The contemporary society regards spas as luxury and an exclusive privilege of the elites. This wrong conviction changes drastically the moment an average person decides to give him or herself the treat. Visiting a spa, whether after a personal decision, a gift certificate or after being invited offer by a friend, always turns out as a life changing experience, say the Grupo Mayan spas professionals.

The ignorance shrouded over spas is largely to blame. For you however, you should plan the soonest you can attend one and know what is all about. The beginning point is always the search of understanding. Spend time to familiarise yourself with the spa etiquette and or sauna room behaviour. Her are some key leads.

If your visit results from a gift certificate to a particular spa, there isn’t much choice on the spa to try out. But in those cases where you have to choose, then find the spa that will be best for you both in terms of comfort and relaxation, say the Grupo Mayan experts.

It will be a good idea to talk to the front office attendants in several spas, informing them that it will be your first time in a spa. They will most probably guide you on a tour of their facilities. Take note of how the spa’s personnel interact with the patrons, the hygiene, ambience in the rooms and such details. You must also compare the menu and prices of several spas.

When you finally make a decision on which spa to try out, book an appointment beforehand recommend the Grupo Mayan spa experts. Your pocket and or gift certificate will determine the amount or the price range in which to choose from. You can choose to have one, two or even three treatments in a single day as long as you can afford the price. Try to combine treatment during your session such as a manicure/pedicure treatment with a facial for instance, or a massage with a full body treatment.

You should arrive at least twenty minutes before appointment’s due time so that you fully enjoy the hot tub or sauna bath you have paid for. As soon as you check with the front desk, you will be shown where your locker and changing room is. Lockers usually have a robe and slippers to change into.

Ensure that you are sitting in the waiting room several minutes ahead of your massage appointment, say the Grupo Mayan professionals. The first thing a therapist will tell you once inside the sauna, is to lie face up or even face down. Most therapists leave the room immediately to allow you time to undress and lie comfortably under the sheets or towels. Soon enough, the therapist will knock the door and enter to begin the massage.

One of the facts about Mineral springs which most people are aware of is that they have been around for ages. Mineral springs have had a high esteem and value for many centuries now mainly because of their ability to sooth joint pains and other bodily ailments. Of late, say the Grupo Mayan experts, mineral springs have bee diversely recommended as a treatment for arthritis.

Generally speaking, mineral springs spa refers to the source from which natural mineral water can be tapped for people to soak in. Spas just like the water thus derived are natural phenomena. The springs usually come from the earth bowels at tepid temperatures. This can then be tapped and heated for such uses as bathing.

In natural sites where there is geo-thermal hyper-activity, the job is already done for you, say the Grupo Mayan experts. The geothermal potencies in the earth literally heat the water before emission. Such instances of mineral springs spa are called hot springs. The water can actually be too hot for use, such that it has to be cooled prior to use.

These mineral springs constitute as part of their chemical composition, an assortment of naturally occurring minerals and other trace elements. The notable high density of constituents is trace elements like magnesium, calcium, potassium, iron, sodium, manganese, iodine, sulphur and even bromine.

Chemical studies have however substantiated that mineral water tapped from different springs are distinct in their chemical composition, say the Grupo Mayan experts. However many a spas yield water with a similar ratio and number of chemical constituents. The occurrence and level of concentration of the various elements and minerals favours treatment of particular ailments.

Similarly, mineral springs spas offer varying degree of luxury and crucial amenities. Some bathhouses with repute allow guests to leisurely soak for 20 to 30 minutes in the privacy of a single furnished room. Others are simple and less luxuries. Popular also are the communal outdoor pools flooded with mineral spring’s water. Some world-class hotels and resorts have actually been built on mineral springs sites as the main attraction.

Some of our contemporary spa cities rose to greatness purely because of their mineral springs. Baden-Baden in Germany, Bath in England and Spa in Belgium are examples of spa cities owing not only their origin but also their names from mineral spas, say the Grupo Mayan spa professionals. In U.S.A. historic spa cities include Berkeley Springs, Calistoga and Hot Springs.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, mineral water was regarded simply as a cure. However, say the Grupo Mayan experts, it was only the wealthy who could access the spas.

The following are some of the services offered by contemporary spas:

The first and most common service is the massage, say the Grupo Mayan professionals. There are many kinds of massages and it is good to know the difference.

