Come on, admit it; even in this day and age when it's no big deal to see a little boy playing with dolls (not action figures ... dolls), or a little girl playing with a plastic construction set or laser pistol, there's still a bit of eyebrow-raising when faced with the prospect of "real" men going to a spa.

After all, doesn't the Guy Handbook pretty much limit spas to women and metrosexual dudes, the latter which many guys consider being a completely different life-form in the first place? Well, prepare to be disabused of that notion.

Men are starting to come around to appreciating the benefits of massages, facials, and spas

According to a report released by the marketing research firm Mintel Ltd., more "average" men are beginning to avail themselves of spa and salon services. After all, one can't dispute the benefits ...

The Physical Benefits
One reason that women go to spas, according to "Spa Treatments For Men: A Hot Trend" , is to reverse or slow down the aging process. What, does anyone think that men don't want to enjoy the same benefit? Men age too, you know!

Spas offer skin treatments, facials, gym sessions, yoga, and exercise programs, among other benefits. These elements help promote better physical health overall, and men are starting to come around to the idea that this isn't such a bad thing.

Consider a man who just spent the last hour going for a run, or doing a weight-lifting session at the gym. Doesn't the idea of a soothing massage sound like it would fit in with such a routine? After all, muscles need to wind down and relax after being heavily taxed. That's an actual fact of sports medicine.

Even traditionally manly things like shaving, things usually done by the man himself, can be done at some spas, with expertly done close shaves followed by skin treatments in order to mitigate irritation and other skin problems. What man doesn't want that?

As Boomers and Gen Xers age, they look for ways to stop the clock, or at least slow it down dramatically. Spas can help in that process.

The Psychological Benefits Everyone out there agrees that life is stressful. Well, stress, concern, and worry can take its toll on you physically. Here's something you can do if you need proof. Look for pictures of any US President when he first took office, then look at pictures of the same man, AFTER he left office, especially if he served two terms. Look at the difference in his face, his hair color. Responsibility and stress does a number on a person.

By going to a spa for a relaxing time, you can help shed some of that stress, so that your mind is getting pampered along with your body. "Regular guys" are now realixing this, and are taking advantage of it.

And yes, a big part of spas is helping to improve your outward appearance, and when you look good, you tend to feel good, and when you feel good, you have a better outlook on life, and can handle challenges better.

For some more insights into spas and their benefits, check out "Enhance Your Persona With A Spa Treatment" .

The Stigma Is Going Away
Maybe it's because more spas are offering man-friendly experiences, maybe people are just getting a less uptight about gender roles and expectations. Maybe it's "all of the above". But whatever the reason is, more average ordinary men who've never really given much thought to paying excessive attention to grooming and such, are starting to come around.
And that's a good thing!

Author's Bio: 

John Terra has been a freelance writer since 1985. He still thinks a "metrosexual" is someone who enjoys fooling around on subways.