November Staff Picks Have Been Announced! As always, enjoy 10% off our favorite products of the month.
Clair’s Pick: Farmhouse Fresh Honey Heel Glaze
Clair picks this Farmhouse favorite because of its awesome moisturizing properties! Apply it before bed & while you sleep it transforms your skin from dry & itchy to soft & supple.
Tiffany’s Pick: Pure Inventions Sport Drink
Tiffany likes this product because it’s not a traditional sports drink full of sugar & sodium. Natural electrolytes from Hawaiian sea salt & natural energy from vitamin B12 make this the perfect drink before, after & during your workout!
Cassie’s Pick: Farmhouse Fresh Sparkling Bath Soak
Cassie picks this luxurious soak because it’s great to combat your dry winter skin. Use it as massage oil or add it to your bath to moisturize those hard to reach places!
Cammie’s Pick: CND Solar Oil
Cammie loves this product for easy home care! A light oil that absorbs quickly to restore & maintain the health of your nails, great for cuticle/skin care too. Use with your favorite polish or on naked nails!
An assortment of our favorite products in November!
Enjoy 10% off these products the month of November 2014
I will admit, I stopped biting my nails years ago, but excitement over the spa expansion has wreaked havoc on my cuticles which are somehow finding their way to my teeth. Camille had her work cut out for her today, but my nails look and feel amazing so I won’t subject any massage clients to my rough skin!
She asked if I was using my CND Solar Oil (I feel like she busted me…it was obvious I had not been!) and then suggested I use the Farmhouse Fresh Honey Heel Glaze on my hands to dissolve the dry, dead skin around my nails. It works on the thickest, toughest heel callouses, why WOULDN’T it work on my hands!
My hands after a REALLY good manicure from Camille. I’ll be testing out Honey Heel Glaze as an intense cuticle treatment!
I’ll give it a try this week and report back!
If you have caught yourself biting your nails or cuticles, or trying to deal with the dry weather as the seasons change, book yourself a manicure at East Village Spa! Camille, Cassandra, Cammie, Katie, Sheena, and Lydia are all happy to help!
A very common question at the spa is “What IS a facial? Why would anyone pay someone to just wash their face?” The easy answer is you really have to experience one of our great facials and you’ll understand just why they (and our estheticians) are so popular!
An eye treatment upgrade during a facial at East Village Spa.
What is an esthetician?
Estheticians are licensed skincare professionals who are able to provide esthetics services defined by the State of Iowa Board of Cosmetology code as:
Beautifying, massaging, cleansing, stimulating, or hydrating the skin of a person, except the scalp, by the use of cosmetic preparations, including cleansers, antiseptics, tonics, lotions, creams, exfoliants, masques, and essential oils, to be applied with the hands or any device, electrical or otherwise, designed for the nonmedical care of the skin.
Applying makeup or eyelashes to a person, tinting eyelashes or eyebrows, or lightening hair on the body except the scalp.
Removing superfluous hair from the body of a person by the use of depilatories, waxing, sugaring, tweezers, threading, or use of any certified laser products or intense pulsed light devices. This excludes the practice of electrology, whereby hair is removed with an electric needle.
The application of permanent makeup or cosmetic micropigmentation.
Hot towel wraps and steam help to remove products and open the pores.
Not every esthetican is trained in every one of these services (above), but you can see that esthetics covers a broad range of skill sets! In Iowa, estheticians are required to have the same amount of educational hours as massage therapists.
What is a facial:
A facial can range from extremely relaxing to pretty intensive treatments (the most intensive or uncomfortable facials would be those performed in a doctor’s office or medical spa, not at a spa like ours). At our East Village Spa during a Wellness or EV Signature Facial, you can expect your esthetician to look at your skin health history and your skin to assess your skin type to determine the best products for you.
She will cleanse, exfoliate, steam, perform pore extractions (our estheticans do this manually with gloved hands as they do not want to cause scarring and want to make this as comfortable as possible), massage the face, neck, and shoulders (and depending on the facial may massage the hands, arms, scalp, and feet while your mask works!), apply a mask to the skin, and finish with eye creams and moisturizers for your skin type.
