Spa Therapies
A Powerful Synergy for Your Practice
By Anne Williams
With a minimum of equipment and a light sprinkling of creativity, massage therapists can offer a variety of spa treatments in their private practice and create new wellness opportunities for clients. Spa treatments and massage share powerful links that provide synergetic benefits for the body, mind, and spirit. Seaweed, for example, stimulates circulation and lymph flow, and supports the detoxification processes of the body. Therapeutic mud like Dead Sea mud and Moor mud, have proven anti-inflammatory properties. They are used in Europe to treat arthritis and other musculoskeletal disorders. Services designed to incorporate natural products with massage boost the results experienced in the session and allow clients to enjoy spa elements without giving up their massage.
Adding spa treatments to a massage practice also has benefits for the therapist. First, it helps protect the hands and body from repetitive stress, as many spa treatments are less taxing to deliver than a full-body massage. This allows therapists to offer more sessions in a day and increase their income with less repetitive effort. Therapists can usually charge more money for the same amount of treatment time and sell spa-related retail items to generate a second income stream for the business. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, spa treatments are fun. They provide a creative outlet that alleviates burnout and boredom, feeding the therapist’s spirit.
Creative therapists can think up many ways to incorporate spa into their practices. This article provides the steps for a massage-oriented salt/sugar glow, back treatment, and foot treatment. These treatments are described and presented in a fun and functional menu that therapists can adopt or modify for their practice. Support materials including recipes for in-house products are available at www.massageandbodywork.com.
The Salt/Sugar Glow
The glow described here is not traditional in its approach, but quickly gains popularity with clients, as it is applied as part of a full-body massage. In this treatment, salt or sugar is rubbed on the body to stimulate circulation and lymph flow, decrease stress, and revitalize energy levels. Glows should not be applied to clients with broken skin, chronic skin conditions, sunburn, sensitive skin, or any condition that is contraindicated for massage. Sea salt, mineral salts (i.e., Epson), table sugar, and brown sugar can be used in this treatment. Table salt should be avoided due to its high chlorine content, which may cause skin irritation.
Procedure
The client lies on a towel placed over the bottom massage sheet and is draped with a top sheet and another towel. On the worktable, place dry sea salt or sugar in a cheese shaker, massage oil, aloe vera gel, a body mist, a bowl of warm water, and a small soda cooler with hot moist hand towels. To prepare the towels, pull off all the tags, fold the towels in half (the long way), roll them up like a sausage, and place them in the cooler. Pour very hot water over the towels so that they are moist but not dripping wet, and close the cooler lid to trap the heat. Three to five drops of essential oil can be added to the soda cooler full of towels. As each towel is removed, it will fill the treatment room with a refreshing scent. Respiratory oils such as eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), common sage (Salvia officinalis), Spanish sage (Salvia lavandulifolia), and lemon oil (Citrus x limon) smell especially good on hot towels.
Essential oils have physiological and psychological benefits and can be used to create unique smell-scapes that add an olfactory interest to any treatment. Different aromatherapy blends might be added to the massage oil, aloe gel, hot steamy towels, and body mist. As each product is used in turn, the aromas change, creating a shifting scent melody that captivates the client’s olfactory senses.
Session
Massage. Start the session with the client bolstered in a prone position. Undrape the first leg, and apply massage oil with a full range of massage strokes.
Apply salt/sugar. Lightly sprinkle salt or sugar onto the area from the cheese shaker after making sure the body area is well lubricated. The texture of the sprinkled salt/sugar feels like light rain, but be careful not to sprinkle too much, as a small amount gives the best results. Also, be careful not to get the salt/sugar all over the massage table when sprinkling. Work the salt/sugar across the surface of the skin with gentle circular strokes. Massage therapists often use too much pressure, as they are used to working into the muscle rather than keeping the strokes superficial. With coarse products like salt, this can cause some discomfort to the client, so check regularly if the client is happy with the depth and sensation of the application. To protect the skin, keep the salt/sugar application short. As soon as the skin starts to turn pink (about two or three minutes), finish the salt/sugar step.
