Cassie

What is your favorite muscle to massage and why?

I took a little survey of our massage therapists to find out what muscle or muscle group they love working on and why. The answers may surprise you!

Teresa Sage: Neck/cranial base release because it is such a nurturing area and because the tension ebbs and flows from the neck to the upper shoulders, almost always laden and heavy with tension on most people, especially females in my experience.

Teresa Sage demonstrates Craniosacral Massage techniques

Allison Peterson: Erectors because of how they run the entire length of the spine and when they relax, we notice that surrounding larger muscle groups will open up with more ease.

Tiffany Jackson: The neck muscles because I think that is when people relax the most.

Jamee Koopman: The Psoas! For more information about psoas massage, click here.

Many muscles in the abdominal area contribute to pain and tension, including the psoas and diaphragm.

Clair McClintock: The Diaphragm! It is often a place that gets left out of treatment for many different ailments. For example: radiating pain across the ribs, breathing issues, trauma from an accident, and more. It is not the most relaxing massage but I’ve had so much instant improvement in people’s back pain or some people that have come in with pain they’ve been dealing with for years. It can be a huge emotional release spot for people.

Cassie Sampson: The Piriformis. People who have severe pain from sciatic nerve issues can often find relief with massage to the piriformis and surrounding glut and hip muscles. It wasn’t until I had injured myself and experienced the horrible pain caused by a sciatic nerve issues that I knew just how limiting and painful sciatic nerve issues could be and I liked knowing ways to help.

The piriformis and gluteal muscles can be accessed directly on the skin with proper draping, through sheets or clothing. Gluteal and piriformis massage is extremely beneficial. — The piriformis and gluteal muscles can be treated directly on the skin with proper draping, through sheets or clothing or via stretching. Gluteal and piriformis massage is extremely beneficial.

Justin Behanish: The quadratus lumborum (QL) muscle because it it is the cause (or partial cause) of pain in at least 1/4 of the people who have back-pain. I think it is too often neglected by massage therapists.

The QL is a small muscle in the lower back that is the root of many peoples' back pain. — The QL is a small muscle in the lower back that is the root of many peoples’ back pain.

Kristiana Moore: The muscles in the feet because many of us stand all day and people find it the most relaxing. When I get to the foot massage at the end of the session, so many people tend to fall asleep!

If any of our therapist’s responses are tempting you to book a massage to relax your sorest muscles, click here to schedule online!

Quickly stop a calf cramp with this easy trick

Of all the self care massage techniques and tricks I’ve learned in 10 years as a massage therapist, the concept of reciprocal inhibition has been the most useful to me personally. Put simply, if a muscle is in spasm, you can stop the spasm by engaging the opposing muscle.

I’m frequently awoken by charlie horses (calf cramps, or a spasm of the Gastrocnemius muscle). The natural tendency is to want to grab the muscle and massage or to stretch it out. This can help, but what works best is to engage the opposing muscle, the Tibialis Anterior, as both can’t be firing at once!

To stop the gastrocnemius (calf) muscle from firing, you have to engage the tibialis anterior muscle. — To stop the Gastrocnemius (calf) muscle from firing, you have to engage the Tibialis Anterior muscle.

If you have a partner (or are helping someone else who is in the middle of a spasm in their calf) you’ll want to push their their toes toward the ground, then have them flex their ankle to bring their toes toward their body. Basically, have them resist you, thus engaging the muscles in the front of their lower leg (specifically, the Tibialis Anterior). In this photo, my partner is trying to push my toes toward the ground but I’m resisting so she can’t.

This should stop the spasm right away. If you don’t have a partner (or you are courteous enough to not wake your significant other up in the middle of the night when you get a charlie horse!) you can apply the same principle yourself by using your other foot to push the against the top of the foot on the side with the spasming calf muscle while you try to draw your toes toward your body to resist the pressure.

Applying reciprocal inhibition techniques to your own muscle spasm

This technique can be applied to many different muscles, but the calf is an easy spot to start and a common trouble spot for many people. I have tried this successfully many times at 3 am. I’ve even applied the same principle during open water swim races when I get calf cramps by letting one of my feet press against the other foot and resisting. I don’t even have to stop swimming (just kicking) to do it! It has saved me from some serious issues in the middle of a lake.

Curious about other applications for reciprocal inhibition or just want a more in-depth explanation? Click here for a good article! If you ever have the opportunity to test it out, I’d love to hear if it worked for you. Feel free to post a comment.

The Spa Newbie Gets a Facial!

