Spas Add Years to Your Life

Did you know that April 16th was National Stress Awareness Day? Coincidence that it falls the day after taxes are due? I don’t know, but spas can help. ISPA’s research shows that the No. 1 reason people go to the spa is to relax and relieve or reduce stress. Here are some other facts on stress:

* 1/3 of Americans are living with extreme stress and nearly half believe their stress has increased over the past five years. (American Psychological Association)
* People who go for a single deep-tissue massage reduce their blood pressure by seven points. Over time, lowered blood pressure can add six years to your life. (Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine)
* By 2020, the top five diseases will all have the underlying contributing factor of stress. (World Health Organization)

Dealing with your stress today can help prevent stress-related illnesses (heart disease, stroke, depression) tomorrow. “There’s quite a bit you can learn at a spa to help reduce stress,” said Dr. Brent Bauer, director of the Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program at Mayo Clinic. “Things like meditation, acupuncture, massage and guided imagery – the right answer is to find what fits for you and incorporate it on a regular basis.”

“Spas are not about luxury, they’re about teaching healthy living; they’re a place where people can get tangible results and work on overall well-being,” said ISPA President Lynne McNees. “So many spas are offering great ways to help you manage your stress that it’s easy to find a spa experience that fits into your budget.”

A sampling of the stress relieving treatments offered by ISPA members during April include:

Saybrook Point Inn & Spa’s Calming Combo includes your choice of any 50-minute massage with a scalp treatment or foot massage. $99 Mon-Fri (CT)

 

 

 

Skinsational Skin & Body Spa*  offers free mini-massage or mini-facials from 11a.m. – 1 p.m. Mon-Thu (CA)

 

 

Relache Spa has a De-Stress for Less package with a massage, facial or manicure/pedicure combo. $99 (TN)

 

 

Le Boe European Day Spa’s Tax Stress Relief Package includes 60-minute aromatherapy massage, 15-minute face and scalp massage and 15-minute reflexology. $130 (FL)

 

 

The Founders Inn & Spa’s Stress Less is a 50-minute massage and 50-minute pedicure. $99 Mon-Thu (VA)

 

 

For a complete list of ISPA members offering stress relieving treatments please contact ISPA, and visit www.experienceispa.com to find an ISPA member.

About ISPA

ISPA is recognized worldwide as the leading professional organization and voice of the spa industry. www.experienceispa.com

Anti Aging, Boost Immune Sysytem, Health, Health Tips, Spa, Stress Management Spas Live Longer, Spa Stress Busters, Stress Relief

 

Stress is Less with Massage

 

National consumer research released today said 81% of American adults feel as stressed (45%) or more stressed (36%) now than they did a year ago and are using a variety of strategies to cope. The research was conducted by Harstad Strategic Research and sponsored by Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP).1

Despite the sour economy, the overall use of massage therapy remains consistent: 14% of adult Americans had a professional massage in 2008 compared to 12% in 2004 and 16% in 2006. Those who did not receive a massage in 2008 were more likely to cite their pocketbooks as the reason than in previous surveys.

Among those who had a professional massage in 2008, 58% said they did so for “relaxation, restoration or stress relief,” and 85% of 2008 massage users were satisfied with the experience, predicting they would seek massage again in 2009.

“When many people are curtailing spending on vacations and other big-ticket items, massage is an ideal and lower-cost option for reducing stress,” said ABMP president and nationally certified massage therapist Les Sweeney. “Massage therapy has been shown to reduce stress hormones, relieve anxiety and depression, strengthen the immune system and improve attentiveness, so it’s an excellent strategy for challenging times.”

The nation’s leading mental health association, Mental Health America, recommends massage therapy as a way to diffuse stress. Some employers are turning to workplace massage to help employees cope with uncertain times and increased workloads.

“As employers are looking for ways to manage workplace productivity and stress, perhaps using fewer employees to do more work, some are bringing chair massage into the mix,” Sweeney said. “At about $1 a minute, it’s an inexpensive way to maintain loyalty, and manage anxiety and lost work time.”

Another Harstad Research finding was that visits to all types of health professionals, including medical doctors, declined slightly in 2008 as compared to 2006.

“This is not surprising in a year of belt-tightening throughout the economy,” Sweeney said. “It may be a matter of postponing rather than forgoing care. Consumers should keep in mind massage could be useful in helping stave off routine doctor visits, co-pays and missed work time because of the immunity-boosting power of massage.”

The proportion of adults who made at least one visit to a massage therapist (14%) again exceeded the proportions visiting a chiropractor (12%) or a physical therapist (9%). Forty-two percent of American adults have received at least one massage in their lifetime.

Reference

1 The January 2009 Health Care Survey was conducted by Harstad Strategic Research, Inc., the national public opinion research firm in Boulder, Colo. The survey results are based upon 602 random telephone interviews among adults age 21 or older nationwide. Interviews were conducted from Jan. 6 to 11, 2009. A random sample of 602 has a worst-case 95 percent confidence interval of plus or minus 4.0 percent about any one reported percentage.

Full Article and Credits

Massage, Massage Deal, Massage Therapists State Regulations, Spa, Stress Management Spas Manage Stress, Massage, Stress Relief