Greek thalassotherapy and SPA centers

Thalassotherapy and SPA

The therapeutic, as well as relaxing and stimulating properties of sea water for the human body have been known since ancient times. This knowledge has since been put into practice in centers specialized – as far as possible – in the era of Casanova, Goethe and Napoleon – in this field.

However, in recent years, the habit of important people to be left in the care of the water has become widespread, since many have discovered the benefits of thalassotherapy, as it is now known. For several of these "many", habit became fashion.

Won by this wide appeal, they are, of course, the "temples of worship of the human body» that today abound all over the world, with a greater or lesser degree of specialization.

However, this does not mean that their customers do not win. Quite the opposite. These resorts provide services that have a double goal: the beauty and vigor of the body with the calmness and balance of the soul and spirit.

What is thalassotherapy?

As you can guess from its name, it is a process of rejuvenating the human body, based on its healing and relaxing properties of sea water. This can be achieved, either with the help of water itself at the appropriate temperature, or by its derivatives (algae, mud or cosmetics based on the aforementioned ingredients).

All of these are rich in trace elements necessary for the human body, which, with the appropriate temperature, penetrate more easily into our body.

Program for all tastes

As for the duration of the thalassotherapy program, it is considered ideal that it lasts about a week or a little less. But this does not mean that there are no treatments applied for a weekend or even in a daily schedule, which usually fight stress, help lose weight or relate to special treatments.

Spring and autumn

As a time of general rejuvenation, regeneration and change, spring is considered the most suitable time to follow a thalassotherapy program. Its beneficial effects can last for the entire semester until autumn, the second best time to indulge in the beneficial effects of sea water, before the arrival of winter.

Health and beauty

The benefits of a visit to a thalassotherapy center are varied. As mentioned above, they have to do with beauty (exercise, losing extra pounds, fighting cellulite), but also rest (relieving stress, stimulating physical and mental strength) and above all health (prevention and treatment of circulatory and heart diseases, osteoarthritis and rheumatism).

This means that in the first contact with the thalassotherapy center, the first person we will meet is the doctor who will determine the program according to our needs.

Massage for everyone

However, ehin addition to the classic services of a beauty salon or spa, thalassotherapy centers offer massages of many kinds, depending on the result we want, treatments that combine traditional secrets with modern concepts of aesthetics and medicine, while, at the same time, they offer advice on relaxation techniques , healthy eating and stress control.

Pay attention to hygiene

Among the things that one is asked to pay attention to in a thalassotherapy center, is certainly the observance of hygiene rules. In most specialized institutes, special attention is paid to these rules, but, for better or for worse, we control as much as possible what is happening, the disinfection of the premises and the competence of the staff.

The equipment

In what we are called to have with us on a visit to a thalassotherapy center and spa they include a swimming cap, plastic slippers and two swimsuits. It would be good not to have valuables with us or on us.

Also, it is possible to provide the services of the center without having to stay in its hotel facilities. However, it would be better to spend maybe a little more in order to really relax and avoid unnecessary travel.

The history of SPAs

The term "SPA" is an abbreviation of the Latin expression "sanus per acqua", which means "healthy through water". SPA is also the name of a small town in Belgium, whose hot springs were discovered by the Romans. Originally, they were used by soldiers to treat sore muscles, wounds, or even as a way to relieve stress. However, the idea of spa it may have become particularly popular during the 20th century, but it has been around for a long time.

Greeks and Egyptians

In fact, spas, as hot springs and spas, they have been known for thousands of years. Ancient civilizations, mainly the Greeks and Egyptians, used them for treatments and as a key part of social life, while much later, the Romans perfected them.

Much later, the Quiberon of Brittany became the largest and most famous center in Europe. It was founded by the famous cyclist LouisonBobet, after a stint at Europe's first marine institute in Roscoff, France, created by Dr. Louis Bargot.

Famous SPA fans

 Writers and researchers such as Mark Twain, Sigmund Freud, Nikolai Gogol and Friedrich Nietzsche used to help their concentration and spirit with visits to thalassotherapy centers. The German poet Johann Wolfgang Goethe preferred to help his... body, since according to the testimonies he stayed for a week in spa of Marienbad, in order to prepare to... court a much younger one. For the great composer Richard Wagner again, the places of worship and care of the human body were a source of inspiration for his works.

SPA lovers they were also personalities of the time, such as Giacomo Casanova or even Napoleon himself who razed the city of Vichy to build a modern spa in his imperial standards…

His dictionary SPA

Media pthe space of any large thalassotherapy center, we will be faced with terminologies that we may not have encountered before... Let's look at some of them:

• Ayurveda: one of the oldest proposals for "well-being". Its treatments have been applied for centuries in India and combine massage and essential oils for the best result.
• Exfoliation: deep cleansing, during which dead cells are removed from the skin.
• Aromatherapy: utilizes the beneficial properties of essential oils, which affect, through the nervous system, the physical as well as the mental state.
• Business massage: ideal for those who work long hours, suffer from headaches and suffer from bad posture.
• Water jet with pressure: tonic treatment, specific for circulatory and muscle problems.
• Thalassotherapy: all techniques that use ingredients of marine origin, such as seaweed, sea water, face and body masks with sea mud, etc.
• Lymphatic massage: gentle massages to decongest the tissues. Special treatment for the treatment of cellulite.
• Skull massage: gentle movements performed on the entire surface of the head to eliminate stress.
• Rain shower: thermal rain that falls on the body from special jets, with the aim of muscle and circulatory stimulation.
• Oxygen therapy: enhances blood circulation and improves skin texture.
• Rasul: this is an oriental steam bath, aimed at rejuvenation and well-being.
• Reflexology: Japanese massage that is usually applied to the feet, but also by applying pressure to specific parts of the body.
• Swedish massage: effective massage that combines rubbing with hands, pulsations and pressure.
• Facial: this is how all facial treatments are characterized.
• Hammam: oriental treatment of rejuvenation and relaxation using steam.

Greek thalassotherapy centers

ROYAL MARE THALASSO

The first center in Greece. On the Cretan Peninsula, 25 km from Heraklion, inside the hotel Royal Mare Village of the hotel chain Aldemar. Tel. 2106230400-4 (Athens), 28970/25025 (Crete).

GRECOTEL

In chain hotels Grecotel in Kos (Grecotel KosImperial Thalasso, tel. 22420/58000) and in Corfu (Grecotel Daphnila Bay Thalasso, tel. 26610/90321).

RODIAN AMATHUS BEACH HOTEL

In Ixia of Rhodes, near the city. Tel. 2240/89900.

CANDIAMARIS

In Ammoudara, Crete, 2.5 km from Heraklion. Tel. 2810/377000.

CLUB MED MARE NOSTRUM

On the premises of his hotel ClubMediterranée on the coast of Vravrona, 35 km from Athens. Tel. 22940/71000.

PEARL RESORT HOTEL

In Akrotiri, 15 km from Chania. Tel. 28210/39400.

IMPERIAL MYCONIAN

In Elia, 10 km from Mykonos Town. Tel. 22890/72000.

THERMAI SYLLA SPA WELLNESS HOTEL

In Edipsos (spa center with thalassotherapy section). Tel. 2260 60100.

serenity

In Kamena Vourla (spa center with thalassotherapy section). Tel. 22350 80501.