Most of the United States reverts to standard time this weekend, and kids are getting ready to go trick-or-treating. Believe it or not, autumn has definitely arrived—and the holidays aren’t too far off.

The V Spa at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas just rolled out its seasonal menu of fall-flavored treatments, which will be available through Nov. 30. These scents and textures may inspire your own offerings:

• Cranberry Scrub and Body Mask with Holiday Spice Massage (80 min./$195)
• Spiced Hot Stone Massage (50 or 80 min./$115 or $185): Cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, ginger and pepper provide the special twist to this classic treatment.
• Cranberry Pumpkin Facial (50 min./$125): Vitamins A, C and zinc in pumpkin provide hydration, while cranberry supplies antioxidants.
• Cinnamon Apple Manicure (50 min./$50) and Pedicure (50 or 80 min./$50 or $85): Clients receive hot cider with a cinnamon stick to enjoy while their skin drinks in apple’s antiaging, brightening properties.

V Spa has also mixed up its own Homemade Pumpkin Pie Face Mask recipe so clients can keep benefiting from the gourd’s nutrients between visits:

2 tsp. canned pumpkin
½ tsp. honey
½ tsp. regular or soy milk

Combine the ingredients and apply the mixture to the client’s face. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, and then rinse it off with warm water.

Whatever autumn themes you incorporate, remember to take the cooler weather into consideration. Provide clients with treatments and retail items that will protect delicate skin from harsh elements and see them through until spring has sprung.

Look for more seasonal treatments in the December issue of DAYSPA!

I recently completed my first half-marathon in San Diego. The sense of accomplishment was amazing, but the training involved sure took its toll on my body. On the advice of just about every spa therapist I spoke to about it, I went in for regular massages before and after the race, and gave my feet a much-needed treat once the pavement-pounding was done.

Treatment room at Dtox Day Spa.

A month into training, I visited Dtox Day Spa in Atwater Village, California, for a Custom Sports Massage (80 min./$150). Owner Cary Mock suggested the longer duration to allow my therapist to get down and dirty with the painful lactic acid coursing through my strained muscles. The therapist, Julian, went to work, utilizing Swedish, shiatsu and hot-stone techniques to relax the knots in my neck and back (an unexpected side-effect of mostly lower-body workouts) and strengthen the muscles in my legs. The first 30 minutes were painful (as I expected they would be), the next 30 were therapeutic. That bonus 20 minutes were pure bliss.

During my next training run, I felt stronger than ever.

On race day, everything seemed to go by so quickly, despite the fact that I was up at 4 a.m., running by 7 a.m. and crossing the finish line shortly after 9 a.m.

Relaxation lounge at Spa Velia.

Immediately following the race, I felt invigorated and strong: I thought, “I ran 13.2 miles before breakfast! What else do you have for me, world?” The answer: pain. Once I showered, changed and settled into the car for the trip home, every muscle in my body seemed to be dialing 911. A stop at Spa Velia in downtown San Diego was just what the doctor ordered. The facility’s signature Aromatherapy Massage (60 min./$150) turned out to be a perfect combination of soothing strokes and therapeutic pressure to loosen up my muscles and allow for a speedier recovery.

A trip to the eucalyptus steam room and a catnap in the charming, blissfully dark-and-quiet relaxation room allowed me to recharge. When I woke, a buffet of fruit, trail mix and assorted teas gave me the energy I needed for the three-hour drive home.

Post-pedi at ROB|B Salon

A few days after the race, my feet still suffered. Not only were they sore and slightly swollen from the experience, but my toenails screamed for a makeover. The good folks at ROB|B OPI Concept Salon in Studio City, California, hooked up my hoofers with an Ultimate Spa Pedicure (60 min./$70) in one of their private pedicure suites. As soothing scenes from nature played on the flat-screen T.V., my talented pedicurist went to work sloughing calluses with pineapple foot scrub and rubbing my feet with mango butter lotion. The massage-equipped pedi-throne and complimentary herbal tea turned my relaxation levels up to 11.

