A Minute With SpaBeautySchools

My husband started a Mother’s Day spa tradition three years ago, and I’m not about to let this one go.

You see, when it comes to this day set aside for moms, the festivity usually consists of brunch, a bouquet, and a bevy of well wishes. I don’t know if all the other moms out there are satisfied with the typical trappings of their holiday. I hope they are.

Maybe I’m not like other moms, or maybe other moms just don’t admit it, but here’s the truth: on Mother’s Day, all I really want is to be left alone. Now, don’t get me wrong–I love my children and my husband more than anyone else in the world–but a real holiday for me would not consist of 80 million trips to the potty, sticky fingers all over clean jeans, and constant demands for more juice, more Dora, more something. (Is it obvious I’m a mother of preschoolers?!)

I don’t think I’m alone in this. Moms love their kids, but moms also love a break. And a Swedish massage has become the pampering of choice on my day, Mother’s Day. I don’t require 24 hours of solitude, but an afternoon massage certainly does wonders for my body and spirit. It’s nice, for those precious 55 minutes, to not be Mom. It’s nice to just be. Then I can return home refreshed, ready to give a little more, ready to be Mom again.

Now I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way, since I’ve just been surfing spa sites that market their services specifically for moms on their day. Check out some of the specialty offerings available:

• Betty Dain Creations in Miami, FL, wraps mom up in its plush Cloud 9 microfiber spa wrap packaged with a Spongelle soap-infused sponge or a spa canvas tote bag.

• Viridian Day Spa in Mount Pleasant, SC, offers a special spa journey for moms, including an herbal healing massage and facial, lunch, special notes sent in from family members, and a spa gift.

• Lake Austin Spa Resort in Austin, TX, hosts mother/daughter getaways five times a year. These weeklong sessions include discussions on communication skills, body image, self-esteem, and deciphering dreams.

• Zents in Denver, CO, has introduced new scents into its signature massage, manicure, and pedicure products, as well as candles. For moms, Zents offers sun, a scent that is said to evoke feelings of home.

• For expecting moms, the Belly Imprint spa-at-home kit from Belly Vita in Chicago, IL, provides an opportunity to create a lasting piece of art to cherish long after baby arrives.

This past Mother’s Day, I enjoyed a long, luxurious massage (and a steam shower, and a paraffin hand treatment…). And maybe I won’t wait until next Mother’s Day to do it again. Hmm…

Thanks to all the hard-working spa professionals who make mommy pampering possible!

-Robyn Tellefsen

You already know beauty pros are cool, but here are 7 more reasons why a career in beauty is the way to go.

1. Free samples
Why pay retail when you can get the latest and greatest products for a deep discount, or for nothing at all? If you’re into beauty products (which you are, of course), you may as well save money on ‘em.

2. Beautiful people
Let’s face it–when you make it to the top of the beauty chain, you get to meet some pretty beautiful people, celebs and civilians alike. Not only do beauty pros get to stargaze, they get to go behind the scenes and find out what makes the beautiful people tick, and what kinds of products they prefer. They hold the secrets to the beautiful looks.

3. Service for yourself
When you’re in the beauty business, you can get high-quality beauty services as well as you can give ‘em. That’s because your best friends are fellow beauty pros who can work their magic on you, and vice versa. Never pay top dollar for beauty services again.

4. Time to trendwatch
Some people read celeb and fashion magazines as a hobby, but beauty pros get paid to trendwatch. After all, the pros who stay on the cutting edge of cool are the ones who get the best word of mouth and the most business.

5. Spa work
Wouldn’t it be great to spend your days at the spa? According to the International Spa Association, 74 percent of U.S. spas–that includes club spas, day spas, medical spas, and resort/hotel spas–offer salon services. It’s an ideally luxurious work environment.

6. Always hiring
As long as the world turns, there will be a need for salons and spas filled with hair stylists, makeup artists, nail technicians, and more. There will always be work, in every city, in any economy. Not many people can cut and style their own hair, or do their own nails, or apply makeup professionally.

7. Never boring
Unlike the traditional desk job, beauty pros get to work with different people every day. There’s always someone new coming through your door, and there’s always a new look to try, or a challenge to meet. You have to be alert and proactive to do this job.

Now just try to come up with 7 reasons not to be a beauty pro….

-Robyn Tellefsen

Whether you’ve decided on, or are still contemplating, a spa or beauty school it’s important to start searching for financial aid early and often. Though it may not always be necessary, spa beauty scholarships can make the difference between a quick and easy education, and struggling to make tuition payments. In order to help you out, we’ve collected info on three upcoming spa beauty scholarships…

The Name: The International Spa (ISPA) Foundation’s Mary Tabacchi Scholarship
The Game: Part- and full-time undergraduate students who have an interest in spa management, and who plan on enrolling in a two- or four-year spa-related degree program, may apply. Scholarship application essentials include: your college transcript, recommendations, and an essay outlining your skills, credentials, and goals.
The Date: March 1, 2008
The Prize: A $2,500 scholarship, plus airfare, hotel, and registration fees for attending either the ISPA Asia-Pacific Conference or ISPA Conference & Expo.

