Spa

From ArticleWorld

Traditionally, a spa is a place where water is believed to have special health-giving properties, usually a mineral or hot spring. The term comes from the town of Spa, Belgium. The water is naturally heated, either by geothermal heat from the Earth’s interior, or by the water coming in contact with the magma in volcanic zones. So called warm springs can be the result of a hot and a cold spring mixing.

Personal care

A personal care spa is a place that provides many kinds of body treatments. Types of spas include, day spas, resort spas, and health spas. A day spa may be a beauty salon that offers spa services. Destination or resort spas are usually in a hotel setting. Health spas generally refer to warm bodies of water believed to have health-giving properties. A health spa or thermal bath may be part of a day spa, or may be the centerpiece of a spa town.

Bathing

Another usage for the word spa may be to refer to a large tub for soaking. Sometimes called a hot tub, these are often found outdoors, and usually have whirlpool jets. A spa of this type can used for, among other things, relaxation, hydrotherapy, and meditation.

Places

In addition to Spa, Belgium, there are many spa towns throughout the world. Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Australia, Japan and Greece, as well as others, all boast spa towns.