Oasis Physical Therapy is now offering massage therapy with licensed massage practitioner Shay Shapiro.

Shay has been practicing massage for three years and attended Spectrum Center School of Massage in 2006. In her practice, she utilizes her knowledge of soft-tissue injury clinical treatments, deep-tissue massage, myofascial release, and Swedish massage. Her massage therapy background includes working at a Bikram Yoga Studio located in Mount Vernon, a position as a lead massage therapist and trainer at Escape Day Spa, and extensive experience working with injury treatments.

Oasis Physical Therapy and Pilates is located at 301 West Holly St. in Bellingham in a shared Pilates studio with Esteem Pilate. It is owned by physical therapist Sidney Anderson.

For an appointment for massage therapy, contact Shay Shapiro at 820-0398 or for physical therapy services contact Oasis Physical Therapy and Pilates at 676-8077.

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Despite the tough times, many people are still finding a few dollars to spend on managing the stress the economy is creating for them.

A new spa technician certificate program at Horry-Georgetown Technical College is banking on a need for workers trained in the art of alleviating stress. With a handful of new spas opening or planned for the Grand Strand, and spa industry organizations reporting business is still strong, the program could be a safe bet for the college.

“We conducted a needs assessment and the department chair contacted local salons and spas and asked them their need for hiring individuals with knowledge of spa techniques. She talked with about 45 employers and they said they had a need for spa therapists who had training,” said Marilyn Fore, senior vice president for academic affairs at HGTC. “The other benefit for us is we can offer the training in a quick turnaround period and get people out into the work force.”
Spa Certification Program

The program, which started in January, was on a fast track. Fore said the process moved quickly because of demand from local spa owners, particularly from a new spa scheduled to open this month.

Cinzia Spa at North Beach will open in North Myrtle Beach in the next two weeks depending on permit approvals. Tammy Pahel, president of Spa Management Solutions, the company helping to open the spa, said she’s hired about a dozen workers, but more will be needed as summer rolls around. The company also hopes to open a smaller companion spa in Surfside Beach. Cinzia will have a spa, fitness center and wellness services from a dermatologist and a physician of Oriental medicine.

“So we definitely have a need for well-trained employees who are being taught to the five-star standard, and that’s why we wanted to work with the college to make this available,” she said.

Pahel contacted Donna Nathlar-Shirley, department chairwoman for health sciences at HGTC, and arranged to have the professors for classes focusing on spa techniques in massage, facials and aromatherapy trained by the companies that make the products the Cinzia spa will be using. The companies also agree to provide supplies for the classes to get the program started.

“I have nine students in it, and I have people calling and inquiring and waiting for us to offer it next fall. Spa owners are calling to see when I’ll have graduates. Grande Dunes is looking for our graduates. We have a lot of spas that are waiting for our graduates so they can hire them,” Nathlar-Shirley said. “The program is really an advanced training. Students are going to walk away with high customer service, high protocol routines, and consistency in techniques.”

In a year when most companies offering luxury services or goods are seeing cutbacks in customers, day spas have been seeing an increase in visitors, according to the International Spa Association.

“Spa visits are up; however, the amount people are spending is down. And that may be because we’re seeing many spas offering 30-minute treatments instead of your typical 60- or 90-minute massages and facials allowing people to de-stress and nurture themselves while still watching their budgets,” the association’s President Lynne McNees said.

The association’s statistics for 2007 and 2008 showed a 31 percent increase in all spa employees – more than 70,000 workers – and a 22 percent increase in full-time employees, about 26,000 workers.

Nathlar-Shirley said she has heard similar trends from local spa owners.

“I’ve been hearing that even if people aren’t taking those $1,000 trips to Vegas, they’re planning staycations and treating themselves to a $300 spa day instead. They’re scaling down with the economy,” she said. “I’ve heard from a couple of spa owners who are saying certain kinds of business are up, and that’s encouraging.”

Students enrolling in the program are required to be in one of the other degree programs such as cosmetology, esthetics or massage therapy, or already be licensed in one of those areas. The program then trains those students in five-star techniques, product usage and consistency of service. The program will be offered again this fall, and for as long as there is a demand, Fore said. 

