Stressed out and strained? Relax and recharge with a spa break

Modern day life is rife with stresses and strains that can affect even the hardiest of souls. With long hours at work, kids to look after, financial pressures and family matters to deal with, it is very important to consider the impact that stress can have on your physical and mental health.

It’s therefore vital that, in amongst your busy schedule, you plan some time to relax, recharge and recuperate your mind, body and soul. A very popular form of rejuvenation is to spend some time at a luxury hotel spa complex. These tend to offer extremely high standards of service, with a range of spa treatments to ensure you are able to completely unwind and revitalise - so when you return to work, you’ll be re-energised and ready to take whatever life throws at you.

One of the most popular body treatments available is a sea salt scrub - an exfoliating procedure that involves being covered in a mixture of sea salt, oil, and aromatics, which gently removes dead skins cells and leaves the skin feeling very soft. Or, for a deeper level of treatment, full body massages are available from highly qualified therapists trained in many different types of massage - from Australian aboriginal techniques which will tone and re-align energy flows, to Indian head massages and Swedish and Thai style treatments.

Alternative therapies, such as reflexology from China, focus on points on the feet which relate to specific parts of the body to heal and rebalance energy levels. Reiki is another popular therapy which is said to channel energy into parts of the body which need it most, aiding natural healing. Crystal therapy makes use of large gemstones such as quartz, amethyst and moonstone, which are placed on the body at specific points and are said to help increase energy levels and even cure certain ailments.

Though women are traditionally seen to favour spa treatments, a growing number of men are visiting spas too; indulging themselves in seaweed body wraps and cocoa butter rubdowns as they discover what the ladies have been privy to for a long time: spas are perfect for relaxation, rejuvenation and recharging those batteries.

Luxury hotel spas are widespread throughout the world, from Switzerland to Sri Lanka, Mexico to the Maldives, and of course on home soil too. Set in stunning natural locations, these hotels truly offer a refuge from the urban living and boast a huge range of treatments for the weary, which will aid your rejuvenation.

Andrew Regan is a freelance online journalist who lists travel and rugby among his list of interests.