Stressed from Divorce? Try a Spa

    The process of going through of a divorce, and then having to return to work, raise your kids as a newly single parent, and/or being forced to move into a new home, can all create a tremendous level of added stress in your life. But, you’ve probably already figured that out.       

While there are no quick and easy solutions for making life easier, and it will probably take months (or longer) for your life to regain some level of normalcy after a divorce, one way to temporarily relieve some of your built-up tension is to visit a day spa or destination spa and allow yourself to relax and be pampered.   

A day spa is a full-service spa you visit for a few hours at a time, for a massage, facial or body treatment, for example. A destination spa, however, is a resort where you stay on-property for several consecutive days and enjoy an all-encompassing relaxation experience that combines spa treatments, with classes, workouts, and specially prepared meals.     

 “People who are under stress can derive a lot of benefit from a visit to a spa because it allows valuable ‘me time’ and a chance to be nurtured and restored. A spa is the one place where you can be as active or as inactive as you wish to be. The treatments and activities are designed to deliver an answer to your individual needs. Stress can be caused by many things and affects us differently. It can lead to many modern day ailments. A visit to a spa will help you find tranquility of the mind and body,” explained Jennifer Paling, director of spa and leisure at the Farnham Estate Health Spa is Cavan, Ireland. 


VISIT A SPA AT HOME     

If you’re on a tight budget and don’t have time to travel, chances are you’ll find a luxurious day spa in a city near where you live. Even an afternoon of being utterly pampered could do wonders for your overall wellbeing and ability to cope with everyday life.       

A basic shiatsu or deep tissue massage, or a facial, for example, followed by an hour or two enjoying the spa’s steam room, sauna and other facilities, will cost typically between $50 and $150, depending on the spa. 

For a bit more of a financial investment, take a weekend or week-long trip to a destination spa or popular vacation hotspot where many world-class spas can be found, and spend the majority of your time experiencing a variety of spa services and treatments. In cities like New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Orlando and Chicago, to name just a few, you’ll find dozens of luxurious day spas at your disposal. Many well-known resorts and luxury hotels in the U.S. contain in-house days spas that are well worth visiting, even if you’re not a guest.       


For example, there’s The Spa at the historic Broadmoor resort in Colorado Springs, Colo., which is a short flight from Los Angeles (866-686-3965/ www.broadmore.com). In Lenox, Massachusetts, you’ll find the legendary Canyon Ranch Spa, an all-inclusive destination spa that’s located about a three-hour drive from New York City (800-742-9000 / www.canyonranch.com/resorts/lenox-planner.aspx). In Washington, D.C., the I Spa at the Willard Intercontinental hotel (202-942-2700 / www.washington.interconti.com) offers a superior (albeit smaller) day spa for people in or near the nation’s capital.       

Of course, you can add even more extravagance to your spa getaway by visiting one or more spas in Europe, the Caribbean, or another overseas destination. The Farnham Estate Health Spa in Cavan, Ireland (011 353 49 4377700 / www.farnham.radissonsas.com), for example, is the country’s largest and perhaps most luxurious spa. It’s housed within the five-star Radisson SAS Resort, about 90 minutes from Dublin. You’ll also find luxurious spas aboard many popular cruise ships. By combining exotic travel to your spa vacation, you can enjoy the excitement of experiencing new places and cultures, yet also focus on rest and relaxation.