Brighton Spa etiquette – Learn and Be Confident

 Not all of us are regular spa goers in Brighton and a first visit to the spa can be a bit of a daunting experience for anyone. Behind the polished doors of the spa lies a space that is classy and apparently inviting but there is always a nagging fear that you may not belong there and a faux pas committed by you could really travel. Such things do travel and could reach your workplace too and woe betide you if you’re not the type to laugh it off.

The objective of this article is to apprise you of the basic dos and don’ts regarding your conduct in a spa. The International SPA Association and Resort Hotel Association has developed a Spa Code of Conduct that you should read, it will make you breathe easy and ease of any feelings of self-consciousness that you may be harboring.

Essentially as a patron of a spa it is your responsibility to let the spa management know of your expectations from the treatment that you want and learn about it from the concerned person. You should also come clear about any medical condition that you have. Be courteous. Follow directions and use unguents and ointments as directed by the staff.

You will do fine if you observe basic etiquette and show some common sense. For example, arrive around 10-15 minutes before an appointment and do not distract others by talking loudly on your phone. Wash off the chlorinated water on your body from the hot tub before you move on to the steam bath. Do not leave your children unattended. Ideally you should not carry any jewelry to the spa but if you do then deposit it in your locker before proceeding for treatment.

As a patron of a spa, you can expect courteous treatment; you have the right to stop a particular treatment at any time for whatever reason. You can elaborate on any discomfort that you may be experiencing and the therapist will make adjustments accordingly. You have the right to ask questions about staff training, licensing and certification. Your disclosure about any condition should be kept a secret by the spa staff. If you are uncomfortable taking a massage nude with a towel on, you have the option of wearing your undergarments. Alternatively you can opt for a Thai massage where you stay fully clothed during the massage.

It is important to know what you want when you enter a spa; for example if you do not specify the gender of a masseur it is likely that you will be assigned a male masseur. This is because female masseurs are in demand with female clients who may have issues with undressing before a man and may not be comfortable with a man’s touch. More than women, one would think it’s the men who would opt for female massagers. So, let your preference be known. For many experienced spa goers, the gender of the massage therapist is secondary to his/her skill. For some type of massages such as a deep tissue massage, a male massager is a better choice as this massage technique requires strength.

Tipping is always an issue that most people seek enlightenment on. In the spa industry, the tipping norm is usually 15%-20%. Check if the tip is included in the price of the service. If you get a gift certificate that entitles you to a spa treatment check if it is inclusive of the tips. Also if you are visiting the spa with a gift certificate mention it in advance so that the spa can clear any policy issues related to treatments with gift certificates.

One of the major concerns for most spa goers is information regarding nudity at the spa. Read on to learn about it. At the outset it would be fair to say that in most European countries attitudes towards nudity are far relaxed than what they are in America, so much so that in Germany men and women can take steam baths together in the nude. The general procedure before a massage treatment is that you are given time to change into a robe before you enter the massage room. The spa may or may not have a private changing space. The masseur will escort you to the massage area and leave giving you time to disrobe and slip under the sheets. After the massage, you should vacate the massage area in around five minutes. Do not keep the next customer waiting. If you wish you can unwind in the waiting room or meditation room.

There are certain body treatments that will require you to be fully exposed for some time. So, learn beforehand about the kind of massage that you are going for. You can request the spa to provide you with disposable underwear; with certain spas it is mandatory. You can enter a steam bath or a sauna naked or draped. You may have to share the space with people of the opposite sex.

Most day spas in Brighton experience peak traffic during late afternoon and at weekends. So if you wish to be treated by your favorite therapist book an appointment in advance. If, for some reason you have to cancel an appointment give the spa as much of an advance notice as you possibly can. With some spas, a minimum 24-hour notice is required. This is because spas are obliged to pay therapists for their time regardless of client arrival or not. They need advance notice to fill the slot vacated by you.

Brighton Massage Post : Eleven Great Ways to Reduce Stress

Massage in Brighton Post : Stress is a big challenge in life nowadays. The sources of stress are many and the helpful ways to reduce stress are also plentiful. Common symptoms of stress include skin problems, impotence, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, fatigue, insomnia and frustration.

We don't need to set a time to reduce stress, we need to incorporate some strategies in our daily life routine to prevent stress and reduce its effect on the body.

Massage in Brighton

Here are 10 simple steps we can easily take to reduce stress:

Define your goals: we must define our life goals and begin to achieve these goals; this action will support us against stress because we will feel that we know what our life purpose is and why, and that we control our own lives.

Take control of your diet: we can use simple ways in our diet plans to reduce stress by avoiding some stimulants such as coffee, alcohol, tea and sugar and we can use chamomile tea as an alternative because of its calming and relaxing effect. We need to eat slowly in a calm environment to allow our digestive system to work well. We can use honey as an alternative to sugar but in small amounts (one or two spoonfuls per day).

 Take hot baths regularly: after a very busy day or when we feel that we need to relax (I do this three times a week). You can take a hot bath by sitting in warm to hot water and the water level should be above the waist, using lavender oil can also enhance this relaxing experience.

 Aromatherapy: in the office you can use aromatherapy to relax and avoid stress. One of the best ways is to use lavender oil on a source of heat and take in the scent; this is a great way to relax during the day when you need it the most.

 Exercise: This is one of the important things you can do which will reduce stress and bring happiness. When we exercise, our brains release substances which bring feelings of happiness and relaxation; we need engage in some exercise regularly such as walking, dancing or swimming.

Breathing techniques: Yoga, meditation and Tai Chi all use deep breathing techniques. To meditate, simply sit with closed eyes and concentrate on your breathing. Breathing deeply regularly is great for health and from there, you can learn various other breathing techniques to gain enhanced benefits.

Relaxation techniques and self hypnotherapy: we can easily do this after the hot bath to relax even more, simply sit or lie down in a comfortable place with your eyes closed, imagine there is a spot light above your head and concentrate on it, then concentrate on your body part by part and try to relax the body and feel the relaxation deepening -- you can also use a self hypnotherapy audio tape to help in this process.

 Massage therapy: this is a great way to reduce stress, I do this when other ways fail, I feel better after receiving a massage. You can get a professional massage or you can simply ask your partner to massage you.

Spiritual healing: prayers and the act of helping others are very important components for happiness and stress reduction. You will feel calmer and have a sense of inner peace. Talking through your problems: talking about your feelings acts as a releasing mechanism and you will soon find that talking about your problems with your partner or best friend may help the solution to the problem come to light and will help to release blocked emotions.

Multivitamins: I take a Vitamin B complex regularly to decrease stress and this has been a great help in my stress reduction.

I hope that you find these suggestions helpful, my hope in sharing this information with you is that you can benefit from it. Reading about this is not enough to reduce stress, you must take action. One of the things you can do is visit Little Jasmine Therapies in Brighton, one of the best massage therapies providers in the South East.