Your clients needn’t be running an all-day race to benefit from regular results-oriented massage. Suggest to them a routine of body maintenance for a healthier, stronger body. The gift of well-being is better than any medal. —H.W. Rudúlph

DAYSPA has added a new category to its annual DAYSPA Top Honors feature. We’re now looking for Top Website. Please submit your nominations according to the following guidelines:

DAYSPA Top Website: An online home for a spa that serves as an extension of the business. It should fully explain the spa’s mission and treatments, as well as add to the overall guest experience. The winning website will have as many of the following features as possible:

• Online booking
• Virtual spa tour
• Photo gallery
• Complete spa menu and description of services
• Clean, easy-to-navigate design
• FAQs about spa etiquette, special protocols, etc.

REQUIRED INFORMATION

• Website URL
• Business name
• Business owner’s name
• Business description and history
• References
• Service menu
• Images

ALL NOMINATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6. The winner will be announced at dayspamagazine.com by January 1, 2010. Please email nominations and all required information to executive editor Rhonda J. Wilson at rwilson@creativeage.com.

Thanks!

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is nearing an end. The month of October has given spas and manufacturers across the country an opportunity to raise awareness for the deadly disease, but the activism doesn’t have to stop now. Take a cue from these members of the International Spa Association (ISPA) who raised awareness and funds for cancer this month, and apply their efforts to your own charitable goals throughout 2010—whether they involve breast cancer or another worthy cause.

• Gene Juarez Salons & Spas in Bellevue, Washington, provided free mammograms every Tuesday during the month of October with the help of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Participants also received foot treatments and goodie bags full of skincare products.
• Spa Gregorie’s, which has locations in the Southern California cities of Del Mar, Newport Beach and Rancho Santa Margarita, sent massage therapists into local hospitals to provide hand and foot massages to cancer patients during their treatments. This Chemo Comfort program was accompanied by Oncology Massage training for therapists.
• The Spa at Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina, held a special Breast Cancer Awareness Day in October during which survivors received free treatments. They could also bring along a “breast friendâ€� for a 50% discount. Additionally, the spa hosted free cancer screenings and workshops.

In case you haven’t noticed, horror characters—especially vampires—are in. And this week is the perfect time to get in on the trend by showcasing Halloween promotions that focus on blood, witches and all-things ghoulish. Here’s how two spas are scaring up new clients:

October is “Scare Your Wrinkles Away” month at Genesis MedSpa in Colorado Springs, Colorado. During this time, clients are offered discounts on popular services—such as Wrinkle-Free Fridays, with Botox Cosmetic going for $12 per unit and Juvederm for a $50 discount. Or they’re encouraged to try a new service with the promise of an unbeatable perk. With the purchase of a new Pearl Fractional Laser treatment, guests receive a free Skin Fitness Membership, a $396 value.

“We look at our biggest demand, which is the injectables,” says Genesis’ Michele Pribble. “We try to bring back old customers and reward those current clients with these clever promotions.”

ROB|B Salon in Studio City, California, is taking a cue from vampires to market the macabre. Its Immortal Facial (50 min./$130) uses purified hemoglobin, the red protein found in Dracula’s favorite drink. Massaged into the skin, it delivers oxygen quickly and effectively, killing free radicals and bacteria, according to spa manager Toni Ciaravino.

Then, a custom solution—containing actives such as hydrogen peroxide, and salicylic, glycolic and lactic acid, is applied to the face to promote healing and reinvigorate stressed cells. The final step includes a microneedle roller, which helps products penetrate. “With the blood and the needles, it’s the perfect treatment to promote this time of year,” Ciaravino says.

