Sanitas Per Aquam

Definition

Benefits

Spa Standard

Why Alliance Spas Relais santé®

What is a spa?

We observe the general belief whereas SPA is an ancient roman acronym signifying “Sana Per Aquam” or “Sanitas Per Aquam” or even “Sanare Per Aquam”.
 

SANITAS PER AQUAM which can be translated by

“Health Through Water”
 

It is of paramount importance to understand that a spa is not a whirlpool, a jetted-bath, or a jacuzzi but an establishment.

SPA: Establishment contributing to people’s wellness in an environment conducive to relaxation, offering as the main activity one or more forms of water therapy and one or several types of professional treatments, at least including massage therapy, offered in two or more treatment rooms and comprising a relaxation area reserved for this purpose.*

* Definition from the BNQ SPA Standard SPA BNQ 9700-040  (published in September 2011, English version).

Origin

The “Spa” toponym finds its origin in the town of Spa, principally in Liège, having developped as the European thermal center in the XVI century.

In the XX century, the “Spa” toponym becomes progressively and internationally a common name comprising different meanings. The term designates in a generic fashion, a thermal station, a body of mineral water, an eddy pool, a health center and even, an equestrian obstacle.