Spa Glossary

gommage
Cleansing, rehydrating treatment using creams that are applied in long movements, similar to a massage.

green
Concerned with or promoting environmentalism by recycling, making bidogradable products, or limiting pollution.

green tea
Tea whose leaves come from the same shrub as black tree but are heated before oxidation (called fermentation) is complete. It may reduce risk of cancer and help prevent cardiovascular disease.

haiku
Traditonal Japanese form of poetry consisting of three lines, which have 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively.

hair extensions
Synthetic fibers or real human hair that is woven (sewn) or braided into existing hair to increase length, volume, or color.

hatha yoga
Branch of yoga that is devoted to the physical processes (as opposed to others that focus on wisdom, meditation, service, etc.) and involves breathing and physical exercises. There are many types of physical yoga.

henna
Dye from a natural plant substance used especially in Middle East in many cultures to decorate skin as part of ceremonial rituals. It is used also to color hair in West

herbal wrap
Treatment using strips of cloth soaked in a heated herbal solution to wrap around the body. It is used for relaxation and said to eliminate impurities and detoxify.

holistic medicine
System of heath care that looks at the entire person, taking into account physical, nutritional, environmental, emotional, social, spiritual and lifestyle values, and avails itself all modes of diagnosis and treatment including drugs and surgery in the absence of a safe alternative. The patient is urged to make personal efforts to achieve balance and well-being.

homeopathy
Form of medicine based on the principle that "like cures like" To stimulate the body to heal itself, it treats patients with minute quantities of natural substances that cause symptoms much like those of the disease they are meant to cure.

hormone replacement therapy
Medication containing one or more female hormones (usually estogen) used to treat women experiencing symptoms of menopause or amenorrheoa or women who have had partial or full hysterectomy. Medical opinion about the risks of this kind of therapy is divided.

hot stone therapy
Relaxing, therapeutic treatment in which dark, smooth stones heated in hot water or hot spring pools are placed or stroked with light pressure on areas of the body such as the back, in the palms, and between the toes. Cold stones may also be used.

hydrotherapy
Treatment using water therapeutically to aid relaxation in a variety of procedures such as underwater jet massage, different types of showers, and mineral baths. Thalassotherapy, using seawater for hydrotherapy, has long been a staple in European spas.

hypoallergenic
Cosmetic products alleged by manufacturer to create fewer allergic reactions among those who are sensitive. However, no federal standards govern the use of this term.

ISPA
International Spa Association, a professional organization representing all aspects of the spa industry: club spas, cruise ship spas, day spas, destination spas, resort/hotel spas, medical spas, and mineral springs spas.

inhalation therapy
Steam vapor treatments that are deemed especially helpful for those suffering from impaired respiratory function due to illness or a smoking habit. Vapor is often mixed with herbal elements such as eucalyptus and chamomile. This form of therapy is often found at spas with access to a mineral or thermal spring.

iridology
The study of patterns and structures in the iris (colored part of the eye) to diagnose disease. Though the practice is disputed by most in the mainstream medical field, but many holistic health professionals claim that the response of nerves in the iris to bodily phenomena (including disease) can be interpreted through close scrutiny of visible features in the eye. Some even believe that iridology can prevent the onset of disease by discerning warning signs in the iris.

juice fast
Short-term diet regimen consisting of only fresh fruit or vegetable juices. Advocates claim it detoxifies the body.

Jacuzzi
The first free-standing whirlpool bath was introduced by Roy Jacuzzi in 1968, of the famous inventing Jacuzzi family, whose members also were also responsible for advances in agriculture and aviation. Though many companies manufacture whirlpool baths today, Jacuzzi is the trademarked name for the invention.

kickboxing
Boxing techniques, basic kicks, and martial arts moves (all self-defense tactics) that give the upper and lower body an intense cardiovascular, aerobic, and body-toning workout.

kinesthetic awareness
Sensitivity to the moment of your body through space that contributes to your ability to balance and move rhythmically and fluidly. It is sometimes developed as a self-awareness technique for spiritual growth.

Kneipp baths
Water therapies originated by Germany's Father Sebastian Kneipp, a holistic teacher and proponent of natural remedies. Originally involving dips in the icy Danube, nowadays the therapy involves immersion both in warm and cold water.

kosher
From the Hebrew meaning "fit" or "proper," food that meets the criteria of Jewish law regarding the ingredients and the equipment used to produce it. One of the basic laws prohibits combining meat and milk.

krauter bath
Based on German natural remedy, this is a strong, aromatic herbal bath solution.

kur
From the German "kur," a planned course of spa treatments that typically involve mineral water, mud baths, algae, and herbs. "Taking the kur" might be a ten- to twenty-day process every three months.

la stone therapy ®
See hot stone therapy

labyrinth walking
Following a man-made, spiral pattern path (traced on the ground, as in many cathedrals, or constructed in garden) to meditate, focus, and calm the mind. Not a maze, the path follows a number of circuits to the center of a circle and back out.

laser hair removal
Use of concentrated beams of light to permanently remove unwanted hair. Best candidates for the procedure have very fair skin and very dark hair.

laconium
A dry, gentle sauna whose concept originated with the spas of ancient Rome. A session in the laconium is often enjoyed prior to treatment because of its pore-opening action. Also, many spas combine laconium sessions with a cold plunge or another frigid treatment.

life enhancement
A type of spa that is dedicated to helping its guests develop a lifestyle with enhanced health and wellness. Life enhancement spas commonly employ health professionals such as nutritionists, registered nurses, psychotherapists, and personal trainers to help clients grapple with the various issues that contribute to a physically detrimental lifestyle.

lomi-lomi massage
This traditional technique was derived from the ancient Polynesians and administered by village kahunas in old Hawaii. Lomi-lomi is sometimes referred to as "loving hands" massage because of its extremely gentle, continuously flowing strokes. Gentle stretches and joint rotation are often incorporated as well. Massages may include traditional healing rituals and/or healing prayers in Hawaiian that forge a link between past and present.

loofah scrub
Exfoliation with a sponge made of the fibrous skeleton of the loofah, a vegetable from the gourd family. Loofah is used extensively in Europe and Asia because of its effectiveness in removing dry skin and stimulating circulation.

lycopene
The substance that makes tomatoes red, it is also a powerful antioxidant that may help prevent diseases of aging such as some forms of cancer and heart disease.

lymph drainage
Form of massage in which hands and fingers apply gentle, wave-like movements meant to stimulate circulation in the lymph system to drain away excess fluids and trapped toxins. It is said to have many healthful benefits.