast shower or bucket shower (literally, bucket shower, with a bucket of ice water!).

It is also very common to find saunas, being the Turkish bath and the dry or Finnish sauna the most widespread although, increasingly, you can find other types of saunas such as the ice sauna, the infrared sauna, or the salt sauna.

They are one of the best therapies to forget about the world and reduce anxiety. But as said, the facilities available at a spa depend entirely on the establishment.

Services offered by a spa

If every spa is a world in facilities, much more so in therapies and facial treatments, body treatments and foot and hand treatments. But almost all spas feature, at the very least, some type of massage.

Here are a few things that can be done to you at a spa...

Relaxing massages, sports massages, and world massages.

The easiest massages to find in a spa are relaxing massages followed by sports massages.

But in its commitment to quality, specialization, and customer satisfaction, in a spa you can find all kinds of different massages, from massages with volcanic stones, hot, pindas or bamboo, to Thai massages, lomi - lomi, with gold, green tea, candles, caviar, etc. or only on one part of the body (facial massage, hand massage, foot massage, etc.).

Coverages, lymphatic drainage, hyaluronic acid, and collagen

The same goes for the treatments and therapies of the spas, almost all oriented to relaxation and beautification

Among the most popular spa treatments and therapies are fangos, parafangos, and coatings(in wine, in chocolate, in cherries, in algae, etc.)

If you want to discover a new world of more or less springy sensations, don't miss the article we dedicate to all these techniques in our body treatments section.

Also very popular are lymphatic drainage, treatments that use hyaluronic acid or collagen, and a wide variety of types of anti-cellulite treatments.

In general, these treatments are focused on beautification and weight and fluid loss. You have more information in our facial treatments section.

Luxury indulgences, wellness getaways, yoga, and meditation

Retreats or spa/wellness getaways are becoming more and more fashionable.

In anyone who wishes can immerse themselves in a package of services designed for relaxation and usually include hydrotherapy (swimming pools, saunas, etc.), massages (relaxing, sports...), health or beauty treatments, and therapies and activities such as yoga or meditation.

Many spas complete their offer with a bar or restaurant where you can taste healthy dishes or dishes made with proximity products; or exquisite products (such as chocolates, fruits, champagne) that can be consumed alone, as a couple, or in a group in the spa so that, in addition to relaxing, you can indulge yourself.

Destress in three, two, one, go!

Chromotherapy and aromatherapy.

For some time now, combining certain treatments (hydrotherapy, massage, etc.) with chromotherapy and aromatherapy techniques has also become very popular.

And spas are increasingly offering manicure, pedicure, and hairdressing services. To learn more, take a look at our foot and hand treatments section.

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What to bring to a spa

You may or may not need to bring a cap, towel, and flip-flops to a spa. It totally depends on the spa you're going to.

In case the cap, towel, and flip-flops are mandatory and are not provided by the spa, you will have to bring them from home or rent or buy them there.

Another thing that can happen is that for reasons of hygiene, health or safety the same spa that gives you the equipment (hats, towels, etc.) at no cost.

Flippers and towels are usually mandatory in all spas, and the cap depends on the specific spa center.

Our recommendation is that if this issue keeps you awake at night, call the spa you are interested in and ask if it is necessary to use a cap, towel, and flip-flops in their facilities and, if so if you can / have to bring them from home or if they are included in the price of the service you have contracted.

And we confess, we do not go to the spa without flip-flops, a towel, and a cap (usually combined) for what may happen.