She's here!

Dear clients and friends:

 

We won't be checking voice mail for a few days. Haven Lea was born on Christmas Eve at 9:11 AM. 8lbs 8oz, 20 3/4" long. We were able to have her at home in the water. Amazing!

 

Happy Holidays!

~Lizz and Jay

Update (Part Two): Gift Certificates

Jay and I decided that we are going to sell holiday gift certificates for 2008, however, we are only going to sell housecalls with Jay.

This means that when I come back to work, I will also honor those gift certificates. It means that when we have an office location again, the customer can apply the value of the housecall to an office visit (and end up with a longer treatment to boot!).

However, this in turn means that I can take my time coming back to work and we can wait to find an office location (hopefully the same one, cause we love the office so much!).

Don't panic! I'm not saying that I'm not coming back! I love massage and can't imagine doing anything else, so take heart--I'm not abandoning my beloved clients.

This way, however, clients will understand that they will be getting a massage with a male therapist if they use their gift certificate early in the year and there is a strong possibility he is the only one that will be available later on. There will be no misunderstandings.

(Again, not saying that I'm not coming back--just giving myself OPTIONS. Since I'm a first time mommy (or will be soon) I want to make sure I leave all possible doors open.)

As always, no refunds on gift certificates. And, as always, they will be beautifully customized for your recipient and, if mailed, printed on nice paper with gold edging in beautiful full-color and placed in a hand-made gift certificate holder.

Update! (Part One)

Jay and I recently enjoyed another "She Crop" at K2 Scrapbook Studio. (This is also where I had my baby shower.) Wonderful photographers provide their services for scrapbooking ladies--because we're always the ones taking the photos rather than being in them!

I had such a great selection of photos from the first time that I decided to do the November She Crop and get some good pictures of the two of us together. Here are two of my favorites:

Baby Shower Photo

For the customers who have sent me emails saying, "Just how big are you now?" This photo is from my baby shower on Sunday.

I had a chance to look at the various digital camera photos and disposable camera ones that we got developed (which, by the way--anyone else think film development prices are ridiculous these days???). All I could think was, "Boy, I look fat!" And that thought was quickly followed by, "Oh yeah--DUH! I'm eight months pregnant!"



Another common question that I've gotten via email, "how are things going now that you're a lady of leisure?"

Jay likes to tease me because I just can't be un-busy. I have to have stuff going on. I have to have projects, or be learning something, or be busy with friends and acquaintances. This is my second week of maternity leave and I haven't had a day off yet!

Thanks to everyone for their well-wishes.

Jay is still taking appointments in the evenings and has a few openings left between now and Nov 24 when he'll be taking time off as well. Call me if you'd like to see him. 941-321-5311

Best,
Lizz

Common Referral Request

One of the more common requests that I get from my cutomers is for someone who does web design. Locally, I highly (highly highly highly) recommend Pat Simmons from Web Wise Concepts (www.webwiseconcepts.com) for your professional web design.

Some people don't want to pay to have their site done by a professional, however. For you, I would say to find a company that offers a wide range of designs (so that you don't have a site that looks like everyone else's), has customer service available BY PHONE, and that is easy to use.

Homestead offers small business website design, including web design for real estate. They also offer custom website design and ecommerce web design functions!

Regardless of whether you do it yourself or pay them to do it for you, YOU have control of making easy changes to your site.

In case you're curious about who did our massage therapy website, the answer is... ME! Some of my clients don't know this, but my background is actually in graphic design and computers. (A bit of a stretch, but my brain loves both creative and logical stuff.)

Officially on Maternity Leave

My 31-week checkup was today and as per doctor I am no longer performing massages. (I knew it was going to be the 26th or the 31st, but after pulling a muscle in my back after a massage yesterday, sooner was better.)

I have a few more scheduled clients that I need to get in touch with and break the bad news to, but other than that, everything is looking up! Baby is doing great, I'm doing great, disability paperwork is filled out and ready to be filed *crosses fingers*, and I've got a lot of great ideas for articles to work on while I'm resting.

