Sensory Experience & Spas as Social Centers

Spa experiences are very much about touching and this will always be important. Part of the fun of some spas, is that they can create areas that are wonderful self-service “spa playgrounds.” Spa guests can pay a “healthy” daily fee to use facilities that will be attended by several “spa concierges” who will introduce them to a buffet of fun yet purposeful delights.

The Grotto at Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa, has created a sampling of what this experience may be. When you arrive, you take an elevator down to the underground world of The Grotto. This mysterious, intriguing cavern is filled with a natural mineral water mist and the scent of sea kelp and aloe vera. You wear only a swim suit so your entire body can be “painted” with a rich green body moisturizer (the source of the sea kelp and aloe vera scent). Then move into the Hydrating Chamber so the rich moisturizer can work its magic. After you feel calm, cool and moisturized, simply shower off the body masque. To top it all off, enter the cool mist chamber for a cup of Glen Ivy tea and a crisp green apple. Like Club Mud, there is something fun and youthful about it all. And, there is also the more serious business of moisturizing and refreshing.

This year you may find more spas putting in playgrounds that can include, but not be limited to: specialty showers and treatment tubs; private as well as group steam rooms, saunas, and air-jet floatation and cascading whirlpools with color therapy, music therapy, and aromatherapy; product bars with muds, salts and aromatherapy blends that people can apply to themselves; reflexology walking paths both in the water and on the land; meditation gardens; labyrinths; resource library with self-help, healing and motivational books, CDs, computers that will assist in the selection of services and products, retail centers that are designed as home spa relaxation rooms where guests can “try and buy” special massage chairs, floatation beds, scalp massagers. Food and beverage stations with elixirs, nutriceuticals and water bars. The list can go on and on, but the point is to give people a variety of spa vignettes where they can experiment alone or socialize with a group as they explore and have fun with all facets of health and healing.

It is Time to Sparty!

Spas will be designed to have more all-in-one spa suites and lock-off rooms with private spa lounges so that people can gather for spa parties, inter-generational family get-togethers business renewal meetings. Spas will expand their offerings to include life-enriching seminars and programs that focus on activities such as wine tasting, art, music, cooking, pain management, and healthy aging. There will be a focus on programs that are life-stage and lifestyle oriented. Spas will be places where people can go to be educated, motivated, inspired or entertained. Spas will be learning centers with guest speakers, workshops and “artists” in-residence programs. Spas can become centers for well-being with programs on fitness, wellness, integrated medicine, and behavior modification.

Getting down to business

More and more business retreats and conventions will take place at the spa. This is a trend that serves a multi-purpose by giving the businesses a way to promote a healthy lifestyle amongst their staff and associates and sending the message that they really care about them. It also offers a great opportunity for companies to incorporate health education or stress reduction programs into their conference programming.

As a Spa Director, I have held spa symposiums for businesses and it has been a fabulous warm up and inclusionary activity for the business conference attendees. As a Life Coach, I have spoken at business conferences about Perscentoelogy and personality profiling through body and toe reading. This has been a great team building event and provides the business person with another tool for enriching their business.

Spa concepts and business belong hand in hand. The Japanese discovered this a long time ago when they incorporated aromatherapy in their offices. The subtle scent of lavender and lemon would be infused into the air of the offices. The lavender maintained a peaceful environment while the lemon stimulated creativity and the mind. In 2008 we will find this merger continue to flourish on a larger scale.