VOA慢速英语2019 水疗在美国越来越受欢迎（在线收听）

Spas Growing in Popularity in US

Spas are becoming more popular in the United States.

水疗在美国越来越受欢迎。 

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

水疗服务是人们通过接受治疗、锻炼或放松来提升健康和改善外貌的行业。 

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

水疗活动包括桑拿浴、按摩、皮肤护理和洗浴。 

Last year, Americans visited spas a record 190 million times.

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。 

And they spent about $18.3 billion dollars.

美国人在水疗上花费近183亿美元。 

Those numbers come from the International Spa Association, or ISPA.

这一数字来自于国际水疗协会（ISPA）。 

The industry group recently held its yearly event for the media.

最近，ISPA为媒体举行了一次年度活动。 

Garrett Mersberger is the association’s board chairman.

加勒特·梅斯伯格是该协会的董事会主席。 

He spoke to the Associated Press about trends in the industry.

他在接受美联社采访时谈到了水疗行业的发展趋势。 

One trend: More American men have been going to spas.

其中一个趋势是：越来越多的美国男性接受水疗服务。 

“It used to always be a female-driven thing. We’re now seeing 50-50, if not swinging more toward the males,” Mersberger said.

梅斯伯格表示：“以前，这个行业总是由女性来驱动的。如果该趋势不继续向男性方面发展的话，我们现在所看到的情况是男女比例各一半。”

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.

梅斯伯格表示，这一趋势始于2017年左右，那时候，该协会在报告中指出接受水疗的人中有49% 的人是男性，高于2005年的29%。

“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.

梅斯伯格说：“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，对身体健康有益处……水疗不仅仅只为了放松。”

Another trend: Spas are using more technology.

另一个趋势是：水疗用到的技术越来越多。 

Kohler Waters Spas, for example, recently launched a virtual reality headset meant to be used for guided meditation.

例如，科勒·沃特斯水疗中心(Kohler Waters spa)最近推出了一款虚拟现实头盔，用于引导冥想。 

The experience offers the choice of music or the sound of a person’s voice with pictures during manicures and pedicures.

该头盔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。 

The headsets show pictures of mountain lakes, beaches, waterfalls, clouds and the night sky.

该头盔可显示山区湖泊、海滩、瀑布、云、夜空的照片。 

Kohler is considering more virtual reality devices to go with massages and other treatments.

科勒正在考虑使用更多的虚拟现实设备来配合按摩或者其他水疗。 

Charging stations at manicure and pedicure areas are also on the rise.

美甲及足疗附近的充电站数量也在逐渐增多。 

That way, people getting treatments can keep their electronic devices fully charged.

这样一来，人们做水疗的时候，电子设备也能充电了。 

“Nothing stresses a Millennial out more than taking their phone away,” said Linda McNees, the ISPA’s president.

ISPA主席琳达·麦克尼斯说：“没有什么比拿走手机更能让千禧一代感到焦虑了。” 

“The whole idea is to be able to relax, so it’s really about thinking about customization. What’s going to make you comfortable?”

“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。所考虑的是怎样的做法会让每位顾客感到舒适。”