Grooming
The spa excursion
By Myron D.R. Mariano; Photograph by André Mendoza
Major cosmetics companies such as L'Oréal, Lab Series, and Nivea all have a men's skincare line. (Designers have even followed suit, with high fashion's John Varvatos coming out with John Varvatos Skin.) Consumer services have also shared in this growing phenomenon. Barbershops have increased their menu of services, to include manicures and facials; and men-only grooming centers and spas—such as Men's SkinLab in Tomas Morato—have begun sprouting at major cities.
In truth, the men are listening, especially when it comes to spas. Their shady, backstreet image in the early ‘90s has changed, thanks in part to many outfits that aim to reestablish them as genuine places of relaxation. Owners are addressing the rising need of men to take care of their health—and every now and then, to relieve stress. And it's not just replacing the pink robes with blue or white sets. "[Men] have allowed themselves to be brought to the spa," says Renu Gidoomal, general manager of Amezcua Spa in Quezon City. "They also acknowledge that they do need some time to themselves—since they work hard." Consider this fact: In 2003, the International Spa Association (ISPA) reports that while women remain the biggest revenue sourceof spas, accounting for 71 percent of the client base, the male spa market has increased to 29 percent, up from 25 in 2002. "In the Philippines, the figure is the same—guys make up only 25-35 percent of visitors, but there's a lot of potential here," says Jomar Fleras, president and CEO of Sanctuario Spa Salon and Organic Café in Malate. Fleras adds that contrary to popular belief that men always get "dragged" to going to a spa, "new male clients usually come here alone."
It doesn't surprise Gidoomal, who says that while most men can be categorized as spa virgins—people acquainted with what happens inside a spa but have yet to try it out for themselves—they are more willing to dip their toes in the water, so to speak. "They like the idea of being able to look after their health and well-being in one go. Once they clock out of work, they would go to the gym and do their regimen, then make a trip to the spa so they take off the day's stress," she explains.
But while guys are commonplace inside fitness centers, spas still aren't man-turf. Follow these tips to help you get past the initial anxiety, and start heading towards respite.
BEFORE YOU HEAD TO THE SPA:
Book Ahead
Nothing ruins the mood more than having to wait for hours before you get attended to, so call a spa and schedule an appointment instead. Survey the area a day or two before your intended time of visit. That way, you become familiar with the menu and what time of the day your chosen venue isn't busy or crowded.
Don't Eat
If you get your treatment while full (worse, bloated), the therapists won't be able to use most of their products on you, as they can overtax your system. Gidoomal recommends going to a spa at least two hours after your last meal. (Avoid drinking too much water as well, unless you want to get up during the middle of the session to head to the bathroom.) She adds, "After the treatment, try not to eat a heavy meal. You'll undo all the good things you got from the visit."
INSIDE THE SPA:
Value Time
"Arriving an hour before your scheduled time of treatment is reco-mmended," Gidoomal says. "You can start your relaxation ritual by getting a dip at the Jacuzzi or staying at the steam room." Get a warm shower last, to remove the chlorine from the Jacuzzi.
Select Right
Several spas are notorious for filling their menus with highfalutin words, with oddly high prices to boot. Before you get confused, ask for an explanation minus the spa jargon. It's likely that "integrating wellbeing and oneness" simply means getting a back massage.
If nothing on the menu suits your preference for the day, ask the spa director to help you customize your treatment. They should be more than willing to help you out.
Also, mention whether you prefer a male or female therapist when you book your treatment.
Disrobe Comfortably
First-time guests get stumped with the question of nudity. Although nudity is an accepted practice (and a common sight) at spas, Filipinos are still very reluctant to take off their clothes. How much you undress is up to you, whether you stop at the provided disposable underwear or your birthday suit. Some treatments, like a Thai massage, don't require undressing. Getting an erection remains the single most unnerving situation for anyone getting a massage. Relax, there's nothing sexual about its occurrence—you get it because of improved blood circulation.
Talk Sparingly
Observe the rule of silence while the treatment is ongoing. However, speak up if parts of the treatment aren't right—from the conditions of the room down to the manner that she's working on you. A spa-goer once complained of burn marks on his back after going through a hot stone treatment. Turns out, after initially telling the therapist that the temperature of the stones was "just fine," he kept the pain to himself.
BYO Music
Spas feed their rooms with pre-selected music that's supposed to complement the treatment. However, if you don't like what's playing—say, your idea of relaxing music is to listen to rock—ask the therapist to turn it down or off altogether. (Ask for a pair of earplugs if the music is centralized.) A better idea: Call them up to find out if the rooms have provisions for a CD you'd like to bring. iPod owners need a wireless transmitter (generic models start at P1,150 while the Griffin iTrip costs P2,800) to be able to play their music.
Don't Help!
Believe it or not, you're making a therapist's work more difficult if you help her maneuver your body. Just lie there and let her lift up your leg, your arms, etc.
AFTER THE SPA
Buy Smart
After your treatment, the therapist may recommend products from their catalog for you to take home—and extend the just-came-from-the-spa feeling. If you feel that it's necessary then by all means, purchase some. You should never leave the place thinking that you blew your money on stuff you don't need.
Tip Well
Tipping is appreciated, but at no point during your visit should you feel compelled or pressured to leave an amount to the therapist. Ten to 20 percent of the price of the service (add more if you feel that your therapist went out of her way to make sure you're comfortable) should suffice. Leave it at the receiving area instead of handing it directly to her.
On occasions where more than one therapist attended to you—the two-person Synchrotherapy treatments offered at Subic Bay Yacht Club is an example—and you would like to split a big sum equally among them. Provide notice by writing all their names in a single envelope, with a note on how much each of them should get.