Why I think spas are for everybody

Before joining Spabreaks.com I had never really thought that going on a spa break was for me I think I felt there was a discomfort or stigma associated with going to a spa as a young man, but since joining I have discovered an entirely different outlook.

The misconception around men and spas

I’m not alone in having had reservations about going to a spa. A 2021 survey by UK spa group, Champneys reported that 36% of men feel there is still a stigma attached to visiting a spa and 29% feel that spas don't cater enough to men.

However, this contradicts a report by Mckinsey where Millennial and Gen Z consumers spend more on health and wellbeing than previous generations. In another survey, Champneys reported that:

"two in five (40%) of Gen Z men agreed that they would love to be gifted a spa day" and "over half (54%) of Gen Z also shared that they wanted to start taking better care of their wellness, such as prioritising skin care, massages, pampering and nutrition."

So it seems that the want is there, but there’s sometimes a misconception about what’s available and what a spa break is really like. Knowing this, here's the information I would have found helpful before going on a spa break.

What are the anxieties about going on a spa day?

Having spoken to young men around me, one of the biggest obstacles towards their interest in spas is often the feeling of discomfort or embarrassment. The stereotypical image of wearing robes with cucumber over their eyes doesn't always match the masculine identity they envisage for themselves. A common theme around male spa days was often a sense of awkwardness about the possibility of being the only man present. Additionally, if other men were there, there was a concern about feeling judged.

Often they said that those anxieties were assuaged if they could say they were going on a spa break with their partner. If it was a couple's experience, it would be less ‘embarrassing’ as they felt that being there with a woman would validate the experience.

What I would recommend for embracing a spa day

What I have learned from Spabreaks.com, and from my own spa experiences since joining, is that a spa break is for everybody.

More and more of us are interested in prioritising self care, and a spa experience is a great way to embrace that - whether it’s simply taking time to unwind, or combining a workout in the gym with a massage and time in the pool to recover afterwards as well.

Some places have great knowledge on nutrition and improving sports performance, or sometimes it’s just a really nice environment to work out and wind down, giving you the opportunity to go the extra mile and take more time than you might with your regular gym routine.

Crucially, no one is judging you at a spa - everyone is there for the same reason - to relax and feel good, and what I’ve learned is that those experiences really do make a difference to how you feel.

How Spabreaks.com has reimagined spa experiences

Spabreaks.com has been dedicated to creating variety when it comes to spa experiences with a range of opportunities based on theme and location which makes it easy to find what interests you.

Those breaks include access to facilities like swimming pools, gyms, saunas and steam rooms, as well as treatments like massages and facials. However, they are also designed for particular purposes and highlight additional facilities and experiences such as golf courses, party nights, afternoon teas and detox retreats. The belief is that self care is about the things that make you feel good and sometimes that’s a super healthy wellness retreat, but sometimes it’s a round of golf and a sauna experience on your own or with your friends.

For our Real Men Relax campaign for Men’s Health Week earlier this year, athletes and influencers joined in to talk about their wellness values and challenges and how spa experiences have helped them, from physical to mental wellbeing. Whether it’s feeling low or addressing shaving irritation and clogged pores the scope of support that spas have to offer is vast.