Yes! Men do enjoy great and relaxing skin care…and because of the damage and irritation caused from shaving, men actually need facials MORE than women!
It is certainly more involved than someone “washing your face.” Also, our clients are shocked when they experience the incredibly relaxing and skilled massage techniques included in the facials. Most people don’t realize how stress-relieving these services are. Our receptionists and even massage therapists suggest facials to their clients who are experiencing jaw tension, sinus congestion, or just need major stress relief! These massages are great to relax the muscles of the face reducing the appearance of lines and stress and are also important for boosting circulation and lymphatic flow.
Our estheticians can help with all of your questions about products, self care, and can help you decide what is the best skin care regimen for your skin type and lifestyle.
Another benefit of getting a professional facial is that our experienced estheticians can recommend the right products for you. Before I owned the spa, I used to have drawers, cabinets, and a shower full of different skin care products. Now that I have guidance from pros, I have streamlined my routine and only have about 5 products in my house and stick to a really easy routine with no guesswork and am not wasting my money on products that don’t do what I need them to!
If you want to book at facial at East Village Spa, or would like more information, visit www.evdayspa.com!
I debated whether I should even discuss the topic of massage therapist gender on this blog, but I think we have enough questions and comments that it seems to at least warrant brief acknowledgement. As a therapist of over 9 years and a massage educator, I work with massage therapists who are men and women. Of course, a majority of licensed massage therapist ARE women, but that doesn’t mean that this isn’t an ideal profession for men as well.
Many industry leaders, authors, and pioneers are men. 50% of the 2015 Massage Therapy Hall of Fame Inductees are men. Men with a natural caring nature, or those who come from sports, engineering, science, or medical backgrounds are often drawn to massage as a profession or a career change. I know two male doctors in Des Moines who also have a massage therapy license! There are even men in the area who have created a niche as prenatal therapists because of their great respect for the pregnancy process.
That being said, discrimination goes both ways. While the vast majority of clients who have gender requests ask for a female therapist, we do have clients without a good understanding of massage techniques or body mechanics who don’t believe women can provide enough pressure (definitely false!) or who see men as more “scientific” or “medical” which drives our science-minded female therapists crazy!
It is quite rare we have someone request a therapist of a specific gender due to past history or religion (for example, I have taken courses with an Orthodox Jewish married couple who could only work with same-gendered classmates, clients, and instructors per their religious beliefs).
Mostly, I think people have body image issues or subscribe to outdated assumptions about gender and career roles, or aren’t 100% clear about the therapeutic nature of massage. We’re constantly told by society how we should act or look as men or women and it is hard to tune that out. I understand that no matter how many times your massage therapist works to assure you that he or she is not judging (or even noticing your “imperfections”) because your therapist is focused more on how well you and your muscles are relaxing, it is hard to believe if you aren’t a massage therapist. At one point or another, all of our massage therapists were massage clients with no understanding of massage therapy at all!
It also surprises people to learn that when a guest discriminates against a male colleagues for non-medical or non-religious reasons, that male therapist’s female colleagues feel sad, as though they were chosen not for their skill as therapists, but only because of their gender. A strongly stated gender preference (that is not attributed to religion or past history) also raises a therapists’ concern that perhaps a guest doesn’t fully understand that massage is strictly therapeutic and perhaps the guest is confused about the nature of their treatment.
All of this being said, we do respect our guest’s choices and certainly don’t require an explanation if you state a gender preference in your massage therapist, but I wanted to at least give you this post as “food for thought” because so often a client calls in desperate pain and we CAN help…but the therapist open is not the preferred gender so the client decides to wait a couple more days in pain until the therapist of their preferred gender is available. Or perhaps a client’s health issue could be better solved by a therapists with specialized training in that area, but the client would rather see a therapist who is less skilled with that particular condition (and therefore not get the desired result) solely on the basis of gender.
A client just sent this nice message to me the other day and I thought I’d pass it along:
“Never really thought much about a male LMT, but Justin is AMAZING! Really, I haven’t had a bad massage at your spa but Justin made a lot of aches and pains melt away and did a number of great stretches that really worked my hip. I’m so glad I made it in! Already made my recovery appointment as well! Thank you & big thanks to Justin as well.”