We put our intern, Alyssa’s next spa service to test out to a vote and by a close margin, our Facebook fans (and ALL of our estheticians!) suggested she try our EV Signature Facial. Here’s what Alyssa had to say!

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Spa Intern Alyssa relaxes during her first ever Facial at East Village Spa

The votes came in and I was chosen to try the EV Signature Facial Experience. The past few years I started to struggle with dry skin and am constantly having to apply moisturizer. I’m secretly happy (I guess not so secret now) that this is what was selected by all of you! I have always wanted to get a facial, but never knew where to go.

Never having a facial before, I was not sure what to expect. Camille used a light on my face to see what problems were going on that can’t be seen by the naked eye. She was able to adjust the treatment specifically towards my skin care needs. She used a Clarisonic for a deeper clean and to make the skin more receptive to the products. I also had steam, which helped to detoxify the skin and soften pores for easier extractions.

Not only did this facial include attention to my face, but I also received treatment to my arms, hands, face, neck, and feet. Camille explained each process with me and it was nice to understand why. With this, I was able to understand what type of home care I needed to use.

Camille explained whether you have sensitive or problematic skin, facials are great for deep cleansing and exfoliation. They stimulate new cell growth for a fresher, younger look. She recommends to come in every 3-4 weeks so your estheticians can monitor your skin changes and adjust at home care accordingly.

The arsenal of products that Camille, Alyssa's Esthetician, chose to use on her skin. — The arsenal of products that Camille, Alyssa’s Esthetician, chose to use on her skin.

After receiving the facial, I noticed that my skin appears much healthier looking, more moisturized, which made the expression lines on my forehead less defined. The treatment left my skin feeling very smooth and silky. I highly recommend the EV Signature Facial Experience. I’m a believer. It was truly what my skin was looking for.

Be sure to check out my next blog when I will be spending the day as a Massage Therapy Student at the school where Cassie teaches!

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Are you inspired to try a facial? Click here to book your own EV Signature Facial Experience and meet with one of our skilled and relaxing estheticians.

Great gift ideas for dads!

A 2014 study commissioned by the International Spa Association (ISPA) revealed that men make up 47% of the spa-goers. As attitudes about health and wellness change and people see spas as a regular part of their health care as opposed to occasional pampering, it makes sense!

Our team has put together a list of 4 great father’s day gift ideas:

1. A Spa Gift Card: While spa gift cards are one of the top Mother’s Day gift ideas, they tend to be overlooked for Father’s Day, but they make AWESOME gifts! We notice that once men try spa services, they tend to be the most loyal visitors…which is great for stress reduction!

2. Farmhouse Fresh Bourbon Bubbler Body Scrub: This delicious body scrub is made with real Kentucky Bourbon and is great for exfoliating rough hands. To quote some of our male clients “It smells like bourbon and donuts!” No wonder they love it!

3. Clarisonic Mia for Men: This version of the Mia comes in gunmetal gray with a deep cleanse brush head. If the man in your life has been stealing your Clarisonic (and really, you shouldn’t share brush heads) it is time for him to get his own! Also great for active or out-doorsy guys who get clogged pores. This is easy to use, feels great, and helps keep skin healthy.

4. Kneipp Joint and Muscle Products: Perfect for men who have arthritis, joint, or muscle pain, the Kneipp line of products is time-tested and effective with ingredients like arnica, wintergreen, and juniper. These products come in bath salts, liquid baths, massage oils, and arnica topical gels.

We are always happy to help make suggestions. You can book a spa treatment for dad OR purchase an online gift card here. You can also stop in and we can help you find a great father’s day gift, prepare a gift card in-store and gift wrap them together. This father’s day, help the men in your life discover new ways to relieve pain, de-stress, and stay healthy!

The Spa Newbie Gets a Pedicure!

Blog post by Grandview Business Student and Spa Intern, Alyssa:

As a business management student, I never thought I would find myself in a day spa yet alone interning at one. I grew up in a town of less than 130 people, so there were not many amenities to be found. A great opportunity arose and I will be working at East Village Spa for the summer. One of the perks about being at a spa is getting to try out the services they have to offer.

I was ready to bust out the sandals for the summer but my feet have seen better days. A pedicure was calling my name. Cassandra was my nail technician and she used the watermelon basil vodkatini scrub and then then for the foot massage, ginger sorbet lotion. I can’t express how great the foot rub was; it was the ultimate relaxation. I chose Vinylux Tropix as my color. I am all about the bright pinks for the summer months.

