A hectic day… stress… demands… a “to do” list with no end in sight…

An escape… this cozy, 19th century home turned day spa offers affordable, holistic services to pamper you through your lunch hour, perk you up on your way home, or fulfill your desire to spend quality time with friends. Essentials Healing Spa in Rocky River offers a menu of services that allows you to immerse yourself in an indulgent world without injuring your pocketbook.

As one of the oldest houses in the area, Essentials Healing Spa looks remarkably similar to the one in the framed black and white photo from the home's original owners. Even the lace curtains that now flutter in the windows of the cozy tearoom on the second floor match those in the old photo. The tearoom offers a comfortable place for consultations, as well as an area to meet with friends when arriving for a “spa day” together. This upper level also offers a massage area and sitting area. Decorated throughout in peach due to the color's soothing qualities, the downstairs level has a homey retail area and a relaxing facial room with a decorative arch extending above the client's head.

Michele Blair, owner and certified esthetician, presents a holistic approach to skin care because she recognizes the elements necessary in achieving healthy, happy skin. Michele attributes her appreciation for the fundamentals of skin care to her childhood experiences growing up in London. Noting that there is a much greater emphasis on skin care there, she explained that she regularly gave herself facials beginning at the age of ten.

Michele promotes long-term solutions to reveal the natural splendor of the skin, allowing inner beauty to shine forth. By addressing skin care problems rather than dealing with symptoms, she encourages the skin to achieve balance and harmony. She stimulates the skin so that it can better take care of itself and overcome its weaknesses. Many of her gentle, effective products are handmade, natural soaps and botanical products from local vendors. None of the products contain harsh chemicals, mineral oils or petroleum. She is additionally careful to avoid any products tested on animals.

Sensitive to those with limited budgets and time, Michele offers an array of ten-minute treatments at an affordable price of ten dollars and under. Her spa menu describes a Hand Salt Scrub ($8) that exfoliates dry, dead skin on the hands, a Mud Foot Soak ($8) where warm mud is applied to the feet, and a Facial Mud Mask ($8) for improving the texture and tone of the skin. Michele remarked, “A lot of people combine two or three treatments to get our full length spa services.” In addition, the spa has a whole menu under $30 that includes the Mud Back Treatment, appealing to men because it incorporates massage, and the Pumpkin Facial which banishes dull, dry skin with the delicious aroma of the fall season. The most popular package is the Happy Hour ($40), which combines the Perk-Up Facial, Paraffin Dip, and a Chair Massage. Michele also offers a host of other relaxation treatments, including Deep Tissue, CranioSacral, Sports, and Hot Stone Massage, and also Reiki.

Because the skin reflects and reacts to your entire being – physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual – Essentials Healing Spa also holds classes on aromatherapy, yoga, meditation, and holistic skin care. These classes offer the opportunity to learn how to effectively take care of your skin between facials, as well as the importance of eating well, exercising regularly, sleeping adequately, and finding ways to alleviate stress. As the body's largest organ of perception, skin reflects this healthy lifestyle.

Carol's Spa Experience: Aromatherapy Facial & Relaxation Massage
Michele began my aromatherapy facial by offering me the choice of different aromatherapy scents: one for relaxation, one for invigoration, one to strengthen the immune system. Choosing the latter, I asked her the difference between this type of facial and one I would receive at a more conventional spa. “The main difference between the holistic facials and other facials is the natural, non-toxic products that are used. Also, it's not just about skin care but about stress reduction and relaxation. We use a lot ot just about skin care but about stress reduction and relaxation. We use a lot of aromatherapy tailored to the individual clients' needs as well as massage,” explained Michele.

I was at first wary of receiving my facial because of previous bad experiences where my skin was burned. But this treatment was completely different! It was gentle, soothing, and I felt a wave of calm permeate my entire body. Michele massaged my face, she explained, to relax my muscles and increase circulation to give me a brighter and clearer complexion. Even my feet were massaged. My skin looked, felt… and smelled like a newborn baby. I highly recommend the Aromatherapy Facial!

I was then led upstairs where massage therapist Toby Booth gave me a soothing relaxation massage. It was a perfect combination of a nurturing gentle touch and a deeper touch that worked my muscles. I enjoyed it thoroughly and would highly recommend combining his massage with a facial.

Maggie's Spa Experience: Reiki & Perk-Up Facial with an Eye Treatment
I found my first ever Reiki encounter both relaxing and relieving. Toby began by discussing my particular pains and problems. Discovering that my right arm gives me chronic pain, he began there and returned to it multiple times during the session. An amazing warmth flowed through his hands as he explained to me that he has been trained as a Reiki master to channel the energies of the Universe for the purpose of comforting and healing. Moving from area to area of my body, his hands would either hover over me or be placed directly on me as the playing of gentle flute music and the aroma of lavender calmed me. By the end of the session, my mind was tranquil and the aching in my arm had dissipated.

Arriving downstairs, Michele asked me a series of questions about my skin type and current skin care in order to appropriately match the products. As I settled into the lavender-scented facial bed, Michele explained that she was going to allow me to experience the popular Perk-Up Facial as well as an Eye Treatment. To my delight, I soon discovered that the term “facial” was somewhat misleading since the treatment included a full shoulder and neck massage. Throughout the facial, Michele applied soothing, scented, steamed towels to my face, neck, and shoulders. A shorter facial than most others, the Perk-Up Facial still included all of the steps of a full length facial, which are cleansing, massaging, toning, steaming, and moisturizing.

I never knew how badly the area around my eyes needed a “treatment” until Michele began to gently press and rub there. She explained that the pressure point massage and lymphatic drainage techniques reduced puffiness and rejuvenated the eye area. I felt all stress and tension drain out of me as I melted into her skilled massage.

Michele happily and knowledgably answered many questions about my current skin program. Did she think that I was using quality products? What should I look for when I purchase products? How should I avoid buying harmful ones? She also gave me insight into the products that she chose for me: a tangerine, honey, and oatmeal cleanser to exfoliate and condition the skin; an orange and jasmine toner to refine (or close) pores, balance and soothe the skin; an herbal mask containing rosemary, yarrow, hops, fennel, aloe vera, and chamomile, excellent for sensitive skin; an oolong tea and carrot oil eye cream to deflate puffiness and smooth fine lines; and a tomato lotion for its superior moisturizing properties.

I recommend making an appointment for this relieving break from everyday life! The Perk-Up Facial, as promised, made my skin feel fresh and soft, and for the remainder of the day the calming aroma of chamomile lingered on my skin. Everyone should seek out the Eye Treatment, as it is a rare and delicious treat to have such a skilled massage in this delicate area.

Essentials Healing Spa, located at 1331 Linda Street in Rocky River, can be reached by calling (440)333-2615. You can also find them online at www.essentialshealingspa.myarbonne.com. They are open Wednesday through Friday from 11:30 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, and evening and Sunday hours are available by appointment. Photos by Bob Perkoski - www.Perkoski.com.