Introduction to Spa Treatments

Hydrotherapy, spa treatments and body treatments are non-medical procedures fundamental in the core business process of spas: healing therapies and treatments. As this course is designed to serve as an introduction to spa treatments, students will be given a comprehensive overview of treatment philosophy and physiology. Students taking this course will examine the benefits and contraindications of all spa therapies, treatments, and techniques. A strong emphasis will be placed upon hydrotherapy, the physical properties of water, the use of water in spa therapy, balneotherapy, thalassotherapy mineral springs, bathing, soaking, hot tubs, Finnish sauna, hammam, showers, hoses and other water concepts. To ensure students are prepared to properly identify the body-mind connection, they will learn about major human body systems, such as muscles, joints, and bones, the nervous system, the circulatory system, the cardiovascular system, and skin and nail structure. Students will also learn to meet spa industry service standards and will be able to follow sanitation and infection prevention and control guidelines, in order to comply with industry health and safety regulations.