13th January 2019
I love going to health spas but I have had somebody say to me “Rob, how can an Autistic person cope with a health spa, where there are people, strange plinky music, smells and you have to be touched to have massages? Is that possible?”
Well yes it is, as I love them, but the question did get me thinking why do I enjoy them, and from an Autistic’s viewpoint are they positive or negative. A health spa is a place a person can go for relaxation, to get a bit more healthy and to enjoy a different sort of environment. They have gyms, exercise classes, swimming pools, water features such as jacuzzis, quiet rooms, beauty treatments like manicures, massage treatments, warm rooms and some of them you can stay over night like a hotel. The one that my wife and I frequent has all these facilities and more.
As I am just one Autistic at one pint on the spectrum I decided to get some feedback from an online twitter poll where I asked the question “Would you enjoy being at a health spa”? The result came in as 35% said they would love it, 32% said they would hate it and 33% said they were not sure. Almost an exact three way split. I thought about this result and came to the conclusion that the key factor is sensory. A spa is really all about a sensory experience and Autistic people often have sensory factors where they can not stand or they seek out other forms of sensory input. So it all depends at what point you are on the spectrum and what you like or don’t like.
I enjoy spas because a big part of sensory seeking for me involves water. I really love it. So being in and around pools, bubbly jacuzzis, water jets etc. is a great sensory calming experience. In day to day life the most I can enjoy this is a long walk in the rain, a long bath or my morning shower. A spa gives me a lot longer water experience. I don’t even mind the chlorination that spas have to use, it’s one of those weird smells I like, although I appreciate that this is not the case for everyone. At a spa you live in swimming costumes and robes and I remember the first time I went to a spa I was a bit body conscious being around strangers. But I have got used to it and it no longer bothers me.
It is not all positive sensory though. I do find spas a little bit too warm temperature wise. However, the one we go to also has outdoor pools, so if I am starting to feel a bit overheated I can go into one of those. Some of the quiet rooms can be a little too warm but I still use them just to get the balance right. If I need to go outside to cool down for a while I can.
Treatments and massages. There are a wide range of these available at most spas and over the years I have tried different things. The main one being various types of massage. I am not always keen on being touched so they can be problematic for me. I hate light stroke types and prefer the pressure to be firm. I do hate treatments which involve lotions or oils on the more sensitive areas of my skin such as face and hands. I had a facial once. Never again. I can bear massage oils on my back for a while, but generally not a big fan. The treatments side of a spa is the least attractive part for me and to be honest I can take or leave them. It’s the water features that win every time!
The environment in a health spa in terms of lighting is quite suited to me as an Autistic. Most areas have subdued lighting to create a relaxing atmosphere. Also the number of people there can have an affect, but a key facility is often a quiet room. This is a no talking, low light place with comfy chairs, loungers etc. If there are a lot of people about I can go and read in one of these rooms and calm down a little. Also if you are lucky enough to be staying over night then you have your own room to retire to if any sensory gets too much. Often though the spa never gets too busy as a key aspect of their design is to be relaxing. And let’s face it most people find crowds stressful. When my wife and I go to the spa we stay overnight, we will often have an early dinner so we can get back in the pool afterwards. Other folk tend to have dinner at eight o’clock onwards and we have often found the pool and water areas are completely empty.
So spas work for me so long as I balance the few factors I don’t enjoy so much. It is very much how you feel sensory wise and some people will like it, some will hate it. If you are considering going to one, think about your sensory highs and lows before you go and tailor the experience to suit. You can spend as much time in or out of the water, you can try a massage or you don’t have to. It’s up to you. You might hate it, you might love it. As they are expensive we go once a year for 1 or 2 days and it is definitely a highlight for me. Therefore in my twitter poll I would be grouped with the 35% of people who said they would enjoy it.