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Tailored Wellness Services
Menopause-focused treatments are long overdue in the spa environment. The target market for spa-goers is women aged 25 to 65, and we have only scratched the surface of what we offer them. Women’s health and beauty have always been highlighted, but rarely has the focus been on the natural aging process. This is an exciting time and spas can address women’s needs and create experiences that guide them gently through this phase of life. Since the spa industry is often considered the key to the fountain of youth, offerings should focus on all ages and stages of life.
Many women who frequent spas are adjusting to perimenopause, menopause or post-menopause and are looking for answers to relieve symptoms. Weight loss, detoxification, sleep improvement, skin revival, and muscle building and retention are all important areas of focus. Due to this global need for treatments that recognize, understand and help alleviate menopausal symptoms, our experts at The Retreat Costa Rica have designed a program called ‘The Big M: Mastering Menopause’. This helps women navigate the hormonal challenges triggered by surgery, perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause.
Retreats and spas provide the building blocks for health and wellness. The goal with this program is for guests to receive a taste of health and happiness and take that information home to continue their journey. Menopause is a stage of life where women have the time and experience to focus inward, it should be the true age of luxury and relaxation, acceptance and peace.
By Diana Stobo
The Retreat Costa Rica
www.theretreatcostarica.com
Skincare During Menopause
Menopause is a phase that usually arrives when women are in their 50s (or earlier in some cases), and even today, is still surrounded by preconceptions. The lead-up to menopause is caused mainly by one factor: an imbalance of progesterone and estrogen. The skin is the body’s largest organ and needs estrogens as they improve its collagen, hyaluronic acid, elastin production and regulate pigmentation. Without estrogens, the skin aging process is accelerated.
During a spa experience, therapists should help guests understand this time a little better, as every woman experiences and feels the changes differently. Skincare offerings for spa experiences start with educating guests on how hormones affect their body, and therefore skin. No one can avoid skin aging, but it is possible to minimize menopause-related skin concerns with proper skincare; offering treatments and at-home skincare regimes that counteract hormonal changes, which include using facial cleanser specifically for dry skin, focusing on firming creams, and applying SPF after a facial, and at home.
The lack of estrogen during menopause can also affect mood. Lower estrogen equals less serotonin, the happiness hormone, causing women to feel irritable and blue, and can cause insomnia. Relaxation options available surrounding sleep and meditation to support these symptoms are also great opportunities for spas.
By Natura Bissé
www.naturabisse.com
Beware of False Remedies
Many spas and wellness resorts are keen to embrace previously invisible menopausal women. This shift towards recognizing the inevitable has been a long time coming. Women affected seek wellness solutions and there is no doubt that our industry can help, but, beware of false remedies. Promising menopause-specific solutions means that is what is expected – not generic spa offerings rebranded.
Research from a leading UK university on the efficacy of non-pharmaceutical treatment of menopausal symptoms identified therapies proven to help to reduce the symptoms.
Menopause differs across ethnicities, for example, black and latina women are known to have a tougher time as they reach menopause earlier and have longer transition periods. Hot flashes, often reported as the most distressing of menopausal symptoms, are experienced for longer periods by black (10 years) and latina women (8.9 years) than caucasian women (6.5 years).
The impact of treatments and retreats depends upon the services offered. Some treatments, such as aromatherapy and acupuncture, are proven to be effective whilst others, such as reflexology, have no evidence. At their best, hormonal balancing touch treatments can:
• identify the issues most significant to a guest
• match specialist, luxurious products to the symptoms
• concentrate on the therapies proven to improve the symptoms
• empower and educate guests in effective at-home self-care techniques
By Jennifer Young
www.jenniferyoung.co.uk