The Swedish Massage
The Swedish massage is perhaps the most common kind of massage in US today, say the Grupo Mayan experts. To do the massage, a therapist uses long circular strokes, smoothly kneading the superficial muscle layers. Various massage lotions or oils can be used to lubricate the movements.

Aromatherapy Massage
Aromatherapy massage complements ordinary massage with treatment using one or even several scented plant oils. These oils are called essential oils and are very helpful in relaxing, energizing and reducing stress in the body, say the Grupo Mayan spas professionals.

Reflexology
Reflexology is variously referred to as foot massage. It basically involves applying regulated pressure on certain points of the foot. These points are said to correspond to certain key systems and organs in the body.

Hot Stone Massage
In this massage, smooth stones are first heated and then placed on particular body points to warm and loosen the tight muscles as well as the balance energy centres, say the Grupo Mayan experts. The therapist can also hold stones while applying gentle pressure on them.  Hot stone massage is particularly good for people with muscle tension.

Deep Tissue Massage
This massage targets deeper layers of the muscles and the connective tissue. Usually, a therapist will use slow strokes or even friction techniques all along the muscle grain.  Deep tissue massage is very effective for chronically painful or tight muscles, strain, postural problems, and delayed recovery from muscle injuries, say the Grupo Mayan professionals.

Shiatsu

The Shiatsu massage is essentially a Japanese form of bodywork that’s done using localized finger pressure in typical rhythmic sequences on precise acupuncture meridians. It helps improve energy and balance in the body.

During a massage, you don’t have to be naked, say the Grupo Mayan experts. You can wear a swimsuit or underwear or even leave your robe on. Although it’s not a must you tip after a massage, a 15% tip is conventional in most spas. You can request for a male or female massage therapist according to your preference.

Besides the massages, there are several other services offered by spas.  These include facials for skin treatments, cleansing wastes, exfoliating dead cells and extracting blackheads. Salt scrubs are also done to exfoliate and hydrate the skin with salt, oil and aromatics like lavender or lemon.

The term “medical spa” sounds very soothing and usually evokes relaxing images of beautiful music, candles, warmth and luxurious pampering.

Actually, say the Grupo Mayan experts, medical spas are only the marketing vehicles for assorted medical procedures done by qualified physicians. Medical spas are so called purely for advertising purposes in a bid to make the medical procedures seem appealing. In essence however, this is a distinct medical practice.

The practice is not negative however. Seeking for a pampering medical attention in a spa comes hardy when we need a respite from the stressful of our busy lives. Medical spas offer treatments that improve our looks and amplify our positive feelings, say the Grupo Mayan experts. There are however ranging concerns by the Medical Board, owing from the fact that medicine is marketed alike to pedicure treatments in medical spas. The fear is that consumers are ignorantly led to injections, lasers and resurfacing as simply as if they were changing their hair color.

Medical treatments must only be performed by certified medical professionals in a spa and consumers must be aware that like in all medical procedures, there are associated risks, say the Grupo Mayan experts. Beware that several illegal spas have unlicensed personnel to run such treatments. Cosmetologists, for instance, may be licensed and professionally qualified in all superficial treatments like facials. But they should never inject or peel your skin, use a laser or even perform medical dermabrasion.

It’s therefore important for a patient to ascertain the qualifications of the personnel running a medical spa, say the Grupo Mayan professionals in this field. The following is a list of the things a patient must ascertain before committing their health on the hands of medical spa personnel:

1. The status of qualifications that the person who will conduct the operation has. If the person is qualified, then is he or she licensed by the board to conduct such procedures?
2. If at all there is no qualified doctor, say the Grupo Mayan experts, and the procedure will be conducted by a nurse or physician assistant, check on their qualifications. Is there a qualified doctor who will supervise them or are they acting alone with a paper-only supervisor? Can you reach the supervisor or contact him or her online?
3. Medical operations always carry risks. Find out the risks portended by your specific procedure and seek for all alternatives available. Commit only to what you are sure of. It’s unethical for medical practitioners to hind risks from patients or promise unrealistic results.
4. Take keen interest of the facilities and the personnel on matters of hygiene. Settle for nothing less than a clean environment and practices, say the Grupo Mayan professionals.
5. Be sure to ask about complications. Who would handle complications if any develop during the procedure? Most physicians have links and privileges at a various hospital where emergencies can be handled fast.