By the numbers

Spas are still showing increases in use as folks seek a stress reliever amid today’s tough times.

Revenue

2006 | $9.4 billion

2007 | $10.9 billion

16 percent increase

Spa visits

2006 | 111 million

2007 | 138 million

25 percent increase

Locations

2007 | 14,615

2008 | 18,089

24 percent increase

Total employees

2007 | 232,673

2008 | 303,719

31 percent increase

Full-time

2007 | 117,067

2008 | 143,267

22 percent increase

Part-time

2007 | 73,076

2008 | 111,973

53 percent increase

Source: International Spa Association

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SANTA ANA For the first time in nearly two years, the city has agreed to allow more massage parlors to open.

But here’s the rub: new rules, new regulations and a city-run test for prospective masseuses.

The city blacklisted massage parlors in mid-2007 over concerns that they might operate as fronts for prostitution. At the time, the city was seeing a spike in massage-parlor applications and decided public health, safety and welfare demanded a freeze on such permits.

The City Council voted this week to relax the ban on new massage parlors. But council members also adopted new restrictions designed to give the city a greater say over the location and operation of massage parlors.

New parlors can only open in commercial areas, cannot be within 1,000 feet of other massage parlors or adult businesses and cannot stay open later than 10 p.m. Massage technicians will need either a city or a state license; and to get a city license, they’ll have to pass a city-sponsored test.

The new rules represent the first changes to the section of city code that deals with massage parlors since 1976. Other cities – including Anaheim and Orange – have also taken steps to update their massage regulations in recent years, according to a staff report given to Santa Ana council members.

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A longtime restriction on cross-gender massages in Clark County was rubbed out Tuesday.

County commissioners voted to rescind the rule that licensed massage therapists say lumped them with prostitutes and severely hampered their businesses.

The rule affected mainly lone therapists who do outcalls at homes and in hotel rooms. Casinos, spas and massage establishments were exempt.

Lifting the rule aligns the county with the cities. Last year, Las Vegas repealed its restriction on massages to the opposite sex. Henderson and North Las Vegas also allow cross-gender massages.

Those in the industry praised the action, saying that it creates a uniform code across the valley and that legitimate therapists are no longer treated as prostitutes.

Heather Mehudar, a massage therapist, said the rule made it difficult for her to survive in the tough economy.

“Ninety percent of the calls I get for my business are males,” she said, “so I’m turning away 90 percent of my calls.”

Commissioners also approved shifting responsibility for overseeing therapeutic massage to the state board. The county will issue business licenses to therapists and let the state handle code enforcement.

Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani proposed the policy changes after state officials told her the county overstepped its authority in limiting what therapists could do. She recalls trying to get the cross-gender rule repealed in 1991 but to no avail.

Having the state in charge of massage laws will make them consistent in every jurisdiction, Mehudar said.

One of her clients, Laura Stendel, who helps oversee a large massage staff, said the cross-gender law was stifling because most therapists are women and most men prefer to be massaged by women.

She never dared to break the rule, Stendel said, because undercover officers sometimes posed as customers. She blamed Nevada’s patchwork of legalized prostitution.

“It’s really only this complicated in Las Vegas,” she said.

Removing the cross-gender rule will simplify the profession and boost sales, said Becki Ortiz, a local therapist.

“In my neighborhood, I could massage the wife but not the husband,” Ortiz said. “Now I can do both.”

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How spas and massage therapists are surviving in a slow economy

SUMMIT COUNTY — With local business facing the rigors of a down economy, luxury services like massages are unquestionably taking a hit. Residents and visitors are cutting daily frills, but locals in the spa industry share how they’re making it — with positive attitudes, creative advertising and extra legwork.
Erik Ulstad and Ro Irwin-Mayberry, owners of Breck Massage in Breckenridge, consciously strive to reach new customers with volunteer activities and networking.

“As poor as the economy is, this year is better than last year,” Ulstad said. “With Ro and I working and doing community outreach efforts, we’re doing pretty well. It’s not as abundant as it could be, but we’re going to make it through the shoulder seasons.”

They’ve participated in seven volunteer chair massage activities this winter, including holiday parties and Nordic ski races. They’ve also worked at D’Vine Wine chair massage nights.