I'll still be available via 941-321-5311 or email to answer questions, take gift certificate orders, and schedule appointments for Jay.

I am so very touched!

When you see someone every week, or even just every month, for a long period of time they become a part of your life. Some of my regular clients have been with me for almost four years! Others have been coming every week for months and months. I get used to seeing them, getting updates on their lives, hearing the exciting things that are happening...

Several of my clients over the last two weeks have expressed that they are going to miss me just as much as I am going to miss them. I am so touched by this--I can't really even find the words.

I look forward to getting back to work in late February or March and seeing all of you again! Thank you so much for your support over the past four years (or six months, or few days...)

Please keep checking back to find out updated information about both the business and about this new mommy-to-be.

Modified October Special (November too!)

Our original October special was for couple's massage: come to the office with a friend, family member, or someone you've grabbed off the street for a couple's massage and get $20 off!

Well, we had a great response to that. In fact, we continued to have a great response even after my appointment book was full.

So, I've decided to modify our October special and also extend it into November.

Have Jay come out for a housecall and add a family member, friend, etc. (you get the idea). The first massage will be our regular housecall price, however each additional massage afterwards will be at the in-office price.

Example:
- Choose the service you wish to receive
- For our basic service area (call to confirm you're in it our outside of it) add $20 to change it into a housecall
- Use our regular office service price for each person afterwards

75-minute relaxation massage: $80
Add $20 for housecall: $100
Add $80 for second person: $180
Normal housecall price: $200
Save: $20!

Depending on the service area you are in, you can save more than $50!

(Normal Per Person: Basic service area adds $20. Secondary adds $30. Extended adds $50.)

Call me today at 941-321-5311 to book your housecall (or regular office visit) with Jay today!

Link about electronics

I've been considering a new digital camera for our "before and after" photos as well as one or two lights. Of course, this is going to come next year after baby!

I found a product review website called Zinju that seems to have a lot of different products. It was very easy for me to search for "digital cameras". You can compare prices and look at features as well. The site's currently in beta-hope they stick around!

Electronics seems to be a topic that comes up with some of my clients, so I thought I'd share.

October Newsletter

End of October... *sighs*
Please read this important note about Lizz and Jay's schedule


Dear Clients:

It is with a very heavy belly (and heart) that I write this newsletter update. Originally I had intended to offer massage until a few weeks before my due date. Boy, if I had only known how ambitious that was!

After a long discussion with Jay and my doctor, its been decided that my last day to offer massages will likely be either October 26th or Wednesday, October 31. This is sooner than I had intended, however I am looking forward to the chance to get some extra rest before dealing with a newbornand our first at that!

At this point I have as many clients as I can handle between now and the end of the month. In fact, I even have a waiting list of clients who are hoping someone else cancels so they can get in!

Jay will be offering massages until Friday, November 23. At that point we are closing down the office and are both going to be on leave until sometime in mid to late February.

We will still be checking email and voice messages, and aside from the few days surrounding the actual birth any holiday gift certificates will still be mailed or emailed within 24 hours.

Jay is staying home to help me around the house while Im big, exhausted, and awkward, and is going to continue to help out until our household routine is established and the initial excitement calms down after the birth. Hell be back to massaging straight after, however!

Ill be back to work as soon as my doctor clears me. He says at least six weeks after the birth at the soonest. Im due Dec 23, but since its my first, that could mean six weeks after mid-December to mid-January. For now I'm planning on mid to late February.

We ARE both coming back into the massage world! As tempting as being a stay at home mom is, Id be crawling the walls, and financially its not workable right now either. So have heartI know youll miss me, but I also know that the majority of you will understand completely and are supportive.

We're also going to have our yearly specials on gift certificates for the holidays as well, so if you need some, just give me a call!

It is likely that while Im on maternity leave we will wait to reestablish our office location. Jay will offer house calls in the meantime.

Thank you for your patience. Ill update our online blog as often as I can.

