Ilana Alberico

Shop (and Spa!) Local

You probably already know that Chicago’s Spa Space is one of a kind. We have been lauded as the best day spa in Chicago many times and we like to think that is because of our personalized customer service as well as our innovative spa treatments.

We can respond to our customers’ unique needs and introduce new types of spa massage for Chicago’s most discerning spa goers because we are a small, local business.

Small businesses like ours are what gives Chicago’s distinctive neighborhoods their flavor and flair. And, as you have no doubt heard, the pandemic has been hard on them. So, if you have shopping to do – whether you want to do it in person or online – consider starting with some of our homegrown shops and local services.

3 Reasons to Shop Local

1. More responsive customer service. Spa Space isn’t the only local business that makes it a real point to offer outstanding customer service. Small businesses like ours are part of the community. The people we serve could be our neighbors, our kids’ teacher or a local influencer – and we want them to come back. Plus small businesses like ours usually have more flexibility to meet customers’ needs

2. More of the money you spend stays in the community. According to The Local Good, for every $100 spent at a locally owned small business, $68 stays right there in that community, contributing to the local economy. When you shop at a national chain store, they say, only $43 stays in the community.

3. Small businesses create jobs. “Small local businesses are the largest employers nationally,” The Local Good says.

Of course, this year there is another reason to shop local that might be even more compelling. Many small businesses won’t survive the economic challenges associated with the pandemic. By shopping at locally owned shops in Chicago you can invest in your community and help them make it.

And while you are shopping, don’t forget that gift certificates from Spa Space, an innovative day spa in the heart of Chicago, make great gifts.

Santa’s Favorite Massage

Do you like a deep massage or do you prefer the relaxing rhythms of Swedish massage at Spa Space of Chicago? Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to massage therapy – even Santa!

December is obviously a very stressful time for St. Nick. We’ve heard that he helps keep his jolly on with regular massage treatments and that his preference is for Swedish massage.

Massage Techniques Explained

There are many different types of massage, each of which offers unique benefits. Here are a few of the most popular:

• Swedish Massage

As the folks at WebMD explain, Swedish massage is the most common form of massage. “It involves soft, long, kneading strokes, as well as light, rhythmic, tapping strokes, on topmost layers of muscles. This is also combined with movement of the joints. By relieving muscle tension, Swedish therapy can be both relaxing and energizing. And it may even help after an injury.”

• Deep Tissue Massage

If you have chronic problem areas, like tight shoulders or pain in your lower back, deep tissue massage might be for you. This method targets deep, underlying layers of muscle and the connective tissue surrounding the muscles. “Deep tissue massage techniques are used to break up scar tissue and physically break down muscle ‘knots’ or adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue) that can disrupt circulation and cause pain, limited range of motion, and inflammation,” VeryWell Health says.

• Neuromuscular Massage

“Neuromuscular therapy is a form of soft tissue manipulation that aims to treat underlying causes of chronic pain involving the muscular and nervous systems,” the medical experts at WebMD say. “This medically-oriented form of massage addresses trigger points (tender muscles points), circulation, nerve compression, postural issues, and biomechanical problems that can be caused by repetitive movement injuries.”

• Stretching Massage

Stretching doesn’t just feel good, it can enhance your overall health and fitness. “Assisted stretching uses specific techniques to increase mobility and flexibility of a muscle or group of muscles,” Massage Magazine says. “It requires advanced training in the way the body moves.”

Every massage at our Chicago day spa is a custom massage, so you don’t have to decide on just one. Talk to your massage therapist about your goals.

Get the Royal Treatment at Spa Space

Are you a fan of the The Crown? If so, you will probably have a lot to talk about when you come in for a mani/pedi or a massage at our day spa in downtown Chicago because we have some serious fans of the Netflix show here at Spa Space of Chicago!

The fourth season of The Crown will be available on Nov. 15. And if you want to really immerse yourself in the drama surrounding the lives of Britain’s royal family, you will be thrilled to know that they are releasing all 10 episodes of the new episodes at once, so you can binge to your heart’s content!

As O The Oprah Winfrey Magazine reported, “Set in the ’80s, the fourth season will capture Diana Spencer’s introduction to the royal family. Pennyworth actress Emma Corrin will play the beloved “People’s Princess,” who married Prince Charles at the age of 20.”

In addition to Corrin, Gillian Anderson will be joining the cast as the Iron Lady, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The magazine also says, “Olivia Colman will reprise her role as Queen Elizabeth for one more season, before being replaced by Imelda Staunton for The Crown’s final two seasons.”