We have male clients that see male and female therapists and female clients that see male and female therapists. Most of our clients do not have a preference and trust that all of our therapists are highly skilled, ethical, and well-educated people who love their careers and are looking forward to helping you feel your best!
Justin and Mallory wowed the “Women who Wine” group with chair massages in 2014
According to the American Cancer Society’s 2013-2014 Breast Cancer Fact Sheet, a woman living in the United States has a 12.3% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.
At East Village Spa, our trained and licensed providers have experience working with individuals undergoing cancer treatments and research has shown that massage therapy can be helpful in combating side effects of breast cancer treatments.
This study showed a statistically significant reduction in nausea and vomiting related to breast cancer treatments in people who received foot reflexology treatments.
2003 research from the University of Miami has showed massage therapy to be more beneficial than progressive muscle relaxation in combating depression among people undergoing breast cancer treatments and that massage was also effective in reducing treatment related anxiety and anger.
Lymphatic Drainage massage can be helpful in people who experience lymphedema after surgery (it should be used as a complement to lymphedema management done by a licensed lymphedema specialist like an Occupational or Physical Therapist).
Massage can be modified to help people relax during all phases of cancer treatment and most physicians are accepting of massage provided by experienced and knowledgeable practitioners during cancer treatments. The Mayo Clinic has even opened a spa in their hospital!
Some modifications need to be made to ensure that clients receiving spa services while receiving cancer treatments are safe and that the services are most beneficial.
Sidelying massage techniques (similar to those used in prenatal massage) may be necessary after surgery
Lighter to medium pressure may be needed as opposed to heavier pressure which could be contraindicated due to the treatments
Treatments with heat, like hot stone massages, are not advised for individuals undergoing treatments like radiation, which can cause inflammation and burns on the skin.
Facials are fine and a great way to relax and help skin feel soft and hydrated, so long as the products are gentle. Facial peels would not be advised.
Your esthetician and massage therapist will avoid ports or other areas of concern like burns
Waxing may be contraindicated due to changes in your skin from certain cancer treatment medications.
This is a great simple article from cancer.org about massage for people with breast cancer and I agree with all of their points.
Courtesy of ABMP
If you are considering spa services as a way to de-stress and help reduce the negative side effects of cancer treatments, we’d love to visit with you. We always encourage people to share any complementary services they are receiving with their medical providers and we welcome any suggestions from your physician as well.
It is currently World Reflexology Week…who knew!? Well, actually I knew because I got a call from the nursing home where I served as Activity Director eons ago to do a program to residents, staff, and families on the benefits of Reflexology.
What is Reflexology?
According to the American Reflexology Certification Board, Reflexology is a scientific art based on the premise that there are zones and reflex areas in the feet and hands which correspond to all body parts. The physical act of applying specifric pressures using thumb, finger, and hand techniques result in stress reduction which causes a physiological change in the body.
from wikipedia
Here is a really cool interactive hand and foot chart by the Barbara and Kevin Kunz.
Who developed Reflexology techniques?
Reflexology is ancient…so ancient that the first records of reflexology were pictures and statues dating back as far as 2500 B.C. when early Egyptian papyrus and wall paintings depicted medical practitioners treating the hands and feet of patients. Cultures in India, Japan, China, Egypt, and Europe have been working on feet since the beginning of time. (Karen Ball 215 Hour Reflexology Certification Program, 2002)
Who can benefit?
Anyone who is under stress or who loves a great hand or foot massage can benefit, but research has shown positive results with the following conditions:
Reduction of pain and stress when trained partners provide reflexology to individuals undergoing cancer treatments. (Read more here)
Reduction of constipation and improved digestion. One study of 20 women who had severe chronic constipation for an average of 24 years improved bowel movement frequency from once every 4 days on average to once every 1.8 days on average after 15 reflexology sessions over 7 weeks. (More information here.)
There have also been studies about Reflexology in pregnancy and labor and in migraine sufferers. (more here.)
Who can do Reflexology?