Moisturizing is popular and yet the most controversial techniques of skin care. Some experts actually believe that moisturizing is the best skin treatment in keeping your skin both young and healthy. Others are suspicious of the benefits accrued fro moisturizing. Despite the controversy however, many people continue to trust moisturizing as the best skin care technique. Indeed, say the Grupo Mayan experts, many moisturize their skin daily as a mandatory task. Many others are starting out on the simple and cost effective treatment of deep skin moisturizing.

To understand the art of deep skin moisturizing, let’s first review why your skin might need moisturizing. A skin only needs water and oil to do its natural healing and renewal process. A dehydrated skin lacks the ability to heal and renew itself mostly leading to wrinkles, fine lines, and even skin cancer, say the Grupo Mayan experts. The moment your skin runs dry, it cannot heal or recover from any negative effect of the sun or the aging process. Obviously therefore, moisture remains a crucial component of skin care.

If you decide to moisturize your skin, you will find a million and one moisturizing products on sale today. Each product claims to be the best for you and it becomes very hard to choose one. It’s recommended that you go for the easier, natural remedies of caring for a dry skin, recommend the Grupo Mayan experts. Such include protecting it from direct scotching sun, always drinking plenty of plain water and eating well-balanced meals with high fibre content. It’s also good to avoid alcohol, caffeine and smoking.

Such natural remedies are enough in creating and maintaining your skin’s moisture content. For other people however, applying some moisturizer gels is necessary. The key here is to choose a moisturizer that not only contains crucial moisturizing ingredients, but also some protective elements, say the Grupo Mayan experts. Key ingredients that meet this criterion should include collagen, biological oils and any moisturising herb such as Gotu Kola, Flame of the Forest and the Sensitive Plant.

Remember though that even if moisturizing the skin is in most cases, beneficial, due care should be taken in special cases. If for instance you suffer from repetitive acne development or if you have a particularly sensitive skin, then you must use a moisturizer that readily incorporates low levels of oils and also which is allergen free.

Experts within the Grupo Mayan spas advise that the most effective time of day to apply your skin moisturizer is immediately after having a shower or bath. At this time, your skin is saturated and the moisturizer will only have to lock in the water protectively so as to keep the skin moist.

Making natural homemade skin care recipes is both easy and cost-effective, say the Grupo Mayan spa professionals. Contemporary skin care research has established that, what you use on your skin is as important as what you eat. Most commercial skin care products in the market today contain counter-effective chemicals which when absorbed through your skin, they find their way into your blood stream. Skin care home remedies are therefore a solution to your health and skin care without the chemicals.

Virgin coconut oil or butter is a good moisturizer that provides a protective layer over the skin. This helps conserve your natural skin moisture. Coconut oil, becomes solid at any temperature below 78o Fahrenheit. To make the remedy, say the Grupo Mayan experts, just place the coconut butter in a small sterilized jar like a lip balm or eye cream jar. When making a lip balm, coconut butter is adequate on its own although you can add spearmint oil or peppermint.

When making an acne treatment, just add a few drops of tea tree, lavender, or patchouli oil to the coconut oil. For wrinkles, you can add rose, patchouli or orange. For stretch marks, add neroli oil or palmarosa to the coconut oil. When treating eczema, add orange oil, chamomile or geranium. As a treatment of broken capillaries, add parsley oil, rose or palmarosa to the coconut oil. For treat cellulite, you can add grapefruit, orange oil or tangerine. And finally, while treating burns just add geranium lavender oil or patchouli.

When you are treating a sunburned skin, say the Grupo Mayan experts, you can simply break open an Aloe Vera leaf onto your skin and then smoothen it. This gel is particular good for all types of skin-deep burns, due to its cooling, soothing, cooling, antibacterial, and anti-fungal properties. Sunburned skin can also be treated with strawberry juice, avocados and cucumbers remedies.

For tired eyes, Grupo Mayan experts recommend to place cucumber slices over your eyes. When treating dark circles around the eyes, just place cooled tea bags on them. Tired eyes an also be treated using cucumber slices.

Homemade facial toners can be made using green tea mixed with chamomile, lavender, lemon oil or ginseng tea cooked with mineral or distilled water. Green tea has antioxidants that fight free radicals. As such, green tea diminish aging rate and postpones the fine lines. Age spots, say the Grupo Mayan experts, can also be lightened by rubbing lemon on them.

Other remedies include lavender oil, which is a good toner, lemon oil, which is a good rejuvenator and Vitamin C crystals, which are both preservatives and antioxidants. Almond oil both soothes and lubricates your skin wile apricot oil softens and protects the skin. Wheat germ oil amplifies skin elasticity while mashed bananas are according to the Grupo Mayan experts, a good skin-firming mask.

