A Glossary of Spa Terminology

Relaxation from A to Z...

Aromatherapy
These treatments use essential oils extracted from plants that are known for their healing properties. We also sell a wide variety of natural essential oils in our boutique.

Body Rituals
These popular therapies stimulate circulation and soothe the skin, and have been used for centuries to draw impurities from the body through sweat.

Face Rituals
We offer cleansing facial massages, using various natural masks and clays to soothe, hydrate, or balance the skin. Ask our spa manager which one would be best for you. Our facialist will design an individualized facial using the products that will best suit your skin.

Holistic
The holistic principle lays in integrating the totality of one's being: body, mind, emotions, and spirit. Our holistic spa aims to pamper our guests in every way possible.

Massage
The word is derived from the Greek root “masso,” which means "to touch". Massage therapy has been around for thousands of years, in many different cultures. The methods of massage most commonly used today are derived from Swedish, Chinese and Japanese systems. Massage is the manual manipulation of the body’s soft tissues for therapeutic purposes. It has signficant psychological and physiological benefits: it improves blood circulation, which delivers oxygen and nutrients to the cells, it stimulates the lymphatic system, which carries away the body’s waste products, it prevents and relieves muscles cramps and spasms, it reduces tension and anxiety, calms the nervous system and promotes a sense of relaxation and well being.

Reflexology
A firm massage dating back to ancient Egypt, which applies pressure points on specific areas of the feet and hands that correspond to areas throughout the body. This is an excellent method of identifying imbalances in the body.

Reiki
Reiki is the universal life force energy. During a reiki healing session, the practitioner places his/her hands upon the person to be healed with the intent for healing to occur, and the energy flows through the healer's body into the receiving body. Reiki is relaxing and invigorating.

Shiatsu
A full body Japanese healing therapy that helps to relieve pain and stress. A Shiatsu Therapist uses fingers, palms, elbows, and knees to apply comfortable sustained pressure to areas of muscle tension to generate a deep sense of harmony and relaxation. Unlike other types of massage, Shiatsu is performed while wearing loose comfortable clothing.

Swedish
A trained massage therapist uses a personalized blend of natural oils infused with pure plant and flower extracts to massage away pain, increase joint mobility, and deeply relax specific areas of tension. Swedish massage is quite likely the most well known massage internationally.

Temazcal
For hundreds of years, the indigenous cultures of Mexico have practiced a purifying sweat lodge, known as the temazcal. Our temazcal is based on traditional healing methods used by indigenous Mexicans in which the properties of fire and water are combined to purify the mind, body, and soul.