MEN if you think that spas are alien places that mud covered women with cucumber slices over their eyes hang out, think again! Men go to spas too!
In the last few years men’s viewpoints towards spas have changed radically. Just a few years ago many men had a macho attitude that spas were places for women. But men probably suffer from stress more than women do and need visits to the spa more often. The statistics for heart attacks and strokes for men are higher than for women. Doctors are now recommending methods for reducing their stress levels, including having a massage on a regular basis. In the past few years more and more spas exclusive for men have been opening such as Nickel Spa in London, The Grooming Lounge in Washington D.C., Absolute Spa in Vancouver, Wellness Men’s Day Spa NYC, The Space Grooming Station in Cape Town, Utopia Spa in Beijing & Singapore and Senjakala Urban Spa in KL. The Willow Spa in Fairmont Scottsdale has a new MVP room for men with wide screen TV, newspapers and business magazines in an executive like décor. According to the International Spa Association, a third of all spa goers are men, not just having massage but also facials, scrubs and Vichy showers.
However, we should look at history and realize that men were the primary visitors to spas of the past. The Romans were famous for their baths; wherever they went they built baths by natural hot springs, taking their culture with them. Many of the baths had a gymnasium or sports field next to it. Prior to the Romans, the Greek men frequented the public baths and the Turkish baths were a common place for men, where massage and body scrubs were part of the experience. The bath attendants and masseuses were all men. One big change since the olden days is that most of the therapists now are females, but more and more spas are hiring male therapists as well. In the Middle East and India, traditionally men have always massaged men and women massaged women. Their cultures still adhere to their traditions.
In fact, there are a few spas here in Bali that hire mostly male therapists. Jari Menari is well known for having expertly trained male therapists. It opened for business nine years ago offering massage only with a few choices of different massages without the usual body scrubs and wraps. The reason male therapists were chosen was to give men vocational training and offer them an opportunity to work as a therapist. Because most spas employ female therapists it isn’t easy for a man to find work in a spa. Men consistently give a strong massage, where as females may be strong or weak. However, the clients are equally male and female. Customers going to Jari Menari know that the therapists are men, so there have never been any complaints. The men are professional and treat all clients with discreet draping. Some of them have even gone to work overseas, giving them the opportunity to make more money and have an international experience. Jari Menari has been so successful that they have just opened a second location in Nusa Dua.
Bonita’s Warung on Jalan Pettitenget has a very nice spa attached to the lovely garden restaurant with 6 treatment rooms. Although they don’t advertise, the spa is always busy. The all male therapists have been professionally trained and offer good treatments with a strong massage. The spa menu is kept simple with only a few choices. Although the majority of the clients are men, women are also welcome to indulge in a treatment there.
Callego Massage and Warung on the beach off Jl. Pettitenget has always had only male therapists since they opened over ten years ago. It’s a small family run business, started by Wayan, who taught his male relatives hailing from northern Bali his unique massage techniques. Although Callego isn’t really a “spa” with its clean simple beach style, the boys give a reliable and strong massage. And their Balinese style massage is all they offer. It’s become popular with the gay crowd but caters to anyone who wants a rigorous massage. You can be sure that your therapist will knead away any muscular knots you may have.
Antique Spa on Uma Las nearby the horse stable opened in 2002 with the intention of offering a place with male therapists. Joshua, the owner, grew up with the Indonesian habit of having massage on a regular basis. However, he learned from experience that men usually give a consistently stronger massage than women. He also believes that men maintain their happy moods due to lack of fluctuating hormone levels. Therefore, the therapists are predominately men. He also believes in keeping things simple. There is only one massage at Antique, a strong Balinese style, which can be combined with scrubs and wraps. They also have Pevonia facial products created for men’s skin. The treatment rooms have a masculine look with a simple clean décor with the massage beds draped in black and white. The majority of the clients are repeat local male customers, but women are welcome also, with a choice of a female therapist if they prefer.
In 2002 I moved to Bangkok to manage a spa, and was surprised to discover that the majority of the clients were men. As part of the culture in Thailand, men have massage more often than women. Thai men will go for a Thai massage after work instead of going to a pub for a beer. In fact, many VIP Thai massage establishments serve beer and whisky, plus a TV and the option of being able to smoke during their 2 to 3 hour treatment. Thai businessmen often bring their foreign clients to a massage place, where up to 2 or even 6 persons may share the same room during their massage and be able to discuss business whilst their limbs are stretched and pressed. Many of the regular clients at my spa came in 2 or 3 times a week. I created a membership program at the spa, with 450 members, 90% of which were men. Most of the members were local but also many were foreign businessmen, who traveled to Thailand regularly. To encourage the men to try new treatments, I became creative with packages designed for men, giving them masculine names such as Fred Flintstone for stone massage, Raja and sports massage. They may have been the same treatment that a woman would have but with a masculine name the men were more likely to choose it.
Men generally prefer products that are spicy or citrus scented and more abrasive scrubs to remove dead skin. Because men’s skin is different than women’s, several companies have designed products especially designed for men. Men’s skin is thicker, has more hair follicles and is generally oilier, which gives men the advantage of aging slower than women.
Some spas located in large hotels in Bali offer special treatments for men. At the Four Seasons, suggested treatments for men are Sodashi Purity Facial for Men, Watsu a nurturing underwater stretching and cradling that painlessly releases tension as the body floats in warm water. Two other favourites with men are Reiki, a Japanese word meaning “spiritually guided life force energy” to nurture emotional imbalances and bring about increased happiness. The other is craniosacral therapy, more therapeutic than Reiki by working with the craniosacral channels along the sacrum that are intrinsic to the body’s nervous system. Repeat sessions can lead to improved management of stress, reduced physical pain and overall wellbeing. At least a third of their guests at the spa are men, who report back on their enjoyment of the treatments. The general manager, John O’Sullivan, the renowned poet, is an avid promoter of the wellness programs at the Four Seasons Hotels, encouraging everyone to improve their health.
Laguna Spa in Nusa Dua also offers a few treatments for men. Energiser for men, which entails a spicy warm paste followed by a massage with a spicy oil. Youthful Vitality Skin fitness for him is a proven effective anti aging treatment formulated for men. Rejuvenating caviar and repairing freeze-dried Escutox replenish skin while counteracting age aggressors and a black rubber mask which calms, infuses and promotes healthy, youthful skin. Plus they have a special manicure and pedicure for men.
Remede Spa at St Regis Bali Hotel has many male guests taking advantage of their fabulous spa treatments, so they have created some treatments especially for men. His Indulgence offers a signature foot bath, an invigorating Balinese massage, a men’s Vitality facial and a choice of hair cream bath or men’s manicure and pedicure. Another male oriented treatment is the Men’s back treatment, which is a spa sensation of a salt rub body peeling for soft supple and refined skin. A combination of Thermo Roll and essential oil massage assures a relaxing beauty care experience.
Now all you guys out there can feel at home and comfortable in the spa. So go out and indulge yourself.