The Name: Joe Francis Haircare Scholarship
The Game: Available only to cosmetology students who can demonstrate either an enrollment with, or acceptance by, a cosmetology school by August of this year. Applicants are judged by their skill, commitment to cosmetology, and financial need.
The Date: June 1, 2008
The Prize: A $1,000 scholarship.

The Name: The Massage Therapy Foundation’s Student Case Report Contest
The Game: Open to currently enrolled massage therapy students, this contest asks each applicant to conduct a case study into the benefits of massage therapy on a new patient. Students then submit a 2,000 - 3,000 word document that outlines the pertinent aspect of their study.
The Date: March 1, 2008
The Prize: Prizes range from $1,500 to $2,500 and may include being published on the Massage Therapy Foundation’s Web site or the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. Depending on whether a student wins the “Gold” or “Bronze Award” additional awards may follow.

-Genevieve Blaber

Special occasions like Valentine’s Day do a great job of drawing attention to all the great services that spa professionals have to offer. That is if you’re lucky enough to have your significant other treat you to a spa day!

But beyond Cupid’s holiday, the job prospects for those in the spa industry are good year round and for years to come. Skin care specialists, for instance, constitute one of the fastest growing occupations, with employment expected to increase 34 percent between 2006 and 2016, compared to the average growth of 10 percent for all occupations, according to the latest projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You read right–spa professionals are in demand!

Not only that, spa professionals get to have fun. Where else can you flex your creative muscles in a calm, nurturing atmosphere? And on holidays like Valentine’s Day, spas get to pull out all the stops and celebrate with gusto. Check out these creative, specialty packages that pay homage to the holiday of love:

Yummy retreat >> Spa professionals give couples a chance to get away for the weekend and get treated to a facial or massage for two. One spa even provides an in-home, four-course meal prepared by a gourmet chef, complete with candles, wine, and rose petals. Sign me up!

Chocolate dream >> Calling all chocoholics–as a spa professional, you can help clients experience the ultimate indulgence at the spa this V-Day. In a unique twist on a standard spa service, some spas offer chocolate body wraps, chocolate scrubs, chocolate and cherry facials, and chocolate and cherry pedicures. Call it “fantasy spa.”

Couples classes >> When you work at the spa, you can help your love last past the holiday with insight gleaned from romance classes in the spa community. Enhance your relationship and take steps toward total mind-body balance by exploring the real magic of love.

Solo suggestion >> V-Day isn’t just for couples, and spa professionals know it. For gals with hearts that need mending, one spa is offering a weekend getaway, including a chocolate martini and strawberries, bath salts and lavender candles, and women’s magazines. What better place to heal your heart than at the spa?

The spa is a great place to visit on holidays and every day, but it can be an even better place to work and live. Where else can you experience all that chocolate without the calories?!

-Robyn Tellefsen

Can there be relief after hunching over my computer all day until my neck is in knots and I’m seeing spots? It’s hard to imagine.

After all, I don’t always have the opportunity to stop by a spa for a blissful, hour-long massage after a hectic day. But what if, instead of my heading to the spa, the spa came to me?

It may sound dreamy, but that’s the reality in a growing number of offices today. This year, the Society for Human Resource Management reported that 13 percent of its 210,000 member companies offer workplace massage. And an earlier “Working Mother” article found 77 percent of the top 100 U.S. companies offered massage at work.

That’s why workplace massage presents a fantastic career opportunity for aspiring massage therapists. Just think–all the people who have neither the time nor the inclination to book a full massage at the spa will suddenly have access to your services in the place they frequent most. For some, this will be their first exposure to professional massage. And once they’ve been treated to your massage techniques, they’ll be tempted to come back for more!

Aside from the obvious relaxation results, here are a few other amazing benefits your massage therapy services can provide:

• According to a 2003 “Annals of Internal Medicine” report and a 2000 “Canadian Medical Association Journal” report, massage therapy is an effective method of treating persistent back pain.

• According to “The Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies” in 2004, massage reduces carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms.

• Massage therapy has also been shown to strengthen the immune system, according to research published in “The Journal of Neuroscience” in 1996 and “Psychosomatic Medicine” in 2000.

More to the point, studies have shown that massage actually improves employee productivity. A study by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami found that after five weeks, a group of 26 employees who had twice-weekly, 15-minute massages in the office experienced reduced stress and improved performance, as opposed to a control group of 24 employees who were just told to close their eyes and relax. The massaged workers even completed math problems in half the time as normal and with half the errors they made before they were massaged!

