Spas: The State of the Union

I read some surprising news from the International Spa Association via spas.about.com
According to the 2007 state-of-the-industry study by the International SPA Association, though there are currently more day spas this year (775 to be exact), the industry generated more money last year. That means, it seems, that there isn’t enough business to go around. Specifically the spa industry, they say, lost over a billion dollars in revenue. The statistics refer only to day spas. Hotel and resort spas seem to not be affected. So is the medical spa industry. (Why are medspas counted as spas? They’re not spas at all; just well-appointed venues to have non-surgical and surgical beauty treatments.)

I look forward to what will probably be a lively discussion at this year’s ISPA conference, which will be held in Kissimmee, FL on Nov 11-15. But though I want the spa industry to remain healthy and thrive, maybe this is a signal that spa goers are becoming savvier and won’t roll over if they’re not getting the level of service they deserve. Maybe this just makes more room for the pure-of-heart spas to deliver their quality services without bottomliners muscling in to cash in.

Cellular Memory Through Hawaiian Eyes

It’s said that every thought, every trauma, every experience gets stored in your cellular muscle tissues. That means that without a means of release, each of us is potentially storing a buildup of feelings that block energy flow. Touch, in the form of massage and bodywork, aids the process of releasing negative emotional cellular memory lodged in the muscles. That’s why it’s so important to include regular bodywork into your lifestyle especially during challenging times—while experiencing a loss, during stressful work situations and relationship struggles.

Add that to the concept that we are all connected, one cosmic body consciousness representing the universe, and you can see that the wisdom of the universe relies on the well-being every single cell. When we lived fear-based lives those negative forces multiply and tragedies like war result.

So our job is to stay emotionally healthy and bodywork is one good avenue. That wellness practices are now shaping the fabric of our culture and have so linked us to ancient cultures means we have a desire to clear out and make room for a higher consciousness. Good for us.

The traditional Hawaiian Huna Massage philosophy says that. It’s called Kahuna bodywork. Kahuna priests, the keepers of the huna, which means “secret,” perform a massage technique called Lomi lomi, which also means “breaking up into small pieces.” (Got all that?)

The Kahuna believe that old patterns and beliefs stay in the body, awaiting release into heightened awareness, tolerance and compassion. By working with posture, motion and leverage they create a space within to bring about physical change that expands emotions and extend, they say, throughout the cosmos.

Next time you see it as a spa offering, check it out. In the meantime, here’s more information from Aloha International.

Dreamzzzz

I may be stretching the mission of my blog by writing about dream interpretation, but I don’t think so; many ancient healing traditions incorporate dreams. So it could be an excellent spa offering as long as it works to spas' strength and isn’t just a kitchen-sink type menu offering.

And as if this isn’t a long enough preamble to defend including it here, I’ll add that I am writing about dream interpretation today because I’m a) percolating on some bigger spa topics that are still a little gauzy and out of focus, and b) I really want to give a shout out to a fellow blogger. His name is Warren Brown, from the UK. His blog is Wordsmith.

Warren seems to have a variety of interests, and dream interpretation is just one of them. When I first stumbled on him I decided to write and tell him about a dream I had. He said he’d think about it and get back. Yeah, right. I thought. (Sorry, Warren.) Well, today he responded and I can tell you, without getting really personal, that he got it very correct. This is one of the things I love about blogging! Here's how the correspondence went.

Spadette:
Last night I dreamt I found a little bird. The thing I remember most was that I forgot to feed it, yet I found seeds tucked in corners all around. I also remember red dot he/she had on her body. What does it mean?

Wordsmith:
Hi, This post is regarding your dream about the bird. It is possible that there is someone at home who is not getting all the love and affection, which you need to give him or her. The red spot is a health warning sign or an old injury. Bye for now.