When you get a massage and it hurts, do you talk? Or do you think “he probably knows what he’s doing”? If the music is too loud, do you ask the therapist to turn it down? Or do you just think, “It’s not that bad. I can bear it. If the therapist is speaking and wants silence, does he fume silently? Or you say, “I’d rather not talk.”
You may be pleased to know that it is your responsibility to speak up and express your preferences in these situations, in accordance with the “Spa Code of Conduct” developed by the International SPA Association and the Resort Hotel Association.
Spa Code of Conduct
There are many different spas around the world, but they all have one thing in common: they are there to take care of you and take care of you. They create a beautiful atmosphere that engages all five of your senses, hire the best staff available, and design a range of treatments to make you feel and look your best.
But people have different preferences about things like temperature, pressure, and music. Therapists tend to be sensitive people who enjoy caring for others, but are not mind readers. They trust you to speak up if there is anything that makes you feel a little uncomfortable while treatment is taking place.
Guest responsibilities
That is why the main responsibilities of guests in the Spa Code of Conduct are:
- Communicate your preferences, expectations, and concerns. This means that you should inform the therapist before, during and after treatment of whatever you have in mind! You like a lot of pressure, your skin gets red easily, you’ve never been to a spa before. Everything’s okay.
- Please provide complete and accurate health information and the reasons for your visit. Many spas ask you to fill out a form prior to treatment. You can go around the parts of your body that hurt. However, it is important to disclose certain information, such as whether you are taking Retin-A or if you recently had a peel. If you keep that secret and ask for waxing, you could lose a bit of skin to your hair.
- Treat staff and other guests with courtesy and respect. Most people who go to spas are perfectly charming. But sometimes … they show up drunk for treatment. They are noisy. They bring their cell phones to the relaxation room. Don’t be one of these people. Be calm and considerate in changing rooms and public spaces. And in the treatment room, understand that your therapist is a professional who has spent many hours learning how to do his or her job.
- Use products, equipment, and therapies as directed. This means not sitting in the sun for three hours after obtaining a glycolic peel. Drink lots of water after getting a massage instead of getting a blast. Don’t spend an hour in the sauna.
- Participate in efforts to preserve the environment. Just because there’s an endless supply of towels in the locker room doesn’t mean you should try to use all of them. Be Green.
Guest rights
The Spa Code of Conduct also spells out your rights as a spa guest. You have the right to:
- A clean, safe and comfortable environment. There is no hair in the drains. There are no weird therapists. There are no dirty sofas.
- Stop a treatment at any time, for any reason. This usually only happens if a therapist is being inappropriate. But if you don’t like the therapist (Too inexperienced? Not the right one?) You can say you don’t want to continue.
- Be treated with consideration, dignity and respect. Most spas excel at this.
- Confidential treatment of your disclosed health information.
- Trained staff who perform treatments respectfully in accordance with spa policies and protocols and procedures. Everyone should have licenses.
- Ask questions about your spa experience. You can do this before, during, or after treatment.
- Request information on staff training, licensing and certification. If a spa advertises specialties such as Ayurvedic treatments, you have the right to know where the staff were trained.
