How a Spa Day Can Reduce Your Stress
Take a deep breath - and breathe in and breathe out. Do you feel a little calmer? Life can get crazy. Whether you are working on a big project at the office, trying to finish your degree, or juggling household chores and taking care of your children, stress is inevitable. But we have a perfect way to reduce your stress and relax. A spa day! Whether you go with your best friend or treat yourself to a self-care day, a spa day will reduce your stress in no time.
As you walk through the spa doors, you are immediately captivated by the complete tranquility and the scent of lavender that engulfs you and soothes your senses. Did you hear that? That is silence. The spa is quiet and peaceful. No screaming kids, loud lecture halls, or chaotic workspaces. Just the sound of the hot stones sizzling, the water in the fountains dripping, and soft music playing faintly in the background. You already feel the tension leaving your body. When feeling overwhelmed and anxious, spa therapy is a great solution. Not only will it clear your mind, but the state of relaxation you achieve at the spa will stay with you and help you fall asleep more easily at home. Sleep is crucial for your mental health, and reducing stress through spa treatments can help with your sleep cycle.
What’s a spa day without some treatments? It has been proven that a massage can help reduce stress. Therefore, a massage is a must do on your perfect spa day! When you’re stressed, your body starts to become tense. This can cause back, neck, and shoulder pain. As you walk into the treatment room ready for your massage, you can feel a sense of peace and zen filling the air. The lights are dim with just the glow of candlelight flickering in the corner. There is soft instrumental music playing in the background, and you select your favorite scent of essential oil. The massage has yet to begin but you already feel the calmness and serenity. You lay down and feel all the stress, pain, and ache from your back start to leave your body. You are finally feeling a sense of relaxation and are living in the moment. There are no thoughts of your life outside of the spa walls. It’s just you and a sense of peace. As the massage ends you notice that all of the tension has left your body and you are not only feeling better physically but mentally as well. Massage services have many benefits including stress relief, improved recovery of joints or injuries, your circulation, and so much more.
If you want to experience the best spa day possible, try a hot stone massage as well. A hot stone massage offers numerous benefits for your mind and body. Although a therapeutic or Swedish massage helps reduce tension and stress and promotes relaxation, during a hot stone massage the basalt stones provide an intense and pleasurable feeling on the body. The hot stones moving across your back can also help reduce stress and anxiety. Utilizing hot stones is a great alternative for those who do not
feel as comfortable having a massage and may take longer to unwind and relax during their treatments. The heat from the stones helps you relax your muscles more quickly than other massage services. Treating your aches and pains through massage not only feels good but is beneficial for your physical health. When we are trying to reduce our stress, we have to focus on our mental health as well. As the hot stones are placed on your back, all your worries begin to fade. Not only does the tension in your muscles begin to disappear, but your mind starts to find a state of nirvana. Your mind begins to focus on positive thoughts, rather than the negative stresses that have been building up inside. With a clear mind, the troubles that once seemed so important and difficult become easier to control. Sometimes, when you are overly stressed and anxious it is harder to get through your everyday life. Through the benefits of a hot stone massage, a relaxed mind and body will allow you to feel great mentally and physically making your everyday activities somewhat easier. Read more about the other benefits of a hot stone massage.
When you think of a spa day, the first word that comes to your mind is most likely relaxation. But why is that? According to better health, as you get a massage the feeling of deep relaxation occurs due to the release of endorphins, which are the neurotransmitters that produce feelings of wellbeing. Levels of stress hormones, such as adrenalin, cortisol, and norepinephrine, are also reduced. Studies have shown that elevated levels of stress hormones impair the immune system, therefore, spa days can actually reduce your stress levels and help your immune system.
Many people are unaware that there are multiple types of massages, and each massage type has different benefits. A therapeutic massage is the most popular type of massage. This can also be referred to as a “Swedish massage.” The benefits of this service include relaxation and improving blood circulation. Aromatherapy is another popular massage, which brings in the use of essential oils, which will be mixed with the massage oil. This service can be geared towards the individual person more than most other massages. You will get a choice of which essential oil you would like to use because each oil has its own therapeutic properties and benefits. For example, the scent of lavender has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety. This calming aroma circulating the room will have you relaxed and ready to make the most of your massage. Lavender is such an essential scent when it comes to spa treatments because there are so many benefits to smelling lavender. According to the real simple, the scent of lavender increases brain activity and affects mood, productivity, and mental illness by providing a calm sensation to the brain.
Life happens, there are bound to be stressful days. Whether you are dealing with a fight in your relationship or you are feeling overwhelmed with your busy schedule, stress is inevitable. However, too much stress can lead to physical and mental issues. If
you feel as if you are always under too much stress, you may be at risk of developing health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. Stress tends to weaken your immune system as well, therefore, being stressed can lead to illness. Stress can also affect your mental health by developing conditions like anxiety and depression. Feeling an abundance of stress can also impair your decision-making skills, which can make it harder for you to retain information and may cause you to have difficulty concentrating. Sometimes, people’s behavior changes drastically when overstressed. This can manifest into under or overeating, isolating yourself from others, and even substance abuse. It is crucial to take care of yourself, not only physically but mentally as well. It is necessary to take some time out of your day to focus on your mental health. While sitting at your desk or driving in your car, take a moment to just breathe when you feel yourself getting overwhelmed. Keeping your stress in check is very important. A spa day is the perfect way to help reduce stress and help benefit your mental and physical well-being. There benefits of aromatherapy in relieving stress can be achieved not only through the use of essential oils, but scented lotions and scrubs can help reduce stress and boost immunity as well. Just like lavender, the scent of eucalyptus can also reduce stress. When used in lotions, scrubs, and oils, the eucalyptus fragrance will leave you feeling refreshed. It relieves exhaustion, elevates your mood, and rejuvenates your spirit. While getting your massage, your worries float away as the stress and tension begin to fade, the aroma of lavender and eucalyptus fill the air, and your skin feels soft and is glowing from the lotion. Caring for your skin is especially important when dealing with stress. As we care for our skin, we can also reduce the amount of stress on our body. The Compounding Pharmacy of America stated that the cumulative negative impact of pollution, stress, and hormones result in damaged skin. When we take care of our skin and the rest of our body, we can reduce the negative impact of environmental stressors.
As your massage services conclude and a feeling of peace and tranquility fills your body, a yoga or meditation class is the perfect way to end your spa day. If the spa does not offer those services, escape to a quiet, comfortable space in the spa and meditate on your own. Your mind will be in a clear state of relaxation from the services, so it is a perfect time to end the day with a quick meditation including some breathing exercises as well as closing your eyes and thanking the universe for everything you have and listing why you are grateful. This will keep your spirits high, your heart will be full of gratitude, your body will no longer ache, and your stress will be reduced and more manageable.
