Spa, health by water
More than just a passing fancy, the spa is now a standard in the services proposed by most French ski resorts. A pause “for you” once considered a luxury, now accessible – and recommended – for everyone.
A pause for you
Four o’clock. While your friends are making their final run down the slopes, you head toward the Spa centre next to your chalet. You have chosen the “hot stone massage,” but you are hesitant about the beauty treatments. Which is right for your skin type? You decide to find out when you get there, and follow the advice of your hosts who will be looking after you. A fantasy? Just the opposite – a holiday in the mountains is no longer limited to the outdoors and the fireplace. The spa is another way to ease your tensions. A moment for yourself, the ideal way to restore your energy, recharge your batteries, and be pampered. A selfish pleasure whose sole purpose is relaxation, designed to restore and indulge you.
Origins
There are diverging opinions concerning the origin of the term “spa.” One hypothesis is the city of Spa, site of a hot springs in the province of Liège, Belgium, famed for its healing properties. Others refer to the latin origins: “Sanitas per aqua,” health by water. The English have opted for the initials SPA, which signifies all types of balneotherapy (the treatment of illness through mineral baths.) In recent years, the term has evolved to include all wellness centres that make use of the virtues of water. If the difference between spa and balneotherapy seems vague, it is because the two concepts have come together – the term “spa” has evolved to encompass a variety of « zen » treatments that place the individual at the centre of attention. Putting a fresh face on an outdated image associated with the hydrotherapy industry and medical treatments, the spa is a custom service in a warm, cocooning environment with soft lighting…
Treatments
Clearly, each centre adapts its philosophy and choice of options according to the type of treatment. In general terms, the essence of a spa is the use of water as a treatment. Multi-jets, bubbling hot mineral baths, algae wraps…treatments and benefits which resemble those you would find in a high-end balneotherapy or hydrotherapy centre. At a spa, the focus is on beauty and well-being. Stress-relieving, relaxing or reinvigorating massages, custom therapies, and treatments imported from northern Europe and Asia. The application of hot oils, creams or hot stones to relieve sore back muscles, tense from the stress of urban life; exfoliation to give your skin back its natural radiance…the art of combining basic body treatments with the esthetic services of your choice. Exfoliation. Sooth your body and spirit, and combine the essential with the enjoyable.
Other items Well being
The art of doing nothing in the mountains
How lovely it can be to sit back and relax, while all around you a frenzy of activity takes place. In our collective imagination, a mountain holiday is synonymous with action, effort, and performance. Of course, those who enjoy sports and physical activities will find stimulation and challenge on the slopes, but those seeking pure relaxation will also see their desires fulfilled.
15 Mountain Spas
Vacation means taking time for yourself. Time to relax, rejuvenate, let go. A healthy mind goes hand-in-hand with a healthy body, and there is nothing better than a trip to the spa to bring back the feeling of good health. In the mountains, you will be spoiled for choice when it comes to these centres for well-being. Overview. Spa Thermal du Mont Blanc
Why do the mountains make us feel so good?
Discover the benefits of nature, in a warm, welcoming environment. Whether you are a dedicated skiier, or prefer taking a stroll in snowshoes, the mountains are the place to be. Make up for lost time
Other articles of the Webzine
Conquering the Peaks
Every year, thousands of cyclists flock to the mountain pass routes of the Alps and Pyrenees. The reasons for the popularity of these routes are manifold: the beauty of the landscape, the prominence of races such as the Tour de France, as well as efforts in recent years by local municipalities to promote the mountain pass routes to cyclists. Cycling Boom
Downhill Mountain Biking
Just a few years ago, downhill mountain biking was accessible only to elite athletes. A lack of adapted equipment and infrastructure within the mountain stations made the practice inconvenient. But times have changed, and downhill mountain biking has become accessible to a much larger public. So why not give it a shot? Biking Boom
Pedestrian Ski Resorts
What could be better than stepping directly out of your hotel and onto your skis? Ideal for vacationers, many French ski stations are laid out in this pedestrian-friendly manner.
Well being (2)
Available on
Fil RSS
Opinions of internet users[0 opinions]