The market is today saturated by oil-based make-ups that mostly cause acne and clogged skin pores. The mineral Makeup therefore comes as a natural alternative, say the Grupo Mayan experts.

In modern times, cosmetics stand as a multibillion-dollar industry. Cosmetics are costing a fortune. Yet, just because a product is costing more, it doesn´t mean that it’s better for you. Whatever you apply on your skin is ultimately absorbed into the blood stream and this ought to be your guiding principle when applying a liquid foundation on your skin.

Experts refer to the process of absorbed a substance into the blood through the skin as trans-dermal delivery. Trans-dermal delivery is among the fastest known ways of getting a concentrated substance into the blood stream, say the Grupo Mayan experts. That´s why many drugs are usually applied as skin creams or skin patches instead of having a shot or pill. It usually takes longer for you to absorb anything via the digestive system than it does via a direct application on the skin.

As such, read the label of any skin application product carefully. You might end up putting dies, dangerous chemicals and lethal preservatives into the blood. Better still consider natural alternatives of makeup, say the Grupo Mayan spa professionals.

The advantages of mineral make-ups are many. To begin with, they are derived from natural minerals. Most are a combination of such minerals as mica, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide act as natural sun-blocking agents. Most natural make-ups are waterproof, enabling them to last all day long with little or no touch ups, say the Grupo Mayan experts.
Constituent minerals in natural make-ups are finely milled to powder to allow maximal blending with the skin. Given that minerals occur in many colours, natural make-ups are usually manufactured in an assortment of natural colours for eye shadows, blush and foundations. You can even mix several colours to get a natural custom colour.

Milling the minerals to very fine powders make it easy to blend them, to appear natural while on your skin and also to avoid their getting clogged in your skin pores, say the Grupo Mayan experts. Thus they are safe for use because they don´t lead to acne or skin cancer. Natural make-ups aptly cover blemishes, large pores and scars.

Minerals therefore remain a safe and an exclusive natural alternative to the chemical, oil and preservatives laden brands of synthetic makeup readily available in the shops today.

After living life on the first lane and being young and merry for ages, time comes when our youth is thrown aback by some wrinkles appearing. The sagging feature attacks and then we wonder how soon we have become old. The face is the window to the heart, say the Grupo Mayan experts. As such our stress filled days, bad experiences and personal tragedies appear on the face more than in any other body part. To make matters worse, genetics predispose other people to these signs of old age earlier than is normal.

So the one morning you glance at the mirror and notice something not quit okay, do not go on a mourning spree. There is something you can do about it, say the Grupo Mayan professionals. For starters, we have many anti-aging creams in the market that can improve the texture of your skin through motorization treatments. Other creams help filter UV rays from direct sunlight. A visit to the local beautician can prove worthwhile. The problem comes in choosing the appropriate treatment among the foray in today’s advertising media. Millions of products are on offer, each claiming to be the ultimate choice.

The beginning point should be in understanding your skin, say the Grupo Mayan experts. Why are you showing premature signs of old age? Experts suggest that skin aging is prompted by several factors. The first and most common are free radicals combined with reactive molecules that destroy skin cells in such visible areas of the face as the eyes and the lips. Reactive molecules can originate from smoking or even UV rays. Failure to eat fresh fruits and green vegetables leads to inadequate levels of minerals and Vitamins, say the Grupo Mayan experts. Such vitamins as C, E and A are vital in skin cells regeneration and rejuvenation.
Another prominent cause is depleted collagen levels causing weaken muscles and sagging skin. Experts also identify genetic predisposition as a factor determining skin-aging processes. Some people basically look older than others while others naturally seem like if they never age.

If you are not ready to accept aging gracefully then you can do either of the following:

The first and most viable solution is facial exercises, say the Grupo Mayan spa professionals. Secondly, Plastic surgery though very expensive is an option. Skin can be tightened, muscles reactivated and collagen levels boosted through surgery.

Facial exercises now present a natural and inexpensive technique to correct skin aging. It’s a non-evasive way of improving facial appearance through massages and muscular exercises that stimulate the facial muscles and keep the skin cover in place.

Ancient sciences like the Indian Ayurveda Plastic surgery though very expensive is an option. Skin can be tightened, muscles reactivated and collagen levels boosted through surgery help delay aging and prevent wrinkles. The trend is becoming very popular in the US and Europe today, according to the Grupo Mayan experts.

