Spa Glossary

makeup application
Art or teaching of techniques for using cosmetics appropriate to an individual's skin type, style, and age.

massage
Manipulation of tissues, usually manually, to improve health and well-being by relaxing muscles, relieving tension, and improving circulation.

medical spa
Destination or day spa that offers traditional and complementary medical services supervised or administered by medical professionals. A spa may specialize in diagnostic testing, preventive care, cosmetic procedures, or a combination.

medi-spa
Any facility, usually a day spa, that offers both medical treatments and spa therapies.

meditation
Practice of using mental skills to perform such feats as focusing attention on a single object for a long period of time; cultivating compassion, which involves the transforming of negative events; and creating a state of pure awareness of thoughts, emotions, and sensations without reacting. Meditation is said to increase emotional well-being and is being studied for alleged benefits to physical health.

metabolism
Rate at which a body burns up fuel and transforms it into energy.

microdermabrasion
Facial exfoliation procedure in which skin is "sandblasted" with ultra-fine crystals of aluminum oxide or other ingredients to remove top layer of skin.

mindfulness
Non-judgmental, undistracted state that is a goal of meditation and involves being aware of oneself and one's surroundings.

mineral springs spa
Spa offering an on-site source of mineral-rich thermal or seawater that is used in hydrotherapy or thalassotherapy.

mobile spa
A spa with or without a fixed facility that employs professionals who can travel to a client’s home, office, or other preferred location to perform treatments.

mocktail
Non-alcoholic drinks made with fresh fruit and vegetables.

moor peat baths
Uses mud harvested from a moor or a peat marsh that is rich in proteins, organic matter, vitamins, and minerals. It is used as a body or facial treatment to hydrate and exfoliate the skin and in a bath to ease aches and pains.

neuromuscular integration
Body work and exercise system that focuses on the interaction between the central nervous system and the muscles of the body.

NIA (Neuromuscular Integrative Action)
Hybrid form that combines the grace and spontaneity of dance, the power and explosiveness of martial arts, and the stillness and concentration of yoga and tai chi in an energetic, low-impact full-body cardiovascular workout.

nutraceuticals
Foods that have been fortified with herbs, vitamins, minerals, or other supplements to promote health and prevent disease.

organic
Food produced with the exclusive use of feed or fertilizer of plant or animal origin and without the use of chemicals in any fashion, including growth hormones, pesticides, fertilizers.

osteoporosis
From "porous bones," progressive disease in which bones become weaker. It most commonly affects post-menopausal women. Weight-baring exercises are helpful in maintaining bone health, as is sufficient intake of calcium.

oxygen facial
Treatment that involves oxygen and other nutrients being applied or sprayed onto the face. Said to reduce the signs of aging.

PADI
Professional Association of Diving Instructors; PADI courses are often offered by resorts to certify beginning scuba divers

panchakarma
Cleansing and rejuvenating program for the body, mind, and consciousness based on Ayurvedic medicine and meant to clear the body of toxins, restore balance, strengthen the immune system, and promote calm. May involve massage, sweat therapy, yoga, diet, etc.

parafango
Volcanic mud is mixed with paraffin wax to alleviate aches and pains caused by such illnesses as rheumatism and arthritis.

paraffin treatment
Heated paraffin wax is brushed over the body to soothe muscles and, by drawing out the dirt, removing the dead skin, and drawing out perspiration through the head, leave skin clean and soft.

photo rejuvenation
Treatment with laser light to smooth wrinkles, diminish the appearance of age spots, broken capillaries, and rosacea

phytotherapy
Healing treatment with plants, such as herbs and seaweed, and in the form of aromatic essential oils and herbal and floral extracts, applied in conjunction with massage, packs and wraps, water and steam therapies, inhalation treatments, and homeopathy.

Pilates
Body conditioning program developed by Joseph Pilates meant to develop flexibility and strength without building bulk via a system of controlled movements and specially designed exercise equipment.

placebo
Inactive substance or treatment that has no known medical value that nonetheless creates a heath improvement that can be observed, measured or felt-called "the placebo effect"-due to patients expectation of getting well.

polarity massage
Therapeutic, relaxing treatment involving hands placed along the energy meridians, stretching, and light rocking to bring the body's own energy into balance.

poultice
Consisting of a paste-like substance spread on or between layers of cloth, poultices are a long-standing traditional remedy used most often to relieve swelling and inflammation. Contemporary spas incorporate this venerable technique (often with all-natural ingredients such as muds, herbs and botanicals) into massage treatments and other therapeutic modalities.

portion-controlled meals
Weight-loss program technique used to limit the amount of calories or fat consumed.

power walking
See race walking

power yoga
Energetic workout involving a sequence of postures (asanas) that flow into one another and that emphasize building body heat and breaching mindfully. Stretches and strengthens muscle while creating a calm and clear mind.

primordial sound meditation
Ancient Vedic meditation technique revived by Deepak Chopra and David Simon, MD. Practiced in silence, it uses a personal sound mantra to achieve deep peace, balance, and harmony.

Qi Gong (also spelled Chi Gung or Chi Kung)
From qi (energy) and gong (the achievement that comes from practice), a group of Chinese self-healing exercises. They combine simple movement, breathing, and mental imagery to relax and strengthen the body and the mind.

race walking
Aerobic, energetic, exaggerated form of fast walking to maintain cardiovascular health, burn calories, and develop stomach, thigh, and buttock muscles.

Rassoul
A mineral-rich Moroccan mud often used to cleanse and detoxify the hair and scalp. Many spas have Rassoul chambers where couples can apply the mud to themselves and each other.

reflexology
Ancient Chinese technique that uses pressure-point massage, usually on the feet (but also on the hands and ears), to restore the flow of energy throughout the entire body.

reiki
Japanese healing technique in which practitioners use their hands to bring energy into the body for deep relaxation and wellbeing.

repaichage
Full-body treatment meant that uses a combination of clay, herbs, seaweed, and mud to deal with the differing cleansing and moisturizing needs of different parts of your body and face.

resort spa
Spa facility offering treatments and services at a vacation destination that also offers such activities, such as golf, tennis, horseback riding, skiing, water sports, and children's programs.

restorative yoga
Passive yoga poses lasting up to 20 minutes, supported by pillows, towels, etc., and meant to encourage relaxation via the release of tension in the muscles and spine. Also quiets the mind, rejuvenates the body-mind connection, and doesn't require flexibility or athletic ability of other forms of yoga.

Rolfing Structural Integration
Deep massage system developed by Dr.Ida Rolf to achieve changes in posture and structure by manipulating the body's muscular-skeletal system. She believed proper alignment would relieve pain and chronic stress. Treatments progress from localized areas to larger body segments.

Roman bath
Traditionally, a series of hot, warm, and cold pools, but today used to refer to a hot whirlpool or Jacuzzi with benches.

rosacea
Common facial skin disorder characterized by redness on the cheeks, nose, chin, or forehead; small visible blood vessels on the face, bumps, or pimples, and water or irritated eyes that usually affects people over 30.