B is for... Balinese massage, balneotherapy, bleaching, Botox and more.

Balinese Boreh

Balinese massage

Balinese multi-steam bath

Balneotherapy

Baths

Bleaching

Body brush

Body polish

Body treatment

Botox

Bowen massage

Brossage

Balinese Boreh

This is an amazingly luxurious, relaxing and invigorating spa ritual that begins, traditionally, with a foot bath and massage. From then, you will have some deep tissue massage and a relaxing face and head massage before a Boreh Wrap. The wrap is warming and envelops you in spices – sandalwood, ginger, cinnamon and ground rice. Once unwrapped, the herbal paste is rubbed into the body to polish the skin. Finally, moisturising oils are rubbed into the skin.

Good for: Deep relaxation, loose muscles and nurtured, soft skin.

See also: Balinese massage; Herbal heat treatment; Wraps

Balinese massage

This uses a combination of gentle stretches, acupressure and aromatherapy oils to stimulate the flow of blood, oxygen and "Qi" around your body, relax and soothe you. A rigorous and luxurious spa treatment, this is a great one to choose if you want to experience a variety of massage techniques, relax and feel spiritually renewed all at the same time. Balinese massage is related to Ayurveda and its techniques.

Good for: Soothing damaged tissue; relieving strained muscles and joint pain; boosting circulation; relieving migraine, sleep problems, stress and anxiety.

See also: Ayurveda; Qi; Indonesian massage

Balinese multi-steam bath

This is a gentle, sensual and very relaxing experience. Steam is infused with subtle aromas of jasmine oil, which is believed to soothe the spirit.

Good for: Relaxing and cleansing.

See also: Baths; Heat treatment; Serail

Balneotherapy

This is basically a fancy term for a warm mineral bath. Your body is massaged with strong jets of water, which may alternate between hot and cooler temperatures.

Good for: Boosting circulation, cleansing your skin, and soothing tired limbs.

See also: Baths; Hydrotherapy; Pools

Baths

Roman baths, Turkish baths, hot springs, babbling brooks... water is the essence of a traditional spa. You can have a spa bath either as part of a package, or as a treatment in itself. Submersion in water is a treat in itself. In a spa, your bath will probably be bigger than at home, and will certainly feel more luxurious than the one at home. The whole room will be specially lit, scented and heated ready for you. Whilst just being in warm or hot water cleanses and relaxes you, it is what you add to the water, and the ritual and time you take over it, that really distinguishes it.

Different types of bath

Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy oils are added to the bath. These have a variety of effects. You might have eucalyptus added to the bath, which is particularly good if you have a cold or blocked sinuses. You might have lavender to soothe and relax you. A hot bath infused with sensual essential oils will soothe and relax, or invigorate you.

Brine: Salt or salts are added to the water.

Flower: Flower petals and essence are added to the water. There are different versions of these baths, including Japanese flower bath, and Indian blossom, each one promises a slightly different experience. Take your pick!

Foot: A favourite pre- and sometimes post-ritual treatment, a therapist will begin by placing your feet into a shallow bowl/bath of water that has been treated with herbal or plant oils. The water will probably be warm. This kind of footbath feels very luxurious and pampering, and is a pretty good bet for a therapist worried about sweet feet.

Herbal: A full-size or foot bath containing herbs and possibly essential oils. As you bathe in hot or tepid water, you breathe in the aromas of whatever has been added.

Hot tub: Similar to a Jacuzzi except that it is usually made of wood and is more for soaking in than luxuriating. Strictly speaking, not very bubbly.

Japanese enzyme: Japanese spa-ing is all about purity and simplicity. And this bath is a really refreshing, cleansing and exotic treat. You sit in a wooden tub or deep barrel, which is filled with an aromatic blend of Japanese plant enzymes. You get a cup of hot enzyme tea while you're in there. The enzyme-infused water is thought to boost circulation. It's unusual and fun.

Mineral baths: Minerals – salts, muds, and water containing them – have been renowned for their health-benefits for centuries; the Dead Sea, the salt flats of Turkey and the Blue Lagoon in Iceland are three of the most famous. People still travel to find them in order to have their minds, bodies and souls refreshed, cleansed and renewed, and to treat specific conditions from psoriasis to osteoarthritis.

Mud and algae baths: There are various kinds of mud and algae baths. You might have a mineral-style bath whose ingredients are mud- or algae-based. Alternatively, this treatment is as it sounds: you immerse yourself in mud or algae. Both are actually surprisingly warming and relaxing. Once you've got over the initial oddness of getting into a bath full of goo... You will usually be in there for between 10 and 20 minutes. The aim is to detoxify and deeply relax your muscles and leave the skin feeling soft and hydrated.

Essential oils and creams are dissolved into the water, or else rubbed into your skin before you get into the bath. The water activates the oils and makes their effects more intense, so you feel really relaxed – a real aromatic treat.

Ozonised bath: This hot bath bubbles clean, oxygenated water around you. Feels great.