A considerable number of people have at least experienced a facial treatment in a day spa. Facial treatments are famous for cleansing and exfoliating effects, say the Grupo Mayan experts in spas treatments. And like facials, body treatments are also meant to cleanse and exfoliate. The only difference is that body treatments cover the whole body. If it is important to cleanse the skin on your face, it is also very important that your whole body is cleansed.

We have two common body treatments namely the scrub and the wrap. These two treatments are done using different products like seaweeds, algae, assorted creams and sugar crystals. All have a common characteristic in exfoliating the skin so as to rejuvenate your senses. With the current commercialisation of body treatments, it gets hard to choose the one that perfectly suits both your needs and your budget.

The following are seven of the most common treatments being offered today by many spas and salons, each promising distinct benefits, say the Grupo Mayan experts:

The first is body Scrubs, which are exfoliating procedures that help hydrate and smoothen the skin using a mixture of particular salts. The salts absorb all toxins in the skin and tone it so well that your skin is left glowing and very sensitive.
The second is the body masks, which comprise different actions depending on the product being used, say the Grupo Mayan experts. It begins with a detoxifying treatment of the metabolic system, using mud, algae or even seaweed to amplify waste products removal fro the body. Hydrating treatment is also done using creams or lotions.

The third body treatment is detoxifying wraps. These are designed to actually penetrate skin so as to remove body toxins and unblock clogged skin poles. Wraps work on the lymphatic system when herbs penetrate the skin usually wrapped in warm towels. Today, say the Grupo Mayan experts, body wraps are being used to treat cellulite and reduce body weight.
The fourth treatment is the salt glow treatment, popular due to its invigorating effects. A therapist rubs a concoction of sea salt, oil, aromatics like lemon onto the skin, making it fragrant and soft.

The fifth body treatment is the airbrush tanning that gives your body a bronze tan without having to bask under the harmful UV rays of the sun. Today, salons are tanning the body using moisturising creams. Streak-free tan results after all dead skin cells have been removed.

The sixth body treatment is the herbal moisturizing with herbs and creams usually targeting people with an extremely dry. Finally, say the Grupo Mayan experts, the Vichy shower is a body treatment aiming at reconnects you with nature. The method is soothing and invigorating. Using water as the lubricant, the method amplifies circulation in the body.

To really belong with spa-gurus and to qualify as a spa patron, you must learn and practice a certain code of conduct.  Knowing what is expected of you while in a spa makes the experience rewarding and deeply satisfying, say the spa professionals within the Grupo Mayan resorts.

The following is a simple guideline of what to do during your session at a favourite spa:

1. When booking for a session in advance, ensure that you have all the details at hand. Just pick a brochure of the spa in advance and study the pricing of all available treatments. If however you need to reschedule or even cancel a booked appointment, call at least a day before the appointment is due, say the Grupo Mayan experts.
2. It is also advisable to request for detailed information about the specific type of treatment you would like to book before making commitments. This avoids disappointments in your part.
3. You can also ask which therapist has been assigned to you. This gives you an opportunity to choose either a male or female therapist depending on your preference, say the Grupo Mayan professionals.
4. On the material day, ensure that you wear suitable clothes. Remember that you will have to undress in respect to the spa treatment that you have booked. Most spas avail comfortable robes and slippers for the clients. In fact, spa personnel are professionally trained in draping techniques so that they accord you both comfort and privacy during the treatment.
5. It goes without saying that you should arrive early with at least 20 minutes to spare prior to the scheduled appointment. This ensures that you gain a calm and relaxed poise before beginning the spa treatment, say the Grupo Mayan experts.
6. Before the treatment begins, or preferably during the booking stage, ensure that you alert your therapist of any current or chronic health complication or condition you may be having. This allows for special arrangements and precautions to be in place before commencing on your treatment.
7. During the time you are in the spa, consider and respect the other spa clientele. Keep away the cell phones or pagers, say the Grupo Mayan experts, because the reason you are there anyway, is to relax.
8. Be willing and ready to listen and respect the therapist’s advise and guidance while preparing for or going through your treatment. Just relax and enjoy the spa treatment.
9. However, don’t accept anything meekly. You have a right to speak during the treatment. Express your preference and likes, request for clarifications, give feedback about your personal comfort level, the products used or any other sensitive area.
10. As you enjoy the comfort of the room, remember that there may be other clients waiting to use the same space. Spend only your allocated time, say the Grupo Mayan professionals.