Based on a newly released teaser, The Crown will depict Charles and Diana’s wedding—and of course, the sapphire engagement ring that Kate Middleton now wears. The Crown will also focus on another relationship: Queen Elizabeth II and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, played by Gillian Anderson.

The Real Story

The Crown, of course, is fiction (something that Buckingham Palace would like to be emphasized a bit more). If you would like to learn a little bit more about the actual history of Queen Elizabeth II and the Windsor family, there is no shortage of entertaining sources.

Here are a few possibilities from IMDb:

• The Royal House of Windsor (2017)

The history of Britain’s ruling dynasty, the Windsors, over the last 100 years, starting with the time around the outbreak of WWI.

• Princess Margaret: The Rebel Royal (2018)

Documentary, Biography
How the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, for better or worse, fully embraced the great social changes of the 1960s and 70s, which reshaped both England’s social norms and the way people saw the royal family.

• Inside Windsor Castle (2017)

Documentary, Biography, History
Documentary series marking the centenary of the Windsor dynasty by examining the history of the royal residence over the last 80 years – using archive material, interviews and dramatic recreations.

• Elizabeth: Queen, Wife, Mother (2012 TV Movie)

Documentary
A delightful and intimate account of Queen Elizabeth as told by the people closest to her. Rare interviews with her husband, Prince Andrew, Duke of York and her grandchildren, Prince William and Prince Harry reveal private anecdotes about Queen Elizabeth as she grew up, got married and became a doting grandmother. With unrivalled access to Buckingham Palace and Clarence House, as well as previously unseen private material, the film is a total revelation on the real Elizabeth – a wife, mother and grandmother – as well as Britain’s longest reigning Queen.

• Good Housekeeping adds The Queen, starring Helen Mirren (isn’t she amazing?!).”Helen Mirren has actually played three queens on-screen: Elizabeth II here, Elizabeth I in a British television series, and Queen Charlotte in The Madness of King George.”

And when you are ready for the royal treatment, all you have to do is book a service for a body treatment, facial or custom massage at Spa Space of Chicago.

Spa Space Is Thankful for Chicago’s Essential Workers

All of us at Chicago’s Spa Space – from the therapists who deliver the best massages in Chicago to our skincare experts and from our manicurists and spa attendants to our managers – would like to sincerely thank all of the essential workers who have been showing up and taking care of the city day after day, ever since we first heard of Covid-19.

The pandemic is hard on everyone. Some people are dealing with crippling isolation. For some, the challenge comes from not being able to work. And for others – for our essential workers – the challenge lies in showing up for the community they serve despite the risk to their own health and safety.

You Have Our Thanks

The healthcare workers caring for Covid-19 patients are at the top of our list. The doctors and nurses in Chicago’s hospitals have demonstrated incredible compassion and grit as the pandemic stretches on and on. We are grateful to them – and to all of the support people who work in the hospital from the respiratory therapists to the cleaning crew.

They really are heroes. And we are thankful for all that they are doing.

There are countless others all across the city who are also leaving the safety of their homes and heading off to work at grocery stores and gas stations. There are people delivering everything from your mail to your pizza (not to mention all the boxes of stuff you have ordered online!).

Chicago’s first responders continue to put their lives on the line. And there are amazing people who venture out to volunteer at food banks and distribution sites.

If you would like to join the management and staff at our downtown Chicago spa in thanking essential workers, the United Way has put together a list of ways you can thank essential workers. Of course, the best way to show your appreciation is by wearing a face mask, maintaining a distance of six feet from others and washing your hands frequently.

Self-Care: Staying Active when the Temperatures Dip

We all know that self-care is essential to handling the stress and strain of life in the pandemic. Getting a regular massage at Spa Space of Chicago is definitely one way to care for yourself. Staying active and exercising is another.

If you are like us, you have probably been out walking the dog, meeting friends at the park or just stretching your legs and getting some fresh air on your lunch break. Being able to get out and enjoy the great outdoors has been such a blessing during these challenging times.

But, in case you hadn’t noticed, the temperatures are starting to drop. And going for a long walk might not be as pleasant in the middle of a Chicago winter as it was in the summer. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the health (physical and mental!) benefits of exercise.

Indoor Activities

There are ways besides shoveling snow to burn some calories and release some endorphins when the weather is just too cold to even think about going outside unless you absolutely have to. It doesn’t have to be trendy, it doesn’t even have to be pretty! Just find something that works for you and get up out of your chair.

Here are 2 ideas to get you started:

1 – Take the Stairs

You might not be able to get to the Stairmaster at the gym, but that’s not a problem if you have stairs in your house, your apartment building or even where you work.

