The word ‘Spa’ originated long ago in the past from the Latin words Siena Par Aqua which translates into English as ‘Healing with water’. However, a ‘Spa’, as the English Dictionary mentions, is a place where there is a spring of mineral water having medicinal properties. Such natural springs scattered and located in many parts of the earth are known to have healing powers. There are also certain hot sulphur springs where such beneficial healing effects are achieved by the bather which also restores his constitution and makes him healthy. The baolis and sarovars(clear water bodies/ponds), the Ganga or Yamuna (holy rivers in India), the holy dips, visits to the chill of tirthas(holy places of pilgrimage) in the hills such as Badrinath, Gangotri, Mansarovar etc., all in a way are an effort to get the beneficial effects as are achieved through spa therapies.

The modern lifestyle is hectic being full of stress and strife. The human constitution (although an efficient machine with self-healing powers) needs to restore itself by taking respite for a while, at intervals, from its busy schedule and mad race.

Carried over from the mists of time, the present day man has been handed over this gift of invaluable information about the restorative, healing and holistic systems that were developed and practiced in the ancient world, which took use of water, air, birch, wood, herbs, flowers, aromatic natural oils, mud etc.

Thus the application of heat, chill, water, vapour steam, aroma and massage on the user's constitution (in a conducive environment based on time tested ancient therapy systems) is termed, in present parlance as 'Restorative Spas'. Here we can mention the ‘Sauna Bath’ which originated in Finland a therapeutic bathing art perfected by the Finns, where extreme dry heat and occasional water vapour followed by a roll-in-snow, cooling baths or showers gives the desired healing effects. Then there is the 'Turkish bath' perfected by the Turks which today is called as 'Steam Bath' where water vapour ie. wet heat in the form of steam is given to the bather followed by showers or a cold bath / dip. The legendary hamams (bath pleasure houses) of the Ottoman Empire were truly magnificent with huge marble pillars, artistic arches, domes etc. as were the community baths of several other civilizations of the yore such as the Romans and the Greeks. The ‘Chilled Bath’ taken in a pool or in showers is known to rejuvenate the ailing mechanism.

Bathing under waterfalls or rains without any inhibitions or binding clothes on, cools and strengthens the bather tremendously. The same effect is achieved in modern spas by applying chilled water which is used to cool the body and bring down the brain's core temperature fast, especially after taking hot sauna and steam bath therapies.