Sensory Sensitive Spas? Wellness is Becoming More Inclusive Than Ever

Are you one of the millions of people who suffer from ADHD or part of the 15 to 20 percent of the population who are classified as neurodivergent? You will be pleased to know that spas and the wellness community are taking notice and are becoming even more inclusive and helpful. There is more and more research that indicates that certain wellness treatments and practices can help people with these disorders. And spas are also making sure they are a welcoming place to all.

Wellness Can Bring Structure, Calm, and Sensory Satisfaction

For those of us who find the everyday world incredibly overstimulating to the point of breakdown, wellness routines can provide a sense of security and safety within the chaos. According to the byrdie.com article ‘Sensory Seeking: This Is What “Wellness” Means to Autistic People,’ embracing wellness has actually brought many tools and methods used by people with autism and anxiety into the mainstream. This has allowed those who need items like fidget spinners or weighted blankets to function not feel like they are on the outside for using them.

Many people with different sensory needs have embraced wellness as a way to create routines that calm their central nervous system. Daily stretching routines, sound bowls, meditation, or tea ceremonies can be used to create order in a chaotic world. They can calm and refocus you. Which is a blessing for anyone and a life line for those of us with different sensory processing.

Yoga and ADHD – the Mind Body Connection

As a disorder, we’ve only really begun to crack the surface of what ADHD truly entails. It’s why there’s been a surge of adults are getting a new diagnosis of ADHD and suddenly their entire lives make sense. While wellness practices are never as effective as a treatment plan laid out by your doctor, UC Davis’s Mind Institute has done extensive research on wellness practices and their effects on ADHD as a complementary or alternative treatment method.

One practice that stood out from the rest was yoga. Designed to calm your mind and focus your body, yoga has been showed to improve ADHD symptoms while also improving one’s overall health benefit as well. More research needs to be done (wellness research is often underfunded) however the potential benefits of a yoga practice for ADHD greatly outweighs the negatives (which are almost none). All in all, if you are struggling with ADHD, it’s time to break out the downward dog.

ADHD and Massage – A Touch of Focus

According to the National Library of Medicine, children who participated in a regular massage practice found that their ADHD symptoms to be greatly reduced. The effects of massage allowed them to better focus, regulate their emotions and cooperate with their parents and peers. Again while the study had its flaws—a small sample size and limited findings—the upsides greatly outweigh the down (virtually none). So, again, it’s worth a shot if you are looking for ways to manage your ADHD symptoms.

Sensory Inclusive Spas

Finally, as more spas become aware of people’s different sensory processing methods, they have become more sensitive to catering to everyone’s needs. This can be done by conducting a survey prior to appointments to make sure that they provide as comfortable an environment as possible. This includes ensuring that the lighting and sound choices are to one’s personal preference. Just because spas don’t usually play loud and intrusive music, that doesn’t mean that they are seen as a safe and inclusive place. By making a few changes, they can make sure that they are an oasis of calm for everyone, which is what we’re all striving for in the first place.