History of the SPA
Today’s spa originated in the ritual of bathing in mineral waters and hot springs which dates back to the times of Babylon and ancient Greeks. Many have speculated that the word came from the town named Spa in Belgium which was famous for its public healing baths. Rumor has it that the town of Spa was so well known for its therapeutic baths that the word ‘spa’ came to mean ‘a place to be pampered and restored’.
Europeans have always loved the spa and the trend began in Europe long before North America. Wealthy Europeans would visit exclusive spas to partake of the healing waters and today, water is still an integral part of the spa experience.
Early Spas The World Over
As early as 500 BC, Greek socialites benefited from social baths, which included laconica (a hot air bath). Beginning with Emperor Agrippa, each emperor build a roman thermae (large spa), with each emperor outdoing his predecessor. As time passed, full scale spas were erected all across the Roman Empire from England to Africa, first starting as therapeutic havens and evolving into huge complexes with restaurants, entertainment and baths.
Stemming from the Roman experience, distinct variations began to spring up all over the world. In Japan, the first onsen (hot spring) opening in 737 A.D in Izumo and several centuries’ later ryokens (Japanese Inns) dotted the Japanese landscape which offered high class cuisine and overnight accommodation as well as cypress ofuro (soaking tubs) and Zen gardens. As early as 1000 A.D, saunas could be found in Finland which began a long history of the Finnish love affair with the steam sauna and spa experience that includes sweating in a sauna and then plunging in an icy body of water. The Ottoman empire is renowned for their mosaic hammam, a magnificent example of steam rooms and therapeutic baths.
Europe Paves the Way
Spa lovers have always gravitated naturally towards the hot springs. In Western Europe in the middle ages, Aachen in Charlemagne and Poretta in Bonaventura became very popular healing places where travelers gathered around the thermal springs. Later in the Renaissance age, there were many places in Europe that became famous stops and vacation locations because of the healing springs including Paeffers, Switzerland; Spa, Belgium; Baden-Baden, Germany and Bath, England.
America Begins a Love Affair with Spa Therapy
Starting in the 1850’s when the Saratoga Springs in New York became a fashionable retreat for the rich and famous, the United States emerged as a leader in spa innovation. In 1910, famed cosmetic icon Elizabeth Arden introduced the first Spa Day at her Red Door Salon in Manhattan which offered manicures, facials and the ‘Arden Wax’. The Rancho La Puerta was the first destination spa in North America, opened in Baja, California by Deborah Szekely, who also opened the famous Golden Door Spa in California in 1958. From that point on, hundreds of unique spas became cropping up all over America and continue to do so today.
Spas Become Global Trend
In modern times, the affluent as well as the working class flock to spas in record numbers. Spa experiences now cover more than aesthetics; many spas over medical and wellness programs as well as outdoor adventures combined with travel to exotic destinations.
The spas of today offer a vast array of techniques and treatments that range from ancient Chinese to modern science. To help understand what each spa offers, the International Spa Association (ISPA) has defined the "ten domains of SPA":
1. The Waters
2. Food, Nourishment, Diet and Nutrition
3. Movement, Exercise and Fitness
4. Touch, Massage, and Bodywork
5. Mind/Body/Spirit
6. Aesthetics, Skin Care, Natural Beauty Agents
7. Physical Space, Climatology, Global Ecology
8. Social/Cultural Arts and Values, Spa Culture
9. Management, Marketing, and Operations
10. Time, Rhythm, and Cycles
Not every spa caters to every realm. Luckily, spas come in many different varieties and offer a myriad of specialties. From day spas to stay spas; medical to holistic and everything in between, there has never been a better time to be a spa aficionado.
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