Spa Planning and Design

According to Spa Management Journal, among the “Top 10 Global Spa Trends” for 2010 and 2011 are:
“The year of the Hammam: With spa-goers seeking authenticity, tradition and magical experiences, the Middle Eastern Hammam (Turkish hamam), represents one of the hottest trends…”
Hammam, the facility, its use and benefits, is s concept that Saga Fitness has pioneered its introduction into the Western spa world since 1997 when the company was invited to renovate and expand a spa-, wellness and educational center for women in Saudi Arabia. The company has since included this special heat and cleansing therapy concept in several spas in the US, including the well-known spa sanctuary Spa Réveil in Austin, TX.

“The New “P” word: Goodbye Pampering. Hello Prevention. Prevention is poised to be the new “it” word against the global health care crisis….”

Spa Réveil’s Hamman (Turkish Steam Room).

A bit of Hammam  (Hamam) History
The tradition of bathing was not only common in the Roman and Greek Empires, but took a slightly different direction. The “culture of water” and “bath tradition” had always been know in Anatolia, but as these were influenced by Asian  method of “steam bathing”  in the 4th  and 5th centuries,  the “Turkish Hamam” or Turkish bath was born. The Hamam bath served society as a whole (but separate times for men and women), it also would become a social event for women in particular, celebrating important occasions, such as “the bridal ceremony”, “the guest bath” (when the hostess invited her friends to meet a special visitor).
For women the Hamam also served as a beauty salon, where facial, hair and body care was provided (24 hours a day) along with special herbal treatments and therapies. After some time in the hot part of the Hamam, the  perspiring body was rubbed with  silk or linen  hand mitts to cleanse off old skin, then washed with special soaps several times to purify it. A woman’s body became revitalized and beautified and her soul restored in this process.  If a bridal celebration took place, the bride would after the heat and cleansing, wear special silk robe, often a beautifully embroidered, and so would the other women.  Female musicians would be playing (tambourine, finger bells) and singing, and the female bridal party would enjoy dancing.
Hamam Accessories
The Hamam bathing accessories were important and very specific.  Every woman had nearly 13- 14 different bathing articles, an excellent example of how rich Turkish Hamam culture was.  Every family had “bath towels” according to wealth, the larger one for men, smaller for women. These thin towels were woven in a special plaid design (these types of towels are still used  in Hamams).  Bath bowls came in several varieties, large, round bowls of silver, bronze and copper, decorated with reliefs, inlays or fish. The soap dish was a container with a lid and handle, with the bottom with holes.  There were soaps, combs, decorated in silver or gold, rubbing and washing mitts, a metal decorated container for keeping jewelry when undressed. Bath mirrors with silver frames were round or oval. The bath clogs worn while in the Hamam were carved out of wood, and decorated, in silver or gold and high off the floor, so that the feet would not be in contact with soapy water. The clogs also had little silver bells, giving a musical “tinkle” to the ambience in the Hamam.  After bathing and washing (including the hair), dry towels were wrapped around the body, and then a white “Tulbent” (turban) was wrapped around the hair to absorb remaining moisture.

The Relaxation Lounge, Spa Réveil, Austin, Texas.