Spa day, anyone?

I was introduced to the wonderful world of ‘spas’ a little later in life – or at least later than I would have liked. I feel cheated that I missed a few years of spa indulgence. But I suppose if I look back honestly, I would know that in my early twenties I could not have afforded it, nor would I have fully appreciated this ‘investment’.

I do see visiting spas is an investment. I am investing in my sanity. I regularly find myself on the verge of flipping out, but then along comes a day of tranquil bliss, and I’m transformed into a reasonable and logical individual once more.

Head Space
When one of my girlfriends asks ‘spa day, anyone?’ a finely polished, hyper-multitasking brain immediately goes to work checking how schedules can be rearranged, deadlines shifted, and priorities realigned to fit in a day off.

Let’s face it, we could always go on a weekend, but the psychological benefits of going to a spa in the middle of the week are vital in relieving stress. That feeling of playing hooky, and knowing your stressed out colleagues are slaving away at the office has a profoundly positive impact on your psyche.

SA's Spa Scene
South Africa has gone spa crazy. On www.healthspas.co.za alone, there are more than 300 spas listed. This is good and bad for us consumers of relaxation. It is good because these spas are all competing for our business. If you scan the net for special offers, you can treat yourself to visiting top retreats at very reasonable prices.

The bad aspect of all these establishments popping up is that anyone with a large garden and Jacuzzi has started a day spa. They create a website with photos stolen online, stock up on scented candles and frilly tissue boxes and voila, a spa is born.

You arrive at this make-shift spa, after dodging gigantic potholes on a dust road in the middle of nowhere (the website described the venue being situated in the tranquil countryside). You are then jammed into a dining area with twenty other patrons, in shabby dressing gowns and worn-out slippers, all waiting for your factory-line treatments to begin, while sipping concentrate juice that you can quite identify.

I have had my share of interesting experiences from hot lava stones falling between my thighs and burning me, to salt scrubs so vigorous that it scrubbed away my skin. Yet, I keep going back in search of the perfect escape from reality and hope that, for a few hours, I will be able to forget everything happening in the real world.

Reviews
I am a freak for customer service, so from my very first visit to a spa I have carefully looked at how it is done; who does it best; and is it good value for money? This all led to doing some ‘mystery shopping’ on behalf of spas and now to publishing my reviews.

Please note that I don’t go to a spa for anything but relaxation treatments. No formal health treatments by professional somatologists are required. These treatments normally involve some sort of pain, best left for an appointment at your trusted salon with a certified therapist, and are not suited for a day of indulgence.

Here, is my first blog reviewing Umlazi Destination Spa from my visit in May 2011: http://reflect-review-opinion.blogspot.com/2011/07/ulwazi-destination-spa.html