VOA慢速英语2019 水疗在美国越来越火（在线收听）

Spas Growing in Popularity in US

Spas are becoming more popular in the United States.

A spa is a business where people go to improve their health and appearance by getting treatments, exercising or relaxing.

Spa activities include using saunas, getting massages and skincare and bathing.

Last year, Americans visited spas a record 190 million times. And they spent about $18.3 billion dollars. Those numbers come from the International Spa Association, or ISPA.

The industry group recently held its yearly event for the media. Garrett Mersberger is the association’s board chairman. He spoke to the Associated Press about trends in the industry.

One trend: More American men have been going to spas. “It used to always be a female-driven thing. We’re now seeing 50-50, if not swinging more toward the males,” Mersberger said.

He said the trend started around 2017, when the association reported that 49 percent of people going to spas were men, up from 29 percent in 2005.

“They’re [men are] much more aware that it’s not just a thing I go to get pampered. It’s an actual lifestyle choice with benefits to my body, to my wellness…It’s not just about going for relaxation,” Mersberger said.

Another trend: Spas are using more technology. Kohler Waters Spas, for example, recently launched a virtual reality headset meant to be used for guided meditation.

The experience offers the choice of music or the sound of a person’s voice with pictures during manicures and pedicures. The headsets show pictures of mountain lakes, beaches, waterfalls, clouds and the night sky. Kohler is considering more virtual reality devices to go with massages and other treatments.

Charging stations at manicure and pedicure areas are also on the rise. That way, people getting treatments can keep their electronic devices fully charged.

“Nothing stresses a Millennial out more than taking their phone away,” said Linda McNees, the ISPA’s president. “The whole idea is to be able to relax, so it’s really about thinking about customization. What’s going to make you comfortable?”

水疗在美国越来越受欢迎了。

人们会通过水疗服务来提升健康并改善外貌，方式就是获得治疗、锻炼或者放松。

水疗活动包括做桑拿、按摩、皮肤护理和洗浴。

去年，美国人接受水疗服务的次数达到了史上新高——1.9亿人次。美国人在水疗上花费近183亿美元。这一数字来自于国际水疗协会（ISPA）。

最近，ISPA为媒体举行了一次年度活动。加勒特是该协会的董事会主席。他在接受美联社采访时谈及了水疗行业的趋势。

其中一个趋势是：越来越多的美国人接受水疗服务。而以前，这个行业总是由女性来驱动的。我们现在看到的情况是男女各一半，或者男性更高，加勒特如是说道。

加勒特表示，该趋势始于2017年左右，那时候，该协议在报告中指出接受水疗的人中有49% 的人是男性，而2005年的时候，男性比例只有29%。

男性愈发认识到做水疗并非养尊处优的表现，而是一种生活方式的选择，对身体健康有利……水疗不只关乎放松，加勒特如是说道。

还有一个趋势是：水疗用到的技术越来越多。比如，科勒水疗最近推出了一个虚拟现实（VR）头显，该头显是用于引导冥想的。

该头显在使用过程中可提供音乐、某人声音的选择，附带图片，在美甲或者足疗的时候可以使用。该头显可显示山地湖、海滩、瀑布、云、夜空的照片。科勒正在考虑通过更多的虚拟现实设备来做足疗或者其他水疗。

美甲及足疗附近的充电站数量也在逐渐增多。这样一来，人们做水疗的时候，电子设备也能充电了。

对于媒体来说，解压的最好办法莫过于不让他们看手机，琳达如是说道。琳达是ISPA的主席。我们的整体理念是让大家放松下来，所以，这是用户化的定制服务。怎样的做法会让每位顾客感到舒适。

Words in This Story

relaxing –adj. providing rest and reducing tension and worry

trend –n. something that is currently popular

pamper – v. to treat (someone or something) very well : to give (someone or something) a lot of attention and care

benefit –n. something that is good or helpful

virtual reality – n. an artificial world of images and sounds created by a computer that is affected by the actions of a person who is experiencing it

meditation –n. the process of spending time in quiet thought

manicure – n. a treatment to improve the appearance and health of the hands and fingernails

pedicure – n. a treatment to improve the appearance and health of the feet or toenails

millennial –n. a person who enters adulthood during the period after the end of the year 2000

customization – n. from the verb customize: to change (something) in order to fit the needs or requirements of a person, business, etc.