SPA Relaxation and Enjoyment/做SPA輕鬆一下！
Day SPAs or SPA vacation have been in vogue for years in foreign countries. Now this fashionable form of recreation has been introduced to southern Taiwan. In Kaohsiung, SPA treatments now can be found in beauty salons, health clubs, five-star hotels and even department stores. Having a day SPA has become a new trendy way of enjoyment on weekends or holidays.
SPA treatments utilize the benefits of hot stones, essential oils or herbs. Accordingly, people can choose from a variety of therapies.
Take the "Hot Stone Therapy" for example. This form of bodywork uses heated stones and seven kinds of essential oils to direct their energy into the body. This can help refill the body's energy that wears thin over time, increase resistance to diseases and improve the blood circulation. When heated stones are applied to the back, they can bring about relief to the abdomen as well. The treatment takes 90 minutes, and the experience of this therapy is completely different from that of typical massage.
The herbal steam baths have also been introduced to Kaohsiung. This type of healthy steam baths utilizes 108 kinds of herbs, including lingzhi, chayote, glittering prickly ash, cinnamon, lemongrass, etc. These precious herbs are not easy to obtain, and they are free from pollution or chemicals.
Drinking "blue grass tea" when taking herbal steam baths can improve the body's metabolism and bring about relief to stiff and sore muscles. It is also helpful in weight loss and alleviating chronic diseases.
A suggested way of taking herbal steam baths is to inhale the steam with the mouth and exhale with the nose in the steam room. After six to ten minutes, leave the steam room and shower with cold water. Repeat the process again, and re-enter the steam room to stay for another ten minutes. After that, just wipe the body with a towel without taking a shower.
SPA休閒養生風潮在國外已行之有年，愈來愈多的業者也將各式能讓都會民眾消解疲勞、修補能量的SPA療程引進南台灣，高水準且多樣選擇的SPA享受已經在南台灣升溫。
高雄都會不論是坊間美容坊，或是健康俱樂部，甚至百貨公司和五星級大飯店，都投入為民眾提供SPA療程的貼心服務，也可見在忙碌生活、緊張工作之餘，做個SPA成為港都民眾新流行的休閒安排。
各家提供的SPA療程也很多元，有強調天然精油、深山高貴藥材或是蘊育大地能量的熱石，讓民眾可以有許多種不同的SPA選擇。
業者以自然為出發點，做為SPA研發的基本原理，開發存在於天地間的礦石、植物、海洋和溫泉四種系列的自然能量。
以「熱石能量療法」為例，是借助加溫過程，將石頭所蘊含的能量適度激發，配合七種芳香精油，活絡身體內的七個能量源，讓七種精油能量能充份釋放到人體中，藉此修補人體長期耗損的能量，增加抵抗力，讓血液循環更通暢。
石頭的導熱效能高且深，所以當消費者在做背部熱石能量療程時，腹部亦可感覺溫熱舒活，整個療程需九十分鐘，做完後絕對與一般手推SPA療程有不同感受。
百草健康浴也引進高雄。以一百零八種深山藥草所蒸煮出來的蒸氣浴，對人體非常有幫助。深山高貴藥材沒有經過工業、農業毒害，且得來不易，包括深山靈芝、佛手瓜、雙面刺、玉桂、香茅草等。
百草健康浴並配合飲用青草茶，可加速人體促新陳代謝，對各種酸痛、慢性病及瘦身美容都很好。
何謂SPA？
「SPA」─詞源自拉丁文「Solus Por Aqua」，意指藉由水產生健康，具有「再生」的神聖意義，充分運用水的特性、溫度及水的衝擊力來達到保養效果。
SPA 的流程：
STEP 1：淨身後按摩全身，去除老化角質層。
STEP 2：沐浴沖去肌膚殘留物，以芳香精油或身體乳液按摩滋養全身肌膚。
STEP 3：全身放鬆休息，使身體上的芳香精油或身體乳液稍作停留以利吸收。
STEP 4：再次淋浴、沖澡、洗淨殘留的芳香精油或身體乳液。
STEP 5：來杯清香甘甜的花草茶或天然藥草飲料，清除體內毒素。
STEP 6：一缸芳香的花草浴池，加入精油或牛奶，躺下來全身放鬆。
STEP 7：泡完花草浴，再以護膚乳或保養品塗抹全身。整個SPA大功告成。
禁忌：高血壓、心臟病、癲癇症、孕婦、生理期均不適合，此外飯後半小時、飯前一小時都不適宜。