n the spa lifestyle, the mind—along
with body and spirit—is one of the
three pillars that make up a picture
of complete health. Without a sound
mind, there can never be true wellbeing. While spa professionals need to
be cautious to leave the act of treating
and diagnosing mental health disorder to
medical experts, spa professionals can help
educate guests on proper nutrition and lifestyle
changes that could promote better cognitive
functions.
“It is essential that from the moment a guest
arrives, and throughout their stay, spa professionals are alert to the critical importance of
addressing both mental and physical health
and wellness,” says Dr. Pamela Peeke, assistant
professor of medicine, Pew Foundation Scholar in
Nutrition and Metabolism at the University of
Maryland’s Department of Integrative Medicine.
STATE
OF
MIND-BODY CONNECTION
Improving
Mental
Health
BY MAE
MAÑACAPJOHNSON
Dr. Peeke, who was a speaker at the 2015 ISPA
Conference & Expo, stresses the need for spa
professionals to provide opportunities for guests
to improve their mental health because today’s
spa guests are more aware of the interconnection of mind and body. “We have finally
forsaken the notion that mind and body should
be managed as separate entities. Science has
proven the existence of a single being, the
mind-body, and its countless intricate interconnections, including hormone receptors and
nervous system pathways,” she says.
As scientific proof, she states that many
people are unaware that 90 percent of the moodmodulator serotonin is secreted in the gut.
“Chronic stress and poor nutrition are two
factors that can decrease the gastrointestinal
tract’s ability to secrete optimal levels of this
essential body chemical. Every spa service or
product presents a golden opportunity to teach
the guest how they can optimize their mental
and physical health,” Dr. Peeke says.
May 2016
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