There’s nothing quite like the feeling of walking out of a spa. Your shoulders have dropped about three inches, you’re moving at half your normal speed, and even the drive home feels peaceful. I’m a huge spa fan, and over the years I’ve picked up a few tips that make the day run smoothly, along with one rather annoying discovery about how quickly it can all wear off.
What to pack for a spa day
The golden rule is to pack light. Most spas will provide a robe, towels and slippers, so you really only need the basics:
- A swimsuit you feel comfortable in, plus a spare if you’re staying all day
- Flip flops for the changing room and the pool area
- A hairbrush, hair ties and a small bag of toiletries for afterwards
- A refillable water bottle, because saunas and steam rooms are thirsty work
- A good book, since you’ll spend a lot of the day horizontal
Leave valuables at home if you can. Phones tend to be discouraged in relaxation areas anyway, and you’ll enjoy the day far more without checking it every ten minutes.
Where your things go
Almost every spa has a changing room with rows of lockers, and it’s worth knowing how yours work before you arrive. Some use a key on a wristband, some use a code and some ask you to bring your own padlock, so check the website or ask when you book. Pick a locker near the door if you can, so you’re not wandering through the changing room in a robe with wet hair looking for it. And take a quick photo of the number, because after an hour in the steam room, you’ll swear you can’t remember it.
Timing and etiquette
Arrive a little early, as most spas like you to check in 30 minutes before a treatment. Eat something light beforehand, because nobody relaxes well on an empty stomach, and a big lunch makes lying face down on a massage table a less pleasant experience. Keep your voice low in the relaxation rooms, and remember that a book left on a sunbed isn’t a reservation. It’s just a book on a sunbed.
If you’re going with friends, agree in advance whether you’ll chat or do your own thing. It sounds a bit formal, but it saves any awkwardness when one of you wants to nap and the other wants to talk about the weekend.
The bit nobody mentions: Monday morning
Here’s the annoying discovery. I could float home from a spa day feeling like a new person, only to have my neck and shoulders back to normal by Wednesday. After a bit of thinking, I realised the culprit wasn’t the spa. It was the desk.
If you work from home or spend your days at a computer, a week in a poor chair can undo an awful lot of good work. That’s why ergonomic office chairs have become such a talking point for anyone who sits for a living. They let you adjust the seat height, the back support and the armrests, so you’re held in a position that doesn’t leave your shoulders creeping up towards your ears.
Making the relaxation last
A chair is a good start, but there are a few other simple things that help me keep that spa feeling going:
- Raise your screen so the top sits roughly at eye level and about an arm’s length away
- Keep your feet flat on the floor and your elbows at about 90 degrees when you type
- Set a reminder to stand up and stretch every hour
- Use a desk lamp on dark afternoons, rather than squinting at a bright screen in a dim room
- Finish the day with a few shoulder rolls and a proper stretch
None of it takes long, and it makes a surprising difference to how you feel at the end of the week.
Turning it into a routine
I like to treat my spa days as a reset rather than a rescue. If I’ve booked one, I’ll plan a gentle week around it, with an earlier finish on the Friday and a proper stretch in the evenings. It means I carry the calm with me a bit longer, rather than racing back into a stack of emails with a stiff back.
If you can’t get to a spa as often as you’d like, you can borrow a bit of the feeling at home. A warm bath, a good book and a decent seat to work from during the week do far more than you’d expect. It might not be a Yorkshire spa hotel, but it’s a lot cheaper, and your shoulders will thank you.
So next time you’re planning a treat, spare a thought for the other 360-odd days of the year. A little care for your desk could do more for your back than any hot stone massage ever will.
