Oh... a day at the spa. Sounds like a relaxing bit of heaven, doesn't it? How does a nail infection sound? Or a lethal overdose of hair-removal treatment? Spas offer a variety of services nowadays -- not just the run-of-the-mill facial and massage. So you should check your spa out as thoroughly as you would check out a new physician. Here are some tips:

• Don't make your first appointment over the phone. Visit the spa, ask for a tour, and see if it appears professional, organized, and sanitary.
• Ask questions! Ask if the staff is licensed and what their training was. You can also ask about the years of experience. If you're getting treatments such as Botox (and if you are, really, think twice) make sure whoever is administering it is a licensed physician or a nurse under a doctor's supervision.
• Ask friends if they've been to the spa before and see if the spa has an online rating.
  
• The spa should have a questionnaire or verbally ask you questions about existing health conditions, allergies, and so forth. If you don't feel an appropriate question has been asked, speak up! You have to advocate for you own health.

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There are some things in life that are strangely difficult to do considering how commonplace they are in our everyday lives: massages for example. Given how wonderful they are to receive, and the fact that they have great health benefits like stress relief and improved circulation, it's amazing so many of us are so uncomfortable giving them. Think about it: if you and your spouse each learned how to give good massages you could each get one every day for free! That's how it works in theory anyway...

Here's an online step-by-step set of instructions, complete with a video to help make learning the process easier. I think this is an awesome thing to know how to do well, but I'd like to see something on "how to give a great back massage in 5 minutes or less," because my big problem is that my arms and hands just get so tired!


Via Lifehacker

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As stressful and tense as work is for most of us, you'd think massages would be more common. I'm sure it doesn't help that there are so many different kinds available, or that it's a little intimidating to walk into a massage facility (usually a spa or healthcare setting) and try to figure out what exactly you want. And since they're not exactly cheap, it would really suck to end up with a style you didn't like.

But massages are getting more and more common, and these days massages aren't just for relaxing -- people are now seeking them out to treat health issues. Many people, including office workers and corporate leaders, are using massages as a treatment for repetitive strain injuries, chronic pain, and generalized discomfort related to too much time spent working at a desk and on the computer (not to mention stress). Patients are talking with their doctors about treatment options for these issues and doctors are actually recommending and prescribing massages. And as the pile of medical evidence grows in regard to conditions helped or relieved by massage, more and more insurance companies are stepping up to offer coverage. The proof? The number of people who reported having massages that were covered by insurance doubled (from 5% to 10%) between 2005 and 2006.

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Going to the salon to get a manicure, pedicure, or your hair colored is a luxurious experience that most people love. Having somebody wait on you hand and foot (literally!) is something that rarely, if ever, happens for us in our regular day to day lives. But we've also all heard horror stories about infections and health hazards, and here are some answers to the most commonly expressed health concerns when visiting the salon:

• Can I get an infection from a manicure or pedicure? Although it rarely happens, being aware of the possibility of getting an infection -- particularly HIV or Hepatitis -- is essential anytime instruments capable of breaking the skin are involved, as they are when doing nail care. Make sure your technician follows the appropriate guidelines and the risk will be minimal.
• Can hair dye increase my risk for cancer? Many studies have been done on this topic in relation to the risk of developing blood cancers and breast cancer, but all have been inconclusive.
• What services should I avoid when I'm pregnant? Pregnancy is such a complicated and delicate state that the best thing to do is consult your physician before receiving any salon services that involve chemicals, herbs, or other remedies -- even if they're "all natural." And some other services, like certain massages, can post risks during different stages of pregnancy and should also be avoided.

Click here for a more in-depth look at some of these concerns, plus a few others!

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