When you’re offering these kinds of regenerative massage therapy services, what bleary-eyed worker can refuse? Not me.

-Robyn Tellefsen

When I think about personal training, I think about fitness gurus helping celebs like Britney Spears and Madonna stay healthy, toned, and strong. And there are plenty of trainers who work with the adult population, even those famous few.

But there’s a whole other population demanding the services of personal trainers — kids!

That’s right, kids are jumping on the fitness train, too. According to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, 824,000 children between the ages of 6 and 17 use personal trainers. That means children account for about 13 percent of personal trainers’ clients.

If you’re considering a career as a personal trainer, why not plan to work with this fresh-faced, fast-growing segment of the industry?

The fitness concerns unique to young people make the job of a personal trainer particularly important. Kids’ exercise programs need to be unquestionably safe and effective, especially for children who have not yet reached puberty. Parents hire personal trainers who specifically know how to work with kids whose bodies are still developing. In fact, many parents are more than willing to pay a personal trainer to ensure that their children are developing active lifestyles that will reap health benefits for the rest of their lives.

It’s no surprise that the fitness interest for the younger set has been largely motivated by the American obesity epidemic. Kids are out of shape and overweight, susceptible to future health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. Personal training along with healthy eating advice from nutritionists present an innovative solution to a growing problem.

But weight isn’t the only factor parents take into consideration when choosing personal training for their kids. They’re looking for an exercise program that will build kids’ confidence and give them a sense of accomplishment. Getting fit can also improve kids’ balance and coordination, which makes a difference in sports. And the set appointment with a personal trainer can do the same for kids as it does for adults–keep them consistent, accountable, and motivated to stick with their fitness regime.

Fitness isn’t just for the famous, and it isn’t just for grownups. The health habits of kids are just as important as, maybe even more important than, the ingrained habits of adults, since the fitness attitudes developed at an early age often carry over into adulthood. If we’re going to fight obesity and lethargy, we need to start with personal training for children.

Isn’t it time you used your talents to benefit kids?

-Robyn Tellefsen

The characteristics of an aspiring acupuncturist are obvious: a friendly, empathetic personality; a high level of communication skills; and a strong desire to help others. If you’re reading this entry, I’m sure you already possess those traits.

What you may have overlooked in your career preparation, however, is an element critical to success as an acupuncturist: entrepreneurship. As Lisa Hanfileti, LAc, MAcOM, of www.insights-for-acupuncturists.com attests, those lacking business acumen will have a tough time making a living as an acupuncturist. After all, no matter how incredible your healing powers are, if you cannot manage the business aspects of your practice, you will not have a practice at all.

OK, enough doom and gloom. I’m sure you’re already convinced of the need to market your skills, attract patients to your practice, and sell your wares. So how can you acquire those skills while you’re immersed in a right-brained education environment? The short answer: Take time to engage your left brain once in a while.

When you’re searching for the acupuncture program that’s right for you, make sure that business courses are included in the offerings. Practice management courses will familiarize you with the process of opening and managing a health care practice. You’ll learn how to write a business plan, develop office policies and procedures, manage insurance billing, and prescribe and sell herbs in an ethical manner. Marketing courses will teach you the major marketing techniques and procedures relating to the operation of a private practice. And legal courses will provide insight into Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) rules and regulations pertaining to the operation of a private practice, as well as other laws governing the practice of acupuncture in the U.S.

If your acupuncture program is lacking in real-world business preparation, you still have hope for career success–you’ll just need to be a little more proactive in achieving it. For instance, you might plan to supplement your alternative medicine coursework with practical business seminars on the side. By all means, enlist the help of professors to draft your business plan, and gather insight into their successes and failures in professional practice. In short, take all the “free” advice you can get.

Compassion and communication offer an excellent start to a career in acupuncture. Just add some entrepreneurial spirit, and you’ll be in business!

-Robyn Tellefsen

It’s obvious that it takes top-notch training to succeed in the spa and beauty industry, just like in any other profession. That’s why, this week, I went in search of some not-so-obvious insight into spa beauty career success. Check out what I found right here on SpaBeautySchools.com:

1. Look the part.
Maria Ascher, Regis Corporation’s artistic director, believes aspiring beauty professionals should look the part. “Now that you are an image-maker, make sure you’ve spent time on your own look,” she says.

2. Learn the business of beauty.
“Business and marketing skills are just as important as your artistic skills to be successful in this industry,” says Debra Macki, founder of Debra Macki Cosmetics.

3. Check your motivation.
“Don’t just do this to be a star,” says Arianne Damboise, known as Benefit Cosmetics’ Makeup Maven. “Help your clients take what they have and show them how to evolve into who they want to be.”

4. Keep your skills up-to-date.
Joey Noufal, owner and color artistic director of Noufal Hair Studio, attends hair shows to stay current with trends and train his staff. “Continuing education is critical,” he says. “There are always new techniques, styles, and products to learn about.”

