A back, neck and shoulder massage remains the most stress-reducing spa treatment according to a survey of UK mothers.
The results of an interactive study, conducted ahead of Mother’s Day by BuyaGift, will come as no surprise to spa professionals. A traditional back, neck and shoulder massage was voted the best for calming; a wash, cut and blow dry came second and a deep-tissue massage third.
The study, which analysed stress levels by measuring heart rate variability (HRV), compared readings taken during the most stressful moment of each participant’s day to readings taken after various spa treatments, to see which most improved stress rates.
Steam and sauna, Swedish full-body massage, pedicure, facial, hot stone massage and Indian head massage also appeared in the top 10.
The researchers also found that 75 per cent of UK mothers hoped to be gifted a spa day for Mother’s Day, but four in five thought they were unlikely to actually receive one. Most said they believed this was because of the overwhelming amount of choice, coupled with their families not knowing the names of treatments or how to find availability.
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