Basically, anyone. In Iowa, Reflexology is not licensed like Massage Therapy is. If you are seeking to hire a reflexologist, you will want to do your research and check on their training and experience to make sure you are receiving the most beneficial services possible. People who proclaim themselves to be reflexologists may run from self taught through books and videos to people who have taken an extensive training course to qualify for national certification. Many of our employees have about 50 hours, some more. The certification track program I took was 250 hours.
There is really no harm in providing simple reflexology techniques to a loved one as a caring gesture so long as you aren’t causing pain. Even the good intention of wanting to help someone feel better has physical and mental health benefits in itself, in my opinion!
Can I book a reflexology appointment at East Village Spa?
Yes! We offer a Therapeutic Foot Massage which is primarily reflexology, but may integrate some stretching and deep tissue foot massage based on your concern. Any therapist we open for that massage has specific training in foot reflexology. The focus can be entirely reflex point based or can be entirely deep tissue or any combination. If you book a longer body massage and your therapist is reflexology trained, she may incorporate some work on reflex points to enhance the overall benefits of the work. For example, I had a client with jaw pain and after some facial and neck massage, I ended the session with some work on her jaw reflex points on the foot which were incredibly tender. If a client complains of constipation, I’ll often blend abdominal massage with foot reflexology techniques. We think of this as the 1-2 punch!
Click here to schedule your reflexology or massage appointment at East Village Spa.
There are so many schools of thought on stretching…different opinions on when to stretch, how long to hold a stretch, how deep to go into a stretch. It can get very confusing!
A client loaned us a book, Brad Walker’s “The Anatomy of Stretching” today and it is fantastic and a very simple and well-illustrated guide to stretching just about every muscle you’d ever need to stretch. I decided to learn more about Brad Walker and his websites are a wealth of information for athletes, people who work in sedentary jobs, and really anyone!
Check out his blog, for lots of articles. His book is available online, even used, very reasonably if you’re looking for a good stretching resource! His website even has stretching videos for different muscle groups and different types of sport participation.
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Another great FREE resource is the website Do Yoga with Me that features yoga videos for different ability and experience levels. This is a great way to find some yoga poses to help with pain and stress management!
After Dam to Dam, we started seeing more pedicure and massage clients in with black toenails, a curse of distance running! I’ve personally been upping my mileage for the first time training for a half marathon and can see the importance of good socks, great fitting shoes, blister management and keeping my toenails short.
Based on the experience of our team and friends, we’d like to share solutions to help runners address common foot issues.
Fleet Feet Women’s Running Group (photo by Andy Roat)
1. Black Toenails: Many experts recommend making sure your running shoes are about a half size bigger than you everyday shoes, especially in hot and humid weather when feet expand. Keeping toenails short can also help. Downhill and distance running are the biggest culprits in causing black toenails that will eventually fall off. Pedicures can help keep your nails properly trimmed, but start getting them early in your training, not the day before a big race. If you have black toenails, you can still get a pedicure and polish, but be sure the nail technician is properly trained and treats the nail gently.
2. Calluses: These are a GOOD thing! If you are training for a race, you need your calluses to prevent blisters. If you get a pedicure, be sure to tell the nail technician you want to keep your calluses and ask that the time she’d normally be spent softening them go toward lengthening the massage…which you really need! At our spa, the best choice for runners is a Wellness Pedicure. The EV Signature Pedicure features a callus softening heel treatment which you don’t want and the Eco Dry pedicure doesn’t include a massage which you need.
The Clarisonic Callus buffer is a gentle way to soften calluses and we use it for clients who want light callus work.
3. Blisters: If you have a blister, please tell your nail technician or massage therapist ahead of time so she knows to avoid the area. Good socks make a world of difference and our friends at Fleet Feet have socks meant to prevent blisters. I personally started getting blisters during triathlons this summer because of putting my shoes on with wet feet. I found that soaking my foot in a shallow dish of hot water, a handful of oats, and a few drops of tea tree or lavender essential oil (optional) zapped the pain and helped them heal quickly. You can cut a moleskin adhesive (found at any drugstore) to pad around the blister too. Just cut out a round or square piece and cut a hole out of the center so you aren’t sticking it to your blister. This works like a charm!