Removal. Remove a towel from the soda cooler, holding it by the edges, as it will be hot. Let it cool slightly, and place it on the proximal portion of the body area. Allow it to sit on the area to steam the skin for about ten seconds. Place both hands on the towel and pull it toward the distal portion of the area to remove the salt/sugar. Turn the towel over and use the clean side to make another sweep.
Aloe gel. Blot the skin with a dry hand towel and apply a light layer of aloe gel, which feels velvety and cooling. Re-drape the area and move on to the other leg, and then to the back. Turn the client and repeat the application steps on the anterior legs and feet, the belly and upper chest (use a breast drape), and the arms. Do not apply salt or sugar to the face.
Session end. Once each area has been treated, massage the client’s neck and face, and end the session with a moist, steamy towel on the face or an aroma mist (twelve drops of essential oil to every ounce of water in a small bottle with a spray top—shake first).
Spa Back Treatments
Depending on the type of product used for the service, spa back treatments are effective for back pain, tense muscles, and low energy levels. They provide a uniquely relaxing textural
experience for the client. Back treatments are contraindicated when there is broken skin on the back, any condition that prevents the client from sensing hot or
cold temperatures, or with any condition contraindicated for massage.
Product Choices
Fango. Fangotherapy is the use of mud, peat, and clay for healing purposes. Each of these materials has its own special properties, but in general, fango products hold heat and so are useful for chronic conditions. Some types of fango also have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties that make them useful for soft-tissue injury. Popular fango products include Sedona mud, Dead Sea mud, Moor mud, marine fango, and kaolin clay. The sensation of being covered in thick warm mud is a unique experience for clients and so services featuring fango are a regular and popular item on spa menus. Apply fango at a temperature of 110°F–115°F.
Parafango. Parafango is a combination of fango (mud) and paraffin with different melting points. It is heated and applied with a brush, or it is poured into forms to make large body packs. Parafango has been used successfully for treating such conditions as osteoarthritis, chronic conditions, muscular spasm, and scleroderma. Apply parafango at a temperature of 122°F.
Seaweed. Empirical evidence, clinical studies, and research suggests that seaweed treatments can be used to support endocrine balance, aid detoxification and the elimination of excess fluid in body tissue, as well as decrease the symptoms of fibromyalgia and muscular pain, stimulate circulation and lymph flow, boost general immunity, boost energy, and decrease stress. Do not use a seaweed product on clients with thyroid disorders, or on those who have shellfish or iodine allergies. Apply seaweed products at a temperature of 104°F.
Cryogenic products. Cryogenic products are often composed of a kaolin clay base with menthol as the active ingredient. Menthol increases peripheral circulation and affects cold receptors in the skin, resulting in a cooling sensation. Menthol also has a numbing, pain-relieving action that is indicated for use on stiff or sore muscles. Cryogenic products are usually applied at room temperature. They should only be used for spot treatment, as they may make a client uncomfortably cold.
Session
The massage table is set up in the same way as for the salt/sugar glow. In this case, the worktable holds foaming body wash; two soft puffs or loofah pads; a bowl of warm water; massage oil/cream; the desired product (fango, seaweed, etc.) warming in a hot water bath; vinyl gloves; a soda cooler containing hot, moist towels; a finishing product (gel, lotion); and a piece of plastic body wrap cut so that it is big enough to cover the back.
Exfoliate. Begin the treatment with the client in the prone position and bolstered for massage. First, place two hot, moist towels on the back to steam the area and warm the tissue. Apply a small amount of body wash to the back, moisten it with warm water, and work it over the back with loofahs. Remove the body wash with one hot moist towel.
Massage the back. Massage the back with a variety of techniques for ten to twenty minutes, depending on the time available for the treatment.
Product application. Check the temperature of the product with a latte thermometer. Apply a thick layer of the warm product to the back with a brush, or massage it onto the back while wearing vinyl gloves. Cover the product with the pre-cut piece of plastic body wrap and then place an insulating blanket and warm pack on top.