If you have ANY questions or need a referral to a massage therapist in the meantime, please give me a call! 941-321-5311

Blessings to you all,
Lizz

PS: Many of our clients have asked, "what are you going to do with yourself?" The main answer is: get the house ready and rest! I've also found a lovely massage therapist who is going to teach me how to do insurance billing, something I've wanted to expand into but haven't had the time (or someone to show me) to do so. This means we'll be able to accept physician referrals and accept insurance. Hopefully we'll be able to expand our client base and include those who couldn't otherwise afford massage.

Another question I've been frequently asked is where am I registered. The answer is Target and BabiesRUs. (If you can't find me under Lizz Pugh, try Elizabeth Pugh.)

October Special

October Special: $20 off in-office couple's massages!

To figure out the price of your couple's massage, multiply the price per massage times two and then subtract $20.

1 hour: $65/pp
75 minutes: $80/pp
90 minutes: $90/pp

Call 941-321-5311 today to book your Sarasota Couple's Massage with Light Weaver Massage & Esthetics.

Why stop there???

Many of our clients will call us at least once a year with an “emergency” need for an appointment. Basically this means that they played weekend warrior, twisted their neck wrong, have an incredible headache, or otherwise just want to get out of pain as quickly as possible.

I can consistently reduce a headache from a “10” to under a “4” in one session. Not for every single person (I have had a few that I’ve not been able to help, but 90% of my clients get relief) but for the great majority of them. I can help someone who can barely stand up to be able to function again.

But why stop there?

I know that this may sound like a bit of a nagging post (and it is) because most of my clients have heard this before. Instead of only coming in for pain relief when you’re actually in pain, why not reduce the number of times you need to do this by improving the health of your muscles?

Example:

Client A comes to me once every two months or so because he has a very bad headache and can’t function. Client A spends about $600 a year on massage just for pain relief. He also is constantly taking over the counter drugs to manage the smaller headaches he gets. Sometimes he remembers to use contrast therapy at home (alternating a hot pack and an ice pack) on his muscles, but not often.

Client B came to me initially because of a headache, very similar to A’s, but instead of waiting until the next time she had one, she made follow-up appointments. Client B came to see me again within a few days and again within a week. She’s come in for half-hour treatments a few times when she feels like her muscles are getting a little tight. She’s much better with self-care as well and will take the time to stretch and move around while she’s at work. She also isn’t afraid to tuck an ice pack or heating pad (for the recommended amount of time and no more) while she’s watching television at night. Client B hasn’t had a debilitating headache since her treatments. Instead she’s spent a lot less than Client A and has a better quality of life.

I realize that pain is what motivates us. It’s immediate, it’s acute, and it certainly grabs our attention. Just try to hit your thumb with a hammer or stub your little toe really hard and then ignore it. We get in pain, want to fix it, and then forget about it until the next time we experience that dreadful feeling.

Clients, you’re worth it. You really are. You are worth taking a minute out of your day for self care. You are worth drinking a few glasses of water extra a day. You are worth taking the time to come in and actually make an improvement in your health and well-being. I swear it! I know that you have demands from your bosses, your coworkers, your spouses, your children, even the family dog… Many of my clients are also heavily involved in volunteering, sports, church, or other activities. I get that it takes a large part of your time.

But make time for you. Please. When you have an issue that you know massage helps, stay the course. Get your relief from the more demanding pain and then come back a couple of times within the next two weeks. Let’s break the pain pattern and help your muscle increase it’s flexibility and range of motion. Let’s dissolve the adhesions (knots) and allow the extra blood flow (nutrients and oxygen) to give your muscle a chance to heal.

Pretty please? With sugar on top?

You’ll be more productive in your daily life and ENJOY that daily life more. Isn’t that worth it?

Okay, I’ll step off my little soap box now. Blame it on the hormones, if you like. *grin*

Campaign-Negative Keywords

Chances are unless you were referred to us by a current client of ours, you went to Google and typed in something like “Sarasota Massage”. We came up either on the side or on top as a paid listing and somewhere on the first two pages as a regular listing. Sound familiar?

Unfortunately while Google is one of our best tools for allowing potential clients to find us it is also sometimes misleading.

