These two terms are often confused by many people, which might derive in them being involved in awkward situations. There are many differences between them that run at various levels and make these two concepts very far apart from each other when you get to really grasp them. In this post you will learn which those differences are and what the benefits of each are. Read on and learn everything about massage, spa and their differences.
What is a SPA?
Digging back into the past of the term, we find that spa is a definition for those places in the world where water that is rich in minerals flow naturally. Taking advantage of the benefits these medicinal waters have for our organism is a practice that can be traced back to the beginning of our civilization. The medicinal baths were even used in ancient Rome to soothe spirits and heal pains.
A long time has passed from that moment and nowadays, the culture of the day spas has taken over the world, gaining amazing popularity especially in Europe, South-East Asia and Japan. Day Spas offer all kinds of different treatments for personal care, relaxation and beauty purposes.
What is a massage?
Massage is another ancient technique that has been around since the beginning of civilization. According to archeologists and historians, massage therapy could be traced as much as over 4,000 years in the past. It continued non-stop through the ages and ramified into many disciplines applied to this day.
In most cases, massages are a mean of stress and pain relief, relaxation and healing. We could divide them in two big groups putting the relaxation ones on one side and the clinical ones on the other. Massage therapy is also used on rehabilitation, chronic pain treatment, trauma relief, depression and many others together with other medicines and techniques.
What are you looking for?
Knowing what you are looking for is going to be crucial to make the final decision, but we brought you one step closer. Now that you are aware of the definition of each, let´s review which the differences between them are.
Therapist Focus
This is, perhaps, the main difference between a massage therapy session happening inside a day spa environment and one happening as a prescribed practice. The RMT (Registered Massage Therapist) will ask you to go through a thorough assessment to identify which is the exact problem you have and how to address it. Sometimes, patients that face this kind of treatment come from a series of other treatments and doctors, which makes it easier for the RMT to proceed with a definite therapy. What is crucial to understand is that the type of massage therapy, the duration, the frequency and when you are fit to stop them is always determined by the RMT and never by the patient.
On the other hand, the spa massages can happen as a one-time thing and the client gets to choose which type of massage therapy they like the most. Also, the focus of the massage therapist will always be the client´s relaxation and comfort and not so much about the health conditions you might be dealing with. Sometimes massage techniques are tailored to the client´s preference in order to try to make them have the best possible time and leave fresh and energized.
General Atmosphere
It is a fact that we all know that luxury is not the first aim of clinics. These sober places are built more for functionality than for luxury or to create a definite ambience for clients to have a good time. There are some aspects related to hygiene, protocol and efficiency that clinics have to accomplish to meet regulations. So, the atmosphere when you go for the first time to get your medical-prescribed RMT massage is cold and most of the times not relaxing, but the opposite. With repeated sessions, you start having a bond with your therapist and know the place and can relax more, but not because the surroundings change, but because you get used to them.
On the other hand, the spa is the complete opposite. Spa houses are designed entirely to satisfy customers. Make you feel as if you were entering heaven on Earth to get the best, most relaxing experience in your life. Some spas offer food, beverages, and a wide range of different esthetical treatments that can really enhance your massage experience. To say it in short words, the atmosphere in a spa is designed entirely to entice your senses and transport you to a beautiful place and opposite to what clinics are, they are completely designed for luxury instead of efficiency or practicality.
The bottom line is knowing what you want
It all comes back to the first question, which is: what are you looking to achieve with this kind of treatment? The response to that question now that you have all the information given above should definitely be one or the other. Let´s review some last points you might be doubtful about:
Spa includes massage and not vice versa
If you are looking for a place in which you can relax and have access to several treatments including beauty and personal care and also a massage, then the spa is your best bet. If you want to get only a massage by a RMT and that´s it, you are going to probably spend less money by just booking it with a professional of your trust. You can have it done at home too.
Relaxing also heals
If you didn´t know this, it is high time you become aware: relaxing heals. If you are suffering from chronic pain maybe on the back or the neck, severe headaches or any other stress-derived symptoms, trying with a spa day before going to another doctor to have a prescribed massage session might be the best bet. The best case scenario would be to try and relax at a day of spa and if that doesn´t work, book some sessions with a RMT and get it solved that way.