Renew - May/June 2008 - (Page 38)

boom include the dad A side-by-side massage is typically the way maternity menus bring in the partner, but some spas develop a more comprehensive package to focus directly on the dad’s need for pampering and attention during this time. baby “Our ultimate goal is to provide a place where women can feel comfortable regardless of where they are in their lives.” —Annee Ingala What’s taking place physically frequently aﬀects the woman’s emotional state, and a spa can come to her aid in that respect, too. If anxiety about delivery spikes her blood pressure, for example, a spa is arguably more therapeutic than medical care would be. “The media focuses on fear-based information regarding pregnancy and birth,” says Ingala. “In movies, women in the delivery room are on their backs, screaming in agony, yelling at their husbands and described as being in the worst pain of their lives. So the pregnant woman often spends her time preparing for ‘the worst pain of her life.’ It doesn’t have to be that way. At the spa, she’ll hear positive birth stories, and she’s supported to help her go into delivery with no fear and survive just as women have survived for millions of years. Many of our staﬀers are mothers themselves. A lot of conversations occur during services where it’s one mom just talking to another.” In order to empathize with the pregnant woman’s situation, spas even bend policy. For instance Spa Epidauros forgives third trimester clients for sudden cancellations that normally would generate a missed appointment fee. The spa also oﬀers a specially priced, seven-month “spa club” membership because, typically, women conﬁrm the pregnancy at about the second month. The best part is that these clients understand how much it matters. “We’ve learned how profound everything becomes during a woman’s pregnancy,” notes Kienow. “You think about things diﬀerently when you’re pregnant.” And you tend to express what you feel, observes Sutherland. “Spas tell us that they get more positive feedback from pregnancy treatments than any other treatments they’ve taken on,” she reports. “That’s because these clients so appreciate the services.” n educate In-spa, prenatal classes can introduce your spa to the clientele that will use the maternity services. Zenana Spa holds a broad range of prenatal and parenthood classes, while Little Palm Resort offers a four-hour class called “Preparing for the Birth Session.” go quirky This is the time that women let themselves do something a little different. Ideas include: n Belly Imprinting (www.bellyvita.com). Using one piece of fabric rather than strips of plaster gauze, the belly imprint takes belly casting to the next level and creates a sophisticated piece of art that remains on the wall long after the belly has ﬂattened out. This can be offered as a service at the spa or a retail kit for women to do at home. n Belly Henna Tattooing. Palm Island Resort lets women sit by the pool and decorate their roundness with a safe henna color. use humor Epidauros Spa offers a service called, “Mama Needs to Slow Down!” It combines two Mama Mio treatments with a cool seaweed bath so that women can enjoy “the calm before the storm.” 38 renewprofessional.com may/june 2008 http://www.bellyvita.com http://renewprofessional.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Complete Spa and Welliness Experience - May/June 2008

editor’s letter renew face/body/mind/spirit reflect decor editor’s picks role models baby boom renew how-to cards 6 super all-over anti-agers resurgence renewal facial solutions inside ingredients

The Complete Spa and Welliness Experience - May/June 2008

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