We use what are called “campaign negative keywords”. Basically we took all the potentially misleading terms that could be paired with massage and made sure that if the user searched for those terms we wouldn’t come up.

Why is this important?

We’re a legitimate family-owned business and offer only legal and ethical services within our scope of practice. Unfortunately illicit services often use “massage” as a cover for their “extras” and it can be confusing to the person trying to find those services as to who actually offers them.

Because a series of keywords has developed that are often used to hint that these services are available, they’ve become associated with the search engines. Type in the word massage and one of the other key words and you may end up with contact numbers for these shady offerings. Or, you may end up on a therapist’s website that accidentally used one of them on their pages.

This is a problem because as the “code words” become more and more creative, it’s more likely that a legitimate service is going to come up under them. Recently I learned, for example, that “alternative” is now being paired with the word massage and men get the idea that these services are available. Now, because I want us to be searchable under “alternative health” or “alternative pain relief” I’m not going to turn the world alternative into a campaign negative keyword.

See my problem? That’s just one of the many words that are being used. I had hoped that our proclamation that we only offer legitimate services (on the first page of our website, no less!) would make these characters go somewhere else, but I still get the occasional phone call or email asking if we include those items in our offerings.

This is just a little blog update because it’s been on my mind lately and I know that some search engine referrals do end up reading this blog prior to booking an appointment.

Update on Susan

Susan came in last night for a peel. I hadn't seen her in awhile.

She used her PCA face wash, moisturizer with SPF, and eyeExcellence the entire time but did run out of her serums for a time. (She said, after purchasing a new Anti-Aging kit, that she noticed a definate improvement after a few days when she added them back.)

The texture of her skin is fabulous. It's slightly tighter than before and feels much more hydrated. The fine lines around her mouth are improved as are the ones around her eyes. She still has the cute freckles sprinkled across her face, but the unwanted hyperpigmentation is much less visible to the naked eye.

We're going to do our best to stick to a 4-week peel schedule again. Stay tuned.

Want to have chair massage at your event?

Lately I've been contacted by scrapbooking events, quilting events, and a few other fund-raiser type get togethers.

If you would like to have me come out, at no cost to the charity or organizers, this is what needs to happen:

- We do have a minimum amount of massage slots that we will need to fill, usually 2 hours' worth. This is based on the date/time of the event and how far away it is.
- Average pricing is usually $10 for 10 minutes; this is paid to us directly from the individual chair massage recipients. (Alternatively you may sell tickets for whatever price you wish and pay us our per recipient rate as a fundraiser.)
- We will need as much notice before the event as possible.
- We will have to have enough room to work in.
- We will have to be indoors with air conditioning. Outside events in the wintertime, if in a 100% shaded area, are negotiable. Anything over 80 degrees outside or in the sun and we can't do it.
- Attendees should know far in advance that we will be making this service available and they should be prepared to bring along extra money or a check.

Please call Lizz at 941-321-5311 to discuss this more if you are interested!

26 weeks and counting

This is a brief pregnancy update for those who are wondering:

I feel great.

I'm still planning on working as long as I possibly can. (So far I've only hit two clients with my belly on accident. Very embarassing! I think I have it under control now, though!)

I'm only taking 2.5 hours of massage a day and one sit-down appointment (IE: facial or eyelash tinting) and I'm making sure I get at least two full days off a week. (Usually Sunday and a weekday.) I've also been (to my surprise) turning down hot stone massages. It's just far too hot! (Jay, however, is more than happy to help you out with this and I may reoffer hot stone myself when the weather gets a little cooler!)

You may notice that I'm sipping Orange Juice during your session (hopefully discreetly!) rather than my normal water. This is to help keep my energy up and avoid drops in my blood sugar level.

Jay has been kind enough to give me regular massages. I used to think that a massage a week was just the ultimate but now... I'm getting 2 or 3! Let me tell you--I don't think I'll be able to go back. *grin*

Um... what else? I'm trying to think of questions that clients have asked. Most of you have been very supportive, and that's appreciated. I've had redirect a few of you back to focusing on your session, but your enthusiasm and excitement for me is very touching. Thank you!