Peat bath: Back to nature, anyone? We know it doesn't sound promising but the peat is full of proteins and minerals which are great for your skin and actually smell pleasantly musty and earthy. There are different ways of "doing" this. Sometimes, spas will mix some peat with other ingredients to make a sweeter smelling herbal paste and either you, or a therapist, rubs it in before or during your bath. Alternatively, it may be added to the water.

Good for: Different kinds of baths will propose different health and relaxation benefits – bathe in the choice of possibilities!

See also: Balinese multi-steam bath; Indian blossom steam room; Japanese salt-steambath

Bleaching

A technique to blanch the hairs on your face or body. Might seem less drastic than hair removal, but beware – it carries the same risks of mild skin-burning as depilatory creams, and without any promise of hair removal.

Good for: What it says – rendering your body hair translucent.

See also: Beauty Treatments; Electrolysis; Hair removal

Body brush

A soft-bristled brush to be used over your whole body. The aim is to sweep away dead skin cells, and so help the lymphatic system eliminate toxins and waste products from your system. You should brush in the same direction as your blood flow - ie. towards the heart - so towards the tops of your legs and arms, and upwards along your torso. A body brush is an implement especially designed for this purpose. If you try to use the back-scrubber on your body, there'll be at least as much pain as gain.

Good for: Clearing the surface of the skin. Stimulating circulation and promoting lymphatic drainage.

Body polish

Also known as a "scrub", a body polish is a whole-body exfoliation treatment. Abrasive products – usually salts, sugars or ground rice or seeds – are massaged or brushed over and into your body, often mixed in warm oils which smooth and soften your skin at the same time. The scrub is usually showered off at various stages throughout the treatment. If you're lucky, you'll have this treatment on a "wet plinth" which is heated so that you don't get cold at all, and means that you don't even have to get up to be washed. A good body scrub or polish forms the basis of other body treatments, preparing your skin for an even tan; opening your pores ready for a wrap or mud treatment, or relaxing or stimulating your senses before a massage.

Whilst there may be variations in how the scrub is given, the main difference between scrubs is usually just the product used.

Different types of body polish

Fruit (edible!): Some body scrubs mix crushed seeds with fruit oils, oatmeal and other edible products to nourish and soothe the skin.

Herbal: A therapist mixes a herbal oil with the exfoliating scrub. They might use, for example, rosemary, lavender or aloe vera, depending on your skin type and whether the scrub is designed to wake you up or relax you.

Loofah: Some body scrubs use cream and a loofah to slough off dead skin cells.

Salt and oil: Finely granulated salt is mixed with an essential, moisturising oil. The salt might be sea or mineral. Sugar is also used, mixed with oils or creams.

Good for: Dramatically smoothing your skin and moisturising it at the same time; boosting the circulation of lymph and blood to the skin; improving the tone of the skin; relaxing, refreshing and cleansing.

See also: Brossage; Exfoliation; Wrap

Body treatment

A "body treatment" is a blanket term for a whole range of different holistic, non-medical, physical procedures aimed at helping you achieve something specific for your body. It might involve all sorts of things. You might be:

massaged or scrubbed with something – a specific oil, cream or mineral

wrapped or enveloped in something – perhaps mud or seaweed or even plastic

immersed or soaked in something – from water to algae

stroked, treated with or exposed to something external – such as brushes, magnets or electric current, or lights. So ask your spa what your "body treatment" involves.

Good for: Different body treatments are good for different things and they are usually clear about their goals – from soothing muscles, and relieving stress after a hard few weeks at work, to detoxing after a couple of weeks of over-indulgence on holiday. The choice is yours. Most body treatments will leave you feeling invigorated and relaxed; a powerful combination.

See also: Heat treatment; Scrub; Wrap

Botox

Botox is an artificial substance, and a brand name for a laboratory-produced chemical called botulinum toxin. It relaxes and "freezes" facial and other muscles. Traditionally, Botox has been used to treat people with eye and facial spasms, and to reduce excessive perspiration. There is evidence that it also helps in the treatment of headaches and migraine. On Planet Spa, Botox is used to get rid of lines and wrinkles. Its effects last a few months and develop slowly over a week or so after it is first injected.

Good for: Ironing out existing lines and wrinkles around your eyes, mouth, nose and forehead; "training" your muscles not to crease – but watch out! We've all seen how weird people look after too much Botox. Remember: your face should still move.

See also: Collagen; Facial Filler; Facial

Read more about Botox here

Bowen massage

Named after its Australian inventor, Tom Bowen, this is a gentle massage-and-release technique that alternately uses light, rolling pressure and then rest. It aims to give your muscles room to breathe and adjust. No oils are used and you wear loose-fitting clothing. It can improve circulation and posture, is often used for people recovering from injury and is popular with older people, disabled people and children.

Good for: Stimulating circulation as well as un-tensing muscles.

See also: Relaxation Massage; Reflexology; Massage

Brossage

This is a body polish that is carried out with lots of small, soft-bristled brushes. These soft brushes are also sometimes used in facials.

Good for: Boosting exfoliation and circulation.

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