In today's hectic lifestyle, it can be difficult to find a calm, peaceful, beautiful location to rest one's head, just for a moment, and take in the surroundings. Many people travel to faraway places by jet or by ship for just hours of addictive peace. Auburn residents need not seek any longer, however, because peace and beauty are right in their backyard in far more affordable packages.
Jason Rearick / The Citizen
Massage therapist Alice Hares performs Reiki, a form of therapy, on Dede Walter, at Casa di Bello on Genesee Street in Auburn. Reiki is a form of therapy that started in Japan to help harmonize the flow of energy through the body. In some of the 15 or more positions hands do not even need to be touching the body.
Massage therapist Alice Hares performs Reiki, a form of therapy, on Dede Walter, at Casa di Bello on Genesee Street in Auburn. Reiki is a form of therapy that started in Japan to help harmonize the flow of energy through the body. In some of the 15 or more positions hands do not even need to be touching the body.
Throughout the Auburn area a new trend is growing, offering peace and beauty to local residents just by letting them step through the door: the day spa. Once considered the domain of wealthy heiresses, day spas like Casa Di Bello Day Spa at 128 Genesee St., Suite 120; Oasis Day Spa at Joseph's Salon on 31 Columbus St. and others have opened their doors wide to peace and beauty-seeking women and men of all ages and salaries.
Casa di Bello, which means “House of Beauty” in Italian, is owned and operated by Heather West. Offering massage therapy, European facials, pedicures, manicures, waxing, hot stone facials, hot stone massage, aromatherapy, body wraps and body treatments, West says the spa does everything but hair.
Oasis Day Spa, located next to Joseph's Salon, which recently opened in June, came to exist because owner Joseph Chindamo, an Auburn native, has kept his eye on the beauty market for several years and saw a growing trend in spa services while running his salon.
“Over the years, one of my goals was to get the pulse of how other people do things too, as far as running a corporation and education,” Chindamo said. Oasis offers a full service hair salon, pedicures, manicures, tanning, facials, massage and more.
Both owners agree that spa services are becoming more popular amongst the general population, but they differ in their explanations for the growing trend. According to West, customers are beginning to see the benefits to the body and skin of facials and massage, and pedicures are a new luxury item.
“People are starting to take care of their skin, especially those who have tanned,” West said. West also said that her massage therapist, Alice Hares, receives many clients who suffer from neck injuries, back problems and more who feel that they benefit from the treatments.
“They're opening up their horizons,” she said. “People are trying to get away from medication.”
Chindamo, a salon owner first and day spa owner second, has a different perspective on the quickly growing business.
“I think because it's one of those feel-good businesses it makes people feel better; it relaxes them and it de-stresses them,” said Chindamo, who added that the day spa and salon are a benefit to large wedding parties for getting ready for the big day.
At both salons a customer can purchase a tailored day of peace, mixing and matching services.
The clientele at both spas has become far more varied than day spas of the past. At Oasis, clientele can include singles, or even a mother and daughter duo having their hair and nails done for an anniversary party. According to Chindamo, his elderly clientele often enjoy manicures and pedicures, with younger clientele going with tanning, massage and facials.
At Casa, West definitely believes that her clientele has changed, saying that she keeps her prices as low as she can to keep all of her clients coming back.
West created Casa after graduating from the Aesthetician Continental School of Beauty Culture in Rochester. Aesthetician, though a large word, simply means a professional who is trained to work with individuals' skin. “Before, I think that you would only see wealthy people or people who were on vacation in spas. Now it's more of an average commodity,” said West, adding, “I think that most of my clients are becoming aware of what their skin may be like and noticing the aging process and having joint aches and pains.”
In forming Oasis, Chindamo's philosophy of spa popularity differs, but is on the same track with assessing his clientele. Chindamo thinks that spas are growing in popularity as more women have become single parents, and/or gone further into the working class than they did 30 years ago, citing the daily stress of working, raising children and maintaining a household as a reason for a trip to the spa.
On the spa, Chindamo says that from past experience it is a good add-on service and it is “definitely needed.” West states that she thinks future customers will yield to more facials and massage and that many salons and gyms will add facials and more to their services, citing that the YMCA already has a massage therapist available and that some gyms also feature a chiropractor.
“I think that people are becoming more aware of the damages of stress and what it does to you,” West said. “People are trying to take care of themselves.”
Casa di Bello, which means “House of Beauty” in Italian, is owned and operated by Heather West. Offering massage therapy, European facials, pedicures, manicures, waxing, hot stone facials, hot stone massage, aromatherapy, body wraps and body treatments, West says the spa does everything but hair.
Oasis Day Spa, located next to Joseph's Salon, which recently opened in June, came to exist because owner Joseph Chindamo, an Auburn native, has kept his eye on the beauty market for several years and saw a growing trend in spa services while running his salon.
“Over the years, one of my goals was to get the pulse of how other people do things too, as far as running a corporation and education,” Chindamo said. Oasis offers a full service hair salon, pedicures, manicures, tanning, facials, massage and more.
Both owners agree that spa services are becoming more popular amongst the general population, but they differ in their explanations for the growing trend. According to West, customers are beginning to see the benefits to the body and skin of facials and massage, and pedicures are a new luxury item.
“People are starting to take care of their skin, especially those who have tanned,” West said. West also said that her massage therapist, Alice Hares, receives many clients who suffer from neck injuries, back problems and more who feel that they benefit from the treatments.
“They're opening up their horizons,” she said. “People are trying to get away from medication.”
Chindamo, a salon owner first and day spa owner second, has a different perspective on the quickly growing business.
“I think because it's one of those feel-good businesses it makes people feel better; it relaxes them and it de-stresses them,” said Chindamo, who added that the day spa and salon are a benefit to large wedding parties for getting ready for the big day.
At both salons a customer can purchase a tailored day of peace, mixing and matching services.
The clientele at both spas has become far more varied than day spas of the past. At Oasis, clientele can include singles, or even a mother and daughter duo having their hair and nails done for an anniversary party. According to Chindamo, his elderly clientele often enjoy manicures and pedicures, with younger clientele going with tanning, massage and facials.
At Casa, West definitely believes that her clientele has changed, saying that she keeps her prices as low as she can to keep all of her clients coming back.
West created Casa after graduating from the Aesthetician Continental School of Beauty Culture in Rochester. Aesthetician, though a large word, simply means a professional who is trained to work with individuals' skin. “Before, I think that you would only see wealthy people or people who were on vacation in spas. Now it's more of an average commodity,” said West, adding, “I think that most of my clients are becoming aware of what their skin may be like and noticing the aging process and having joint aches and pains.”
In forming Oasis, Chindamo's philosophy of spa popularity differs, but is on the same track with assessing his clientele. Chindamo thinks that spas are growing in popularity as more women have become single parents, and/or gone further into the working class than they did 30 years ago, citing the daily stress of working, raising children and maintaining a household as a reason for a trip to the spa.
On the spa, Chindamo says that from past experience it is a good add-on service and it is “definitely needed.” West states that she thinks future customers will yield to more facials and massage and that many salons and gyms will add facials and more to their services, citing that the YMCA already has a massage therapist available and that some gyms also feature a chiropractor.
“I think that people are becoming more aware of the damages of stress and what it does to you,” West said. “People are trying to take care of themselves.”
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