Kitty’s Corner: Thoughts, Opinions, & Musings of Kitty’s

A New Meaning for Masks

Regardless of what face mask you use, it is not healthy for the skin to be covered for prolonged periods of time. The skin suffers from rashes, irritations, ingrown hairs, chapping and breakouts. We have seen photos of nurses and doctors on the front line of the pandemic with irritation, hives and even bruises on their skin from masks.

What’s the biggest issue? By keeping your face covered, it creates a hot and humid environment; your breathing creates a lot of trapped moisture. This leads to build up of sweat and sebum on the skin and trapped impurities on the facial mask. This can leave you with inflammation, rashes, and breakouts. I have personally had to treat my skin differently– even at my age of 57—during this Pandemic because of the masks.  Maybe I should say I’m 56?  I think we all should subtract a year from our age since this year really shouldn’t count for any of us. 56 it is!

Below I have made a recommendation for your skin if you are experiencing issues.

Blessings,
Kitty (Owner)

2019 Best Massage 
The Spa Central Coast  LIKE us on Facebook!

Newsletter Update

New Steps for Our Booking Process

December Specials

Kitty’s Corner: Thoughts, Opinions, & Musings of Kitty’s

I apologize that I’ve not done a newsletter for a bit.  In the last couple of months, there have been so many changes required by the State that it’s been difficult to keep up, and my Dad unfortunately passed away during that time as well.  Always know, however, that any updated information appears on our website.

I’ve had clients recently come in who’ve mentioned they need to be touched.  Touch is always essential, and yet it is one of the primary things that we’ve been made to feel we can’t do during this pandemic.  We need to balance Covid-19 requirements though with common sense and science, meaning that we can’t give up what common sense and what science show keeps us healthy in order to avoid becoming unhealthy.

Dacher Keltner, Director of Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley University states that “a wave of studies has documented some incredible emotional and physical health benefits that come from touch. […T]ouch is truly fundamental to human communication, bonding, and health. […]. The science of touch convincingly suggests that we’re wired to—we need to—connect with other people on a basic physical level. To deny that is to deprive ourselves of some of life’s greatest joys and deepest comforts.”  He states that touch is our “primary language of compassion, and a primary means for spreading compassion.”

So if the world feels a bit hard right now, go touch someone you love and spread compassion.  You can still stay within health guidelines by washing your hands afterward.

If you’d like to read the entire article, you can find it at
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/hands_on_research

I’d like to also encourage you to reach out to our Wellness Center partners for your self-care needs.

Our local partners include:
Ali Health and Wellness (626-616-0945) for Biofield tuning and energy work and Dharma Yoga Loft (805-434-1934) for yoga classes and retreats.  Both offer safe environments during this time as well.

May we all stay healthy and well.

Blessings,
Kitty (Owner)

Steps to Booking a Prescription Massage:

• We cannot take walk-ins at this time.  (Please call to be pre-screened.) Our current hours are Tue-Sat 8am-6pm. Lauren & Shawn are eager to help book your appointments.
• We have a wash station at the front of the Spa.
• Temperatures are taken upon arrival.
• 65 years and older or those with a compromised immune system – You get priority in booking.There are never more than 10 people in the Spa at one time, including employees.  If you would like to have only yourself, a front desk person and your therapist in the Spa during your appointment, let us know and we can arrange it.
• Foot soaks and hand wraps will take place should you arrive 15-20 min early.

We understand that the booking process is much more involved but we are trying to make it as nice as we possibly can. Thank you so much, and we look forward to helping you in your path of healing!

September Specials

We are now able to provide you with outdoor massages at one of our favorite wineries:  Rava Wines.    The winery is beautiful with a calm and relaxing ambiance.  You can also taste after your massage,  but please schedule a tasting in advance as tastings are by appointment only.

Call us now at 805-591-7157 to schedule your massage and if you want to do a tasting after your massage, give Rava Wines a call to schedule 805-238-7282

A little about Rava Wines

The Rava’s, a third-generation farming family, has taken their expertise into the cellar crafting sparkling wines in the traditional méthode champenoise style. Surrounded by vineyards and native landscape, our contemporary tasting room is ready to host you, your family and friends. Located just 15 minutes from downtown Paso Robles, our tasting room and patio boasts of modern hospitality and a welcoming place to spend the day. We offer two unique tasting options, a glass or bottle purchase to enjoy onsite  With generous outdoor seating on the patio, or around our pond we have plenty of room for the whole family, including the four-legged variety.

