A health spa is a fitness and wellness center with an emphasis on improving health through spa treatments and healthy activities. Health spas may offer a variety of services, from water therapy to exercise classes, all geared toward relaxation and promoting healthy living. Although they may seem like a recent trend, health spas have existed for thousands of years, dating back to a time when certain natural springs were thought to have healing properties.
Throughout the history of human civilization, water has long been a symbol of purification. Ancient Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Celtic societies all used ritual baths not only for cleansing the body, but restoring health and purifying the spirit. Certain warm springs, such as the waters at Bath in England were thought to have healing properties. Pilgrims would travel for thousands of miles to bathe at a particular spring believed to cure illness.
Today, the ancient tradition of ritual and health-oriented bathing is continued at health spa facilities. Unlike beauty spas, health spas often are geared toward overall fitness and wellness, as well as spiritual cleansing and relaxation. In the busy modern world, many people use health spas as a means of stress relief to help balance their daily lives.