The scent of lavender, vanilla or, perhaps, rosewood fills the room. The sounds of gentle waves and soft music linger in the background. Experienced hands massage the tension from your tight muscles. Your mind drifts to a tranquil place. Your body begins to relax, from head to toe. Ah, pampering. We all need it. We all like it. And many of us – not just people of wealth – are treating ourselves to the escape from demanding routines offered by day spas, which are growing in number in the Lewiston-Auburn area.
“There is definitely a need out there, says Ron Kyllonen, owner of Sarah Jeanne’s Salon and Spa in Lewiston. “Not everyone can just jump on a plane and go to Florida. But anyone can come here to relax.”
This demand for services was clear to Jennifer Gay, who opened Auburn’s Paradise Salon and Spa almost a year ago. “When we talked to people before we opened, we discovered that many who wanted these services were driving down to Portland for them. They were not only driving all those miles, but spending a lot of money for the services. Now, they have options that are right in town.”
Local day spa services and treatments start between $30 and $45, and can be more than $100.
Atmosphere helps
“Someone can come in every six or so weeks and for the price of a nice dinner out be totally pampered,” says Kyllonen. “It really can be an alternative to a vacation – in just one day. That’s worth the money, to feel that way at the end of the day.”
It’s all about the atmosphere created in the day spa, stresses Sue Charest, owner of Cloud 9 Day Spa and Wellness Center in Lewiston. “We want to create a warm and inviting environment. When a client walks in, we want them to shut out the outside world – all the noise – for a while.”
Many day spas create atmosphere with lighting, fragrances and music, as well as their basic layout and decor. Whether a day spa focuses on a luxurious style or a more “at home” feeling, it’s all about capturing a mood and making the client feel as though he or she has stepped out of the craziness of everyday life.
But as important as atmosphere is, services are the heart and soul of a day spa. More and more, spas are focusing not only on pampering but on the overall well-being of a client.
“If people take care of themselves, they are just happier. And, if they are happier, they feel better about themselves. That carries over to their daily lives,” says Diane Dubois, owner of Cassiel’s Skin Care in Lewiston.
Getting rid of stress
Body treatments such as massage, facials, body wraps and other cleansing procedures can significantly improve how a person looks and feels, physically and mentally, on a day-to-day basis. Many day spas offer a variety of packages that combine services: massage, skin care, pedicures and manicures. Some have specialized treatments for moms-to-be and teens.
“Stress reduction and increased circulation are two of the immediate benefits of massage,” says Tarnya Constantino, a licensed massage therapist at Cloud 9 Day Spa and Wellness Center. “Manipulation of the muscles helps to decrease toxins and improves the lymphatic system. So, of course there’s the benefit of relaxation during a massage, but the body continues to work afterwards, having longer lasting and beneficial effects even afterwards.”
Skin-care treatments can also have health benefits. “Many people in this area have dry skin from the weather,” says Sonali Sahni, an esthetician at Sarah Jeanne’s Salon and Spa. “With a facial or a full body treatment, I can exfoliate, or remove, the dead skin that is there. Once the dead skin is gone, the skin is healthier. It looks and feels great. It truly is an investment in one’s self, body and spirit,”
Valerie Kelshaw of Cassiel’s Skin Care in Lewiston believes that while the public is becoming more aware of the importance of good skin care, there are still some important messages to get out there.
“We all hear about the damage the sun can do. But everyone has a different need when it comes to their skin. I treat all kinds of skin conditions: sun damage, acne and evidence of aging. When a client comes in, many don’t know what the best treatment is to have. As an esthetician, it is my job to know. Do they have sensitive skin, oily skin or dry skin? We do an evaluation and we go from there.”
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