Getting ready for the exam

With two weeks of the semester to go, I'm sure you're all focussed on preparation for the exams.

Regarding the exam

We've covered quite a range of topics over this course, all could be assessed, so make sure you have a good understanding of all of them.

Some of the exercises which have suffered from very low participation over the last couple of weeks are likely to be assessed, so either get into them now, or ensure that you understand the issues posed.

Spa ethics

I'm disappointed by the participation in the work on the last two weeks tasks, but we're now running out of time, so we need to move on. I encourage you all to revisit the documents mentioned in the last two weeks and build on what is already there.

This week, we're going to consider ethics as they relate to the spa environment. We'll consider scope of practice, working as an employee, referring out, and other ethical considerations.

An elluminate session was held on Wednesday 12th November at 11am.
It has been recorded (click on the link above to view it).

Spa trends & working in the spa environment

I'm wondering what you're all doing with your time, as there's been very little work put into the tasks set last week. So here they are again...
(These are both assessable topics)

We were going to start on spa ethics today, but this'll keep you busy enough, so we'll start spa ethics next week.


Tasks for the week

Continue talking about the impact of current spa trends on massage therapy.

• Four people have contributed to the discussion so far. This is a good start, but we have some more work to do here, so we'll continue working on this document this week. If you haven't contributed anything please do so. If you have contributed information, please reference it.
  

Talk about working in the spa industry.

• By now you as a class will have a fairly broad perspective on what working in the spa industry would be like. Let's put what we know together. Have a look at the Google document working in the spa industry, and add what you know.

Week 14 - Working in the spa industry

This week we'll have a look at working in the spa industry.

Tasks for the week

Continue talking about the impact of current spa trends on massage therapy.

• Four people have contributed to the discussion so far. This is a good start, but we have some more work to do here, so we'll continue working on this document this week. If you haven't contributed anything please do so. If you have contributed information, please reference it.
  

Talk about working in the spa industry.

• By now you as a class will have a fairly broad perspective on what working in the spa industry would be like. Let's put what we know together. Have a look at the Google document working in the spa industry, and add what you know.
  

Mid-block tutorial - if there's anything you'd like me to cover, please let me know ASAP.

Week 12 - the spa experience

About 90 minutes ago I posted some new learning activities for you for this week, but I have just realised that the imminence of your anatomy assessment means that your time will be limited.

As a result we're going to continue on with the discussion of the spa experience, and delay looking at spa trends until next week.

Week 13 - Trends in the spa industry

This week in spa therapies we'll have a look at where the spa industry is going.

Assessment
Your thermal stones assessment is coming up. Please ensure that you know the date and time of your clinical assessment.


Tasks for this week

Read the following and take notes on the key trends which are impacting the spa industry (bearing in mind that trends change over time, and some of these articles are more current than others).

• Day spas & medical spas - Key industry trends and critical success factors (2006)
• When considering a spa for your hotel or club, don't forget about the men!
• Top spa trends (2007)
• Pre Global Spa Summit: The future of the spa industry - an update from the previous article.
• Profitable spas: be on-trend rather than trendy

How do these trends impact on the massage industry? Consider this question, and post your replies to the Google document - The impact of current spa trends on massage therapy.

The spa experience

This week in Spa Therapies, we're going to continue exploring the spa experience.

Tasks for the week

Robin Zill, has written a series of articles - the great spa conversation in which she describes a model of the spa experience. Try to read through these articles by the end of the day on Monday or Tuesday. As you're reading through them reflect on how the elements described could be integrated with massage practice.

We'll have a discussion on this starting on Tuesday.

Assessment

You should be considering starting work towards your Reflective report. In Dunedin Erban spa and the spa St Clair are happy for you to visit them for your observation. Remember to have a look at the assessment task before you go. It provides you with some guidelines for visiting the spas. Remember these people are potential employers. Please ring to arrange an appropriate time before turning up, dress appropriately, and respect the environment when you're there.

None of the Dunedin spas provide a really complete spa experience, so if you can, it's highly recommended that you arrange to visit an out-of-town spa such as those that exist in Wanaka, Queenstown, or Hanmer springs. Bear in mind that I haven't talked with anyone outside of Dunedin to arrange permissions.

The spa experience

This week, we're starting to look at the Spa Experience, and what makes it up.

Review of last week's work
There's been some good work done on the application of heat and cold. Your combined answers are sufficient for all but the last question. Can someone who hasn't yet been involved jump in and answer the queries that I've posed? Quite a bit of the material is missing an in-body reference. Can you please jump into the document and check your referencing?

Tasks for this week

• Watch this video describing the spa experience at Solace spa
• Watch this video describing the spa experience at the Chopra centre.
  (You may use one of these two videos for your reflective assessment if you like.)
• Watch this video describing the Watsu method of body therapy.
• Read through this post describing one of the latest spa treatments - Himalayan Tsangpo Ritual
• And for a bit of light relief - Ten disturbing spa treatments. :-)
  

Assessment
I've just noticed that the date for the thermal stones clinical assessment is a bit misleading. Thermal stones will be assessed in the weeks following the mid-semester break. I'll need to clarify with Irene the last possible date for this assessment, and will get back to you.

I'll give you instructions for getting on with the reflective exercise assessment task later in the week.

Thereapeutic use of heat & cold

This week you have three case studies to apply your newfound knowledge of the therapeutic use of heat and cold to.

Edit - Application of heat and cold applications

This document contains three case studies. We want you to consider these three cases in the context of your notes and the material from last week. This is a collaborative editing exercise. Please sign your name at the top.

Spa therapies

Weekly tasks

• On Monday, I will send you out Chapter 24 of Salvo, S. (2007). Massage Therapy - principles and practices (3rd ed.). Missouri, USA: Saunders Elsevier. The subject of this chapter is Hydrotherapy and spa applications. Read through this chapter.
• Makes notes on what the therapeutic physiological effects of heat, cold and hydrostatic pressure are, and their uses in spa therapies.
• Which of the massage applications considered could be incorporated within a private massage practice? What would the costs, benefits and disadvantages of each of these be?
  

Week 5 - History and background

This week the spa therapies module begins.

Tasks for the week

1. Read this article on the history of spas.
   As you can see the term spa is somewhat broader than what you previously imagined.
   
   
2. Explore About.com's spa resource.
   
   
3. Use the above resources to answer the following questions (keep these for future reference). I recommend the use of a table for the first two questions.
   
• What is the difference between a traditional spa, a retreat spa, a resort spa and a day spa?
  
• What types of spa treatments and experiences might you expect to be provided in each of the types of spas discussed above?
• What is spa etiquette, and what are the principles of spa etiquette?
  

Spa Therapies

This is the blog for the Otago Polytechnic Spa Therapies programme.

Aims

This course aims to provide students with an understanding of the spa industry, and with massage techniques that are in demand within the spa-industry.

Pre-requisites

• OPTM1 Study Skills
• OPTM2 Basic Massage
• OPTM3 Fundamentals of Massage

Co-requisites

• OPTM11 Communication 2

Learning Outcomes

At the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Discuss characteristics and trends relevant to the spa industry
2. Reflect on employment options within the spa industry
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the factors that are involved in creating the spa experience
4. Compare and contrast a variety of contemporary spa services
5. Perform selected spa therapies competently
6. Demonstrate an understanding of ethical considerations relevant to work in the spa industry

Content

• Development of the spa industry
• Characteristics of the spa industry
• Employment within the spa industry
• The spa experience
• Spa services
• Spa therapies
• Ethical considerations