At Ease
Now that the winter holidays are over, you may find yourself feeling a bit worn out from the hustle and bustle.
You spent time with your family and friends … check.
You planned and traveled and cooked … check.
You stood in long lines to buy gifts for everyone, including your next door neighbor’s Chihuahua … check and check.
And now that 2014 has begun, you’re realizing that you need some time for yourself, an opportunity to sit back, relax and treat yourself to a spa getaway. One day that’s dedicated just for you.
A trip to the spa can do more than just make you feel relaxed. Spa visits may have a wide range of benefits — from healing aches and pains and detoxifying your body, to soothing your mind and boosting your confidence. So join us as we let The Spa at Yellow Creek, Walden Inn and Spa, Akron Skin Center and The Spa at Glenmoor take us on the relaxation journey that we deserve.
The Spa at Yellow Creek
Signature Cold Stone Facial for Stress and Sinus Relief (25 minutes, call 330-665-2555 for pricing)
The Spa at Yellow Creek’s Signature Cold Stone Facial for Stress and Sinus Relief was created by combining two treatments.
The first treatment is an ancient massage technique developed from Ayurvedic medicine which uses “marma points” within the body to stimulate relaxation and relieve allergies and sinus pressure. Steam and aromatherapy is then incorporated into the service to decongest the facial pores and enhance respiratory health.
This procedure was specifically developed after a client who frequented the spa repeatedly came in with extreme head congestion and stress.
“Our team went to work to develop a treatment to help her with both,” says Scott Vazinski, executive director of The Spa at Yellow Creek. “This treatment is a true testament of our mission to begin with care and end with service.”
This treatment uses cold stones to reduce puffiness around the eyes, lips and the entire face. As an added bonus, the steam is infused with eucalyptus, which Vazinski says helps to alleviate mental fatigue and simulate brain wave activity, and organic jasmine tea, which promotes calmness and helps to relax nerves.
“This treatment simply helps you feel better, provides stress relief and restores a feeling of lightness in the head to allow you to focus,” he says. “With winter comes a higher likelihood of developing cold and flu-like symptoms, and with the added stress of the holiday season, this treatment reduces symptoms related to both.”
Walden Inn and Spa
AromaDetox (90 minutes, starts at $245)
For this unique massage, your therapist at Walden Inn and Spa combines several aromatherapy oils and then massages your feet, legs and back, leaving you feeling a sense of calm and relaxation.
Jenessee Taylor, the spa director of Walden Inn and Spa, says this particular procedure is a “body harmonizing service” that reduces the agony of daily stress.
The spa works with a local aroma therapist who uses 100 percent essential oils, Taylor says. These oils can be distilled from flower petals, compressed from tree bark or even taken from the skin of fruit.
Better yet, Taylor says the benefits of these essential oils are proven to improve a person’s overall well-being.
“Change for a person tends to come from within, and as a spa supporting individuals seeking a more relaxed and connected experience, we believe that aromatherapy is a great way to go about that change,” she says.
This isn’t an ordinary massage and is not for the faint of heart. Because the essential oils are so potent, Taylor says some people may be too sensitive for this treatment. It’s also advised that pregnant women shouldn’t try the AromaDetox because of the increase in circulation. For those guests, the spa is happy to offer many other services.
www.yourwalden.com/spa-walden/
Akron Skin Center
Sciton Skin Resurfacing
The Akron Skin Center now offers the Sciton skin resurfacing procedure which can reverse the effects of sun damage and environmental pollutants. A laser beam removes a layer of damaged skin, and the body naturally replaces it with a fresh, healthy layer. Treatments range from shallow (for fine lines, sun spots and tired-looking skin) to deep (to improve skin tone/texture and eliminate wrinkles).
The Spa at Glenmoor
Warm Stone Waterfall Massage (Starts at $120)
For this body treatment, The Spa at Glenmoor guarantees “a sensory journey like no other,” while your therapist gives you the ultimate massage treatment and allows the water to fall from the Vichy shower.
Cindy Mitchell, spa director of The Spa at Glenmoor, says this treatment is different because clients can relax on a table while the Vichy shower is suspended above. The shower has seven different shower heads, which allow the therapist to adjust the water pressure.
“The benefit to a Vichy shower is the gentleness of the water and also being able to be alone and just massaged by the water, if that is what you prefer,” she says.
The best part of this treatment, Mitchell says, is that the massage is customized to meet each client’s needs. Consulting with the client first and combining the right oils are two of the key components to the massage.
“Oils are all about the sensory pleasure,” she says. “Our most popular massage is probably the Raindrop Oil Therapy, designed to bring balance to the body and spirit.”
Mitchell also recommends including warm stones as part of this treatment to release tension from muscles and induce relaxation to the trouble areas.
/ Writer Samara Sands recently graduated from KSU with a bachelor’s in newspaper journalism.
Comments? Email them tomanaging editor Abby Cymerman atacymerman@bakermediagroup.com.