November 15th, 2023
National Spa Week: How To Participate On A Budget!
National Spa Week is from October 30th until November 5th. When I first heard about this national holiday, my initial reaction was to roll my eyes. Just another commercial holiday to bring in quick cash. What exactly is National Spa Week anyway?
The SpaWeek Event was created by Cheryl Reid. She states she was “concerned about the unhealthy direction the country had been going down and felt compelled to get involved in some way. For her, the answer was the spa industry.” (1).
Starting her gift card business, she began a partnership with spas and wellness locations to help bring that message. Every year hundreds of spas and wellness locations across North America provide two to three full-service treatments for just $50 each.
National Spa Week was actually established to emphasize the importance of self-care and relaxation in today’s hyper stressful and activity packed lifestyles. I see now Cheryl’s stress to have spa and wellness locations bring down the cost of full service treatments to a very affordable price in order for everyone to be able to participate. Well, when put that way….. it makes sense. I must be ahead of the game, I already offer a variety of services under $50 including introductory rates, A La Carte items and hand treatments. No gift card needed, those prices are available year round!
I think that the spa professionals and wellness organizations who participate in this event certainly picked the perfect time. November marks the beginning of the most stressful time of the year. No matter what belief system or religion you have, most likely the holidays are full of preparing, traveling, activities, and more. So this makes sense that National Spa Week presents a promotion of well-being practices and urges you to invest in your overall mental and physical health, which are fundamentally linked.
What spa owner wouldn’t be on board with this? Here are just some of the many services I have under $50.00.
Ways You Can Participate In Spa
$45.00 Introductory Rate European Facials- This is a full service 90 minute service that includes a skin analysis, 30 minute consultation, deep double cleanse, adjust pH levels with a toner, exfoliation, steam treatment and hot compress towels, a custom blended masque, targeted serums, SPF, eye treatment and lip treatment. European Facials are not just deep cleansing, they are very massage heavy. I am CIDESCO certified in Shiatsu and European style massage as well as Biodynamic Lymphatic Drainage. I incorporate this into the service with a hand, arm, shoulder, and neck massage in addition to the facial massage elements. Candles, heated table, lux sheets, and calming ocean wave and piano music set the tone of relaxation and calm. I offer this special service price to all of my first time clients year round.
$30.00 November Express Facial Special- Every November I offer the express facial service I have for $10.00 off the normal price. November starts for most, the beginning of the holiday seasons. No matter what belief system or religion you have, most likely the holidays are full of preparing, traveling, activities, and more. Express Facials are the perfect answer for those who need a break from the stress and pressure this season can bring. While it may lack some massage elements, this express service has all the elements needed for a 30 minute moment to relaxation and reset. Clients are served curated tea from the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse with a weighted blanket. Service includes double cleanse, pH adjust with toner, exfoliant, serum, moisturizer, and spf.
$40.00 Balinese Foot Flower Bath- Since not everyone is interested in a facial, I offer a relaxing foot soak and scrub designed from a traditional Indonesian treatment.
This century old treatment soothes tired muscles, improves blood circulation, warms and polishes the skin while you soak your feet in a traditional Balinese foot flower bath with tropical flowers and petals. Service highlights include a creamy coconut milk cleanser, an traditional Thai massage oil that assists in relieving pain in the feet and lower legs using all natural ingredients, a traditional organic Balinese scrub, a lemongrass masque, and a monoi and tiare flower finishing dry oil. Lemon Verbena tea is served with the service. This service is priced as year round for all to enjoy A La Cart or to add onto other complimentary services. Did we mention that our pedicure bath is heated and has built in ultrasonic vibration?
Click the image below to learn more and book services!
Ways You Can Participate At Home
Drinking Infused Water & Nutritious Snacks
One of the easiest and best ways to participate in a week long journey to focus on self care is by drinking infused water. True enough, in November some of the fruits and vegetables may not be in season. This simple act though, provides hydration, refreshment, and a small self-care practice you can enjoy all week long at home.
Adding in some nutritious snacks to your SpaWeek by prepping beforehand can be beneficial. Fruit and veggie trays, personal charcuterie boards with treats, or even Greek yogurt cups with granola and fruit are all heathy choices.
Want to learn more about infused water? I have a blog post that is waiting for you to read with 7 variations of infused water and the benefits of infused water has. Click the image above to be instantly transported!
All Over Body Scrub
For body rejuvenation, an all over body scrub is stimulating to multiple senses in addition to the skin benefits it has. Body scrubs remove buildup of old skin cells which lead to dull, tired skin. By preforming a body scrub on yourself, you boost circulation of oxygen and nutrient rich blood to the skin for a healthier glow. Exfoliation unclogs pores, assists in cell renewal and helps moisturizer absorb better.
