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T is for...

Tai Chi

Tanning

Tepidarium

Thai herbal heat treatment

Thai massage

Thalassotherapy

Thermo-auricular therapy

Thermotherapy

Threading

Traeger massage

Trigger point therapy

Tropicarium

Tui Na

Tai Chi

Similar to Qi Gong, Tai Chi is a Chinese physical health practice of balancing postures and controlled breathing. Tai Chi is a very graceful series of movements, and looks a little like slow-motion dancing. It can be beautiful and relaxing even just to watch.

Good for: Strengthening and toning muscles; improving balance; relaxation.

See also: Ai Chi; Pilates; Qi

Tanning

A tanning treatment will turn your skin golden brown in a fraction of the time that it would take you to do it naturally. It is also, broadly speaking, a much healthier way to do it than planting yourself in the sun for hours at a time. There are various kinds of tanning treatment but their aim is the same: to make you look as though you have been sunbathing, evenly, without burning, peeling, strap marks or melanomas... always a bonus! Spas have a range of different types of tanning treatment but the most popular are the spray tans and the cream tans. Both are much more even when applied by a professional so it's worth the cost. Oddly, we think, they always seem to offer tanning in portions – leg; face; head and body; arms… wouldn't you want them all done at the same time?

Good for: Making you look like you've been on holiday, or – perversely – as though you're healthy (despite the fact that we all know sunbathing ain't great for you), relaxed and fabulous.

See also: Waxing; Heat Treatment; Hair removal

Tepidarium

A heat treatment – a warm(ish... as the "tepid" part of the name suggests) seating area where you can snooze or relax between other spa treatments.

Good for: They are a useful step up to, and step down from, more intense heat treatments.

See also: Aroma room; Heat treatment; Ice fountain

Thai herbal heat treatment

This relaxing and aromatic treatment features a massage with essential oils (which smell amazing!) and a hot poultice of sweet-smelling herbs. The hot poultice is placed on the pressure points around your body, and on the soles of your feet and hands. This is a full-body relaxation massage.

Good for: Really feeling special and relaxed; a real zone-out treatment.

See also: Aromatherapy; Hot poultice; Thai massage

Thai massage

Combining acupressure, Shiatsu and yogic stretches with regular massage techniques including cross-fibre friction, Thai massage earned its nickname "yoga for the lazy" through its gentle techniques and passive stretches. Starting at the feet and moving up to the head, the body is carefully moved, loosened, stretched, rubbed and pressured. Although Thai massage works on the body, the belief system behind it is one of complete healing, aimed at connecting body, energy and mind.

Good for: Increasing your sense of calm while at the same time increasing your energy; relieving muscle pain and tension; improving flexibility; boosting your circulation, reducing the severity and frequency of headaches and eye strain. It is believed to have relaxing and energising benefits for the giver, too, creating a sense of enlightenment, calm and good feeling within.

See also: Esalen massage; Shiatsu; Yoga

Thalassotherapy

From the Greek word for "sea", thalassotherapy refers to a variety of treatments that use seawater and seaweed, each designed to benefit your mind, body and skin in different ways. Other marine and ocean derivatives feature in thalassotherapy, too, including algae, mud and sand. Mud baths, underwater showers, hydro-massage, aromatherapy, and seaweed, mud and algae wraps all aim to help restore your body to a state of serenity fit for a mermaid. Although most of these treatments are available in UK spas, many die-hard thalassotherapy fans opt for sunnier climes each year. Luxurious hotels in Greece, France and Spain offer residential stays devoted to the art of buffeting, pampering, embalming and blasting their guests with various aqua jets, seaweed concoctions and mud.

Good for: Relaxing; toning your muscles; cleansing your skin; reducing the appearance of cellulite; boosting your immune system; aiding sleep; helping with circulatory problems and inflammation in the joints.

See also: Baths; Hydrotherapy; Pools

Thermo-auricular therapy

Also known as ear candling, this involves the insertion of a rolled cotton tube impregnated with beeswax, honey and herb extracts into your auditory canal while you lie on your side. The therapist lights the candle and allows it to burn down over the course of 10-15 minutes, during which it allegedly sucks impurities out of the ear canal. This treatment is said to be effective in reducing excess earwax, alleviating tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and relieving the build-up of catarrh during colds and flu. Many medical experts consider this procedure to be of little or no benefit, and potentially dangerous if carelessly applied.

You will also see this technique referred to as Hopi ear candling, from its supposed origins among the native Hopi people of North America, although spokespeople for the Hopi themselves have repeatedly said this practice is unknown in their customs.

Good for: In a word - nothing.

See also: Eye Treatments; Tanning; Floatation;

Read more about Thermo-auricular Therapy here

Thermotherapy

Thermotherapy is a blanket term to describe any spa treatments involving heat – of varying temperatures, and in various ways.

Good for: Soothing and relaxing you; drawing out impurities; easing muscular and joint pain.

See also: Fangotherapy; Heat treatment; Tepidarium

Threading

A form of epilation dating back to ancient Asian cultures. A piece of thin, twisted pure cotton thread is rolled over an area of the face or body, removing hairs at follicle level. Unlike tweezing, where one hair is removed at a time, this method can result in a straighter line. Threading can be quite painful as rows of hairs are removed simultaneously.

Good for: Hair removal; perfectly arched eyebrows.

See also: Electrolysis; Hair removal; Sugaring; Waxing

Traeger massage

Traeger massage is characterised by rhythmic rocking to loosen muscles and release tension in your joints. There are no oils, pressure or rubbing and you'll wear loose clothing to receive the massage. It is named after its creator.

Good for: A very gentle, nurturing treatment that's particularly good for people who perhaps don't like or receive much benefit from more conventional massage techniques, or have fragile, broken or very sensitive skin.

See also: Indonesian massage; Polarity massage; Shiatsu

Trigger point therapy

Trigger point therapy puts pressure on certain trigger points, temporarily stopping blood flow to a particular part of the body, and then releasing it, flooding that body part with fresh blood. It sounds weird and it feels weird, too; you realise how powerful your blood is when it surges back into your arteries and your limb feels suddenly warm and strong.

Good for: Boosting your circulation and flooding oxygen to your limbs.

See also: Reflexology; Pressure Point; Massage

Tropicarium

A tropicarium is a warm room, not as hot as a sauna, in which essential oils are wafted through to clear out your respiratory system.

See also: Sauna; Steam Room; Tepidarium

Tui Na

Chinese medical massage, Tui Na aims to exchange energies between the client and therapist to bring balance and wellbeing. "Tui Na" means "push pull" and the therapist uses a combination of massage techniques, including acupressure, manipulation and assisted stretches. You receive Tui Na wearing loose clothes.

Good for: Realigning your body; improving the flow of blood; calming your spirit.

See also: Rolfing; Shiatsu; Thai massage