Hot tubs and hot springs are among the first things that come to mind when we heard the word spa. Since long ago, spa is not only part of occasional indulgence but physical and mental health necessity. Spa has a long history and within influences of many different cultures around the globe. Spa usually includes traditional healing ingredients and techniques of a particular culture and this is the reason why there are so many types of spa treatments that come in many varieties for us to choose from.
Spa has been practiced way back since thousands of years ago by some of the early civilizations such as the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians and Mesopotamians. It was called as social bathing in healing waters that was believed to be able to promote better health, wellness, relaxation, and even slows down aging. However, it is believed that this hydrotherapeutic treatment was first sought after by the Romans on the purpose of relieving the body from aches and sore after heavy physical activities and trainings.
To some people, spa is just another kind of luxury that may cost some fortune for a normal people with a moderate salary. It is only recently that spa become something that is affordable, practical and popular among the common people as a whole. Spa is seen to have some holistic element of purifying the body and enhances the outer and inner beauty. In fact, people have find ways of practicing it at home for a new way of relaxing and also to pamper themselves.
We will travel to the authentic islands of Indonesia…
Indonesia, a country made of islands, that is rich and abundant with natural beauty ingredients that are rare and hard to get elsewhere; and whereby they can actually mix and pounce these ingredients into paste, coat it onto your skin and let you relax. However, that is only one type of their spa treatment. There are many more.
Indonesian spa may be different from many other spa treatments around the world. Diversity of vast botanical produces in Indonesia has made it the birthplace of many tropical beauty products and these include natural treatment for hair, skin as well as for medicinal purposes. There are about 6,000 species of plants, herbs and other natural resources available on this authentic land. Actually, many of these spa practices and treatment were originated from the royal family of the Javanese kings of old times. Some of the ingredient remained as secrets but gradually become known to the public recently.
Few of common spa treatments in Indonesia are:
Floral Baths Body Spa (Mandi Bunga)
Thisis a type of relaxing treatment and meant to enrich your inner beauty through the elements and auras of the flowers. Sounds mythical, but it is all part of the Asian ideology of interlink between outer and inner beauty with spiritual and the natural aspects. A bathtub of warm water is prepared with petals of flowers such as jasmine, rose, gardenia, bougainvillea, hibiscus and magnolia and later, the person can soaked in the water for about 20 minutes, savoring the tranquility. It is common sometimes to have a floral bath function for new brides before their wedding day. D.I.Y: gather flower petals and gently crush them in the lukewarm water. For a little boost of fragrance, cut a few slices of Kaffir lime and mix it in the water. Soak it for a while before using the floral water to bathe.
Milk Baths Body Spa (Mandi Susu)
This is one type of traditional beauty bath that has been used by Javanese princesses of now and then as an elixir of youth. Milk from goat's, sheep or cows is often used in this bath and is believed that it has the ability to soften and whitens the skin of the person treated. Prior to advanced researches, the only thing that may be a little of inconvenience is the smell that is left on the skin. However, nowadays you can find milk bath products easily, ready to be use and most importantly, odorless. Sometimes it is even enhanced with floral fragrance or such and made into liquid soap.
Lulur Baths Body Spa (Mandi Lulur)
Lulur bath has been practiced since the 17th century in the Javanese palaces. It is believed capable of providing the body with the proper cleansing essential. Lulur bath is an exfoliation process and polishing of the body that is supposed to leave the skin so healthy that it shines, smooth and inexplicably soft and supple. In the process, pastes are used to coat up the skin and are made up from herbal ingredients and other things such as turmeric, temu lawak, sandalwood, jasmine oil and rice powder soaked in water and made into a scrub. First, the paste is massage on the entire body and left to dry for about 20 to 30 minutes before the dry paste is rubbed off to complete the exfoliation. The process will leave some yellowish color on your skin because of turmeric properties but it will wash off on the second or the third rinse. The massaging is to enhance blood circulation to improve skin's condition. There are many pre-made lulur products sold in the oriental market today that can be use instantly for a home spa. It will more difficult to find them in western countries but it is not impossible.