Take a virtual tour of Rava Wines & Events here:  RavaWines

Here is a little view of your outdoor experience. We are so grateful to the Rava’s for allowing us to co- create together.

Kitty’s Corner: Thoughts, Opinions, & Musings of Kitty’s

Losing a loved one—whether a human or an animal—will rip your heart right out. It’s like you have to put your body back together. I recently lost my beloved, Maggie Love—my 10-year old St Bernard.  I haven’t hurt like this since I lost my grandmother.

I remember when my grandmother passed away, I got a massage and it helped me cope with some of my pain. I have watched and worked on many that come into the Spa who have recently lost someone, and have seen the comfort they feel after receiving massage. But I also began to wonder if some guests may not tell us of their loss before the treatment begins, so I have decided to now offer on our menu a Bereavement Massage for those grieving a loss.

The truth is that pain is held in our bodies and helping that grief to move through and out of the body is so important in order to prevent injury or illness.  The type of massage we give is very different depending on what is going on with you and it’s important to communicate what you’re going through or pain you feel prior to your massage.  Our team of massage therapists are trained to listen to you and give an experience that will help heal not only your body but in a case of loss, your spirit, too.

There have been studies found that receiving a massage after the loss of a loved one helped them cope.  In one study I found, eighteen people ages 34-78 who had lost a relative to cancer took part in the study. They all said the massage provided consolation, helping them balance the need to grieve and the need to adapt to life after loss.

So, if you are, or if you know of someone that has lost a loved one, I encourage you to buy a gift card or book a Bereavement Massage appointment for that individual. It’s one of the most loving things you could do for her or him.

Much love,
Kitty (Owner)

March Specials

6 Reasons To Join The Spa Central Coast Membership

• You will receive a Spa Member Club Discount card that can be used at many local retailers and restaurants for 10%-15% off their services and goods.  Members, come by and pick yours up today if you haven’t received your discount card yet!  Don’t forget your card expires December 31st, so pick your new one up the end of December.
• $20 off the treatment that the membership is for (savings on our Family Shared plans vary because you get to choose different massages or get a facial).
• You get a members Family & Friends Discount to help spread the happiness.  Bring in a friend or family member with you to your next treatment, and your friend or family member will receive $10 off her/his treatment.
•  25% off our monthly featured product from The Spa Central Coast signature line.
•  10% off any additional treatment you have at The Spa.
• You get the same pricing we give you for your treatment at our sister spa, The Day Spa of Ojai.

Come visit us or call 805-591-7157 to become a member today!

BODY MECHANICS TIP OF THE MONTH
Shoulder Mobility

The shoulder is a complex and very unique joint. It is literally a floating system of muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, and nerves that must all be firing and functioning near perfection to stay super flexible, stable, strong, and pain-free. Understanding the impact good mobility can have on our daily lives is what I would like to drive home. What is shoulder mobility? It is the ability to move the shoulders through a range of motion with control before being restricted. This includes having requisite strength, coordination, and flexibility. On a day to day basis I see protraction (rounded/forward shoulders); this is actually fairly common and can be caused by many things; poor posture is at the top of that list. Poor posture leads to decreased shoulder mobility = unnatural spine position = increased stress on joints and also causes muscle weakness and overworked muscle groups.

My role is to work through tissue and muscle restriction in order to regain mobility that has been lost, and also to educate you while giving you the tools necessary to continue working to regain mobility and reinforce healthy and natural movement.

When you commit to maintenance i.e. regular massage sessions, you’re doing yourself a huge favor! So keep up the good work in that respect. Now I would like to take it a step further and challenge you to commit to some or all of these stretches in between sessions.

We are truly a masterpiece and our joints do incredible things for us, so we should return the favor.  After all joints = Movement.

