These days, we are surrounded by junk food. Fast food restaurants line most major city streets, and packaged foods fills pantries in our homes. Add to that our sedentary, TV-centric lifestyles and we’ve got major problems. Most of us aren’t healthy. And unless we take action, we’re going to stay that way.
If you’re feeling bogged down by health problems due to your lifestyle, the first step to a better life is to recognize your problem. And if you’re reading this, then you’ve already made that accomplishment. But after recognition of your problems comes a big step to solving them; you’ve got to be proactive when it comes to your health. Luckily, one of the easiest ways to make changes in your lifestyle, your weight, your appearance, and your overall outlook is through enlisting the help of health spas. With a commitment from you, spas can be the places where you will overcome your problems.
Health spas are all-in-one fitness centers for the mind, body, and spirit. They are sometimes inaccurately known as fitness centers, but they offer much more than a set of weights and a room full of cardio equipment. They also provide nutritional guidance to members who want to change their eating habit. Some spas provide personal training services as well. Many include restaurants serving healthy foods on site. Spa treatments are also a much-loved addition to these facilities. And, most importantly, all spas provide a community of support for guests who are sick of their unhealthy ways. So while these complexes do address fitness needs with workout equipment, it wouldn’t do them justice to call them gyms or fitness clubs.
In fact, the fitness aspect of spas is usually much more up to date than at other exercise facilities. Spas may not include as many machines or have as much space available as at large gyms, but they usually have newer equipment. Expect to find at least one room with a few kinds of cardio machines—ellipticals, treadmills, and bikes—and various weight machines and free weight sets. A membership to a health spa will include unlimited access to this equipment during business hours. There should also be open spaces available for group exercise classes. Some of these will be aerobic in nature, but at most health spas, many classes will be based on creating a mind-and-body connection. These include yoga, Pilates, tai chi, and other slow-moving classes that focus on breathing and posture.
Health Spas go far beyond simply providing exercise opportunities. Most spas will also keep personal trainers on staff to assist you with designing an appropriate workout. These trainers will first perform a short consultation with you to determine you health strengths and weaknesses. During the consultation, the trainer will likely take your blood pressure, ask you to run on a treadmill, measure your height and weight, and ask you about your activity level. Then, he or she will show you what to do during a workout, highlighting the level of difficulty you should aim for and the machines you should use. A health spa will allow you to schedule regular checkups with your trainer, so you can both track your progress.
Nutritionists are also available to help you at spas. They’ll ask you about your diet and help you design an eating plan that’s easy to follow but will achieve results. Many spas keep restaurants on site. Your nutritionist might take you there to talk about food and enjoy a healthy meal. Sometimes, he or she will give you cooking lessons too.
The spa component of health spas is what really sets them apart from other fitness clubs. There won’t be a full-service day spa attached to the complex in most cases, but there will usually be a place where you can get a relaxing massage or body treatment. There will also be multiple self-service spa amenities available; steam rooms, saunas, hot tubs, thermal pools, and a relaxation lounge are all common features. Relaxing in the spa after a workout is a great way to end your session at the club. And you’ll be much more likely to work out if there’s a spa reward at the end.
Health spa membership isn’t unreasonable; it will probably cost you less than $100 each month. Usually, personal training services and nutritionist consultations are free for the first meeting, but they may cost more afterward. Also, you will have to pay for a massage, although the spa facilities will be free. Think of a health spa membership as an investment in yourself. If you commit to going every day or at least the majority of the week, the price will be negligible. But the payoff will be huge. You’ll feel better, look better, and be on the right track to good health for life. Isn’t that worth it?
