Spa vs. Massage — What's the Difference?

A spa is a location where mineral-rich spring water (and sometimes seawater) is used to give medicinal baths. Spa towns or spa resorts (including hot springs resorts) typically offer various health treatments, which are also known as balneotherapy.

Massage is the manipulation of the body's soft tissues. Massage techniques are commonly applied with hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearms, feet, or a device.

A resort providing therapeutic baths.

The rubbing and kneading of muscles and joints of the body with the hands, especially to relieve tension or pain

A resort area having mineral springs.

Rub and knead (a person or part of the body) with the hands

A fashionable hotel or resort.

Manipulate (facts or figures) to give a more acceptable result

A health spa.

The therapeutic manipulation of body tissues by a trained practitioner, as by systematic stroking, kneading, or application of pressure, to effect a beneficial physiological response such as pain reduction or improved circulation.

A tub for relaxation or invigoration, usually including a device for raising whirlpools in the water.

An act or instance of the therapeutic manipulation of body tissues. Also called therapeutic massage.

A health resort near a mineral spring or hot spring.

The rubbing or kneading of parts of the body to relax the muscles, aid circulation, or provide sensual pleasure.

A trendy or fashionable resort.

An act or instance of such rubbing or kneading.

A health club.

The manipulation of the genitals or other body tissues for sexual arousal; erotic massage.

A hot tub.

An act or instance of erotic massage.

(dialect) A convenience store.

Illicit sexual services provided under the guise of therapeutic massage.

An idiot; a gobshite

To give a massage to.

A clumsy person (see spastic)

To treat by means of a massage.

A spring or mineral water; - so called from a place of this name in Belgium.

To coddle or cajole.

A health resort near a spring or at the seaside

To manipulate (data, for example)

A fashionable hotel usually in a resort area

The action of rubbing, kneading or hitting someone's body, to help the person relax, prepare for muscular action (as in contact sports) or to relieve aches.

A place of business with equipment and facilities for exercising and improving physical fitness

(transitive) To rub and knead (someone's body or a part of a body), to perform a massage on (somebody).

(transitive) To manipulate (data, a document etc.) to make it more presentable or more convenient to work with.

(transitive) To falsify (data or accounts).

A rubbing or kneading of the body, especially when performed as a hygienic or remedial measure.

To treat by means of massage; to rub or knead; as, to massage a patient with ointment.

Kneading and rubbing parts of the body to increase circulation and promote relaxation

Manually manipulate (someone's body), usually for medicinal or relaxation purposes;

Give a massage to;