2 – Let the Music Move You

The roads are too icy for dancing in the street, but there’s got to be some room somewhere in your home for you to bust a move. Put on the music you love and sway, salsa, twist or shake and shimmy. You’ll get your blood flowing and chances are you’ll put a smile on your face.

If you have indoor activities that are part of your self-care regimen, let us know. Here at Spa Space, voted the best spa in Chicago, we always love trying out new ideas.

Popular Pandemic Hobbies

Have you been baking sourdough bread? Catching up on your reading? Did you take up gardening over the summer? If so, you are not alone. Those are just a few of the hobbies that some of the amazing people who work at our day spa in downtown Chicago took up before we were allowed to reopen at the end of August.

People all around the world have been spending a lot more time at home this year due to lockdowns and quarantining as well as safety concerns. That left millions of people looking for a way to fill the time while they waited to go back to work or school and millions more who continue to seek entertainment at home until concerts, theaters and clubs make a comeback.

Popular Pandemic Hobbies

The folks at NerdBear conducted a survey to determine what we have been doing to keep ourselves occupied in the age of Covid-19. They surveyed 750 Americans and looked at Google Trends to determine the most popular hobbies in the U.S. during the coronavirus outbreak.

According to the survey, some of the most popular hobbies are:

• Watching TV and movies
• Reading (In fact, they report that “1 in 2 are reading to pass the time.”)

and

• Working out (The interest in home workouts is five times more popular than it was at the same time last year,” they said.)
• Arts and crafts and
• Playing board games

And, while we aren’t able to do much socializing in person, they found that, “People are using the time at home to connect with friends and family more.”

In fact, according to their survey, more than 25 percent of us say that we are talking to our friends and family more these days.

Staying connected and keeping busy are both great ways to reduce the stress we are all dealing with. So is getting a therapeutic massage at Chicago’s Spa Space!

There’s Never Been a Better Time to Discover Reiki

As you may have noticed when you visited Spa Space, we are one of the most innovative day spas in Chicago. We love being able to offer you a wide variety of spa experiences.

Reiki, which is considered a form of energy work, is not a new practice. It has been around since the 1920s. But it has only recently begun to find its way into spas as part of a wellness practice. It is even being used in some health settings.

What Is Reiki?

“Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing,” the International Center for Reiki Training tells us. “It is administered by ‘laying on hands’ and is based on the idea that an unseen ‘life force energy’ flows through us and is what causes us to be alive.”

The word reiki reflects the Japanese origins of the practice. Rei is the Japanese word for life force and ki is Japanese for energy.

“If one’s life force energy’ is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy,” the experts at the International Center for Reiki Training say.

Johns Hopkins Medicine is among the medical institutions that are recognizing that reiki can play a part in an integrative approach to health.

“Reiki is a very specific form of energy healing, in which hands are placed just off the body or lightly touching the body,” they say. “In a Reiki session, the practitioner is seeking to transmit Universal Life Energy to the client. The intention is to create deep relaxation, to help speed healing, reduce pain, and decrease other symptoms you may be experiencing.”

If you would like to know more about reiki, call Spa Space of Chicago at 312-465-5987.

A Massage for Your Pandemic Pal

Your regular appointment for a massage at Spa Space of Chicago may be on hold, but that doesn’t mean that every member of your family has to go without the benefits of a therapeutic spa massage.

Are you among the many who have adopted a dog in the weeks and months since Covid-19 turned our lives upside down? If so, we are so happy for you and your new family member! And we thought you might be interested to know that your dog may enjoy the benefits of nice a massage just as much as you do.

Dog Massage Therapy

“Massage does wonders for dogs,” Becky Brandenburg, B.A. ED., ESMT, CMT, an Ohio-based certified animal massage therapist and owner of Brandenburg Massage Therapy, told PetMD. “Full-body massage keeps the muscles moving and conditioned—touch can truly be healing.”

If your dog does not need professional massage for a medical condition, there are simple techniques you can use yourself that will help you form an even deeper bond with your pup. And chances are your dog isn’t the only one who will enjoy it.

“Not only is massaging your pet of benefit to them, but it is also of benefit to you,” Dr. Rachel Barrack, a New York City-based veterinarian and founder of Animal Acupuncture, told PetMD. “Studies have shown that petting a dog or cat can lower heart rate and blood pressure. Touching your pet will also cause your body to release oxytocin, a hormone that causes sensations of bonding and love.”

To get started, check out 4 Simple Dog Massage Therapy Techniques from PetMD.

Granted, you may not be as good as the massage therapist at Spa Space (how do you think we earn the top ranking among Chicago day spas year after year?), but we are sure your dog will think you are the very best.