Your clients trust you not only to provide excellent service and custom product recommendations, but to facilitate a relaxing departure from the stresses of daily life, if even only for an hour or two.

When it comes to creating a realm of relaxation, it’s all about the details. You took the time to choose a soothing color scheme and you might have spent hours agonizing over which fabric to select for your waiting room furniture. It’s important to make a good first impression, but what your clients will really remember is the experience they have in the treatment room.

Though there’s no substitute for a well-trained esthetician and a quality product line, don’t overlook the importance of something as simple as choosing your spa music wisely. The right music can enhance your client’s experience while the wrong music can distract and detract from or even destroy the experience.

Why Does Music Matter?

Music affects the mind and body in numerous ways, many of which are currently being explored in the growing field of music therapy. You don’t need a PhD to choose the music for your spa, but it helps to have a basic understanding of how playing certain types of music can support stress relief for your clients. You may be surprised to learn these benefits go deeper than simply “setting the mood.”

According to researchers at Stanford University, “Music with a strong beat stimulates the brain and ultimately causes brainwaves to resonate in time with the rhythm… Slow beats encourage the slow brainwaves that are associated with hypnotic or meditative states.” They also suggest listening to music may be able to change the brain’s functioning to the same extent as medication.

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Here are some of the ways in which music can alter physiological function:

• It slows the pulse and heart rate

• It may reduce the sensation of chronic pain

• It decreases the production of stress hormones

• It lowers your blood pressure

• It provides a distraction from unwanted emotions

• It may relieve depression and boost self-esteem

 

The use of music to restore balance between the mind and body goes back hundreds of years, though scientific data supporting these uses is much more recent. Studies have shown listening to music can reduce stress and anxiety in patients before and after surgery – it can also relieve depression in elderly people. Music therapy has been shown to significantly reduce emotional distress and improve quality of life among adult cancer patients and other groups.

Tips for Choosing the Right Music

The power of music is undeniable, but how do you harness it appropriately in your spa? Everyone has their own personal taste in music, but it’s your job to select a playlist that creates the kind of atmosphere you want to encourage your clients to relax and enjoy the experience.

 

Sample Playlists to Try in Your Spa/Massage Business

 

Though it’s important to put some thought into the music you choose for your spa, it isn’t something you need to spend a lot of money on. Our digital music service gives you access to custom created songs you can stream ad-free in exchange for a low monthly subscription fee.

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Here are our top 2 relaxing playlists to try out in your spa:

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