From stress mongers to Zen seekers, from yogis to suits, people of all varieties are seeking out modern spa treatments to relieve stress and promote discovery. Modern-day spas offer a wide range of services as diverse as their stressed-out, Zen-seeking clientele. From Japanese Shiatsu massages to Dead Sea salt scrubs, even everyday spas offer relaxation techniques from cultures representing all parts of the world. But have you ever wondered where the idea of a spa began?
Before weekly yoga classes and state-of-the-art fitness centers existed, there were bathhouses. According to Homer and other Greek writers, the Greeks enjoyed a variety of baths as early as 500 BC. Laconica, another term for heat baths, relaxed their muscles and led them to discover a new sense of refreshment and invigoration. The Romans discovered bathhouses from the Greeks and soon, bathhouses were built across the entire Roman Empire.
Like all great empires, the Roman Empire began to fall, and with it, the Roman bathhouses fell into shambles. But the benefits of these spas weren't forgotten; the bathhouses gained and lost popularity in different parts of the world from that point forward. Those cultures who enjoyed the relaxing and social benefits of bathhouses built them close to natural hot or mineral springs. In the Middle Ages, social bathing and healing places were an important way of life under Charlemagne. Then in the Renaissance era, towns that grew around natural thermal waters were considered to heal the mind and body. One such town in Belgium was even named Spa.
As we progress socially, it becomes easier and easier to see that revealing new skin, relaxing our muscles and taking a little "me time" is just as much about mental wellness as it is about physical health. In the early 20th century, clinics and public hospitals began to offer spa-like services as doorways to self-discovery. Existing spas responded by catering to the wealthy with luxury accommodations. But decades later, spas now have a much broader appeal and are accessible to most everyone as a mode of self-care. In fact, many vacation spots and hotels cater to spa connoisseurs. Some even incorporate nutrition classes and fitness programs as part of a total mind and body discovery package.
