Learning Body Treatments

Question From Sandy -

I have been a massage therapist for six years and now am creating a day spa and want to learn how to do body treatmets and then train other therapists to do them. Our location does not have a shower facility so what companies sell bulk products for body wraps, scrubs etc. and also have training videos on how to perform these treatments.

Also do any of these companies offer organic, chemical free products?


Dear Sandy

First, you should check your state regulations to see if a massage therapist license will allow you to apply products to the body. Not all states allow this.

You can find products in the spa trade Products and Services Buyers Guide. If you are an ISPA member, you may also search their data base for a supplier.

There are many companies that produce organic or all natural products. One of my favorite companies is Hylunia. They do not have minimum orders, mandatory start up orders or some of the requirements that larger companies have. They also have an excellent retail line for home care. Their products are all natural and only the finest ingredients. When I started to use them, they came out for 2 days to train the staff and the local representative was fabulous.

I should caution you that doing body treatments without a shower is difficult. You did not mention if you have water in the rooms. Removal of a scrub, with hot towels or a spray bottle is not the most effective or comfortable way. That said, there are some treatments that can be done with these methods.

If you have never done body treatments before, you should see if your local massage school offers a spa treatment program which takes you through some of the basic body treatment procedures. Here in Arizona the Southwest institute of the Healing Arts has good Spa treatment courses. Here is their online site and spa treatment classes .

I would recommend either having training through a school or through the product manufacturer or distributor as opposed to a video, because practice does not make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect and you need someone to give you follow up and feedback on how you are doing and how it feels. Especially when you go to remove the product, the water on the client can cool them off quickly.

If you have an other questions, please call me at Spavelous.

Marie Bernat

Promotional Emails and News

I have been using Microsoft Entourage, basically Outlook for Mac to send out our promotional emails and news, but it only lets me send out 40 at a time, and most of the emails get sorted into our clients junk bins. I am looking for a great email marketing program that organizes my email database, produces great looking email templates and is preferably for Mac, but doesn't have to be, we have PCs too.

Any advice on programs out there?

Did you know that if you sign up for Spavelous. That we will put out your monthly newsletter for you, and send out emails for you when you want them to go out. Professional, Easy and only $500 a year!

You can sign up and review the programs at our marketing area. In addition, we will link to your website in our spa directory, the largest spa directory in the USA and list you in our National Spa Gift Certificate Directory with a link to where you sell your gift certificates at no additional cost. You can take a look at the newsletters that we put out for Spavelous "Now You Are in the Know"

Sign up to receive a copy weekly, here. For a sample of your e-newsletter, and eblast.

For more information, please contact us at Spavelous.

Opening Body Wrap Business

Question From TIA:

Do body wrapping? If so what kind of license is required?

I am considering opening my own body wrap business? I am in Indiana. Anyone know?

Dear TIA,

The requirements for body wraps vary by state. In most states you are either required to be a licensed Cosmetologist or a license massage therapist. You need to check with these two state boards to see which applies in your states.

The state laws are changing in Indiana as of July 1st,2007. As Indiana has a new license for massage therapists.

As far as I can see, a Licensed Cosmetologist may apply a body wrap as long as it is the application of product on the body and not used to treat disease. Here is the Code.

Indiana is currently becoming a licensed massage state. According to the American Massage Therapy Association of Indiana, effective July 1st of this year.

I would conclude that you need to be either a licensed massage therapist (as defined by the new law) or a licensed cosmetologist to perform these procedures. To be 100% accurate, you should contact the state board of Cosmetology the phone number is (317) 234-3031. I could only find an address for the State board of massage Professional Licensing Agency.

Attn: State Board of Massage Therapy
402 W Washington St, Room W072
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

I hope that this at least points you in the right direction.

Good Luck with your venture.

Spavelous

Esthetician License

Question From mlehmanusa …

I am looking at two different schools to get my master esthetician license — each is 1200 hours. One of the schools spends about 1/2 time in the classroom and 1/2 time performing services on clients. The other school spends about 1/4 time in the classroom and the rest performing services on clients.

Which is more important — emphasis on education or experience?

Dear mlehmanusa,

This question is not that easy to answer. When hiring an aesthetician, there is a combination of qualities that one looks for. Yes, there are some schools that produce a better caliber of aesthetician, but that is not the only criteria. When selecting a schools:

• Call local spa directors and ask them for their feedback on the schools and the caliber of staff that comes form the school.
• What is your learning style. Do you learn better from hands on or from books. You need to select a school that will provide you with the training that will best support your learning style.
• What products and procedures will the school be training you on. Is it state of the art products and procedures or are they old product lines or product lines that are not being used in the types of spas you would like to work in. A spa director will always give an edge to someone who has already worked with and is knowledgeable about the products they use.
  
  Of course, some qualities that I looked for in an aesthetician, did not come from the schools:
• Good professional appearance
• A passion for the job they do
• A positive attitude, smiles. Team player
• Great sales skills
• Proper etiquette, lets the guest walk into the room first, explains what will happen,
• Places the clients needs first and exceeds their expectations.
• A desire to learn more and looks for continuing educational opportunities
  
  The list of qualities is endless. Tap into your passion and you will be successful. When you are your best you cannot help but do your best.

Spavelous