Many people in Florida—natives and tourists alike—probably consume a decent amount of salt while spending time on the state’s popular beaches. A new facility in the Sunshine State now provides visitors with the same experience—but with a healing purpose in mind. The Salt Cave, which just opened in Naples, Florida, promotes the practice of halotherapy—the use of salt in holistic treatments for the body.
Owner and founder Andrea Geresdi brought the idea to Naples from her native Hungary, which is one of several European countries that uses salt to ease conditions such as arthritis, asthma and gout. Salt can also treat sleep problems and low libido. “I was born and raised in Budapest, where salt caves are more common,� Geresdi says. “Looking back at the warm, healing memories I have of visiting salt caves there inspired me to bring this experience to southwest Florida.�
The Salt Cave incorporates the treatment just as the business’ name suggests it might—the facility’s traditional storefront belies caverns in which the walls and ceilings are covered with pink Himalayan crystal salt. The material, specially brought to Florida for this purpose, is also displayed in wooden crates.
Guests simply sit on comfortable chairs within the dry grottoes, listening to soothing music and breathing in a salt-infused airflow that’s been customized to resemble the environment within a true salt cave. There’s also an area for children to gather.
Despite this unusual setup—The Salt Cave is one of the first centers of its kind in the United States—Floridians seem ready to further up their sodium intake in the name of health. “The warm reception from the community has exceeded my expectations,� Geresdi says.

In a month when Americans pause to reflect on and give thanks for the blessings in their lives, the staff members at Blu Water Day Spa in Kensington, Maryland, are taking it a step further. On November 15, owner Julie Nguyen (far left) and vice president Teresa Hinton will cap off a week-long donation drive at their facility by hosting a Day of Service. The proceeds from every spa service performed between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. that day will be donated to the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless (MCCH), the same agency that will benefit from the donation drive. Clients who participate will be entered into a raffle drawing, with prizes offered by Blu Water and other nearby businesses.

This is one in a series of charitable moves by Blu Water, which received the Day Spa Association’s 2009 Spa Philanthropist Award. “Our community has been hit hard by the current economic times. Many of those affected, including children, have nowhere to call home, no food and need our assistance,� Hinton says. “With the immense client support in response to this cause, we’re both grateful and honored to be able to assist those who are struggling to make a life for themselves.�

Blu Water’s website is currently accepting reservations for the special services on November 15, and it will also host MCCH’s wish list for donated goods.

You certainly rely on your clients to spread good tidings about your treatments. Maybe spending a lot of money on advertising isn’t even necessary because of them. But how many go on national television to sing your praises? That’s what happened on a recent episode of Live! with Regis and Kelly, when guest host Jeff Probst publicly announced his affection for Murad.
The current season of Probst’s show, Survivor, is filming on the sun-soaked island of Samoa. Prior to winning an Emmy for Outstanding Host for a Reality Show or Competition at the 61st Annual Prime Time Emmy Awards on September 20, Probst flew from there to Los Angeles. As he explained to Live cohost Kelly Ripa (and the entire television audience), he immediately went to the Murad Inclusive Health Spa in El Segundo, California (conveniently close to LAX), where Howard Murad, M.D. “removed all of my sun damage.â€�
Fresh from the airport, Probst received one of Murad’s proprietary chemical peels as preparation for Emmy night. He also totes the company’s Essential-C Daily Renewal Complex with him during filming in Survivor’s various exotic locales to protect his skin from the rugged conditions.
Other Emmy-winning Murad fans include Toni Collette and Kristin Chenoweth, who won Outstanding Lead Actress and Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, respectively. Collette was honored for her work on United States of Tara, and Chenoweth earned her Emmy on Pushing Daisies.

Avoid a sink-or-swim situation at your day spa by anticipating—
and meeting—the needs of your clients.

Ever try to squeeze a square peg into a round hole? Every day, I receive random emails pitching story ideas that don’t fit the editorial needs of DAYSPA. Here are several from the last month: “How Near-Death Experiences Rewire Your Brain�; “The Ultimate Street-Smarts Guide to Business in China�; “How to Beat Alcoholism�; “Overcoming Primordial Fears of the Ocean� and “Do Police Officers Get Help From Supernatural Sources?�

My personal favorite: “Captain Tom Williams is an expert speaker on shipwrecks. Tom has a lot of information to offer your publication about sunken treasure ships. Please let me know if you’re interested in interviewing the captain.�

If I had any spare time on my hands, I may have followed up on that one. Since the captain has firsthand knowledge about precious stones, perhaps he could’ve commented on the current trend in gem-based treatments at day spas.

