Some GP surgeries offer 'alternative' treatments to patients, such as chiropractitioners, and the growing tendency to prescribe a course of exercise at the gym for people with stress or fitness-related ailments has further blurred the boundaries. Analysts at Datamonitor say an increasing number of salons are renaming themselves spas to reflect their new function. Esporta, the fitness chain which has clubs from Glasgow and Sheffield to Tunbridge Wells and Bristol, said health treatments have never been so popular. According to David Lloyd Leisure, massage, aroma-therapy and reflexology treatments 'have gone through the roof' as consumers seek alternative therapies for stress. The group, which has 190,000 members, says visits to its nutritionists have doubled in the last three years.
Salons also use thalassotherapy, a mineral, marine algae-based treatment for acne.
Boots is spending 14 million developing its first two fitness centres. Called Boots Body 360, they will open in London and Northwich, Cheshire, in January and will include a health and beauty spa as well as gyms, pools and yoga classes. Nutritionists and experts in quitting smoking and alleviating stress will also be on hand. The Queen doesn't give interviews. She's coming to me to relax.