Pulse March / April 2017 | Page 46

Wonder Water

OF

BY KELLY HEITZ

Integrating Water Therapy into Your Spa Menu

Watsu aqua body work and therapy at Remede Spa at the St . Regis Punta Mita is a popular and relaxing treatment for guests . here is an old Slovakian proverb that states , “ Pure water is the world ’ s first and foremost medicine .” Nothing could be truer than these words . Our bodies need water to survive ; our planet consists of more than 75 percent water ; and water has been used by nearly every culture and civilization in history as a tool for health and healing .
While it is highly debated where the word spa originated from , popular belief is that “ spa ” is an acronym for the Latin phrase “ salus per aquae ,” which means health through water . It is also widely thought that the word may have come from the town of Spa , Belgium , which has been known for its baths since Roman times .
“ Across the continents , people use water to cleanse and rejuvenate , to soothe and heal ,” notes Lidya Wati , founder and president of Spa Réveil , a day spa located in Austin , Texas . “ Often , thermal water is used as part of wellness traditions in many cultures .”
44 PULSE ■ March / April 2017