When we want to go for a retreat to relax, many visit a spa. Spas are designed to relax the body and mind. The word “spa” comes from Latin, which means “health through water.” For centuries, people felt that soaking in mineral-rich warm, thermal waters cures many illnesses. In ancient times, it was called “taking the waters.” This was meant to provide rejuvenation for the body and mind.
Most spas deal with relaxation of the body. Swimming pools, hot tubs, or Jacuzzis with their warm swirling waters relax every muscle. There are massage treatments of all varieties, some with gentle and some with strong pressure. All these help take the stress out of your body.
Medical researchers have found that stress reduction aids the health of your body. Dozens of ailments have been linked to a stress overload on the body. Thus, relaxation of the body is important for the maintenance of our health.
Spa experiences with physical treatments provide an experience where the body can learn to relax. We think of spas as beautiful places. There are beautiful furnishing and decorations designed to be calming. There is harmonious décor, with soft colours, flowers, and a pleasant environment.
Yet, there is a spa within us far more beautiful, harmonious, relaxing, and blissful than any of the best spas on earth.
While we often travel to a spa, whether locally or in a distant destination, we may not be aware we have a spa within us for which we do not need to travel anywhere. You have your own peaceful retreat within you. The inner spa can be accessed through meditation.
Meditation provides an instant spa for us no matter where we are. It can be used at home, at work, while traveling, or in any stressful situation. Meditation can help us relax physically. It can be done anytime, anywhere. When we sit in meditation, our body is calm and still.
Also, we are slowing down our brain waves, which automatically puts the body in a more relaxed state. It gives the body a chance to rejuvenate through spending time in a calm, stress-free state.
People visit spas for mental relaxation. Our mind is continually running as if on a treadmill. It hardly gets any chance to take a break from the stress and worries of everyday life.
We are continually thinking about our jobs, our finances, our health, our family, our relationships, and the complex situations that arise in life. It is hard enough to deal with thoughts about what we have to do, but we often accompany these thoughts with worry and anxiety.
A spa is designed to help calm our minds. The physical activities are designed to give the body a chance to slow down so our mind will be calm. Spas also offer various activities to reduce the stress in our minds
An outer spa may or may not calm our mind if you keep worrying and focusing on your problems. Meditation provides you an inner spa without going anywhere, which you can visit at any time or place, whether at work, at home, or in a stressful environment.
-Sant Rajinder Singh
Ji Maharaj
