SPA is a verb


By Kat Shaw, Licensed Esthetician I


had always thought of a spa as a place to go to be pampered and relaxed. In my mind, it was something far off in the future that I may visit one day, but never made the time for myself. The


day came when I decided to focus on taking better care of myself sooner than later so I could enjoy getting older without pain or disease. I decided to make an appointment for a facial. The experi- ence was amazing and I realized how beneficial taking moments for your own self not only feels good but carries into all parts of your life. I was not only nourishing my skin (the largest organ of the body) but also my well-being. I began to try other beneficial modalities like massage and infrared sauna. The feeling of doing good things for yourself is addictive.


Fast forward to now. I became a licensed Esthetician and


opened my own spa. Recently I met a client who changed my perspective on a spa being a place to go, and into a thing to be done. In casual conversation, it was simply said their spouse “loves to spa!” Pure delight washed over me - SPA is a verb? Yes, I’m good with that. Here are the Reasons to SPA:


Stress Relief and Relaxation Sometimes they say a healthy amount of stress isn’t so bad for


you. It can be helpful for peak performance, but too much is, well, too much. It can affect your memory, mental clarity and raises your risk of chronic disease. As with most things in life, finding a balance is key. Learning “to SPA” improves stress management, gives you something to look forward to, and rejuvenates both your mind and body. It doesn’t have to be expensive or last a whole day. Try scheduling a 60-minute facial and see how much your frame of mind, not to mention your skin, improves. Don’t have an hour? Many spas offer express treatments for facials and massage, or 30-minute services like therapeutic foot soaks or LED light therapy. These 30-minute treatments are perfect for a lunch time power nap or quick pick me up. The pleasure of looking forward to your next visit, seeing progress and improvements, and taking time out for yourself will get you on the right track.


20 ELM Maine ~ September/October 2017 Detox As with massage and facials, increased blood circulation


and lymph drainage are a great way to aid in detoxing your body. Sauna treatments are also a great detox modality. Increasing your well-being, awareness and receiving healthy lifestyle tips can also have a cumulative effect the more often you go for a treatment. Other modalities such as halotherapy (salt therapy), therapeutic essential oil/mineral salt foot soaks, and body mud wraps are also extremely beneficial for detoxification.


Anti-Aging and Skin Benefits Professional skin treatments use high grade ingredients and


delivery systems that are more concentrated than home treatments. Problem areas such as clogged pores, dark spots or loss of elastic- ity and skin integrity can also be addressed with the latest technol- ogies and equipment. Trained professionals can safely use electric- ity and chemistry to temporarily change the PH of your skin to aid in extractions, followed by currents that push healthy ingredients deep into the dermis for better skin remodeling and hydration. Great results are achieved with regular visits and a healthy home care regimen. Using overly harsh products can hinder progress and many products have harmful ingredients. A good spa will offer free product consultations and make recommendations for home care that suits you.


Improved Immunity, Sleep and Breathing Along with good nutrition and exercise, spa treatments complement the fundamentals and aid in improved sleep, natural immunity and in some cases even better breathing. Massage, fa- cials, saunas, and especially halotherapy all benefit you at the end of the day when deep rest is important.


Targeted Treatments Spas have great services to offer for more specific needs as


well. Whether you’re in need of hair removal, eye brow shaping, lash and brow tinting, clearing clogged pores, blemishes, extrac-


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