Where does Spa Day take place? At fine spas & salons throughout the greater Los Angeles area (including Santa Barbara, Laguna Beach, and Palm Springs) and San Francisco area (including Carmel, Berkley, and the wine country), on Wednesday, November 17, 2004.

Spa Day's concept is simple: On November 17th, people all over California will take to the massage or facial tables at scores of the best spas and high-end salons. Participating local spas contribute 20 percent of their day's services and gift certificate revenues to Aid For AIDS and Project Open Hand and, in return, receive extensive media and promotion coverage.

"We encourage our listed California spa members and readers to participate in this very worthy cause. We are pleased to share this information with our entire spa community, and call attention to those generous spas which have already committed to participating (shown below)." -- SpaWire.com and SpaIndex.Com Staff

(Budapest Sun Aug 19, 2004)

A pool of orange-brown water with globules of fat and a metallic glint gathers at Claire Spedding's feet. As she peers into the murky bowl, she enthuses: "Look, it's working.''

The gunge pouring out of her feet represents the toxins from her fake tan, her amalgam filling and her husband's love of cooking over-rich food for the family. Claire, a mother-of-three from Langley Road, Frizington is a convert to the latest way of cleaning out the body. The Platinum Detox machine is the must-have health gadget of the moment. You sit with your feet in a bowl of warm water sprinkled with salt, switch on the machine and watch the debris from your blocked-up lymphatic system empty into the bowl. Claire sips Elderflower juice to keep her body hydrated as the machine does its work. The process works, say the experts, by electrifying the water in the foot spa. The pores open and the rubbish from your system simply starts to drain away.

(News & Star, Aug 19, 2004)

(WebMD Aug 16, 2004)

The Xenon Foundation is offering a new scholarship campaign for those wanting to become nail technicians. Four $800 scholarships will be awarded in October to the winners of a contest that asks applicants to prove their passion and dedication on video.

After successfully awarding more than $15,000 in scholarships to three recipients entering the specialties of cosmetology and esthetics, The Xenon Foundation is offering a new scholarship campaign for those wanting to become nail technicians. Four $800 scholarships will be awarded in October to the winners of a contest that asks applicants to prove their passion and dedication on video. "Thanks to the generous donation from OPI, we are able to offer four nail scholarships instead of just one," explained Frank Cacciato, president of the Xenon Foundation. "And with the ongoing support from our industry, we can continue to offer opportunities like these to those who want to become a part of it." To enter, applicants must download the application form from www.xenonfoundation.org and submit it along with a $25 application fee and a five- to 10- minute video presentation explaining their passion, why they want a career in nails and why they should be selected. Creativity is encouraged and expected as the video must be made without any assistance from professional sources. The deadline for video submissions is Sept. 15.

Melinda Minton, founder of Minton Business Solutions and The Spa Association will be teaching a one day Spa Management Intensive course, in Chicago, Illinois, on October 14, 2004. The course is designed for those individuals interested in opening a spa, currently managing or operating a spa, or wanting additional firsthand, immediately useful information and continuing education. Spa owners and managers will quickly get up to speed with operations and management issues. The class topics will include retail, marketing, spa programming, guerilla management, customer service, financial management, spa profitability, operational systems and more.

Spa Management Intensive will be held at the Club Industry Conference at McCormick Convention Center in downtown Chicago and will be offered at a discounted rate of only $495, reduced from the usual price of $1,495. Those who sign up before September 15, 2004 will receive one free ticket to the conference.

The Leonardo da Vinci Programme has awarded EU funding to Spa Concept, the spa consultancy arm of Estetika, for the organisation of a formal exchange of aestheticians, spa therapists and managers between Maltese and other European Beauty and Spa centres, which will run until next June.

(Business Weekly Online, Aug 19, 2004)

Aromatherapy has come into the "on-the-go" age with a luxurious, fragrant, wearable body patch. Aromatic essential oils are gently delivered with the warmth of your skin for up to 4 hours of time- released pure, natural fragrance. Aromatherapy never had it so easy.

According to Dr. Alan R. Hirsch of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, "The quickest way to change a mood state, quicker than with any other sensual modality, is with smell." The aromas of Relax Patches stimulate major sensory organs, creating a joyful inner feeling that elevates both mind and body, providing you with a fast and easy mood-enhancing and stress-reducing experience.

