By Shelby Jones, ISPA

One of the most popular massage treatments on menus today is a hot stone massage. This deeply relaxing treatment is offered by 90% of spas in the U.S. and is the third most offered type of massage behind deep tissue and Swedish.

This massage uses smooth, flat rocks that are heated and placed at key points on the body. Usually the rocks used are volcanic basalt rocks which are heated in water to 125°F. The heat from the rocks melts into your muscles helping them to relax. As your muscles relax your therapist can apply deeper pressure.

The stones are different sizes and can be placed on your back, between your toes and in the palms of your hands. Therapists are careful to ensure that the rocks are not too warm, but if you feel they are too hot to handle simply let your therapist know.

The heat from the stones also helps to improve circulation and create a sense of relaxation. It’s the perfect treatment if you suffer from back pain, poor circulation or arthritis.

And if you’re keeping up with the latest spa and wellness trends, you’ll know it’s not just hot stones – check out the Hot and Cold Stone Massage on Live Spa TV.

If you want to learn more about different spa treatments visit ISPA’s spa glossary at experienceispa.com.

Shelby Jones is based in Lexington, KY at the ISPA  headquarters, Spa Week’s exclusive trade partner. She has worked as ISPA’s Public Relations Manager for five years where she connects with top media outlets to promote ISPA members and the spa lifestyle. To get in touch with Shelby please email her or follow @ISPADoYou on Twitter. If you’re in the spa industry, we encourage you to become a member of ISPA; weekly e-mails with pointers like these are just one small part of the package to help you succeed!

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By Shelby Jones, ISPA

A fresh, invigorating and instantly calming scent fills your nose as soon as you walk through the door – you must be at the spa. You know the smell, it’s the aroma of well-being. Everyone wants to re-create that scent and take it home. The good news is – you can!

Essential oils used in treatments like massage, facials, body wraps and hydrotherapy baths (pretty much anything on the spa menu) have been used for thousands of years. This ancient healing art dating back to 4,500 B.C. is better known as aromatherapy.

In aromatherapy, plants, leaves, bark, roots, seeds, resins and flowers are used to create essential oils that not only smell fantastic but have healing powers. The oils are used to treat emotional disorders, organ dysfunction and skin problems through a variety of internal and external application techniques. The best part is that they smell fantastic since most of the oils are extracted from rosemary (memory booster), lavender (stress reliever), roses (fights depression and anxiety), chamomile (antiseptic and acne fighter), eucalyptus (enhances concentration and helps with respiratory issues) and peppermint (digestive aid).

One of the most popular treatments in spas today is an aromatherapy massage, offered by 85 percent of U.S. spas that have massage offerings (ISPA 2011 U.S. Spa Industry Study).  A lot of these same spas sell essential oils so you can take the experience home.

If you want to learn more about different spa treatments visit ISPA’s spa glossary at experienceispa.com.

Shelby Jones is based in Lexington, KY at the ISPA  headquarters, Spa Week’s exclusive trade partner. She has worked as ISPA’s Public Relations Manager for five years where she connects with top media outlets to promote ISPA members and the spa lifestyle. To get in touch with Shelby please email her or follow @ISPADoYou on Twitter. If you’re in the spa industry, we encourage you to become a member of ISPA; weekly e-mails with pointers like these are just one small part of the package to help you succeed!

By Shelby Jones, ISPA

The newly released ISPA 2011 U.S. Spa Industry Study reveals a ton of new information about the different types of treatments offered at the spa. We’ll be digging into the different offerings in the weeks to come, but we wanted to take a minute this week to show you what spas are doing locally for their communities.

The following chart shows just what true do-gooders people in the spa industry really are. Almost all spas (96 percent) are undertaking one or more of the following outreach efforts:

Spas clearly recognize the importance of reaching out to locals. Whether it’s through food drives, makeover nights for nurses or showcasing artwork from local artists the spa is the place to go to help make a difference in your town. The next time you want to get involved consider working with the spa in your neighborhood.

Editor’s Note: As for Spa Week Media Group, giving back has always been part of our DNA. Each season we donate a portion of our proceeds to Cancer and Careers, an organization very dear to our CEO Cheryl Reid’s heart.

If you want to learn more about different spa treatments visit ISPA’s spa glossary at experienceispa.com.

