No miracles in lengthy spa visit

I enjoyed Kathleen Doheny’s “Leave the Bad Habits Behind” [Healthy Traveler, March 26]. I have also been to several destination spas for vacations, and I agree that these visits can jump-start a change in lifestyle, plus rejuvenate one’s soul.

But my experience is that it is unrealistic to expect any sort of long-term miracle to occur at the end of a one- or two-week stay. Once a person returns to the real world, the “destination spa effect” tends to be short-lived and usually doesn’t return until the next spa vacation.

The secret to success is making time for regular visits to a local spa with an outstanding staff and reasonable prices.

NANCY R. INSPRUCKER

Redondo Beach