5 Benefits Of Going To The Spa That Will Blow Your Mind

shutterstock_199272794I can think of almost any reason to get a massage. (It’s Friday! It’s Arbor Day! Orange Is The New Black Season 2 was just released!) Just a few short years ago, I worked as a licensed aesthetician. What this basically means was that I got to spend my entire day in a salon waxing lady parts and giving facials. All in all, it was a rewarding experience. It has given me an even greater appreciation for pampering and beauty today.

Based on results from the ISPA 2013 US Spa Industry Study, business is booming. Spa revenue hit $14 billion by the end of 2012 with a 4.7% overall increase. This boiled down to 160 million spa visits at close to 20,000 locations within the year. The average cost spent on a spa treatment was $87. In just 10 years, neighborhood spa locations have grown by leaps and bounds—from 4140 locations in 1999 to 20,600 locations in 2009.

Still, most of us can think of dozens of excuses why we don’t need to spend money on a beauty treatment right now. But once you realize that spa-time has its benefits, you’ll be singing a different tune. Booking an appointment at the spa isn’t just about TLC and beautification, although that benefit can’t be beat.

According to industry experts Infinite Beauty of White Plains, NY, there are five little-known advantages of investing in regular spa time:

• Relieve Stress: Okay, okay, this benefit is the most obvious, but it really is the most important. Even a simple pampering treatment like a massage can help to relieve stress, ease muscle tension, and stimulate the circulatory system. Massage can be therapeutic; American Massage Therapy Association statistics indicate that 56% of people seek out massage for soreness, stiffness, spasms, or general rehabilitation.

•  Detoxification: Regular detox is a hugely underestimated benefit of spa time. As the pros at Infinite Beauty explain, full body beauty treatments, and especially massage, are designed to purge the body of excess toxins and fluid. At the surface level, this detox can eliminate bloating and water retention so that you feel lighter as you walk out the door. Over the long-term, regular massage helps to stimulate the body’s lymphatic system to flush out waste products more efficiently.

•  Calm Your Soul: The simple truth is that when you look better, you will automatically feel better. Beauty treatments like pedicures, manicures, mud wraps, and facials not only improve appearance, but they give a little kick to your confidence. What’s more, the spa is designed to nourish and calm your soul. Infinite Beauty confirms that water-based spa therapies mimic the qualities of life— water is symbolically yin and yang. As you soak in a spa Jacuzzi after a body wrap, your body and soul can find balance with water as the equilibrium.

•  Get Educated On Beauty Treatments: If you’re unfamiliar with the world of pampering, the spa is the perfect place to learn. While you’re there getting a blowout or massage, make sure to ask for information about new, up-and-coming treatments. Your therapist will be happy to oblige. Maybe next time you can add a little something special to your regular appointment, like a full body coffee scrub, a spray tan, or eyelash extensions.

•  Discover New Products: I can attest to this as a former beautician—salons and spas sell a number of exclusive product lines that you aren’t going to find anywhere else. While these products may cost a little more, they are much higher quality and will last longer. Bottom line: If you want better results with your skin or hair, consider a professional product line recommended by your stylist.