It’s great to spend time with my mum and I always like to think of it as a way of saying thank you. My mum does so much for me in terms of practical help and emotional support that it’s nice to treat her.
Not only is a relaxing spa day a nice treat to look forward to, I also benefit greatly from it. I honestly cannot wait for our next spa day that is booked in a couple of weeks time. I always come away from the spa feeling more relaxed and in less pain.
I, therefore, thought it would be a good idea to share a few of the benefits of a spa day for fibromyalgia patients.
1. Spending quality time with a friend or loved one
A lot of the time those of us with a chronic illness will, unfortunately, have to miss out. We may have to say no to parties and social outings or cut our time out short due to our energy limitations.
This never fails to be upsetting and frustrating. It’s, therefore, nice to book an outing with a friend or loved one that will be completely chilled out and relaxing; perfect for fibromyalgia patients.
Booking a spa day gives us something to look forward to and I always appreciate doing low-energy activities that make me feel like I am having a “normal” day out.
A spa day is therefore perfect. It allows me to spend quality time with my mum (or pals) without having to stress about my energy limitations.
2. It gives you time out to wind down and destress
Not everyone with fibromyalgia is fortunate enough to be able to slow down when they need to. I appreciate there are many who have no choice but to push themselves day in and day out to get by in life. Whether that’s work, home or family commitments, it can lead to feeling completely wiped out.
For others, it won’t matter how much we pace ourselves we still feel sore and tired every day.
Having time out to simply focus on some much needed R&R can reap huge benefits. It’s a day to escape all the day-to-day stresses, wind down and relax.
Stress can definitely exacerbate our symptoms so taking a step away from it and dedicating time to relaxation takes the pressure off and really helps.
3. The treatments offered can help to reduce fibromyalgia symptoms
Most spas offer a variety of different massages and treatments. As examples, these can include aromatherapy or hot-stone massages for those of us who can tolerate touch. Or reflexology and facials for those who cannot tolerate body massages due to pain.
Depending on how I’m feeling and how my symptoms have been, I choose a treatment to suit me.
If my skin has been problematic, a facial can be hugely beneficial in helping with this. If my muscles have been achy (which let’s face it is a given) or my back has been playing up, a hot-stone massage helps tremendously.
When I’m flaring or if I don’t think I can handle a full massage, I choose reflexology.
Reflexology has been shown to reduce pain intensity in fibromyalgia patients and the improvements continue to be seen over time with regular sessions.
Aromatherapy massage is also beneficial and has been to shown to help to improve sleep. A summary of the effectiveness of different styles of massage has been summarised in this study.
4. The facilities can be hugely beneficial
Most spas have jacuzzis, saunas and steam rooms. Some even have hydrotherapy pools.
Saunas are great for detox, as sweating is one of the best ways for our bodies to remove toxins. If you are able to tolerate heat, try and spend a few minutes in the sauna or steam room. In addition to detoxing, they may also help to reduce inflammation and pain.
Spa therapy has also been shown to have benefits for fibromyalgia patients. Personally, I feel much better from spending time in the jacuzzi or hydrotherapy pool at the spa. In fact, you have to pretty much drag me out of them!
That said, it’s worth remembering to pace yourself as heat can be tiring. Spending time in hot water can actually be as good as exercise. Although this is great for those of us who struggle to exercise, we need to be mindful of our energy limitations due to this.
5. You can take the day at your own pace
The great thing about a spa day is that you can take it at your own pace and there are many places to relax and rest. Many spas have relaxation rooms, which are dark and comfortable; the perfect place to rest after having a treatment.
Plus, there are usually loungers within the spa facilities too. This means it is easy to take your time and pace yourself during your spa day.
Even though the treatments and facilities are all about R&R if you do have energy limitations keep these in mind.
Take breaks and rest on the loungers in between using the facilities and treatments. Make sure that you also keep hydrated and take time out to eat so that you feel as well as possible throughout the day.
I always come away from a spa day feeling tired but super relaxed, happy and in reduced pain. I definitely feel the benefits of a spa day for fibromyalgia and I would recommend them to anyone. It’s a fun and relaxed day out and I can’t wait until my next one in a couple of weeks.
What do you think? Have you enjoyed a spa day? Or is it something you would consider? Let me know in the comments down below.
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