4. Foot pain: If you are experiencing foot pain from running, there could be many causes. First, make sure you are wearing the right shoes and visit a business that can do a professional evaluation and fitting. You can also try approaches like podiatry, massage therapy, or chiropractic (or a combination) if the pain is limiting your ability to run. Our therapists can help address issues in the foot, but also tense muscles in the hips and legs that can contribute to foot pain. If your foot pain is new or you just want to try a short service, book our Therapeutic Foot Massage. If your foot pain is accompanied by back, hip, leg, and knee pain, you’ll need a longer treatment and we recommend trying the 60 or 80 minute Athletic Edge Sports Massage.
Therapeutic Foot Massage is a deep massage focused on reflex points and areas of tension.
Our goal is to not only help you keep running, but to ENJOY the journey! If we can answer questions, offer treatments, or refer you to other health professionals like podiatrists, physical therapists, chiropractors, or experts at shoe fitting, don’t hesitate to ask!
I am very pleased to announce that we have won an ISPA Innovate Award! We’ll be recognized along with 14 other spas around the world for business innovations. I am particularly excited about this award because it will give me an opportunity to speak to a large group of my peers about the advantages of hiring people with disabilities.
In March this year, we met with Candeo, an organization that helps businesses to identify unmet employment needs and then works to fill those needs with an individual with a disability. Our laundry mountains had been growing and our employees were getting busier doing treatments (yay!) but were needing help with the laundry.
Mallory, LMT, Holly, Laundry Assistant, and Tiffany, LMT/Receptionist work together to keep up with the linens!
Candeo introduced us to Holly, whom we hired. They have been coming to work with Holly at every shift to help train her, though she’s super independent with her work and possibly our most enthusiastic employee! Holly’s co-workers were asked to write down their favorite work memory from the first half of the year so far for a spa party and nearly every single one pertained to something awesome Holly said or did!
If you’re needing help at your workplace or have an unmet employment need, even if it is just for a couple of hours a week, I’d guess that Candeo can help you find a perfect employee! Feel free to contact me if you have questions and I’ll put you in touch or reach out to them directly.
Below is the press release for our award:
Des Moines, IA Sept. 3, 2014 – East Village Spa will be celebrated by the International SPA Association (ISPA) at the upcoming 2014 ISPA Conference & Expo with an ISPA Innovate Award. The ISPA Innovate Award is given to spa industry leaders with innovative and successful spa-related initiatives.
Cassie Sampson, spa owner will represent East Village Spa at the 2014 ISPA Conference & Expo, focusing on the topic, “individuals with disabilities find perfect spa employment.”
“Innovation is the driving force behind growth in the spa industry,” said ISPA President Lynne McNees. “Recognizing the innovation that is occurring within ISPA’s membership will encourage and inspire future ideas.”
“Hiring an employee with different abilities and strengths has helped to fill an employment need for us,” said Sampson. “Our laundry assistant, Holly, is proud to be a part of the East Village Spa team and her co-workers are thankful that the work she does helps them to be able to focus on providing great treatments to customers. Her positivity is contagious and we look forward to her shifts. I’m excited that this award will help us educate more people about the benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities.”
The ISPA Conference & Expo Innovate Session will be held on October 15 at 3:30 pm at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev., where a select group of award recipients will share their innovations with ISPA Conference attendees. Attendees can register for the ISPA Conference & Expo by visiting attendispa.com.
We’re excited to share 3 of our favorite products with you this month! Each of our staff picks will be 10% off throughout September. I’m sure you’ll see why we love them so much!
Kristiana’s Pick Farmhouse Fresh Hello Yellow Shea Butter
Kristiana loves this lotion because it smells like summer
and it stays on during all of her outdoor activities.
Cassie’s Pick Derma E BB Cream
Cassie uses the BB Cream because it’s like magic to cover her
uneven, red and freckly skin tone plus it is one of the only SPF products she’s used that doesn’t irritate her eyes.
Cassandra’s Pick Derma E Evenly Radiant Serum
Cassandra picks this serum because it is light weight, hydrating and is power packed to lighten sun spots! It feels great to wear alone or under a moisturizer.
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