“A lot of times people view massages as a luxury,” Ulstad said. “But if you take care of your body before it breaks down, you’re going to be better off.”

Being loyal to locals, being proactive and treating them well is Breck Massage’s mantra.

“They are the heart and soul of our business,” Ulstad said.

According to Irwin-Mayberry, Breck Massage offers a “local love” package, offering deep discounts on massages for Summit County residents.

And they’re reaching out to the community by providing a chair-massage service.

“A lot of times people can still afford a chair massage for $1 minute,” Ulstad said. “They’re still able to unwind at less cost.”

Both massage therapists are letting their hands speak for themselves, and it’s working.

“Not on a scale that would represent what the economy was three years ago,” Ulstad said, “but we are seeing people coming in because of our outreach. … Like one in 10.”

Breck Massage is reaching out to the destination skier market as well. Ulstad said the business services locals and visitors equally.

To draw out-of-town customers, they’re trying to drive more traffic to their website .

“The thing that we’re doing is keeping our eye on the long term,” Ulstad said. “ … We’re having to work a lot smarter to get the bottom line, squeezing the most out of every opportunity. We’re making lemonade, if you will.”

Laura Eilers, massage therapist, esthetician and nail tech
Silverthorne massage therapist Laura Eilers is “making hay while the sun shines,” and if that means being available every day or night, that’s what she does. Eilers works six to seven days a week, traveling between spas in Vail and Keystone, and to private homes with her own business, ArohaYoga.com.

Locals definitely get breaks on services, especially if they’re looking to do long-term massage and Eilers travels to clients or provides services in her own home.

“It might be slow, but the focal point is on customer service because you can get customers to return,” Eilers said. “I’m doing everything — massage, nails and skin care.”

Eilers is currently employed at Cascade Resort’s Aria Spa in Vail and the Keystone Lodge and Spa. She’s also working on her yoga and Ashiatsu certifications, striving to be multi-faceted and thus more employable.

Staying positive and putting out a good vibe is important to business, and Eilers is focusing on being smart with her income and resources that are coming in.

“Reality may prove that I need to find an hourly position, especially when mud season begins, to supplement income,” she said and she’s looking at employment ads and networking for springtime jobs.

Karen Mapes, owner of Blue Sage Spa
Karen Mapes, owner of Blue Sage Spa in Breckenridge, guards her secrets to solvency well, but she did divulge this: “If you’re mediocre, you won’t survive. If you excel at customer service, if you’re excellent at what you do, you’ll survive.”

Mapes concedes that for lots of massage therapists, business is slower. But Blue Sage Spa is hanging tough and taking every opportunity to bolster business.

“I think some of my staff is getting creative with second jobs, and they’re really eager to work,” she said. “ … One thing I’ve learned this winter is that you can’t compare last year’s numbers to this year’s. It’s just not realistic.”

Mapes is also always on the lookout for free advertising. She even got involved with the Ullr Parade this winter because she knew the Travel Channel was coming.

“This is not the time to pull back on your advertising,” she said. “We’re hanging on, spending less and making smarter choices when we do spend.”

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SoMa massage is back!

A South of Market spa owner recently learned how it important it can be to have friends in City Hall.

Back in November, the city shut down Greg Griffin’s therapeutic massage treatments at The Barber Lounge on Folsom Street. It turned out that in the 1980s the city had banned massages in what it defines as SoMa due in part to concerns about sex in massage parlors and bath houses.

Fancy malls and large luxury hotels nearby have opened spas and they are allowed to offer massages because they aren’t technically located in SoMa. Griffin, who runs a chic salon with grooming services — including haircuts, facials and hot-towel shaves — felt like he was at an unfair disadvantage.

After eight e-mails and 10 phone calls to his area Supervisor Chris Daly with no luck, Griffin was at his wits end. Good thing one of his customers was City Treasurer Jose Cisneros. Cisneros went to his friend Supervisor Bevan Dufty, who then crafted some legislation that, in effect, lifts the ban.

“It was really lucky that I had connections at City Hall,” Griffin said. “As a regular Joe, forget about it. This city is really hard on small businesses.”