Effective ways to improve shoulder mobility and unlock restrictions in movement is PVC pipe stretching; I have been using these stretches and truly believe in the results they bring. Here are a few videos to walk you through them. I recommend 2-3 times a week, 10 reps each.

Another exercise is a simple doorway stretch: Place your arm against a door jamb in the high-five position (that is, forming an L), your elbow bent 90 degrees. Step through the doorway until you feel the stretch in your chest and the front of your shoulders. Hold for 30 seconds. That’s 1 set; do a total of 4 daily.

Louise Hay, author of “Heal your body” states that the point of power is always in the present moment. This is where we begin to make changes. What a liberating idea! We can begin to let the old nonsense go. Right now. The smallest beginning will make a difference.

We have a team of knowledgeable therapists. If you have any further questions, or if you need a demo on any of these stretches, just ask!

In good health,
Stephanie

Kitty’s Corner: Thoughts, Opinions, & Musings of Kitty’s

Have you noticed love and romance seem to be in the air? 

Could it be because Valentine’s Day is in the middle of February thus it is meant to celebrate the entire month of February as the month of LOVE?

What’s even better is that not only is February the month of LOVE but this February is also a Leap Year. This means we get one extra day for LOVE this month!

We all know love can be a complicated subject so we thought this might be the perfect time to learn a little bit more about this thing called love.

Did you know that the ancient Greeks used eight words to define the different states of love:

1) Storge:  Natural affection

2) Philia: Friendship

3) Eros: Sexual and erotic

4) Agape: Unconditional divine love

5) Lutus:  Flirting

6) Pragma: Committed married love

7) Philautia:  Self love

8) Mania: Obsessive love

The ancient Greeks were pretty smart to recognize all the different ways we love.  But even then, they realized that Self-love was crucial.  The name they gave it was Philautia.  Without Self love, we really can’t express the other types of love naturally.  The bottom line is to love ourselves in a healthy way is healing for us.  It makes our life easier to handle. It allows us to love others also in a more healthy way.

So in this month of love, let each of us ask ourselves “How much do we really love our self?”

Be honest.  How much harder are you on yourself than others?  Do you always take care of everyone else first, and if there is any energy left you come last?  If you don’t do everything in that order do you then feel guilty? Do you find yourself angry or out of sorts for no reason?  Or what about shame?  Is that shame just hiding inside, you don’t know why you feel shame but you just do if you look in the corners of your mind?

Research proves that over time loving and forgiving yourself improves everything in your life. Getting rid of those FALSE beliefs helps to eventually heal you.  How do you do it?  It takes work, it takes time, and sometimes it isn’t easy.

In my research for this I came across a woman named Polly Noble.  She was diagnosed with cancer two times before she was 28 years old.  She survived her cancer and went on to share some of her lessons on life. You can look her up on the Internet and see what she believes helped her in that journey.  Briefly, she said she must be in the moment and give herself ‘space’.  She also suggested that each of us make our own well being a priority.  Sounds like philautia to me!

She recommended giving yourself gifts that you may have given to someone else.  She called it a ‘Duvet’ day.  For example, book a full day at the Spa.  Or a facial…or a massage where it is quiet and you don’t have to think or talk or act. Be good to You.  You are worth every penny.  Every moment.  Just because it is February, the love month, try it.  You may want to do that on a regular basis!

Much love,
Kitty (Owner)

February Specials

What’s New Now Offering:

Shamanic Energy Clearing and Soul Retrievals

For a limited time, Shamanic Practitioner Denise Braun will be supporting clients in shamanic energy clearing and soul retrievals. These practices are in alignment with the Q’ero lineage of Shaman (the Peruvian Inca Shaman). Denise’s rites of shamanic healing have been initiated through this lineage to support the energy healing of her clients. If you have struggled with illness, fatigue, depression, anxiety or toxicity, consider a shamanic clearing session to regenerate and open blocked chakras. If you have struggled with your life’s purpose, or lack ambition or motivation, or have struggled in your relationships, a soul retrieval session will help to restore your lost soul and revitalize your energy.

