| Book Review by
Julie Register, Your Guide to Spas |
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The
Spa Encyclopedia: A Guide to Treatments and Their Benefits for Health and
Healing by Hannelore R. Leavy and Reinard R. Bergel Ph.D. |
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The Spa Encyclopedia |
| Guide Rating - |
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| Pros |
• Presents information of value to both spa professionals and
spa consumers
• Provides a good overview of over 70 treatments
• Provides information on traditional spa treatments, some of
which have been around hundreds of years but not very well-known to the US spa
consumer
• Lots of photos
• Includes a Directory of spa members of The Day
Spa Association |
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| Cons |
• Photos are in black and white |
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The Bottom Line -
The Spa Encyclopedia is a great reference book - for the spa
consumer because it educates them about treatments offered at spas
and for spa and health care professionals because it can help them
determine how best to help their clients and patients.
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| Product Description |
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Section I, The World of Spa, consists of
four chapters covering: origins, spas today, popular treatments, how to choose a
spa, spa licensing and personnel training, spa etiquette, and more |
| • |
Section II, The Treatments, consists of 13
chapters covering: water, mineral, herbal and essential oil bath therapies;
massage, wellness and physiotherapies; steam vapor bath and sauna; water
affusions, affusions under pressure; showers and steam showers; Kneipp ablution;
body wraps; body packs; hot compresses; herbal and mineral body mask and wrap
therapies; exfoliation treatments; and body hardening and spa kur conditioning
therapies. |
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18-page
central section lists the spa members of The Day Spa Association, their
contact information, and a chart detailing the services they offer |
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Reference
section |
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| Guide Review |
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The first part of the Spa Encyclopedia provides a
good, general background on the history of spas, what to expect at spas
today, and how best to prepare for a spa experience. However, the bulk
of the book (and what makes it unique and worth buying) is the detailed
information about traditional spa treatments. Over 70 treatments are
discussed and presented in a procedural format (except massage
therapies*) that includes the definition, indications,
contraindications, equipment, step-by-step procedure, duration, and
additives. I personally found the indications and contraindications
interesting. It is good to know what exactly a particular therapy is
designed to treat and what effects are expected. Perhaps what I found
most interesting were the treatments that have been common in Europe
(some for centuries), but virtually unknown in US spas - affusions, body
wraps beyond the blanket wrap, hot compresses, dew walking, snow walking
and sound and light therapy. I also learned more familiar treatments
such as the whirlpool bath, steam bath, sauna, seaweed body wrap, Vichy
shower and more. A nice bonus is the center section of the book that
lists the spa members of The Day Spa Association, their contact
information, and a chart detailing the services they offer. The
reference section in the back of the book is a gem for those who want to
learn more. The Spa Encyclopedia is a great reference book - for the spa
consumer because it educates them about treatments offered at spas and
for spa and health care professionals because it can help them
determine how best to help their clients and patients.
*The information about massage is presented in a descriptive format.
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