Relax Patches are individually foil-wrapped, with a skin-friendly water-based formula. Apply patch to shoulders, upper arms, forehead, temple or anywhere the scent can be easily pick up by the nose. It's convenient, easy to use and allows you to utilize aromatherapy anywhere and anytime.

SpaWire staff was lucky to sample the Relax Patches Collection (12 patches: 3 Eucalyptus, 3 Lavender, 3 Rose, and 3 Rosemary). To a staff member, we were delighted with this trans-dermal method of delivering aromatherapy throughout the day. While the patch indicates a 4 hour time range, we found the Lavender still active and pleasant smelling a full 12 hours later. The patches are comfortable, soft, are not sticky or gummy, and yet adhere to the skin with ease. The individually wrapped patches fit easily in your purse, gym bag, or cosmetic pouch, and permit a quick pick me up during the day or after a work- out. We highly recommend the very unique, and very affordable, Zenses Relax Patches for your spa's retail shelves, or as a token thank you in your cards and notes to your clients.

As the number of overweight Americans continues to increase, people are paying more attention to what they eat -- even when on vacation. While vacations are almost synonymous with overeating, a cruise ship will offer healthy foods and the world's leading authorities and experts as part of the Holistic Holiday at Sea: Voyage to Well-Being II, February 27 - March 6.

A new Health and Fitness Show in San Francisco Bay Area is looking for Exhibitors. The all new annual Bay Area Health and Fitness Show is coming to Alameda, CA on Feb. 5 & 6, 2005. Hundreds of exciting new products and services will be featured such as low carb and organic foods, vitamins, fitness centers, weight loss programs, spas, resorts, massage therapists, skin and body care, sporting goods, sportswear, and many other health related items. Health screenings will also be conducted for people interested in checking their cholesterol, body fat percentage, blood pressure, spine alignment, and other health concerns.

Show information can be found online or you can speak to a show director anytime by calling (650) 219-3110 or emailing valeriek@wcishows.com. This is a great event for any local and nationwide business involved with health, fitness, nutrition, or recreation.

Myotonology®, Inc. has taken "The Art of Facial Rejuvenation" to a new level. The results from the latest clinical trials in June 2004 of Myotonology® Facial Toning System have proven that fine lines disappeared, crow's feet and laugh lines were dramatically reduced, and prominent nasolabial folds (smile lines) were greatly diminished. The physician who conducted the medical trials, Gary Foresman, MD stated, "The treatments are safe, relaxing, and enjoyable, with no recovery time required. I recommend Myotonology® as the first line of treatment in facial rejuvenation for my patients."

Sew & Sew Massage Therapy Products has been supplying quality products to massage table manufacturers for almost a decade. Sew and Sew now markets its products directly to massage therapists and massage schools. Massage therapy studios, independent massage therapists, massage schools and colleges, spas and health clubs may purchase high-quality massage table coverings, carry cases and accessories directly from Sew and Sew, at competitive wholesale prices.

Sew and Sew offers a wide selection of massage table sheets, face rest covers, fleece products, holsters, one-of-a-kind domestic flannel and fleece accessories which put your clients in the lap of luxury. All Sew & Sew products are sewn by American workers using the finest American fabrics, and adhere to our highest quality standards.

SpaWire and Sew and Sew have teamed together to provide one lucky SpaWire Forum participant with a complimentary set of luxury designer linens for a massage therapy room. The gift set will include a fitted sheet, top sheet, and face rest cover.

The SpaWire and Sew and Sew promotion is simple: All registered users of the forum who actively participate in any SpaWire Forum discussion during the month of August (introductory "hello" posts not included), will be entered in a drawing, and at the end of the month, one random registered user will receive a complimentary set of designer massage table linens. There is no obligation to purchase and you will not be emailed, spammed, or required to do anything except actively participate in our forum. Quantity of posts is not an issue, so don't spam the Board, please. Excessive non-topic posts will disqualify the participant. Browse our boards and feel free to post in any category of interest to you. The link to the SpaWire Forum is shown at the bottom of this newsletter. All SpaWire Forum registered users are invited to participate.