Both sessions require anywhere from 1-2 hours, so flexibility in your schedule is crucial. Every energy clearing and soul retrieval session is unique. Please note: this medicine is powerful. When booking these sessions, please be sure to read through the preparation expectations (available as a handout at the Spa Central Coast). The effects of this energy work lasts far beyond your initial session. You can anticipate ‘light bulb’ moments, some changes in your emotional state, and a need for more sleep post-shamanic session.

Shamanic Energy Clearing: $375/session

Shamanic Soul Retrieval: $450/session

Unsure which session to book? Speak with Kitty at the Spa CC to be sure.

Tarot Readings

For a limited time, Denise Braun (Author, Intuitive, and Shamanic Practitioner) will be offering Tarot readings at the Spa CC. Are you looking for guidance with a big life change? Relationship advice? Are you blocked, stuck or uninspired? Tarot is a tool of divination that has been practiced since the 15th century. Denise uses intuition and energy to read your cards and support you with expert guidance, and has been reading Tarot for over 25 years.

Half Hour Tarot: $165

Full Hour Tarot: $275

6 Reasons To Join The Spa Central Coast Membership

• You will receive a Spa Member Club Discount card that can be used at many local retailers and restaurants for 10%-15% off their services and goods.  Members, come by and pick yours up today if you haven’t received your discount card yet!  Don’t forget your card expires December 31st, so pick your new one up the end of December.
• $20 off the treatment that the membership is for (savings on our Family Shared plans vary because you get to choose different massages or get a facial).
• You get a members Family & Friends Discount to help spread the happiness.  Bring in a friend or family member with you to your next treatment, and your friend or family member will receive $10 off her/his treatment.
•  25% off our monthly featured product from The Spa Central Coast signature line.
•  10% off any additional treatment you have at The Spa.
• You get the same pricing we give you for your treatment at our sister spa, The Day Spa of Ojai.

Come visit us or call 805-591-7157 to become a member today!

Body Mechanics Tip of the Month: Why am I sore after a massage?

This is a common question I can guarantee every therapist has heard before! Well, I’m here to explain a few things and provide some very important tips on how to minimize soreness.

Massage is a powerful tool to our everyday life; besides making us feel great, it is a stress reducer, a preventative for injury and sickness and it has the power to increase our strength and productivity.  I could go on all day about the endless benefits of receiving regular bodywork!

In a sense, receiving a massage can almost feel like you have had a great workout – endorphins, blood flow, a clearer mind, and great sleep are just a few of the post massage/workout benefits!

But chances are there will be times when you wake up the next morning feeling sore (this is normal!).

So what is a good way to minimize that soreness?

Glad you asked!

1. Maintenance! Get on a regular schedule for your bodywork. Stay ahead of the game!

One thing you have probably heard me say is, “the pain comes last.” Don’t wait for the pain to find you, because 9 times out of 10, the problem was there far before the pain kicked in so make the commitment to preventative sessions.

The more commitment you put into keeping your muscles smooth and “knot free” the less achy and sore you will be post massage.

2. Hydration! Be purposeful with your hydration pre and post bodywork. The average body requires half of your body weight in ounces of H2O daily. So use that as a guide when gauging how much H2O you should drink.

3. Another great tool in addition to massage and optimum wellness is adding on a far infrared session prior to your massage session. Benefits include:

• Elimination of heavy metals – far infrared sauna penetrates the body on a cellular level to eliminate heavy metals, toxins, and lactic acid
• Preparation of your muscle and tissue for a deeper level massage
• Promotion of muscle recovery.

Post massage recommendations:

An Epson salt soak is always a wonderful idea (preferably pharmaceutical grade)

Magnesium has a powerful effect on the body so utilize those benefits.

DO NOT complete a heavy workout post massage!  Allow your body to rebalance naturally using the tools and tips provided.

Here are a few recommended post massage success products we have right here at The Spa Central Coast.

1. Poseidon muscle rub (Arnica based anti-inflammatory)

2. CBD topical rub

3. “I am soothed of aches and pains” essential oil can be added into your bath or applied directly

4. White egret pharmaceutical grade Epson salt and magnesium oil (Lavender or Eucalyptus)

Feel free to ask your therapist for recommendations and also check with the front desk if you need more info on any of these products!

In good health,

Stephanie