Unusual Spa Treatments

Beer Facelift

First chocolate and now alcohol—I guess we're all looking for new, non-caloric ways to experience our favorite things. If you love beer, but hate the subsequent bloat, head to a Spa and experience the healing power of the yeasts for a change. The vitamins in the beer bath are said to rejuvenate your pores and relieve tension in your muscles, giving your face a fresh “glow”—quite different from the glow you get after drinking a couple of Budweisers.

 

Fish Pedicure

An unusual spa treatment is being offered in London which exfoliates your feet using 150 fish. The Garra rufa fish have no teeth and nibble away dead skin using suction-shaped mouths leaving healthy new skin underneath untouched. The carp, which originated in Turkey, have long been used in the Far East to treat skin complaints such as eczema and psoriasis. In Japan they offer whole-body immersion fish spas and recently the craze has spread to the U.S, Europe and the UK. 

Snake Massage

A spa in Israel has put a unique spin on the standard massage. While some masseuses use soothing music or scented candles to supplement massages, owner Ida Barak prefers to use snakes; she believes that they have a calming effect and can alleviate joint pain. Imagine—lying facedown on a bed, strong hands rubbing oil on your back as a few snakes slither up and down your body. What could be more relaxing? 

Cactus Massage

Relaxation is the point of the Hakali Massage at Apuane Spa at the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita in Mexico. The treatment provides a distinctly Mexican flair using spine-free cactus paddles to massage in a blend of nopal, a prickly pear cactus, and pulque, an alcohol made from the agave plant. 

Golden Facial

Cleopatra apparently slept in a gold mask every night to maintain youthful looking skin. Turns out, she was right. A revolutionary –and expensive spa treatment is based on the Queen of the Nile experience. Paper-thin squares of 24-karat gold are applied on the face along with hydrating compounds. The result includes firmer, more supple skin, and not surprisingly, a noticeable dent in your wallet. 

 Butt Facial

Facials aren't just for our faces anymore. All of our body parts need equal love, including our derriere. At Detroit-area spa Euphoria, the facials apply to this other set of cheeks — the ones you sit on. "We always try to come up with different ideas for services and I just hadn't seen it," said spa owner Lisa Johnson. "And that's an area that never gets the treatments it needs. Clients are still covered up as they have their derrieres cleansed and exfoliated. Then a masque is applied and any waxing, if needed, is done. The treatment ends with a warm paraffin treatment. The [biggest] problem with it is that people are so apprehensive. But once they get it, they're like, 'Oh my gosh, that feels so good.'

Reiki on Horseback

The Japanese practice of Reiki is focused on the belief that healing energy—when passed from practitioner to client—can correct imbalances in both spirit and body. Usually the practitioner is a human, but Rockin' Heart Ranch owner (and Certified Reiki Master) Christina DiBartolo believes that horses also possess an innate healing energy. Riding on horseback—either alone or with DiBartolo, and with her guidance—ostensibly allows a client to tap into that energy, and ease everything from physical aches and pains to emotional anxiety. 

Wine Bath

 Located in Kowakien Yunessun, the biggest, most popular spa center in Japan, reopened its doors every year for their most popular treatment. Hundreds of gallons of Beaujolais Nouveau, the most popular wine in Japan, are used during the 12 day period the wine spa welcomes its guests. For the last few years, Japanese wine lovers have had the opportunity to drink and bathe in the liquor they love so much, at the Hakone Kowakien Yunessun. The red pool is constantly fed wine through the wine-bottle-shaped spring, while a sommelier stands by to fill up the glasses of those craving some more Beaujolais Nouveau. Getting drunk is not going to make your wrinkles go away, but will definitely stop you from worrying about them for a few hours.

Gondola Massage

It should come as no surprise that the most romantic city in the world would be the home of an über-enticing spa treat. At Casanova Spa at Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Italy, relaxation-seekers who can't get enough of the city's sights can set sail with a Gondola Massage, performed in a private nook in one of Venice's alluring lagoons. To protect your skin, this outdoor massage is given using a special oil with SPF protection. 

Snow Cave Anti Sauna

This anti-sauna room is the perfect place to go to cool out after a sauna section. The indoor artificial snowstorm is merely to provide ambience, but believers say that a shot of extreme cold—especially after a stint in a hot tub or sauna—can help reduce hypertension and tighten pores. Avaiable at the Butlins Ocean Spa, located in Bognor Regis, West Sussex.