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Over the years, I've stayed at more than 80 spas and submitted myself to more than 100 different treatments. I've had an achy wrist cured by the non-touch of Reiki in Washington. I've been pummelled in Havana. I was even attacked with ice-cold algae and thrown into a bed of hay near Zurich as part of an all-natural European detox.

I admit to some trepidation on these forays into “relaxation” and “healing,” because sometimes detoxing – whether from holiday indulgence or post-holiday stress – demands a leap of faith. That's especially true in the year ahead, since some of the fads spa experts are forecasting demand a serious suspension of judgment.

For example, SpaFinder.com's “it list” for 2009 includes the return of energy medicine. Yes, the focus on chakras is back. And medical practitioners are even discussing the use of laser beams to balance the body's “energy field” (or something like that).

The same list gives the nod to neurobics on spa menus: Thanks to a greying clientele, the industry is finally jumping on the “brain fitness” bandwagon with anti-aging and anti-Alzheimer's treatments.

Also on the horizon are in-transit spas. You've seen massage and 10-minute manicure stations in airports, and deluxe spas on cruises. Now, look for Ayurveda on trains and “shower spas” on mega-planes such as Emirates' A380.

Okay, so treatments like these aren't for everyone. (Do you really want someone fiddling with your muscles on a moving train?) Many are also in the crystal-ball stage; they're still being tested by spas on the cutting edge.

But even for those of us who want to enjoy a simple visit to the spa without bizarre trials by fire, there are new trends and treatments to watch for. Despite an economy in free fall – or perhaps because of it – destination spas are offering twists on everything from green treatments to medical tourism.

Herewith, a look at what's in store for 2009.

GEN Y “Move over, baby boomers,” says Susie Ellis of SpaFinder. “Younger generations are now hitting the spa in record numbers, and they're shaping the experience to meet their unique desires.”

The first generation raised on spas, Gen Y is the driving force behind treatment rooms big enough for parties, and their sensibility drives a few spas to watch for this year.

The new Ciel-Spa in SLS Hotel Beverly Hills, opening this month, has massage treatment rooms with iPod docking stations for personalized soundtracks. And at Zurich's Dolder Grand hotel (www.thedoldergrand.com/en/spa), opened in 1899 and recently renovated, the new spa's slogan is “classic traditions with a techno beat.” That means sleek modernist design and innovative amenities, including an “Aqua Zone,” with Japanese-inspired tsunaburos (baths filled with warm pebbles), and a cool “snow room” instead of the traditional snowbank. GREENING 2.0

First came spa meals made from local ingredients. Now, look for 100-mile treatments – rubs and wraps made from area plants, treatments that incorporate the outdoors, and organics. “Everybody wants to be a little more green, a little healthier, a little easier on the Earth,” says Kathy Nichol of Ontario's Finest Inns and Spas.

At B.C.'s Grotto Spa (www.grottospa.com), for instance, local seaweeds and rare mud from West Coast bogs are used for body treatments (the mud is thought to relieve rheumatic pain because of its naturally occurring humic acids). Ontario's Ste. Anne's Spa (www.steannes.com) offers a winter stone wrap made from organic, biodynamic herbs, while the wine country facial at the spa at Inn on the Twenty (innonthetwenty.com) features local grape seed oil, red wine and grape leaf extracts.

At Le Scandinave Spas (www.scandinave.com), meanwhile, guests are led right into the chill of Blue Mountain or Mont Tremblant for al fresco baths. And for hotter outdoor experiences, Kiyara Ocean Spa at the Jamaica Inn (kiyaraspa.com) has couples sunset massages overlooking the turquoise sea.

DEALS AND LOYALTY PROGRAMS Let's face it: Spas aren't cheap. But in 2009 it will be easier to get more bang for your buck.

For one thing, many spas are offering deals. You can save up to 40 per cent on advance bookings at Ontario's Grail Springs (www.grailsprings.com), while the Bluestone (bluestonewales.com), in the Welsh countryside, offers January breaks for families of four from $253.

In Utah, the Red Mountain Spa (redmountainspa.com) has a last-minute break, on until Feb. 28 – accommodations, meals, hiking and fitness classes and a massage or facial, from $243 a night.

Lynne McNees of the International Spa Association also predicts a surge in “member spas” with loyalty programs. For instance, the Umstead hotel and spa in North Carolina (theumstead.com) offers perks such as complimentary stays, treatments, and preferred amenities. And at Arizona's Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa (www.sanctuaryoncamelback. com), the benefits run from free guest passes to discounts at the spa boutique.

Another option for a recession-proof spa holiday? Donna Holtom, president of industry association Leading Spas of Canada, has her eye on combo treatments – say, a body scrub and a massage. “They'll become even more popular as ‘value for money' becomes the byword for 2009,” she says.

MEDICAL TOURISM Nope, it's not just for Americans. According to Holtom, “Medical tourism is on the upswing.” In fact, it's the fastest-growing segment of the Canadian spa industry – and should keep growing as treatments in other parts of the world become prohibitively expensive.

One-stop destinations such as Ontario's Holtz Spas (holtzspa.com) let you chase your facial microdermabrasion with a Swiss goat butter cream wrap. Or try B.C.'s Hills Health Ranch (www.spabc.com): It has more health professionals on staff than any other Canadian resort – including an MD, five nurses, a kinesiologist, a nutritionist and a behavioural counsellor.

Also look out for a new generation of “life balancing” programs that include lab tests for kidney, liver and metabolic function, such as the one at Calgary's Spa Sante (santespa.com).

And at the other end of health spectrum: “Hospice spas” such as the one at Henry Ford Hospital in Michigan, where the patients can get on-demand massages and wander in serene gardens.

RECONNECTING It started as a “girls thing.” Then couples got in on the act. Then men were coming on their own, lathering up for shaves together before massages. In industry-speak, “reconnecting” continues to be a cornerstone of spa vacations.

And in 2009 you'll see even more options for guests who believe that the family/friends/lovers that spa together stay together. Lake Austin Spa Resort (lakeaustin.com) customizes group vacations for everyone from book clubs to families; now, they're offering mother/daughter retreats including programs to improve communication skills and mother/daughter yoga.

The communal Roman rituals at the new Qua in Caesars Atlantic City (harrahs.com/qua) include group soaks as well as steams in a cedar sauna followed by sommelier-approved tea beverages.

“We all say it's important to keep our friendships and relationships alive,” Nichol says, “but unless you make it a priority and have a focus for it, you don't really do it.”

Amy Rosen is the author of SPAtopia : Unique Spa Experiences from around the Globe.