As a newbie, I have only had experienced two pedicures. I’ve been to places that made me stick my feet into whirlpool chairs. I noticed that East Village Spa used a foot bath instead so I got a little curious as to why. I learned that whirlpool chairs are not sanitary and can cause infections if the jets are not cleaned properly. The spa uses a clean disposable liner which is sterile. They also use single use nail kits which you can take home with you. You can really tell the spa cares about health safety.

Overall, I loved the experience and am very glad I got to start off the summer with some fresh sandal ready feet. I am eager to try other services during my time here like the Skin Renewal Peel and EV Signature Massage. I feel very lucky that I was able to get such a great internship here at East Village Spa!

Note from the spa: If you want to try out the Wellness Pedicure that Alyssa had, or ANY of our great services, click here and schedule your appointment online!

5 things your esthetician wants you to know about summer waxing

I was recently chatting with one of our estheticians about leg waxing and how it just isn’t the kind of service that provides the instant gratification clients want and expect. As is often the case, the topic snowballed into a list of things we wish people knew about summer waxing to make their wax experience better.

1. Often, your first wax, or your first wax in a long time, won’t get you the baby smooth results you are expecting. Why? Because of the growth cycles of your hair. Especially if you have been shaving, your hair is on different growth cycles. For example, if you regularly shave your legs but grow it out for a few weeks for a leg wax, you’ll still feel stubble from the hairs on a different cycle that were too short to catch in the wax. It will also seem like hairs are growing back sooner after some waxes because of the hairs that were on a different cycle are growing, not the hairs that were removed.

This has nothing to do with the skill of your esthetician, and everything to do with how our bodies work.Your best bet for super smooth, hairless skin? Regular waxing without shaving between visits. Or letting your hair grow out a long time before waxing.

2. Where a woman is in her cycle will affect how much her wax will hurt. The week before your period many women are the most sensitive. Often we’ll hear someone say one of our esthetician’s waxing is more painful than one of our other esthetician’s waxing. But then the next guest will say the exact opposite. In the hands of a skilled esthetician using the same high quality wax and proper techniques, the level of pain variance is likely due to where you were on your cycle, not the esthetician.

Because women who wax regularly typically come in about every 5-6 weeks, they will hit different points of the cycle so back-to-back waxes might feel entirely different due to the variance in pain tolerance, blame mother nature, not your esthetician!

3. If you are planning a body wax and a massage, plan them on different days. We’re talking leg wax or back wax here… It seems like a good idea to save time by booking a leg wax right before a massage, or a massage right before a back wax, but saving yourself a second trip isn’t worth the potential discomfort. Your massage therapist doesn’t want to introduce products and oils into a freshly waxed area and irritate already inflamed skin.

Likewise, your esthetician would prefer not to wax over an area that has just been massaged because it isn’t ideal to wax over skin that has been introduced to oils…plus the sting of the waxing usually takes away from the benefits of the massage!

4. Keep freshly waxed skin clean! That means not going home and putting on your oldest hockey pads to play a game after a chest wax, not getting a leg wax the night before you plan to spend a day swimming in a lake, and not waxing your brows and lip right before going for a run. This can introduce bacteria into freshly waxed skin and cause infection and irritation.

On that note, if you come for your wax right after a workout and plan to put on the icky workout clothes you came in, you’re asking for an unpleasant skin reaction. It is best to have clean skin for your wax and clean, breathable clothes to put on after. We have had to turn people away for this very reason…we value your safety!

5. Please don’t fib on the wax intake form. I have heard people say (outside of the spa) that they don’t admit to using medications like Retin A or Accutane because they know they’ll get turned away for a wax. The risk of omitting important information is that your skin can burn and tear. Even if you haven’t applied or taken the medication for a few days, this can still happen. Even if you’ve been fine previously during a wax while using these medications, a burn or tear can happen and can be serious. This is not something your esthetician is willing to risk and it is not fair for you to put them in that position by not disclosing risk factors. Tweezing, shaving, and other hair removal techniques are safer for some people.

If you have never had a wax before or have questions, click here for answers to our frequently asked questions.

To book your wax online, click here.

Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis: What are they and can spas help?

Today is Crohn’s and Colitis awareness day. Our team has grown familiar with these diseases because two of our team members who have agreed to let us use their name, are living with them. Cassandra, our nail technician and esthetician was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis at 21. Celeste, one of our receptionists, has Crohn’s disease, which is the main reason she is no longer working as a cosmetologist.

