THE WORD ?SPA? IS THE acronym of ?solus per aqua,? which means ?health by water.? Eons ago, people recognized the healing properties of mineral-rich water. Ancient Egyptians believed water had both physical and sacred properties. In traditional Chinese medicine, water is central to restoring harmony within a person as it is the carrier of qi or life energy. Similarly in Indian Ayurveda, water is a medium by which prana (life force) travels within the human body.

Today, water remains an integral part of spas. It brings an extraordinary depth of relaxation and, when coupled with massage strokes, has specific therapeutic results and healing on many levels. Combined with different traditions, these water treatments are viewed by some as a doorway to an alternative lifestyle of spiritual growth, natural healing and holistic living.

?Watsu?

Watsu is a water-based form of shiatsu?a Japanese massage that balances and stimulates energy flow in the body. Devised by Harold Dull in 1980, watsu is essentially shiatsu conducted in chest-high warm water. More than just a massage in water, it also involves gentle cradling and exercises. As you float in a swimming pool, you are supported by a therapist who manipulates your body with stretches, rhythmic movements and pressure point massage to bring deep relaxation. Because it is carried out in water, you will enjoy greater flexibility and be able to move into different massage positions that might have been difficult or impossible if done on a floor mat or a bed.

Exercising in water is also beneficial, as the buoyancy effect of the water protects your joints from injury while the water pressure creates resistance, making your muscles work harder. Watsu is particularly suitable for pregnant women and those suffering from joint problems such as arthritis.

Flotation

Developed in the 1950s by Dr. John C. Lilly, flotation involves floating in an enclosed tank or pool of water about 10 inches deep in complete darkness or very little light, so it is not recommended if you are claustrophobic or afraid of the dark.

Flotation tanks contain around 800 lbs of Epsom salt to make the water buoyant. The water is heated to an average skin temperature to reduce the sensation between body and water.

A two-hour flotation session is equivalent to eight hours of deep sleep. It is also said to heighten awareness of your senses and emotions. It also relieves chronic pains such as arthritis, headaches and back pains, and is also often used to enhance meditation.

Thalassotherapy

From the Greek word for ?sea,? thalassotherapy makes use of seawater and seaweed. Minerals found in seawater, in particular, salts, have innate healing properties that are absorbed through the skin. Instead of using his hands, your therapist might spray jets of seawater at you while you stand in a shower. As with most massages, a thalassotherapy massage boosts blood circulation and relaxes your muscles. You can also sit in a whirlpool or soak in a bath of warm seawater.

Seaweeds, on the other hand, are commonly used as body wraps. Minerals found in seaweeds encourage perspiration and thus remove toxins from the body and tones the skin. Seaweeds can also be added to a bath, known as a kelp bath, or used as a poultice on specific areas of the body to soothe aches and pains.

Thalassotheapy kits are also widely available in the form of lotions, soaps and mud scrubs. Alternatively, you can also make your own salt scrub at home such as this one from Thalasso Bali in Indonesia. You will need: 50 g beach sand, 10 g coarse sea salt, 15 g unscented base cream, 4 tsp water, your choice of aromatherapy oil.

Grind the beach sand and sea salt into a rough powder. Add the base cream and stir until it is well mixed. The resulting mixture should look somewhat crumbly.

Add five to ten drops of your favorite aromatherapy oil to the mixture then add water. Apply the mixture generously over your body (excluding your face) in circular motions until the scrub begins to crumble off your skin. Rinse off with warm water and moisturize.

Floral bath

Not quite treated as a treatment on its own, a floral bath is often the finishing touch to body massages, wraps and other treatments. A long soak in a tub filled with fragrant blooms and essential oils, a floral bath brings about a sense of tranquility, allowing the spa experience to end on a truly relaxing note.

E-mail the author at spaholics_inq@yahoo.com.