The best spas in Britain. Order your copy now.

A is for:

Abhyanga

Acupressure

Affusion shower

Ai Chi

Algae wrap

Algotherapy

American facial

Anthotherapy

Anti-ageing

Arctic shower

Aromatherapy

Aroma bath

Aroma room

Ayurveda

Ayurvedic massage

Abhyanga

One of the massage techniques that makes up the Indian holistic medical practice, Ayurveda. The massage uses herbal oils chosen to suit you so that you have a unique, relaxing, muscle-soothing massage..

Good for: Relaxing.

See also: Ayurveda; Dosha; Relaxation massage; Shirodhara

Acupressure

Acupuncture without the needles. This ancient Chinese holistic medical practice identifies "meridians" or energy paths that form an invisible map across your body. Your Qi (say "chee") or life energy flows along these meridians. Acupressure applies finger-tip pressure at strategic points along your meridians to remove blockages and improve the flow of energy around your body. When your Qi flows free, the happier and healthier you are.

Good for: A huge range of physical and emotional health problems, including migraine and problems with vision; muscular and joint pain; treating addictions and helping you to lose weight.

See also: Meridians; Qi; Reflexology; Reiki; Shiatsu; Thai massage; Tui Na

Affusion shower

Also known as a Vichy shower, this is a light, warm, mineral-rich shower of water that is sprayed or sprinkled over your body as you are lying down.

Good for: Relaxing; as part of a spa ritual.

See also: Hydrotherapy

Ai Chi

A combination of Tai Chi, Shiatsu and a pool.

Good for: Improving balance and posture, muscular strength and tone; general health and wellbeing.

See also: Pilates; Shiatsu; Tai Chi; Watsu; Yoga

Algae wrap

In this treatment, warmed algae are applied to your entire body to help nourish and detoxify your skin. The algae come in the form of a pungent thick paste, and might feel odd and even itchy.

Algotherapy

This is a blanket term for any spa treatment that involves algae, seaweed or any other marine ingredient. These can be slathered onto or around your face or body, or added to a bath or pool. Doesn't necessarily smell all that great.

Good for: Helping your body to sweat out its own toxins; improving the tone and radiance of your skin; refreshing and relaxing you generally.

See also: Wrap

American facial

Facials in the United States are a bit different from ours. They call ours "European facials". When we go for a facial, the luxurious comfort of having creams, lotions and oils smoothed and massaged into our skin is as much a reason that we go for the treatment, if not more. Our research reveals that people in the States don't necessarily expect this. An American facial is very much results-focused, and usually features "manual extraction" when blackheads and other impurities are removed from your skin by hand or "implement". At best, this is uncomfortable; at worst, pretty painful. The American facial can feel more like a procedure than a treat(ment). But the results can be quite dramatic.

Good for: Really clearing out your pores and ensuring you leave with healthier skin.

See also: European facial; Extraction; Facial

Anthotherapy

Spa treatments in caves! A bit like having a treatment in a steam room or sauna as some caves are hot and wet, others hot and dry. The caves are heated by a nearby hot spring or volcanic rock, and vary in temperature. You may find a whole range of thermal caves, but if you do, it means you're not in the UK anymore (and probably not Kansas, either).

Good for: Relaxing; easing sore muscles and tired minds; having something unusual to talk about at parties.

See also: Heat treatment; Thermotherapy

Anti-ageing

Many products and treatments claim to be able to arrest, delay or even reverse the visible signs of ageing on the skin. There are creams to fill in the cracks, muscle-stiffening injections for the tauter look, and any numberof rehydrating agents to leave you smooth and glowing. Rigorous scientific tests repeatedly throw these claims into doubt, saying that no externally applied product can really halt the natural ageing process.

What such products can do is make the skin look cleaner and healthier, and feel softer. And if they make you feel better about yourself in the process, isn't that halfway to looking younger?

See also: Botox; Collagen; Facial filler

Arctic shower

As it sounds, a shower cold enough to turn you blue.

Good for: Seeing whether your circulation is good enough to prevent you having a cardiac arrest in the event of an Arctic shower.

See also: Heat treatment; Hydrotherapy; Ice fountain; Thalassotherapy

Aromatherapy

Based on ancient Egyptian practices, aromatherapy uses warm essential oils to activate your sense of smell and increase your sense of wellbeing. The oils are massaged into your skin, dropped into water for you to bathe in, or blended with other oils or steam for you to inhale. The essential oils used in aromatherapy are powerful and are extracted from plants, shrubs, flowers, bark, peel, resin, grasses, fruits, roots, trees, petals, stems or seeds. Our sense of smell is very powerful and triggers memories and emotions. The therapist uses this fact to bring you a very particular experience, from making you feel all oozy and calm and relaxed, to waking you up and energising you. As tension is released, so is stress stored in your muscles, joints and furrowed brow. A transforming treatment, if done well.

Good for: A spectrum of different emotional health problems depending on the oils used; can be used to relieve stress, anxiety, sleeplessness, bad temper, and can also energise you.

See also: Aroma bath; Phytotherapy; Relaxation massage

Aroma bath

A bath containing water infused with herbs and essential oils.

Good for: Relaxing; cleansing; refreshing.

See also: Aromatherapy; Aroma room; Baths

Aroma room

Usually a feature of a thermal suite of steam rooms, saunas and other heat facilities, an aroma room or aroma grotto is a warm tiled, or rock-lined room with seating for a few people. Aromatic steam from essential oils is wafted into the room.

Good for: This depends on the oil used: with eucalyptus, this experience can be a great way to treat a cold, clearing your sinuses; lavender will relax you and make you feel snoozy and calm.

See also: Aroma bath; Aromatherapy; Phytotherapy

Ayurveda

This is an ancient Hindu medical practice which works on the basis that the body, mind and spirit must be treated together as a whole. Ayurveda covers a variety of techniques, from detoxification, diet and herbal prescriptions, to yoga, meditation and massage therapy. Any Ayurvedic treatment should start with an assessment of your health and lifestyle so that the treatment is personalised to suit your "dosha'. An Ayurvedic therapist is trained to focus on the "marma points" – similar to the pressure points in reflexology, acupuncture and acupressure.

A favourite among celebrities, Ayurveda is a lifestyle made up of treatments, diet and exercise.

Good for: Detoxing, cleansing, boosting your immune system, improving whole-body health and wellbeing; making changes to your lifestyle so that you can be happier and healthier.

Ayurvedic massage

This is a general term, and generalised massage, based on a variety of different ancient Indian techniques. An Ayurvedic massage will usually feature the use of essential oils chosen especially for you after an initial lifestyle and health assessment. The massage will involve a variety of strokes and movements, again, designed according to your needs. It may focus on a particular area of your body, such as your head or shoulders.

Good for: You, really. An Ayurvedic massage will be tailored to your needs so it depends on you.

See also: Abhyanga; Pinda Swedna; Pizzichilli; Shirodhara