How do these press releases find their way to DAYSPA? Not sure, but the misguided missives underscore a key point—know your market well. Let’s say your day spa is located in a community that embraces eco-friendly practices. It wouldn’t make sense to implement technologies that leave behind a large carbon footprint. For ideas on planting drought-resistant landscapes, harvesting rainwater and switching to low-flow showerheads without sacrificing treatment quality, read “Green Scene: Down to the Last Drop.�

Or suppose you have a fiftysomething client looking to address her changing skincare needs. You wouldn’t recommend a facial for oily skin. The effects of menopause on the dermis vary, but it’s usually considered a dry-skin condition. To learn more about hormonal deficits associated with menopause, see “Aging Gracefully.�

What about serving clients who suffer from eating disorders? Nutritional programs, healing touch therapies and holistic wellness approaches may resonate with them more than luxury services would. “DAYSPA Investigates: Hard to Swallow� shows you how to spot the warning signs of bulimia and anorexia—and provide a nurturing environment for clients and employees.

This fall, make sure your business strategies are in shipshape condition for the upcoming holiday season. The better you become at creating services that meet the needs of spa-goers, the more treasure you’ll find.

Rhonda J. Wilson,
Executive Editor, DAYSPA

I tend not to need a lot of accessories during my spa services; the fact that someone’s cleansing and kneading my troubles away is typically enough for complete relaxation. But I recently experienced a few new services that have convinced me to go with rockier add-ons in the future.

The first was the själ Blue Kashmir-Saphir Facial ($275/90 min.). It’s available at the Miami-based Delano Hotel and Mondrian, where it recently made its South Beach debut. I received my treatment at the Los Angeles outpost of the latter. The service was part of a press demonstration of the facial, which centers on själ skincare’s new gem-based products. They include a Pearl Enzyme Exfoliating Mask and the Kashmir Saphir Perfecting Mask.

Many of the products were massaged into my skin using rose quartz wands and other special gemstones intended to calm the dermis—and the spirit. Therapist Lorna Segarra, who’d been flown in from Miami for the event, placed stones on selected chakras while she worked, which increased the flow of energy throughout my body. I was practically putty in her hands when she applied eye cream, then lightly drew steel-gray stones over my closed lids and the area underneath my eyes. The rocks contained some kind of cooling element that provided a nice counterbalance to the warm room.

A week later, I underwent something similar yet completely different at Zen Spa in the L.A. suburb of Calabasas. There, lead massage therapist Patty Callahan treated me to the facility’s new Hot Stone Massage ($159/80 min.). The protocol is one that she created herself and patterned after Native American rituals. So instead of just receiving a regular or Swedish massage with hot stones as an add-on, the client experiences them as part of a holistic treatment.

Patty started by placing heated river rocks on the massage table—underneath two layers of towels for my comfort—and then guided me to lie back on them. That’s when I realized they were laid out in two nearly perfect lines on either side of my spine. We started in that unusual position while she placed stones along the chakras at my head, heart and stomach, as well as along my hips and feet. At one point, I practically felt like I was one with the massage table, with a weighty stone on my belly and Patty massaging my arms and legs with a lightly scented oil and warm rocks in her hands.

The second part of the service was even better. After a stressful week during which I’d strained something in my back, I turned over on the table and Patty went to work with her stones right where I needed them—and I nearly fell asleep. I left Zen Spa feeling like I was soaring, and while I was quickly brought back to earth fighting traffic on my way back into L.A., the effects lasted well into the evening.

There’s no arguing with the power of touch—we all know that hands and fingers can do some incredible things. But after these two spa treats, I’m ready to rock it out much more often.

—Allison Rost, DAYSPA associate editor