It is very hard to pin point exactly where the word “spa” comes from, but the two main theories are that the word “spa” is an acronym for the Latin phrase, “salus per aquae,” or “health through water.” Some argue that the origin of the word “spa” comes from the Belgian town of Spa, known since Roman times for its baths. The Belgian town, Spa, was so prominent as a place to be restored and pampered that the english meaning of “Spa” is argued to originate there.

For thousands of years, us humans, have always found reasons to relax, renew, and glow! The practice of bathing in hot springs and mineral waters dates at least to the Babylonians and Greeks, and maybe even dating further back.

Modern spas have their roots in ancient towns famed for the healing powers of their mineral waters and hot springs. Travelers would come to “take the waters” and restore their health.

The United States became a center of spa innovation beginning in the 1850s, when New York’s Saratoga Springs emerged as a fashionable retreat for the rich and famous ranging from Edgar Allan Poe to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The first day spa, Manhattan’s Red Door Salon, was introduced by Elizabeth Arden in 1910, offering manicures, facials and the signature “Arden Wax.” A second-generation American, Deborah Szekely, created the first destination spa, Rancho La Puerta, located just south of the border in Baja California. In 1958, Szekely also opened the pioneering Golden Door spa in California, offering individualized weight loss and fitness programs.

With more and more people turning to spas for total skincare, wellness, and stress relief goals the demands for an affordable, monthly membership, self automated spa are unrivaled by Planet Beach, the world’s largest automated spa franchise!

Planet Beach understands these very important skincare, wellness, and stress relief needs. With products and services that are here to make you feel your very best, Planet Beach smiles every day about making you feel your very best!

To find a spa nearest you, visit: Spa Locator

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Sources: http://spas.about.com/cs/spahistory/a/spahistory.htm, http://www.spafinder.com/spalifestyle/spa101/history.jsp