Julie Register: Spa Enthusiast and About's Guide to Spas

When I first started going to spas, I went because I felt better afterwards. When I compared the amount of time and money I spent (that's how I measured things then) to the results I got, I felt it was worth it. It was a brief escape from a hectic life. There was no deeper thought. I went because I was stressed out and, somehow, the spa drained the stress away - for a little while anyway. I eventually figured out that if I forced my mind to be quiet and only concentrate on the spa treatment at hand, I had a more fulfilling experience. Then I read Steve Capellini's book, The Royal Treatment, which introduced me to the conscious pleasure principles. Here he talked in detail about preparing for a spa experience, being aware of your surroundings, getting connected to your therapist, being in the moment, allowing yourself to enjoy the experience, and being thankful. I tried to incorporate these ideas into my spa "mentality". They enriched my spa experiences. I found as I concentrated on myself, I was also becoming more aware of and connected to those around me. 

It was at Jolie, The Day Spa & Hair Design in Atlanta where I first heard the word "intention" related to the spa experience. Aba Bailey, the therapist who gave me my first Thai massage, briefly explained the Buddhist philosophy of Metta - love, joy, and kindness. She said that these were her intentions as she performed the massage. Those words opened my eyes. She was more than just a skilled person performing a job she was trained to do. She was doing it out of love for me. She experienced joy in helping me. She wanted to show kindness towards me. ME!! And she thought about this before we even met. WOW! I had sensed this focus and care with other therapists but Aba was the first one who verbalized it and it moved me. It also made me think. Why was I there? What did I want out of the experience? What were my intentions? I decided for that particular massage, my intentions would be to be completely in the moment, completely relaxed, and completely receptive to this new experience. 

Now I state my intentions (to myself) before I have any spa treatment. I take a mental inventory before the treatment starts. How am I feeling physically and mentally? What could be better? During a massage, I am more aware of how each muscle feels as it is manipulated. During a facial, I am more aware of how my skin feels. I am conscious of my breathing. If my mind starts to get busy, I nudge it back to the present moment. I take note of my state of mind during the treatment and remind myself of my intentions for the experience. Being conscience of my goals, bringing them to the front of my mind, and keeping them in sight helps me to achieve them as well as appreciate them more once they have been met. 

It makes a difference if your therapist has focused on the intentions of the treatment. There is a world of difference in a massage given by someone whose sole purpose at that moment is to make you feel better and someone whose mind is somewhere else. You get pretty good at sizing up where your therapist's head is at within the first few minutes of being with them. It doesn't happen often but if you have an "absent" therapist, try stating your own intentions for the treatment. That will usually bring them back.

Of course, intentions apply to all aspects of our lives. It is a good idea to be aware of and examine the motives behind all of our actions and measure them against our core values. It is my belief that the closer our actions speak our values, the happier and healthier we are. 

My intention for the Spa Site in the coming year is to 1) provide the spa enthusiast with all the information he or she needs to meet his or her intentions and have the best spa experience possible and 2) provide the spa business person with the information they need to provide the best possible experience for their clients and themselves.

I've tried to give you an idea of intention from a spa enthusiast's viewpoint, but it is a common theme among spa professionals as well. Intention was mentioned a number of times at the ISPA Conference in 2000. Keynote speaker, David Wagner, owner of Juut Salonspa, demonstrated a singing bowl used at his spas for meditation and at the start of each treatment. Those performing the treatments put their intentions in the bowl, ring it, and send them to the universe. There are seven bowls that create seven notes. He said these have a profound effect on those receiving treatments. Keynote speaker  Mel Zuckerman, founder of Canyon Ranch said, "While spa goers may have different intentions for their visits - the intent of every spa should be to clearly define the wellness potential of a spa experience and motivate and inspire spa goers to think of new paradigms for healthier, more joyous living." Read more about what Mel Zuckerman and other spa experts have to say about Intention.