Spa Days Take Care of the Body—and the Mind

There’s no denying the physical benefits of a spa day. Your complexion glows after a facial, the knots in your muscles unwind from a good massage. But spa treatments don’t just make you look good, they make you feel good. And that’s so important for mental health.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This year’s theme, “You Are Not Alone,” means so much to me because I want to be a partner to all of my clients who are living with mental health issues. Firefly is a safe space where anyone can come and get restorative self care. 

And self care is important when it comes to mental health care:

Self care reduces stress

Think about how relaxed you feel after a massage. Your breathing slows down, the stress dissolves, and pent-up tension that your body holds onto is finally released. Massage offers powerful stress relief, and that’s critical for anyone with a mental health disorder. Stress exacerbates the symptoms of mental health conditions, making it harder to manage anxiety, depression, or other issues. Taking the time for regular massages, or any other kind of self care, calms the mind so you feel stronger and recharged.

Physical touch makes us feel better

We’ve already written about “skin hunger” (the need for physical connection) and how it became an issue during pandemic lockdown and social distancing orders. Studies have shown that lack of touch can increase the risk of mood disorders like depression and anxiety. Treatments such as massages and facials offer that valuable physical contact in a safe and comfortable setting

Focusing on self care gives you much-needed rest

You deserve a break today—really! Taking time out of your day to get pampered at a spa is a treat, but it’s also necessary for mental and physical health. Our bodies need rest and stillness, a respite from our busy lifestyles. And we’re not talking about just sitting on the couch watching TV—we’re talking about the high-quality kind of rest where your brain can hit the pause button and not worry about to-do lists or money troubles or any other pressing problems. You need rich periods of rest so you can function at a higher level in your life and make it easier to manage any mental health conditions. 

Mental health improves when you show yourself some love

Carving out some time in your schedule for a spa treatment is a way to show yourself some love and compassion. This kind of self-compassion has several mental health benefits, including greater resiliency when dealing with stress or crisis, more confidence, and greater sense of mindfulness that can help you deal with problems.

I want all my clients to know I support them wherever they’re at in their mental health journeys. Firefly offers massages and facials designed to help the individual—no cookie-cutter treatments here! We see you for who you are and want to give you the space to take care of yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically. We customize each treatment to your specific needs. Book an appointment with us this May, or anytime you need a “mental” spa day.