There’s no doubt that spas are great places to relax and to de-stress, and today more spas are offering a variety of treatments to take it easy and unwind—especially out of doors. Breathing in some much-needed fresh air and getting some good old Vitamin D are just two great benefits of being outside, and more properties are incorporating opportunities for guests to do just that.
“Outdoor treatments are a fun and different way to experience the spa. When booking a trip or making an appointment at a local spa, ask what outdoor offerings they provide for treatments to enhance your experience that much more,” said Lynne McNees, President of the International Spa Association.
Research from The Mayo Clinic suggests that adults need a minimum of 600 IU (international units) of Vitamin D per day, which can be found in capsules or through sun exposure. The length of time spent in the sun depends on skin tone, time of day, and season, but generally 5 to 30 minutes of exposure during peak hours (10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) at least twice a week without sunscreen is adequate.
“Because many of us spend so much time indoors, due to both the climate in many regions, and work environments, people like to take advantage of any time that they can spend outside, whether it be through hiking, biking, or running. Taking their treatments outdoors provides guests with the opportunity to enjoy a natural environment while still indulging in a day at the spa,” said Ginny Poole, treatment coordinator and spa therapist at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa in Paradise Valley, Arizona.
Because many of us spend so much time indoors, due to both the climate in many regions, and work environments, people like to take advantage of any time that they can spend outside, whether it be through hiking, biking, or running. Taking their treatments outdoors provides guests with the opportunity to enjoy a natural environment while still indulging in a day at the spa.
Spa Montage Laguna Beach in Laguna Beach, California, offers an active outdoor class in SURFSET, a technique featuring a custom kinetic surfboard that delivers the same benefits of surfing. The instability of the SURFSET board offers a full body workout and a caloric burn that in 45 minutes is comparable to up to 3 hours of surfing.
“All of our wellness offerings are very popular with both resort and local guests whether indoor or outdoor. We are very fortunate to be situated on the Pacific Ocean so whether indoors or outdoors for our wellness classes, guests are able to enjoy sweeping views of the ocean. On a warm, sunny day, guests love to participate in outdoor wellness offerings,” said Michael Conte, spa director at Spa Montage Laguna Beach.