We recently partnered with our friends at Two Rivers Marketing in the East Village for their month of fundraising for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) by sending two of our massage therapists, Jamee and Justin, to do chair massage in exchange for donations. In just 90 minutes, they raised nearly $300 for the foundation from the employees at Two Rivers Marketing!

Justin providing chair massage to raise funds for CCFA at Two Rivers Marketing

Crohn’s and Colitis are inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) that affect all or part of the digestive tract. Symptoms common to both Crohn’s and Colitis are diarrhea, blood in the stools, fever, inflammation, pain, and unintended weight loss. The inflammation and symptoms can lead to scarring, ulcers, fistulas, and blockages which may necessitate surgery. These diseases aren’t typically fatal, but their complications can be. These diseases and their treatments can also increase the risk of cancer.

Doctors don’t know the exact causes of IBD. Some speculate that stress plays a role, though there is some indication that hereditary and immune system disorders play a major role. Others risk factors are diet, history of smoking or living in polluted areas, age, and use of certain medications.

Surgery may be a cure for someone with Ulcerative Colitis by removing the colon and rectum, but will lead to diet and lifestyle changes. Surgery may temporarily alleviate symptoms of Crohn’s Disease, but is not a cure.

Cassandra says that one thing she wishes more people understood is that she can no longer eat like everyone else. She has to eat small, frequent meals and is often hungry. Her abdomen makes lots of noises as well. She works to make sure her schedule at the spa includes frequent breaks for small meals between clients. Cassandra recommends that people who are newly diagnosed with these diseases join a support group, get a CCFA membership, and talk to others online or in person.

While people primarily see these as digestive diseases, according to the Crohn’s Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) 10-20% of people, like Celeste, who have these diseases also have joint pain and problems.

There hasn’t been much research into spa services and inflammatory bowel diseases, we do know that stress can exacerbate symptoms of Crohn’s and Colitis. Spa treatments, especially massage therapy, have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety. Massage therapy is also beneficial with post surgical scarring and range of motion. Because Crohn’s can cause chronic pain, massage also might be beneficial as it has been shown to have a positive effect on people with other inflammatory and auto-immune diseases. This month, Massage and Bodywork Magazine published a great article about massage therapy and Crohn’s Disease.

If you or someone you know are living with Crohn’s or Colitis and want to know which services might be appropriate, don’t hesitate to contact us! For more information, see the three great resources below.

References:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/inflammatory-bowel-disease/basics/definition/con-20034908

http://www.ccfa.org/

http://www.abmp.com/textonlymags/article.php?article=1297

5 Great Mother’s Day Ideas

Mother’s Day is a fun excuse to pamper the women in your life (moms, grandmas, wives, sisters, godmothers, dog-mothers, fill-in mothers…you name it!) Here are a few of our favorite ideas!

1. A spa gift card. We make it easy! Pop into the spa and we have 2 great packages ready to go with popular service combinations. Can’t make it in or pampering mom from a distance? Purchase a gift card online and print it to include in your mother’s day card or e-mail it to mom!

2. Two treats for tired feet: Our Farmhouse Fresh Honey Heel Glaze is a great mask for rough calluses on the feet (and dry hands) and is one of Oprah’s favorite things. The Derma E Intensive Therapy Foot Cream is a great pick-me-up for moms who are on their feet all day, providing a zippy mint scent and circulatory boost.

3. Relax at East Village Spa and Beautify at Blo: We still (as of typing this) have 4 openings for our Mother’s Day “MOMosa” event at the spa, enjoy 2 hours of indulgence (mimosas, pastries, a special lavender honey massage and lavender honey facial) for just $200 all inclusive. Our neighbors across the street at Blo Blowdry Bar also have a great Mother’s Day Special! Book a blow out for you and mom on Mother’s Day and mom’s is only $30!

4. A Kneipp Bath Set: The healing properties of water can’t be overstated. A soothing soak in the tub with aroma-therapeutic oils or mineral rich salts and it is like a mini vacation for stressed-out moms. We have a variety of bath sets, plus single scented salts and mineral oils.

5. Pamper moms-to-be: Purchase a gift card for a Pampering Pregnancy Massage, a fun bottle of non-toxic Zoya nail polish to paint her toe-nails (especially if she can’t reach them herself!) or a Farmhouse Fresh hand cream for a scent-sational treat in her hospital ready bag.

Happy Birthday, CND Shellac!