I'm not inviting any of my clients to my baby shower. I've had a few ask, but I feel that's crossing a boundary. However, I'm toying with the idea of having a holiday open house so that clients can come in and see me right before I stop working if they want to. (Or maybe one in January for clients that want to meet the new addition. I haven't decided.) Let me know what you think about this!

Website is SLOW!

If you've been to our main website in the past three weeks you may have noticed it's a bit slow loading. Yes, I'm aware of this and YES, it's driving me nuts!

I finally called the hosting company and talked to a support tech (their email support was pretty much a canned reply that was not helpful at all). I don't feel so stupid--he couldn't figure it out either. He promised to follow up soon and run some deeper diagnostics to figure out what's going on.

Hang in there with me! Just pretend we're back in the days of dial-up and Pentium 75's. A little nostalgia for ya...

Updates on Models

Allison: Remember our beautiful mother of five? Well--they got a pool! (And yes, we've been helping them enjoy it. *grin*) Because chemical peels require that the client stay out of the sun as much as possible, continuing treatments over the summer wasn't really an option for her! She'll be back this fall once the excitement dies down. (But man, she has a great tan!) In the meantime she's continued to use her at-home products.

Cheryl: Cheryl has been traveling over the summer, waiting for news of her newest grandchild, watching another one participate in a pageant, and all kinds of other fun stuff! Hopefully I'll have an update on her soon.

Susan: Summer was busy for her too! I'll actually be seeing her this evening. I should have updates on her within a few days. Hopefully we'll have enough light for pictures this evening so that we can see how she did between treatments.

Frequently Asked Question Time!

Here are some more of the questions we are frequently asked:

Q: Don't your hands ever get tired?

A: The majority of our technique comes from the legs and hips, not our hands! Aside from a few key areas when the hands are really what's working, most of the time it's all about our body mechanics.


Q: Doesn't it bother you to work on (sweaty people/hairy people/insert other category here)?

A: This is probably the question we get asked most, usually in a hushed voice. The funny thing is--no, it doesn't bother us one bit! Hair is just hair. It's a completely natural thing. We have men that shave the majority of their body (swimmers), men that are very hairy indeed, women who can't stand to have even the barest amount of stubble on their legs, and women who don't shave anything at all! We don't even blink. The majority of our clients come to us because they are interested in taking care of themselves, so hygeine is rarely an issue. We're in Florida, after all, so a little bit of sweat is completely natural. Heck, we sweat through the massage! (We try not to drip on you, honest!)


Q: How do you handle getting hit on by your male clients?

A: (Usually this one is almost always directed at me, rather than Jay! *grin*) We are very clear on our webpage that we are a family business and offer only legitimate services. I've honestly never had a single issue with any of my male (or female, for that matter) clients. I usually mention my husband on the phone in the first conversation--only because I want to know if they want to book with me or him for their session. That probably also cuts down on the behavior.


Q: What is the best thing I (the client) can do to show I appreciated the service?

A: This is usually something that I get asked by people at the Chamber or in other networking groups rather than by my clients. There isn't really a clear protocol anywhere as far as who to tip, when to tip, how much, how to refer other people and so forth, so it can be confusing. (Maybe this is a new niche market for Ms. Manners to explore?)

The number one best way to show appreciation is to rebook an appointment and then stick to it! If you find a therapist you really like, then by all means, use them! Even if you can only show up a few times a year for a special treat, nothing says we're doing a great job like repeat business.

The almost-number one best way is to send your friends, family, and coworkers to us. Give them our card. Encourage them to give us a call. Consider buying them a gift certificate. Referrals show that not only do you feel we do a great job, you trust us to do a great job on the people you care about. It's a very high compliment indeed.

We are business owners and we do set our own rates, so while tipping your massage therapist or esthetician is customary, it's in no way expected. About 80% of our clients tip. The other 20% never do. And that's okay! (If you go to someone working at a spa or is an employee, tips are almost expected because while you might pay $70 for that massage, they might only be getting $25-$30 of it. They depend on tips to do things like buy food! Although, to be honest, those of us that own our own business also only get a small amount after we pay our business expenses. Six of one, half a dozen of the other...)

