The Spa Experience

by William Staubi

MANY PEOPLE SEEM TO THINK THAT SUCCESS IN ONE AREA CAN COMPENSATE FOR FAILURE IN OTHER AREAS. BUT CAN IT REALLY? TRUE EFFECTIVENESS REQUIRES BALANCE.
– STEPHEN COVEY

For the busy manager a relaxing break can be a cold beer or white wine and 15 minutes with the Blackberry turned off. A spa vacation, or even a day at a local spa seems somewhat decadent and wasteful.

But consider the options. Canada now has some of the world’s top rated luxury spas, to go along with our rugged outdoors. There are high-quality options for you almost everywhere, anytime, and, given last minute price breaks, at competitive costs. For Type As used to cramming too much into each day, the spa is the perfect choice – you can cram relaxing into a short period.

I’ve tried floating in the dark in tanks of salt water while soft otherworldly music fills the air. An hour later, sipping an herbal tea, it is hard to remember what stress felt like. Or under the skilled firm fingers of a masseuse, I’ve yielded to that blissful mindlessness that comes as each of those computer-generated tension knots in my back is untangled and released.

I’ve lodged in a full service spa for the weekend having gourmet meals, relaxing in a bathrobe between stretching classes or cooling off after an invigorating soak in the hot tub while I waited for the attendant to nod that it’s time for my foot massage. My mother would have cringed to see all her admonishments about playing in the mud be forgotten as I sank into the warm murky mix of earth and minerals. And I dare not imagine what she would have thought of the look on my face as jets of hydrotherapy pounded away the mud bath and reduced my aching muscles to jelly.

The spa vacation can be easily mixed with other vacation activities if being pampered all day is not to your liking. Residential spas can be anything from rustic country cabins to posh hotel rooms to cozy bed and breakfast environments.

Choose a location away form everything if you want to read, enjoy nature, or just hob-knob with the other guests…it’s surprising how friendly people become when they feel so good.

Choose a location near other attractions and schedule your treatments around golfing, skiing or the sights and attractions you want to take in.

Whether you have an hour, a weekend or weeks there is a spa experience waiting for you. Giving yourself over to the ministrations of another takes a certain frame of mind…but a frame of mind no different than giving over a project idea to a skilled team of staff. Only now, your well-being is the project. And chances are, the results will be more immediate and pleasing!

In choosing a spa experience, your best tools are an endless supply of questions, a modicum of adventurousness, and a realistic idea of the time and money you wish to spend. Inquire what services are included and whether you will choose each of the treatments or are they bundled into packages? Try something new. Had a massage before? Then try a hot stone massage or a sea-salt massage. Bashful? Try not to be…they really have seen it all before. But it is hard work going from one really relaxing treatment to another, so choose only a couple for each day and talk to the staff about which treatments compliment the others you’ve requested.

Your doctor or chiropractor may have recommendations worth considering, especially if you are looking for a spa to compliment some other treatment you are undertaking or if you have health considerations to work around. Community newspapers can be sources for finding spas that cater to clients with special needs and interests.

Many hotels now have spas associated with them, either on-site or nearby. Next time you are travelling add a treatment to your plans and see how much more effective you are the next day. Can’t get out of town? There are lot of private spas, walk-in service at hotel spas, and, in larger cities, people who will cme to your office.

If you can visit the spa before booking your session, do so. It is all about relaxing and enjoying the experience. Is it clean and well organized? Inquire whether you will be able to buy products that are used at the spa so you can extend your experience once you get home. Watch the customers already there…do they look the way you want to feel? So put those planning skills to work and set aside some time to succeed at not just taking care of yourself, but at taking good care of yourself. You can thank me later.



Bill Staubi is Director General, Restorative Justice, Correctional Service of Canada.