Snarling traffic, screaming children, overdue management reports - the stresses of modern life are many and varied. Never, it seems, have more people been in need of a little relaxation.
So it's no surprise that there is an increasing number of health farms or spas eager to prove that money can buy peace of mind and body. Whether this is done through a back and shoulder massage, a healthier diet, time out in the open air, a bit of exercise, some gentle music, perhaps a eucalyptus-scented sauna - or a combination of some or all of the above - the choice is yours.
Tempted to give them a try? Here's everything you need to know but were afraid to ask.
`Health farm', `healing centre', `spa', - what's the difference?
Originally, spas developed around ancient natural mineral springs where tired bodies could settle into warm thermal pools to soak and unwind, a cure that is also known as "taking the waters". In the centuries-old European tradition, spa towns in spectacular natural locations lured visitors with additional attractions such as live musical performances, museums and art exhibits. While a nice hot soak is still a part of the deal, spas now offer everything from lessons in horseriding to Native American sweat ceremonies after reflexology treatments.
In general, spas fall into two categories: resort destinations offering therapeutic services as an extra amenity, and destinations which function solely as spas. Healing centres, also known as health farms, are among the latter. While the services they offer are similar, a spa differs from a healing centre in that it might only offer luxury pampering, which could mean strolling about a verdant garden in a kimono, paper parasol in hand, before an hour-long Vichy shower and body scrub.
Healing centres design specific programmes, courses and treatments to improve the overall well-being of mind, body and spirit. They vary widely in location, ethos and services, so it is important to know what you are getting yourself into. For example, tucking yourself into a sleeping-bag under a tent canvas at a wilderness spa will come as a shock if you are expecting a comfortable bed. Programmes may involve meditation, homeopathic remedies, yoga or nutritional therapies such as juice fasts and organic vegetarian diets. So if you are likely go into fits for want of a steak, do not get stuck eating soya beans for a week. Read up on the destination before making a reservation and talk to someone who has actually been to the spa to determine if it is the right one for you.
Why should I bother going to one?
You may simply want to relieve stress and shed a pound or two. Or maybe you're in need of something more luxurious, such as en entire weekend of therapeutic massage, body wraps and scalp rubs.
Once you have chosen a spa, think about what you want to gain from the experience and resolve to take even one valuable thing home with you (this does not mean unplugging the aroma diffuser at the front desk as you check out or stuffing the gigantic flower arrangement in the lobby under your arm). Try practising a breathing exercise, writing down a recipe for an aromatherapy bath, or learning a new yoga position. Keep your expectations realistic and don't overdo it. If you were not an Olympian, a supermodel or a health guru when you went in, chances are you still won't be when you come out.
How should I prepare for my first time at a spa?
Leave the mobile phone and pager at home. Keep make-up to a minimum, jettison your jewellery and wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothes. Arrive at the spa at least 15 minutes early to enjoy a cup of herbal tea or mineral water as you wait in a plush chair for your Indian head massage, seaweed body wrap or other treatment you have chosen. If you do not know what a particular treatment involves, do not be afraid to ask. Not everyone would guess, for example, that a shirodhara is an Ayurvedic warm oil massage and not an aubergine and prawn starter.
Typically, before any body treatment, you will be handed a terry robe and guided to a small cloakroom where you will leave your belongings in a cubby-hole and get changed.
Are you supposed to get your kit off?
Any good spa will cultivate the protected, private environment its clients need to truly relax. Unless it totally freaks you out to be seen naked by anyone other than your spouse and the people who helped deliver you at the hospital, chuck your clothes. Therapists will only uncover the particular parts of the body they are working on - and they receive training in exactly how to do so. Under no circumstances will any intimate parts of your body be touched. Clothing only creates an unnecessary obstruction for therapists, particularly to the lower and middle back.
Hydrotherapy treatments, by their nature, do not allow for a discretely draped towel. If you are uncomfortable being in the buff, however, some spas offer the option of a swimsuit, while a few will dispense the odd pair of paper knickers. These are often so tiny that they are difficult to distinguish from a hand tissue, so be careful not to sneeze into them.
Once you have flopped belly down onto the table and figured out how to balance your forehead on the headrest without suffocating, remember that your masseuse is not a psychologist and the allotted hour is not meant for socialising. Think about taking calm, even breaths and keep conversation to the bare essentials, so to speak, such as "ouch, that hurts" or "hey, that feels great". In brief, get naked, get on the table and shut up.
A full-body massage usually lasts an hour, but if your shoulders and back have been screaming with tension for the past few weeks and you could not care less about having your legs rubbed, do not be afraid to ask the masseuse to focus on these areas.
Are there any laws forbidding men to enter a spa?
Many men fear that someone they know, ever considered knowing, or even thought of once in passing, will see them walk into a spa. This fear overrides the secret jealousy they feel at seeing their wives, girlfriends, grandmothers, sisters, female co-workers, and - if it is Los Angeles - even the odd family pet, looking like glowing celestial beings after a day or two of wraps and relaxation. As a rule, men who dare enter a spa are more comfortable in places with a gender-neutral decor, a minimum level of chattiness ecor and, ideally, a secret underground entrance. Consequently, men will benefit from a little research in order to find an atmosphere that suits them.
As for worrying about walking out looking powdered and flowered, it may help to know that many spa therapies dating back hundreds of years are similar to those used as coming-of-age rituals for male tribal rulers. If a burly chief managed to emerge from a treatment with his masculinity intact, surely today's man can as well?
While the primary goal is to get the client refreshed and invigorated, spa staff are on a schedule. Keep this in mind when the treatment is over and you are told to lie down, rest for a while and get up when you are ready. "Take your time" actually means "take a reasonable amount of time, and whatever you do, do not conk out on the table for an hour".
