Spa Space Blog

You have liked every post, tweet and meme celebrating self-care Sunday, but somehow you still haven’t managed to carve out the time to take care of you. We get it. Really. Spa Space Chicago’s massage therapists, our aestheticians and talented nail techs and, basically, every friendly face you see when you visit our day spa in downtown Chicago, faces the same challenges. 

You’ve been meaning to make self-care a priority, but the weekends seem to fly by so quickly. You’re out of milk and almost out of cat food (gasp!), you promised your friend you would meet her at the dog park and there’s that new place you’ve been wanting to check out that is supposed to have a fabulous Sunday brunch. 

Everything you add to your to-do list seems to bump self-care further down on the list and before you know it, it is Monday morning. As you drag yourself out of bed and prepare to start the week feeling tired and drained, you once again make a pledge to celebrate self-care Sunday. 

Self-Care Sundays at the Spa

When it comes to establishing a new habit or routine, we could all use a little help now and then. Fortunately, for all of you who have been really meaning to make self-care part of your Sunday ritual, our day spa in downtown Chicago is open on Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm. 

Make a standing appointment for a mani/pedi on Sunday afternoon. Let one of our expert massage therapists ease the tension that built up over the past week from your shoulders. Once you begin to get into the habit of taking care of yourself – and once you start to experience the benefits of celebrating self-care Sunday – it will be easier for you to make an appointment with yourself to celebrate with a spa day at home. 

Making an appointment at Spa Space Chicago for a facial, a massage or a wellness treatment can offer the structure and reinforcement you may need to start making self-care an automatic part of your weekend routine. To get started, contact us or book your appointment online.

Did you know that our day spa in downtown Chicago offers med spa services as well as the best massages in Chicago?  That’s right, Spa Space Chicago is proud to partner with Old Town Med Spa & MD Brothers to bring you cutting age med spa services, including Ultherapy®. 

For those of you who may not be familiar with Ultherapy, it is the only FDA-cleared, non-invasive procedure that lifts the neck, chin and brow, and it also improves lines and wrinkles on your décolletage. 

How Ultherapy Works

Ultherapy uses micro-focused ultrasound waves to generate heat under your skin, which stimulates your body to produce collagen. Collagen is a natural protein that is responsible for giving your skin its youthful appearance. As the years pass, the collagen that kept your face and neck looking fresh, firm and toned begins to break down. That’s what makes your skin loose its suppleness and elasticity.

The key to Ultherapy’s effectiveness is ultrasound therapy, which:

• Delivers energy exactly where it will benefit you the most.
• Is non-invasive. 
• Offers natural-looking results that improve with time.
• Penetrates deeper than other non-invasive treatments. 
• Stimulates production of collagen.
• Allows MD Brothers – Dr. Nael Gharbi and Dr. Shazel Gharb – to see the layers of tissue they are treating. 

Benefits of Ultherapy at Chicago’s Spa Space 

Ultherapy is an excellent option if you are bothered by sagging or loose skin under your chin, on your neck or even around your brows. It can also be used to target lines and wrinkles on your upper chest. 

Ultherapy delivers results without the need for surgery and:

• Is a noninvasive treatment that will not affect the surface of your skin.
• There’s no downtime. 
• Is backed by a scientific record of proven results. 
• Most patients see results with just one treatment.
• Is cleared by the FDA (Federal Food and Drug Administration) as a noninvasive procedure for lifting the skin on the neck, under the chin and on the brow as well as diminishing lines and wrinkles on your décolletage.

If you would like more information about Ultherapy or would like to schedule a consultation with MD Brothers, all you have to do is contact us here at Spa Space, one of the most innovative day spas in Chicago. 

At Spa Space Chicago, we pride ourselves on being among the most innovative and progressive day spas in Chicago. We want to be known not just as the best spa in downtown Chicago (although we do love that and appreciate everyone who voted for us!) but also a wellness destination where you can find a way to incorporate healing self-care into your life. 

Offering reiki, a Japanese relaxation technique that slows down the mind and raises the physical body’s frequency, is one of the innovative ways we do that. 

What Is Reiki?

As the Cleveland Clinic Center for Integrative Medicine explains, “Reiki is hands-on natural healing using the universal life force energy. The term comes from the Japanese words ‘rei.’ meaning universal, and ‘ki,’ which means vital life force energy that flows through all living things. Reiki, an abundant, gentle spiritual energy is not tied to any specific religion or nationality.

At the University of Minnesota’s Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing, they try to answer the question How does reiki work?  “At the simplest, most obvious level,” they say, “it appears that Reiki treatment helps lessen the impact of stress, releasing tension from the entire system. Not only does the person move toward his or her own unique balance in body, mind and spirit, but also, depending on the level of physical health when Reiki begins, the body’s own healing mechanisms often begin functioning more effectively.”

Acupuncture, shiatsu and qigong are also among the many complementary treatments that work by trying to restore balance to the body. “Reiki appears to be the subtlest of these therapies, balancing the recipient through subtle Reiki vibrations rather than through manipulation or even the gentlest force,” the experts at the Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing say. 

A Reiki session at Spa Space will not only relax you but also shift the way you approach your daily life, as well as better connect you to your desires and purpose. A 75-minute service you will not forget! Note: This specialized treatment has limited availability, so please call in advance to schedule. 

Reiki is one of the most popular wellness treatments at Spa Space Chicago. If you would like to know more, contact us. If you would like to give reiki a try, you can book an online appointment  at our spa in downtown Chicago.

Stress is nothing new. Your life might have been stressful before the pandemic hit. Before there were day spas in Chicago, people had plenty of things to be stressed about (like the lack of spas in Chicago!). Heck, as far back as you can imagine, there was stress. 

There was a famous Calgon television commercial from the 1970s that you might (or might not!) recall that featured a stressed-out working mother who just couldn’t take it anymore. When the stress got to her, she turned to her bubble bath to “take her away”” from the tribulations of her day. (Of course, if that woman lived in the Windy City today, she wouldn’t need Calgon. She could head to our day spa in Chicago for some much-needed pampering.)

In other words, stress isn’t new. What is new is the options we have for relieving it. 

Some Things Never Change

You may not realize it, but you probably have a lot in common with that woman from the decades-old vintage advertisement. The particular things we stress over might change but women then and women today – maybe even you – all too often get caught up in the busy-ness of their world.

“Modern life means beating deadlines, virtual home offices, and homeschooling, and information overload from multiple social media sites, not to mention keeping your home clean, cooking, remembering to shower, and trying to maintain a social life while social distancing,” the folks at the Compounding Pharmacy of America say. “Your current lifestyle is likely bombarding you with stressors that impact not only your physical body but your mental health as well. Trying to juggle so many demands can leave your body and mind stuck in fight or flight response.”

The key to overall wellness is addressing the emotional issues before they become physical ones, such as:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Loss of sleep
• Trouble concentrating

“More and more people realize the importance of a reset for your body and mind that today’s modern spa treatments provide,” the Compounding Pharmacy of America says. “Spa therapy can offer you an enjoyable way to release accumulated stress from your body and reap the benefits that relaxation can provide as a part of your healthy lifestyle.”

If you are in need of some healthy relaxation, check out the delicious spa services, including the amazing facials and massages at our Chicago day spa. Call 312-466-9585 if you have any questions. We are here for you!

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.