BEAT EVERY DAY STRESSES WITH A TRIP TO A HEALTH SPA
The stresses and strains of our modern lives seem to be everywhere these days – it can feel so hectic! From the rush to get up for work, getting the kids ready, to managing growing pressures at work. Whatever we seem to do and whatever latest gadgets are sent our way the reality is our responsibilities at home and work are always there.
Stress is now the second biggest reason for employees taking time off work. In monetary terms the BBC reported in 2006 that it’s actually costing the UK approx £13bn a year. The general view from leading experts is that many adults are simply not coping with stress very well.
From a medical viewpoint each person has a different stress threshold and the actual trigger of the stress can vary from person to person. This makes it a very complex area for the medical establishment to measure and treat. For example a trigger of stress could be trying to meet a work deadline, a car breaking down on you, or your computer freezing up just before you got a chance to save the work you’d been doing for the last half hour! Why does that always seem to happen?!
The famous saying seems to ring true; it’s not what happens to us that determines our lives and makes the difference but how we react to what happens. Recent studies have found that the body is very effective at turning on its stress mechanism but not so efficient at turning it off again. In fact the body can turn it on in at lightening speed and its very good at this – however many of us need to find better ways to turn it off again.
Stress has been with us since the dawn of time and the benefit of stress is its ability to act immediately when there is danger. It puts all the body’s resources into flight or fight mode. Stress is not all bad as it can help save our life and can be attributed to the survival of the human race. In prehistoric times we needed stress for avoiding the jaws of sabre-toothed tigers or the danger of the woolly mammoth’s wrath, but where does this leave us in today’s world?
The problem with stress is that when your body goes into flight or fight mode it shuts off all its other resources that help maintain a happy healthy mind and body. It is therefore not useful for the body to be in a stressed state for sustained periods. One useful way to look after the mind and body in a stressful world is to be able to control our stress thermostats, because as we’ve been told often enough ‘persistent stress can be a killer’. Relaxation on the other hand slows down the entire metabolism of the body, which can help us to see stressful events in a different light. A beneficial by-product of relaxation is that it also enables you to live longer.
So for a longer, happier and healthier life it is crucial that we are able to induce states of relaxation. One way more and more people are finding a pleasant way to unwind from the stresses and strains of modern life is to visit a Heath Spa.
Health Spas offer a change of environment and can help create relaxation due to their calming and tranquil atmosphere, this reminds the brain, its ok to calm down and relax. Spending time at a spa is not only relaxing, but can also be glorious self-indulgence if you chose to take advantage of the many and varied treatments on offer.
There are many health spas around the UK and so it is possible there is one near you. You can visit and have one or two treatments or even stay for the weekend. The typical facilities at Health Spas can include steam and dry heat rooms, wet areas including Jacuzzis, spa baths, showers and therapeutic foot spas.
The treatments a Health Spa can offer include some of the following:
- Facial treatments – which can include aromatherapy
- Back, neck and shoulder massage
- Full body aromatic massage
- Manicures and pedicures
- Detox – Wrap and body brushing
- Make up application
- Hydrotherapy baths
- Foot treatments/ massage
Some Spas have special programmes just for men and this can include a relaxing facial to cleanse and soothe the skin, stress relieving back, neck and shoulder massage plus some spas even include a full gym consultation with a fully qualified instructor.
Spa Days can make great gifts for boyfriends, husbands, wives and girlfriends too. People sometimes choose to buy 2 tickets so either their better half can visit with them, or wives or girlfriends can visit with a female friend. A light 2 course lunch is also often included as part of the package.
More and more people are choosing these experiences as gifts and presents for friends and loved ones and it’s easy to see why. In our busy stressful lives Health Spas can offer us a real sense of calm from our emotional storms.