CND Shellac, the original gel-polish hybrid, turns 5 years old this month and we have been using Shellac since it debuted at a show in Las Vegas. In fact, when we learned about this revolutionary new product, I bought a plane ticket to Vegas so I could be among the first to purchase it and bring it back to Iowa! Our nail technician and esthetician Cassandra recently took an advanced CND Shellac course where she learned new techniques, tips, and tricks and learned about the soon-to-debut new top coat and lamp. The new CND Shellac Top Coat will be available soon and will make removal even faster and gentler!

Cassandra also learned 5 interesting CND Shellac Facts, we’ll share one for each year we’ve been able to enjoy Shellac:

5: Every CND Shellac Color is individually formulated to create the best color, which explains why some are thicker or thinner, and some hold foils better than others.

foilscollage — Add some fun to your Shellac with a foil upgrade on all or part of your nails.

4: CND’s new LED lamp has been in development for THREE YEARS!

3: Swimming, dishes, or other hobbies or chores that submerge hands in water aren’t great for Shellac, but Cassandra learned that prolonged exposure to heat from a hair dryer or hot laundry can also cause Shellac to lift. (but if you don’t pick at it, the polish edges should go back to where they belong in time!)

2: On average, fingernails grow just 3 mm/month. In our experience, keeping a hard gel polish like Shellac on, can help keep you from biting or breaking your nails!

1: While it started with just 12 shades, currently CND Shellac comes in 83 shades (As of right now!)

Top 5 reasons an honest health intake is important

We know it can feel like we’re inundated with paperwork and forms these days, so we really do empathize when our clients groan about having to fill out a health or skin care history. These forms were developed by our employees to help them get the information they need to give you an amazing service. If you’d like a preview of our health history form, click here. We keep all health information confidential and do not share it unless we have your written consent to do so. Here are 5 of the main reasons we require a health history or skin care history before your service:

5. We need to know what products to use. If you are booking a facial, our estheticians have many options for cleansers, toners, masks, scrubs, moisturizers, serums and more. The information on your skin care intake in addition to their assessment of your skin guides their choices. If you are investing time and money in your facial, you deserve a wonderful service customized for you. If you are scheduling a massage, we need to know if you have any allergies or sensitivities so we can select the best massage cream or oil.

4. We might need to modify a service based on health concerns or preferences. Certain medications require a change in pressure or technique due to a risk of bruising or tissue damage. For example, some medications make skin more sensitive to waxing and can cause skin tears. Some health conditions contradict exposure to heat so we might suggest changing your Hot Stone massage to a Sports or Signature service so as not to to exacerbate symptoms or cause burns. Some symptoms might seem harmless, but could indicate a serious problem like an infection or blood clot requiring medical attention.

3. We need to know which techniques to use. There are literally hundreds of styles of massage therapy. Many of our therapists have over 1000 hours of initial training and are required to take continuing education regularly, so our technique “tool boxes” are far bigger than what you can tell by looking at our brochure. Letting your therapist know injuries you have, areas of pain, and pressure preferences will make a world of difference in the effectiveness of your service. Just because you had a light and relaxing massage with a therapist once, doesn’t mean he or she isn’t able to give a good injury-specific focused treatment another visit or visa versa. You just have to let us know exactly what you need so we can raid our massage “tool box” for the best techniques to for you.

2. Some of your answers clue us in to ways we can go above and beyond for you! Have allergies or a headache? We can add a cold compress to your face rest to help relieve the pressure. Work long hours standing on a cement floor? We an add a cooling mint foot cream instead of the regular massage cream. Under an incredible amount of stress and struggling to calm your mind before your massage? Your therapist can add a couple of drops of lavender oil into your massage cream and have you do some breathing exercises. We can even re-position to an incline or side-lying position for recent abdominal surgeries or breast tenderness. The possibilities are endless, but we can’t help you if we don’t know what you need our help with!

1. Your current concerns may be caused by issues you wouldn’t have suspected. A thorough intake could lead to underlying causes of current issues you may not have thought of. An old surgery or injury may be contributing to current pain in a completely different area of the body. Your current skincare regimen could have unintended side-effects you didn’t know about that could be causing dry patches or clogged pores. Your favorite hobbies may be taking a toll on your body over time. All of this information will help us to provide the best results possible for a better treatment value.

If we don’t have the information we need, your service provider will need to take time out of your treatment to ask questions and you won’t be able to relax as fully. If you come a few minutes early to complete your form, it will give you a time to decompress and shake off the day, relax with some hot tea or water, and focus on your treatment goals so you can be sure you are getting the best value for your time spent at the spa and a the best service and recommendations from your expert provider.