5. Judge not.
“Be open,” advises Andrea Hirsekorn, a certified Pilates instructor, licensed massage therapist, and assistant director of Spectral Journeys. “You have to let go of judgment, and you can’t have a feeling of not wanting to touch a person.”

6. Become an excellent communicator.
“The most important part of having a future in the beauty industry is clearly having the ability to communicate and sell yourself and your services,” says Frank Schoeneman, CEO and founder of Empire Education Group.

7. Do some soul searching.
“Spa customers today are very savvy; they want results coupled with pampering,” says Jillian Wright, owner of Glow Skin Spa. “It’s a true art form that isn’t learned in school. It has to come from your soul.”

That’s good advice, no? So here’s my very own recipe for spa beauty career success: Take these “lucky 7″ tips, add some career education, and voilà –you’ll be on your way. Let us know how it goes!

-Robyn Tellefsen

Diving back into our spa industry trendspotting …

6. The spa is where I socialize.
Eight percent of U.S. spa-goers say they use their time at the spa to socialize. Since people enjoy going to the spa in groups, many spas offer entertainment and networking services in addition to more traditional spa services. Wouldn’t you love to go to a spa bachelorette party? How about a spa reunion of old friends? I can certainly see the appeal of sharing the spa love with others.

7. My spa experience is unique.
Instead of picking a particular spa package, why not create your own? Modern spa-goers have the opportunity to choose the background music, lighting, room temperature, massage oils, and more to customize their spa experience. After all, if you groove to Enya rather than Kenny G, you’ll do well to make your requests known. In turn, as an aspiring spa professional, diversifying your spa skills can open up better career opportunities.

8. My spa experience is gender-specific.
Men and women have different physical and emotional needs, so shouldn’t our spa treatments be different as well? As a woman, I’m looking primarily for relaxation, rejuvenation, and stress relief, while my husband is more apt to seek out the weight room or a deep tissue massage. Different strokes for different folks — literally. Check back with SpaBeautySchools.com soon for a feature on spa specialties just for the guys (or check out this article on sports physical therapy).

9. I take vacations at the spa.
Sixty-three percent of U.S. spa-goers have visited a spa in their travels. There may be moments when you’re in the mood to sightsee, but there are plenty of periods of life when you just need a spa retreat. I recently spent a weekend vacation at a spa resort in Southern California, and found the experience utterly heavenly — and extremely healthy!

10. The spa is part of my life journey.
The spa allows us to experience new textures, aromas, and sounds, which can help us make connections with other people, places, and traditions. I recognize that other cultures use different products to cleanse, purify, and beautify — and what better way to welcome those new experiences than in the accommodating spa setting?

–Robyn Tellefsen

The International Spa Association (ISPA), recognized worldwide as the leading professional organization and voice of the spa industry, recently identified 10 spa industry trends. Do these research-driven trends reflect your reality? Let’s check out the first five …

1. Spa visits are part of my lifestyle.
In 2005, more than two million spa-goers took part in lifestyle classes, such as healthy cooking, achieving balance and managing stress, and customizing at-home spa experiences. It’s obvious that our society is increasingly conscious of health and wellness issues (and career growth in the wellness industry is a direct result!). We may be a fast-food nation, but even the major burger chains are jumping on the wellness bandwagon by offering such healthy alternatives as salads, yogurts, and wraps.

2. Spa visits are a necessity.
The spa experience isn’t just a luxury or dream vacation package anymore. People are seeing a real need for spa visits to relieve and reduce stress, soothe sore joints and muscles, feel better about themselves, and improve their mental and emotional well-being. Certainly, if you have the means, why not use them to bring your body and soul into alignment by visiting alternative healing professionals?

3. The spa experience yields results.
More than one in 10 spa-goers treat spa visits as part of their overall healthy lifestyle, not just for pampering purposes. The American Massage Therapy Association also found that 30 percent of Americans who receive massage therapy do so for medical reasons, which include injury recovery, pain reduction, headache control, and overall wellness. This certainly isn’t the first time I’ve heard of holistic health practitioners producing results that traditional medicine could not achieve.

4. The spa industry incorporates medical components.
Medical spas are one of the fastest growing segments of the spa industry — from 2003 to 2005, the medical spa industry reported a 69 percent average annual growth. Popular medical treatments include chemical peels, microdermabrasion, body wraps, naturotherapy, and acupuncture. The spa experience has helped millions of people lose weight and feel better about themselves, all without the use of potentially harmful drugs.

5. The spa is my home.
Did you know that spa are now adding residential components, and real estate developers are building spas in gated communities and condominiums? Florida, New York, and Nevada are just a few of the states offering these spa communities. I could certainly live with a 24/7 spa experience. How ’bout you?

–Robyn Tellefsen