Finally, a great way to show us that we're doing a good job is to TELL US! We appreciate feedback (good and bad, actually) so that we know where we're making a good impression and what we can improve even more on. If you were really wowed, consider telling us in the form of an email and giving us permission to use it as a testimonial!


Q: How many massages do you do in a day/week/month?

A: The answer to this depends entirely on how many people want massage, how many are housecalls versus in-office, when the appointments are, and so forth. The most massages in a week I've ever heard of a therapist doing (that I actually knew rather than an urban legend rumor) was 30. Wow. I can't imagine doing nearly that many!

New Client Averages:
Filling out paperwork: 10 minutes
Talking to the client prior to a relaxation massage: 10 minutes
Talking to the client prior to a pain relief massage: 20-25 minutes
Talking to the client prior to a facial service: 20-25 minutes
Time for the client to visit the bathroom (prior to or after the service): 5 minutes
Time for the client to get undressed and ready: 5 minutes
Treatment time: Usually 60-90 minutes
Time for the client to get dressed at the end: 5 minutes
Talking to the client after the treatment/answer questions/etc.: 10 minutes

Repeat Client Averages:
Talking to the client prior to a relaxation massage: 3-5 minutes
Talking to the client prior to a pain relief massage: 5-10 minutes
Talking to the client prior to a facial service: 5-10 minutes
Time for the client to visit the bathroom (prior to or after the service): 5 minutes
Time for the client to get undressed and ready: 3-5 minutes
Treatment time: Usually 60-90 minutes
Time for the client to get dressed at the end: 5 minutes
Talking to the client after the treatment/answer questions/etc.: 5 minutes

I will say that these averages are for us. Usually if you go get a massage you fill out quick paperwork, get on the table, get your massage, and are rushed out the door. We really take our time to customize each experience and make the client comfortable.

That's just the time with the clients. We also spend time marketing, attending networking functions, returning phone calls and emails, updating the website, writing articles for a variety of websites and directories, continuing our education, placing orders, doing laundry....

So for me, personally, I wouldn't want to do more than 20 treatments a week. Four appointments a day works out to about a nine hour day after everything is figured in, and that's if I take two days off!

Right now, being pregnant, I'm taking 2.5 hours of massage and one facial/eyelash tinting/other treatment that's all sit-down/etc. a day maximum and doing my best to get two days off a week.


Don't see your question on our blog? Email me! I'll be happy to answer it.

Call 941-321-5311 to schedule your Sarasota massage therapy treatment today!

September Special

September ONLY:

Pre-purchase two gift certificates and get a third free!

- Only valid for actual gift certificates (as in you're giving them to someone else)
- Certificates valid 1/2/08 to 12/30/08
- Cash, check, Visa, or Mastercard accepted
- As always, no refunds for gift certificates or treatments

Call Lizz today 321-5311 or send an email to epugh at lightweavermassage dot com to purchase your certificate!

(This is going to be the best deal of the year on gift certificates, by the way. Just a heads up!)

Chair Massage for a Cause

We had a fun time this Saturday at Life Crop, a scrapbooking event that benefitted the North River Care Pregnancy Center.

I've done quite a bit of massage on scrapbookers (being one myself, I know the pain that the love of papercrafts brings!) at K2 Scrapbook Studio and am now getting calls for more opportunities like this. I'll also be doing an event for quilters soon! (I can't claim any knowledge of quilting pain though--except what I know about poking myself repeatedly anytime I try to get friendly with a needle and thread!)

This event was particularly fun. I love doing chair massage in a festive environment. Don't get me wrong--offices are still a lot of fun for me too, but there's something to be said about being surrounded by a bunch of like-minded women ohhing and ahhing over each other's baby layouts.

This was the third year of the event and the coordinators increased their donations by over tenfold from last year. I'm hoping next year will be as big of a success for them--AND that they'll have us back!