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North Carolina Adopts New Licensing Exam

The North Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy has voted to make the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) the only major test that will be accepted for regular licensure after Jan. 1, 2011.

The MBLEx is the exam created by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, and is gradually being used alongside or in place of the exams created by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork in states that regulate massage therapists.

“The decision by the North Carolina Board to adopt the MBLEx as their primary licensure examination has a combined beneficial
outcome for both the public in North Carolina and the profession as a whole,” FSMTB Executive Director Debra Persinger, Ph.D., told MASSAGE Magazine. “The FSMTB supports and applauds this progressive step taken by the North Carolina Board towards adoption of the uniform licensing examination that is in the best interests of the regulatory program and allows portability of licensure on a national level.”

The final text of Senate Bill 1314, which contained the amendments to the North Carolina Massage and Bodywork Therapy Practice Act, may be downloaded here.

The latest version of the North Carolina Practice Act may be accessed here.

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Temecula considers stricter standards for massage therapists

Massage therapists in Temecula would need hundreds of hours more in training, and their businesses would have an earlier closing time under an ordinance being prepared by city officials and police.
The ordinance could be presented to the Temecula City Council on Sept. 23, according to police Lt. Terry Meadows.

The rules are intended to promote public health and safety and crack down on prostitution and other illicit activities, officials say.

“We want to make sure that all the businesses are legitimate and that the public safety is enhanced,” Meadows said.

Temecula has seen an increase in the number of businesses seeking massage permits. The number has jumped from eight to 10 a few years ago to 35 today.
While there have been no prostitution arrests connected to massage businesses in the past 12 months, such arrests have occurred in prior years, Meadows said.

Under the new ordinance, police would take a more active role in overseeing the local massage trade, Meadows said.

The ordinance would require therapists to have at least 720 hours of instruction from certified instructors, a requirement similar to Murrieta’s. Currently, therapists need 100 hours of training.
Businesses would have to close by 9 p.m. instead of midnight, and the ordinance would contain more specific language barring the massaging of certain body areas, such as the genitals.

The ordinance contains new health requirements such as the changing of linens between clients. Recordkeeping rules would be tightened and suggestive advertising banned.
In addition, a manager and a massage technician must be on duty at all times and businesses cannot be run where someone lives.

Massage therapists had mixed reactions to the proposed rules.
Kari Hunter, a therapist at Golden Touch Massage in Old Town, said while she likes the requirements for fresh linens and more training, clients do come in after 9 p.m., the proposed closing time.
“A lot of people come from San Diego after work, and that’s when they can come,” she said.
Carol Rosales, a therapist who runs Fusion Therapeutic Massage in Old Town, generally supports training requirements. She said that while more training might not stop everyone from engaging in crime, even those who received licenses with the minimum 100 hours of training might be deterred from illegal activity.

“The higher the standards they hold us to, (it) can only help our reputation in our community,” she said.

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Massage clinic opens city site

Owner Steve Long at Massage Envy’s first Oklahoma location at Pennsylvania Avenue and Memorial Road. BY Massage Envy, a chain of membership-based massage clinics, has opened its first Oklahoma location at Pennsylvania Avenue and Memorial Road.

The company’s concept is to make massages convenient and affordable. Members enjoy an hour long massage for $49 a month, with additional massages in the same month to be priced at $39.
With weekend and evening hours, there are more than 1,000 appointment times available each month.

Typically, massage therapists rent booth space inside a salon, but the chain operates similar to a spa or clinical setting.
“We want to give our clients a $100 experience for $49,” Owner Steve Long said.
What’s next?

A second Massage Envy is set to open Sept. 29 at SW 104 and Pennsylvania Avenue.
Longsaid the he plans to open at six locations in the Oklahoma City area, including Edmond and Norman, four in Tulsa and one in Stillwater, over the next couple of years.

Massage Envy focuses exclusively on massages, he said. Each location will employ about 25 massage therapists; they are offered health insurance and retirement savings plan through the company.
Scottsdale, Ariz. based Massage Envy Limited LLC opened its first clinic in 2002, and since has expanded to 462 clinics in 40 states, with 324 more in development.

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