The words “sex” and “spa” are not usually said in the same sentence. And, it’s been for a good reason — no one wants to be associated with those neon-lit massage parlors with the secret back entrances that offer “happy endings”. Today, however, a rising number of progressive spa owners are taking on the once taboo topic of sex with their clients as they add treatments, workshops and lectures geared toward sexual well-being to their offerings.
Many experts say that we’re in a bit of a sexual revolution right now. For example, yoga teachers are creating sex-related yoga classes, such as Psalm Isadora’s OYoga (for Orgasmic Yoga) and Yoga for Better Foreplay courses. Likewise, meditation has gone sexual as well with the popularity of OneTaste’s OM (Orgasmic Meditation) workshops. The recent “Free The Nipple” campaign encouraged women to go topless in the name of equality. As a result, the neighborhood council for Venice, Calif., voted to allow topless bathing on their beaches last year.
“Today, people are more open and comfortable talking about sexuality — sex is not as taboo of a subject as it used to be,” says Terry. “Sexual health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality. Science supports the importance of sexual health to a human being’s overall happiness. More and more people are feeling empowered and being proactive about their health and longevity, including their sexuality.”
Day spas, medical spas and destination spas are equally embracing this trend in droves by offering a wide variety of treatments, workshops and talks that do everything from increase libido to improving reproductive health to increasing the intimacy of a relationship.
Reiki and Chakra Balancing
While Reiki’s greatest gift is to bring balance to all seven energy centers, one chakra may need more TLC than others. If someone is having issues with their sex life, for instance, it might be that their sacral chakra needs adjustment. Located in the lower abdomen from the pelvic bone to the navel, this chakra governs sensual and sexual expression, as well as confidence, trust and creativity.“Some clients have trauma or a specific illness that challenges sexuality. Reiki looks at the energy associated with those imbalances and brings a new outlook for many. It’s not necessarily used to heighten libido, but it helps people feel better overall about themselves and their sexuality,” says Karen Felice, Usui and Karuna Reiki Master Teacher and founder of Reconnect to Wellness, who practices at Golden Folk Wellness in Silver Lake, Calif.
Spa Mukul at Mukul Beach Golf & Spa in Nicaragua offers the Yamuna Experience (6 hours, $1,350 per couple), in which Mukul’s on-property healer strengthens the bond between two lovers in the forest’s sacred space. The blessing serves as a keepsake for couples to enjoy long after they leave the resort.
“Yamuna helps to balance the sacral chakra,” explains spa manager Vivian Lopez. “So, if it’s blocked, he does a special couple’s session where he opens this chakra with specific crystals, essential oils, meditations, and yoga poses, and he advises on the required diet and exercises that the couple should practice.”
Acupuncture
While most people get acupuncture for pain management, the ancient practice can also help improve libido in both men and women, and reduce stress and promote relaxation, which is instrumental in sexual desire and function.“Acupuncture can also alleviate pain during intercourse and it can sometimes be of benefit in people who have a difficulty achieving orgasm. And, it can treat premature ejaculation in men,” says Peter Borten, LAC, chief creative officer at The Dragontree spas in Boulder, Colo., and Portland, Ore.
Acupuncture has many other women’s health benefits as well, such as helping with infertility, pre-menstrual syndrome, menopausal symptoms, insufficient lactation and fibroids.
Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy
Resplendent Day Spa in Long Beach, Calif., offers Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy (first session, 75 minutes; $175 for follow-up sessions; 60 minutes, $135) to help men and women with a number of sexual health and reproductive health issues.For men, this massage has been known to help with erectile dysfunction. “This massage helps with blood flow to the prostate, which enhances normal sexual function and improves sperm production,” explains owner Yvonne Tuchscher. “The massage can also relieve prostate swelling and help with premature ejaculation, some impotency problems, and the need to urinate frequently.”
For women, this technique is used to address the position and health of the pelvic and abdominal organs. “It helps to alleviate such symptoms as pelvic floor disorders, painful periods and ovulation, bladder or yeast infections, and ovarian cysts,” says Tuchscher.
Dr. Borten adds that massage in general can be of value to people with sexual dysfunction. “Massage of the abdomen, sacrum, thighs, and buttocks, especially, can be highly beneficial for a number of sexual disorders when due to muscle tension and nerve impingement in these areas,” he says. “Painful intercourse can often be caused by a trigger point at the upper, inner thigh, for example.”
Vaginal Steaming
Cindy Barshop is the founder and CEO of the world’s first medical spa dedicated to the vagina — New York City’s VSPOT MediSpa. While VSPOT offers several medical spa treatments, including the popular The O-Shot, which uses one’s own blood plasma injected into the vagina to enhance sexual pleasure, Bishop also offers treatments that any day or destination spa can add as well.One such treatment is the V-Steam (25-30 minutes, $75), which is like a facial for the vagina that cleanses, tones and nourishes the cervix, uterus and vaginal tissues. The treatment has been growing in popularity since Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow helped put vaginal steaming on the pop culture map when she talked about it on her blog, GOOP, in 2015.
“It’s like a fountain of youth for your vagina,” says Barshop. “We have an aesthetic steamer set up with herbs, such as mugwort, rose petals and mushrooms. It’s an ancient Chinese treatment that helps with painful periods and increases blood flow. The clients have experienced a relaxation of the pelvic area after treatment, and with the increased blood flow some clients have said it helped increase their libido as well.”
Lectures and Workshops
Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Ariz., and Lenox, Mass., offer several workshops, lectures, events and individual counseling related to sexual health throughout the year, including their regular Sexual Health Consultation (50 minutes, $480) and special lectures such as “Women, Sensuality and Health with Dr. Nicola Finley,” “Let’s Talk About Sex,” and “Sensuality and the Art of the Tease,” which includes a burlesque strip class.“At Canyon Ranch, we take a fully integrated approach to health and wellness,” says Nicola Finley, M.D., a staff physician at the Tucson location. “Respecting and nurturing one’s sexuality is an important element of living a full and happy life. There is mounting evidence that human touch is healing and that a fulfilling sexual life can be an integral part of one’s overall health.”
Miraval Resort & Spa in Tucson also offers a slew of offerings for couples and individuals relating to sexual health, intimacy, menopause and sensuality. Sheryl Brooks, the spa’s registered nurse, sex educator and certified menopause practitioner gives weekly workshops and lectures, as well as individual sessions, including “Let’s Talk About Sex” and “Let’s Talk About Sex at Midlife and Beyond” (50 minutes, $150).
“I do see more interest in this area,” notes Brooks. “I think one reason is because as baby boomers are beginning to be challenged sexually they also expect to remain sexual longer. The expectation for everyone is to live a longer vital life and sex is a part of a healthy, complete life for most people.”
Miraval also takes an integrated approach where they mix in workshops about intimacy and relationships with the sex talks. One such offering is the Conscious Connections (80 minutes, $175), which combines their Partner Yoga and Mindful Relationships classes to help partners become more consciously connected and aware of self and each other.
Among the offerings at The Spa at Carillon Miami Beach is a popular lecture called “Sex and the Spine” (50 minutes, $165 for a private session or free in a group) where Dr. Yoav Suprun, DPT, who is part of the wellness medicine team, discusses the best sex positions for the spine and back.