Shelby Jones is based in Lexington, KY at the ISPA  headquarters, Spa Week’s exclusive trade partner. She has worked as ISPA’s Public Relations Manager for five years where she connects with top media outlets to promote ISPA members and the spa lifestyle. To get in touch with Shelby please email her or follow @ISPADoYou on Twitter. If you’re in the spa industry, we encourage you to become a member of ISPA; weekly e-mails with pointers like these are just one small part of the package to help you succeed!

By Shelby Jones, ISPA

Flakey, rough and dull skin is something that none of us want, but many of us have to deal with it when the weather starts to cool down. Not only is it unattractive, but it can be itchy and irritating. In order to rid your skin of flakes it’s time to sand it down. That might sound extreme but exfoliation is comparable to gently (key word) sanding down the dead layers of your skin to remove dryness and flakes. Your skin will look better, makeup will go on smoother and you’ll stop scratching those irritating patches of skin.

ISPA defines exfoliation as a skin treatment where the upper layer of dead skin cells is sloughed off. A variety of techniques can be used to remove it including: loofah rub, salt scrub, body glow, brush and tone, etc. Almost all spa product lines include a scrub, serum, mask and event devices to help you achieve soft exfoliated skin.

One treatment that takes it a step further at the spa is microdermabrasion. This treatment is a non-surgical procedure that abrades skin. It is less intense then its sister treatment, dermabrasion which is a surgical treatment that requires anesthetic. The main difference between these treatments is the depth of the removal of skin layers. During a microdermabrasion treatment a diamond-tipped wand is used to slough off the top layer of skin and stimulate cell growth. Some spas might also use a bristle-tipped wand to perform the treatment.

Check out Spa Week’s $50 Directory for spas offering $50 microdermabrasion October 10-16.

Recovery time for microdermabrasion is minimal; some people can go back to work the same day. According to ISPA’s research the treatment is offered in 91 percent of medical spas in the U.S. It can aid in diminishing fine lines, hyperpigmentation and acne scars. Another benefit of the treatment is that skin care products will be more easily absorbed and make-up will go on more smoothly.

If you want to learn more about different spa treatments visit ISPA’s spa glossary at experienceispa.com.

Shelby Jones is based in Lexington, KY at the ISPA  headquarters, Spa Week’s exclusive trade partner. She has worked as ISPA’s Public Relations Manager for five years where she connects with top media outlets to promote ISPA members and the spa lifestyle. To get in touch with Shelby please email her or follow @ISPADoYou on Twitter. If you’re in the spa industry, we encourage you to become a member of ISPA; weekly e-mails with pointers like these are just one small part of the package to help you succeed!

By Shelby Jones, ISPA

With Breast Cancer Awareness Month right around the corner in October, many spas are helping to raise awareness and funds that benefit breast cancer research. (Read last night’s post on actionable ways YOU can help for BCA Month.) Known for their focus on healing and wellness, it’s no surprise that spas and spa product companies are offering special treatments, raising money and volunteering time for the cause.  Many spas around the country have therapists trained in oncology massage which adapts traditional massage techniques to safely provide relaxation and pain relief for cancer patients.

This type of massage focuses on helping the body heal. It can aid in reducing the symptoms of nausea, diarrhea, constipation, lack of appetite, insomnia and pain. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 230,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2011 alone. According to ISPA’s research, seventy percent of spa-goers are women, and almost everyone knows someone who has been affected by the disease.

The No. 1 reason people worldwide go to the spa is to reduce stress. Coping with cancer can put a tremendous amount of stress on patients and their loved ones. The spa industry provides a nurturing and relaxing environment for healing the mind, body and spirit.

Call your local spa and inquire about therapists who are trained in oncology massage. You can help the cause by visiting a spa that donates a portion of their proceeds to breast cancer research. Many spas will have special products in their retail areas from companies who donate proceeds to breast cancer awareness organizations in October.

If you want to learn more about different spa treatments visit ISPA’s spa glossary at experienceispa.com.

Shelby Jones is based in Lexington, KY at the ISPA  headquarters, Spa Week’s exclusive trade partner. She has worked as ISPA’s Public Relations Manager for five years where she connects with top media outlets to promote ISPA members and the spa lifestyle. To get in touch with Shelby please email her or follow @ISPADoYou on Twitter. If you’re in the spa industry, we encourage you to become a member of ISPA; weekly e-mails with pointers like these are just one small part of the package to help you succeed!