November also happens to be Healthy Skin Month, perfect timing to try out body scrubs. Want to read about a recipe for a decadent cashmere sugar body scrub? Click on the image to be instantly transported!
No time to make a scrub? The Avalon Day Spa has you covered. We sell The Coffee Scrub in Vanilla and Coconut. Priced, 30g is $7.99 and 200g is $14.99.
All Over Body Treatments
All over body treatments could be a simple as trying dry brushing or adding in a hydrating curated body oil. Put these two together and enjoy the many benefits that come with the combined treatment. I recently taught a class on Dry Brushing For Exfoliation & Lymph Drainage. In this class my clients who attended learned that dry brushing helps stimulate blood flow helping oxygen and nutrient rich blood with skin health, assists in lymph flow, and removes dead skin cells. I paired this with a new line of dry body oils here at the spa from Temple of Life. The owner makes small batches by hand, the smell of her body oils are amazing, and for a 4oz bottle that costs between $11 and $14, you really can’t say that is not a value product.
The spa sells Spa Ritual Body Brush Kit which includes a Beachwood and organic cotton dry brush and comes with a Spa Ritual Storage Bag for $21.00.
The spa also partnered with Temple of Life to sell in spa:
Muscle Therapy dry body oil with carrier oil blend sunflower, safflower, avocado, apricot kernel, coconut, Vitamin E and essential oils cypress, eucalyptus, bergamot, and cedarwood.
Healing Gardens dry body oil with carrier oil blend sunflower, safflower, avocado, apricot kernel, coconut, Vitamin E and essential oils marjoram, lavender and spanish rosemary.
Lymph Drainage dry body oil with carrier oil blend sunflower, safflower, avocado, apricot kernel, coconut, Vitamin E and essential oils grapefruit, lemon, rosemary, oregano, carrot and bay.
Venus and Mars dry body oil with carrier oil blend sunflower, sweet almond, avocado, apricot kernel, olive, coconut, jojoba, Vitamin E and essential oils grapefruit, bergamot, frankincense, cinnamon, lemongrass, sandalwood and rose.
At Home Facials
No time or money for the spa to get a facial? That’s ok, we understand and still can help! Good skincare is always important, but during spa week, you can consider home facials a treat to preform at home knowing your improving your skin’s health, feel and appearance.
At home facials can be as easy with The Avalon Day Spa’s sample program. Get samples as low as $1.18 each from skincare lines Hale & Hush, Alteya Organics, LipSmart, Patchology, Cuccio, Lira Clinical and more. Mix and match for your skin type and budget. We sell spa headbands from Lira Clinical and Hale & Hush for $10 as well! Call or visit the spa to learn more and let us help you curate your own sample package to take home.
This at home treatment is also something you can do with a friend or loved one.
Set The Mood
Create your relaxing environment filled with things that are cozy and comforting to you. The most important thing is to quiet your mind so you can enjoy all the other sensory additions to your routine. Clear away any clutter, and create the perfect environment for you. Some of those things could include:
Music that helps you relax, or a playlist of all of your favorite songs
Accessories such as cozy robes, warm slippers, or weighted throw blanket
Aromatherapy could be your favorite scented candle, incense stick or essential oils in a diffuser
Digital Detox
Ditch the smartphone while your having your at home treatments! Studies show that smartphone scrolling affects how your brain works with rising and lowering dopamine levels. Dopamine is a chemical in our brains that is released with behaviors that are associated with a reward system or pleasure.
Research done in 2019 by Asurion found that on average, Americans check their phones 96 times a day, or every 10 minutes (2). A follow-up survey was done by the same company in 2022 and found that the number increased nearly four-fold to 352 times a day (3).
By mindlessly scrolling on a smartphone, it has the very opposite effect of mindfulness, rest and balance. Studies have shown that smartphone addiction can actually raise anxiety and depression (4).
Prioritize Healthy Sleep
I can not stress enough how important high quality sleep is and how beneficial it is for your body and mind. You can do this with your own personalized “sleep ritual”, I wrote a blog post on this exact subject.
Restful sleep has an impact on your physical and mental well being. It is during this time when our bodies do most of the “repair” work. In fact, Sleep deficiency is linked to many chronic health problems, including heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity, and depression (5).
Inspired on how you will choose to enrich your well being on a budget during SpaWeek? I hope so! I wish you a happy self-care journey this week.
Warm Regards,
Sarah
References:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-reid-a367855/
https://www.asurion.com/connect/news/tech-usage/ https://www.techopedia.com/definition/29613/phubbing https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/aticles/PM9874858
https://www.nhlbi/nih.gov/health/sleep-deprivation