An Update! Finally!

A few months ago I mentioned that we would have some "big news" coming up. I have yet to reveal said "big news" but I'm about to. Hold on to your seats boys and girls!

After over three years of trying, Jay and I finally did something right. I'm currently twenty weeks pregnant.

What does this mean for you, my current or potential client?

- I will not be performing housecalls unless the client already has a table or it is a couple's massage and Jay will be coming along to carry the heavy equipment. This has been our new policy for about two months and no one has had any issues so far.

- I will be working as long as I can provide quality massage in a manner that is safe and healthy for both me and the baby. Hopefully I can work into November, however I may need to stop late October. The doctor says that as long as things continue as well as they have been, I should be able to work very close to my due date, which is in December.

- I will be taking at least six weeks off after my delivery, eight if I have to have a c-section. This is as per doctor's orders.

- Jay will still be available when I am out of commission. He's a fabulously talented massage therapist and I encourage any of you who have not had a massage from him yet to give him a try!


What about gift certificates?

- Gift certificates that are purchased as a gift (as opposed to being donated to a charity or given as a promotion) are valid for one year from purchase date. This is not changing.

- We recommend that if you have a very strong preference for therapist gender that you book your massage before October to ensure that a female is available. We will NOT be extending the valid date if you wait until after October and refuse to allow a licensed male therapist to give you a legitimate massage. You CAN however transfer your gift certificate to a friend who does not have a preference.

- We will be selling holiday gift certificates as normal this year and will still be getting them out within two days of your order, if not sooner. We encourage you to check back and find out what specials we are going to have.


If you're a bit skeptical:

It's normal to be concerned when your therapist looks a little tired or looks a lot pregnant. It's normal to think, "gee, will she be able to give me the best massage she can? Should I go somewhere else?"

I promise you that I am doing the utmost I can to take care of myself and ensure that the quality of my massages only improves over time!

For this reason I have not been doing as many massages over the course of a day as I used to, I am scheduling longer break periods in-between most of my massages, and am getting more sleep at night.

I am passionate about and committed to my role as a massage therapist and esthetician. I can't imagine doing anything else at this point in my life (besides trying to be the best mom I can!) and look forward to spending quality time with my clients.

Please call me if you have ANY questions or concerns about our big news!

Baby Steps

A client came into see me recently. She was concerned about her skin. This is a fairly common scenario:

- They've washed with soap and water for the majority of their life.
- They've baked in the sun, usually using baby oil and possibly iodine to "tan".
- They've never used anything on their skin like moisturizers or exfoliants.
- They're just now noticing some lines and pigmentation and want to do something about it.

I'd say that the above describes at least 4/10 women that come to see me for facials and consultations.

And 4/4 of them are surprised that I don't send them home with every single skin care item that I can (credit card limits allowing).

This is the reason why:

- Most people can make changes in their lives easily and successfully, but only small changes. Larger changes are more difficult and likely to fail over time.
- Routines take about a month to set up. The easier and more simple the routine is to start, the easier it is to stick with it and ultimately, add to it.
- These clients will start to see major changes in their skin from one or two very easy changes. Adding products later, creating more positive changes, keeps them excited.
- It's much less likely for a client to feel buyer's remorse if they've gotten just a few "products to try" and go from their. If they feel guilty, chances are they won't come back or purchase anything else.
- Let's face it, skin care can be intimidating if you've only used soap your whole life. Too many products to start makes it more complicated than need be.

So, if you are one of those women who are interested in looking your best, having healthy skin, and possibly combatting the signs of aging BUT currently don't do more than wash your face with soap once a day, here is what I recommend:

First, get a facial from a licensed professional. You will learn about your skin type, find out what you should be using, and have a chance to ask questions. Also, the exfoliation step will make a huge difference in your skin. This removes some of the dead skin cells, making your skin look fresher, younger, brighter, and less dull. The products that you purchase will be far more effective if they don't have to go penetrate that thick layer of dead skin cells. In addition, you'll feel a lot better about your skin. Your esthetician should give you a realistic view of what's possible with at-home care and with professional treatments.

