Once considered an indulgence, spa treatments are quickly becoming a necessity.

Health care in the greatest country in the world is a disaster, and it’s only getting worse. Adult obesity has hit epidemic proportions in America, while childhood obesity threatens current and future generations. 46 million of our citizens are without health care, and fewer and fewer physicians are accepting the health insurance we do have, resulting in costs that are spiraling out of control. We hear about these issues all the time; they are hot topics on talk shows, and make the front pages of our newspapers. Politicians talk, talk, and talk about them, but there’s little or no action.

With the days of lifetime-guaranteed jobs—with guaranteed healthcare—long gone, an individual’s health and wellness is now in her own hands. Sounds simple enough, but the fact remains that most people don’t know where to start. They don’t know whom to turn to for advice and guidance, and with the wealth of conflicting information available at our fingertips, the choices are often confusing and unclear. Our healthcare system is broken and the government can’t, or won’t, fix it. America needs help—and America needs choices.

While sitting in my office about a year ago with my staff, I started to discuss these healthcare issues in depth. Feeling passionate about the subject, I wanted to do something that would make a difference to our nation’s well-being crisis, and contribute something of which all of us could be proud. At the time, I was running a public relations firm in New York City and had created a successful national Event called Spa Week, which offers $50 discounted spa treatments to the consumer. As my staff and I discussed ways in which we could help, we realized we had the answer to the problem right in front of us: the spa industry.

I have always believed that life is about the journey, not the destination. And along the way, I came to realize that success alone is not my ultimate goal. Instead, my company’s philosophy is to make a difference in people’s lives through our business endeavors—a motto that has helped to change Spa Week from just an event into a lifestyle. Our goal has become to shape the future of the spa industry for both the spas and the consumer. It’s all about education, and that has become Spa Week’s new mission.

If we could teach people that massages, facials, and other treatments, combined with a healthier diet and regular exercise, can have a profound, long-term effect on a person’s health, then we could start to eliminate the problem, one person at a time. Best of all, unlike a trip to the doctor, the spa lifestyle can be both cost effective and incredibly enjoyable—making it a welcome method of prevention.

Just how can spa treatments help improve our lives (and health) on a daily basis? In the case of a basic spa staple like a massage, targeted treatments can help alleviate common muscle and joint conditions such as arthritis, sciatica, muscle spasms, and cramps. Therapeutic massage can also help calm the nervous system and reduce general tension and anxiety, which has proved helpful in the relief of fibromyalgia, tendonitis, bursitis, pregnancy discomfort, lower back pain, headaches, Parkinson’s Disease, and Multiple Sclerosis. With a regular massage program, clients can drastically reduce the negative affects of everyday life before they escalate to the point where a physician visit is required. And in doing so, a regular massage becomes a very cost-effective form of health care

Body wraps, too, can have a dramatic affect on a client’s well being. Pollution, car exhaust and other environmental impurities combine to clog our pores, affecting the way skin looks and feels and eventually compromising the immune system. Rich in iodine, trace elements, amino acids, and vitamins A and C, many wraps can help enhance immune functions, while relaxing and rejuvenating all the body’s systems. These therapeutic wraps also help cleanse the body of toxins, resulting in visible results like improved skin tone and texture. With such effects, wraps can be a great preventative tool in our arsenal against poor health.

Many other spa favorites play important roles in maintaining good health. Reflexology can relieve tension, improve circulation, and promote the natural function of the body, while facials that incorporate lymphatic drainage, exfoliation, and aromatherapy aid in detoxification, stress relief, fluid retention, and the regulation of the immune system. Acupressure, too, works to reduce stress, increase circulation, and boost energy levels, allowing the blood and lymphatic system to flow more freely, draining sinus problems, and lessening TMJ conditions.

Despite all these positive results, the spa lifestyle still has a long way to go towards becoming an integral part of a daily healthy lifestyle. Accordingly, the Spa Week mantra is twofold: introduce a new generation of Americans to the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, and open up the spa industry to the masses. Our goal is to make wellness more than just a word—we intend to do our part and make it a reality. By educating and introducing the health benefits of the spa lifestyle to as many people as possible, Spa Week is taking a leadership position in the campaign to change the unhealthy course the country is navigating. Spa Week believes that by working together today, we can build a healthier tomorrow.

Cheryl Reid
Founder, Spa Week