Process. Massage the posterior legs and feet while the back is left to “process” in the treatment product.
Product removal. After ten to fifteen minutes, remove the product with the plastic body wrap and then clean the back with hot moist towels. Apply a finishing product that is appropriate for the treatment’s goals. For example, a sore muscle treatment might end with a tingly fitness gel that contains pain reliving camphor or peppermint.
Session end. Turn the client into the supine position for a neck, shoulder, and face massage. Finish the service with an aroma mist.
Spa Foot Treatments
While massage therapists cannot provide nail care or services aimed at improving the appearance of the feet (pedicures), they can mix and match different treatment elements to create enjoyable services that quickly gain popularity with clients. These treatments aim to decrease foot pain, revitalize tired feet, and enhance relaxation. Pitted edema, broken bones or fractures, infections, ingrown toenails, painful corns, gout, warts, athlete’s foot, neuropathy, or circulatory conditions are all contraindications.
Session
The massage table is set up with a bath towel placed horizontally at the bottom of the table. A foot soak container is placed in front of a comfortable chair, on top of a hand towel. It is filled with warm water and a soaking additive like powdered milk, three drops of essential oil, or bubble bath. Place a body scrub product, massage cream, petroleum jelly, treatment product (products used for the back treatment can also be used for the foot treatment), application brush, cellophane wrap, and soda cooler with hot moist towels on the worktable.
Session start. The client begins the session dressed in a robe and seated in a comfortable chair with the feet in a decorative container filled with warm water and a soaking additive. While the client is soaking the feet, it is nice to provide a neck and shoulder massage. Cleanse the feet by pulling them out of the soak and rubbing them with the body scrub product. Dry the feet and move the client to the treatment table in the supine position with the feet at the end of the table.
Foot massage. Before the massage, a hot pack can be placed across the drape over the client’s belly for warmth and an eye pillow can be placed over the eyes to shut out light. The type of massage that is given during a foot treatment will depend on the therapist, but reflexology techniques can be used to enhance the session. The lower legs, upper anterior leg, arms, and hands can also be massaged as part of the service.
Application of a treatment product. Fill in the space between the nail and flesh at the tip of each toe with petroleum jelly so that the treatment product does not make the toenails appear dirty at the end of the service. A piece of cellophane is placed under each foot before the treatment product is applied. Lift the first foot by holding onto the ball of the foot with one hand. Apply the product underneath the heel with a brush using the other hand. After covering the heel, put the foot back down on the cellophane and cover the upper part of the foot with the product. Bring the cellophane up and around each foot so that it completely covers the treatment product, and slip the feet into thermal booties or warm towels before leaving them to “process” for up to fifteen minutes.
Process. While the feet are processing in the treatment product, the face, arms, and hands can be massaged. Remember to decontaminate the hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before moving from the feet to the face.
Product removal and session end. As the cellophane is pulled off each foot, use it to remove as much of the treatment product as possible. The feet can either be rinsed off in a basin of warm water, or the remaining treatment product can be removed with hot moist towels. Flushing strokes are used to encourage circulation so that the limbs do not feel heavy from the thermal booties. A lotion, gel, or powder can be used for the finishing step of the treatment. An aroma mist is spritzed in a high arch over the client to signal the end of the session.
Spa Selections
Play with products, and practice on friends and family members until treatment steps are fluid. Create a menu of services to highlight the spa selections and offer spa gift certificates. Think about the ambiance of the treatment room and add relaxing and luxurious extras whenever possible (i.e., warm packs, paraffin dips, aromatherapy, steamy towels, etc.). Most importantly, tap into your creativity, be safe, and have fun. The sample spa menu provided on page 25 might help to get you started. Remember, additional support material for this menu is available at www.massageandbodywork.com.
Anne Williams is a licensed massage therapist, esthetician, aromatherapist, reflexologist, registered counselor, educator, and author. The work outlined in this article and the images are adapted from portions of the author’s textbook, Spa Bodywork:
A Guide for Massage Therapists (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007). Williams is also the education program director for Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals. She can be reached at anne@spabodywork.com.
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