It's the beginning of the year, so everyone is talking about the spa trends for 2008. I'm jaded when it comes to trends because I come from the magazine world, where editors say, "find three places doing it, and it's a trend." And sometimes the "trends" are so miniscule ("spas for babies!") that they're hardly real. But I still like to read about them, and you probably do too. So I'm going to start by giving you SpaFinder's top 10 spa trends for 2008. Up next, spa trends from the world's largest spa trade association. And I'm curious: do you see any interesting trends going on out there? Leave a comment!

1)The “Feng Shui’d” Gym. Goodbye mirrored walls and fluorescent lighting; hello waterfalls and fine art. Led by ambitious gym design projects at spas like Gwinganna in Australia and Clay in New York, spa gyms and fitness studios are being reconceived as places to not only tone the body, but also elevate the mind and spirit.

2) A Star (Therapist) Is Born. When all is said and done, a spa treatment is only as good as the therapist who provides it. Increasingly savvy spa-goers continue to seek out those with great skills, knowledge and the caring spirit.

3) Wellness, Wellness, Wellness. Wellness is sweeping the globe, brought on by scientific breakthroughs, the realization that the medical industry has a "sickness" model, and consumers’ desire to be healthier, more vital, and youthful in appearance. Fitness, nutrition, education, as well as alternative practices such as energy medicine, reiki, and Traditional Chinese Medicine are all becoming important aspects of “spa.”

4) Luxury Detox and Luxury Bootcamps. Detox programs and weight loss bootcamps have long been associated with deprivation. But if you can get the same results with high thread count sheets, lovely rooms, spa treatments and a nurturing environment, why not live a little while?

5) Spa Real Estate Mania. With spas adding residences, developers adding spas, and hotels/resorts with spas adding condo units, SpaFinder predicts that the number of mixed-use developments with a strong spa focus will grow to 300 in 2008. This trend is being fueled by health-focused baby boomers entering the real estate market to downsize or purchase vacation homes.

6) Taking Sleep Seriously.. Especially if you Want to Lose Weight. Recent medical studies highlight the importance of sleep for improved productivity at work, cardiovascular health, even weight loss. Look for more hotel spas to bring in sleep directors, more destination spas to offer sleep programs (including medically guided sleep analysis), and more day spas to offer “snoozing zones” and creative massage scheduling that allows therapists to say, “stay on the table for as long as you like.”

7) Fertility Tranquility – Having waited to begin starting a family, many couples are finding that getting pregnant isn’t all that easy. Because stress is often the culprit, hopeful parents-to-be are going to spas in search of tranquility (and a romantic environment). Spas, moreover, are beginning to offer treatments and diet regimes designed to boost fertility. Fertility-oriented acupuncture is becoming especially popular as a natural alternative for couples worried about the health effects of taking fertility hormones. Expecting parents are taking spa vacations as a way to self-indulge and recharge before parenthood (known as “babymoons”). Then moms are coming back to get back in shape … with baby in tow.

8) Hydro and Thermal Super-Experiences. Europe is known for its elaborate "sauna worlds" where you can experience a Balinese multi-steam bath, Finnish Sauna, Greek Herbal Bath, Indian Blossom Steam Room, Japanese Salt Steam Bath, Laconium, Tepidarium, Turkish Hammam, Tyrolean Sauna, multi-sensory showers, reflexology footbaths, spa pool, water beds and a Zen garden -- all in one place. In America's newest high profile resort and day spas, we're starting to get more than just a steam room, sauna and Jacuzzi.

9) Urban Spa Explorer. With a booming, vibrant melting pot of Russian baths, Korean baths and Thai massage establishments, young urbanites (without big salaries) are discovering authentic, no frills ethnic spas. Although these businesses may seem off limits to some, the best of them offer authentic indigenous treatments, expert therapists, low prices and clean facilities.

10) Plug-in or Unplug: It’s up to You. Should spas allow guests to be on their Blackberrys during a foot reflexology session, or should they ban connection devices altogether? A recent SpaFinder industry survey found that four out of five spas report that less connectivity (making the spa a laptop-, blackberry- and cell phone-free zone) represents the fastest-growing consumer demand. But with one in five spas report consumers want more spa connectivity. So the trend may be towards a custom solution, with customary questions like “male or female?” followed by a new option: “plugged or unplugged?”