Next, buy two products. Start with a facial wash. Get out of the habit of washing your face with soap, which can be irritating and drying. Follow your esthetician's advice about when to wash--usually for most skin types once in the morning and once before bed. The second product should be a hydrator (moisturizer) with an SPF built into it. You will put this on every morning before leaving. Eventually you will also add an evening moisturizer sans SPF, but for now this is the most important product. Sun damage is one of the largest "aging factors" and can lead to many skin cancers.

In about a month, after you're used to washing your face twice a day and moisturizing every morning, add an evening moisturizer and an eye cream. Since you're already used to moisturizing in the morning after you wash your face, the evening moisturizer will be easy to integrate. The eye cream is also a very simple step. Some use it only at night, but there is no reason you cannot use it during the day as well for maximal effect. Get another facial at this time if you can afford it. The facial specialist should give you some good feedback and tell you about the positive changes in your skin.

In another month add an exfoliant. This is an easy once-a-week step that only takes a minute or two. Small pieces of a gently abrasive substance such as apricot seeds or loofah are rubbed gently (this is the key--follow the instructions that you are given by your facial person) after washing your face. The face is then rinsed. This helps to remove dead skin cells. If you can add this step sooner, and feel like you won't be overwhelmed, go ahead and do so. Toner is a daily addition that you use directly after washing your face, usually in the evening.

The beginning of the next month on your journey towards a healthy lifetime skin routine, you will likely need to buy more cleanser and moisturizer with SPF. Most full sizes in most product lines last 3-4 months (depending on the product; some in my line last more like 5-6 with full sizes if you use the correct amount, such as the eye cream and some serums) after which you'll be out and need to replace it. Try not to completely run out of any one thing so that you don't break your routine.

So in short, add things in this order unless advised otherwise:
- Cleanser and SPF Moisturizer
- Evening Moisturizer and Eye Cream
- Weekly Exfoliant and Toner
- Serums

Your skin care routine will end up looking like this:

Morning:
- Cleanse face
- While still moist, apply any serums and let penetrate
- Apply very small amount of eye cream
- Apply SPF moisturizer

Evening:
- Cleanse face
- Use toner to add additional nutrition and remove anything your cleansing may have missed
- Apply any serums and let penetrate
- Apply small amount of eye cream
- Apply evening moisturizer

Weekly:
- Add the exfoliating step once per week (and only once per week) after cleansing

Monthly:
- Pick up any products that you are going to be out of within a week
- Get a professional facial if you can afford it (do not exfoliate yourself the week before your facial)

It is much better to spend your money on at home products than monthly facials if you must make the choice. Think of it this way: we address your face once per month with our products; you address your face thirty to sixty times a month. Using at home care after your first facial will be far more effective than using nothing and getting a facial once per month.

Using products from my skin care line, here is about how it works out:

One facial each month: $90

Month 1:
Cleanser: $21.50 (lasts about 4 months)
AM Moisturizer: $32.00 (lasts 3-4 months)

Month 2:
PM Moisturizer: $32.00 (lasts 3-4 months)
Eye Cream $32.00 (lasts 4-5 months)

Month 3:
Exfoliant $21.50 (lasts about 6 months)
Toner $32.00 (lasts 3-4 months)

Month 4:
Serum $50.00-$70.00 (lasts 4-6 months)
Replace what you're almost out of

New PCA Product!

I am very excited about a new product that PCA had just come out with. It's called the "Anti-Redness Serum".

Allison is currently testing it out. The literature has many good things to say about it, and many of my clients will be able to benefit. I can't wait to see what she had to say!

By the way, in case you are curious about any before and after photos that aren't mine (but the treatments were PCA) you can find them here http://www.pcaskin.com/New/Consumer/Products/01_Before-After.shtml.

Before and After: Foot Edema

These photos were taken yesterday with the permission of the client, who is also one of my testimonials on the website.

Please click for larger version.

You can see that the top images show a foot and ankle that is severely swollen. Notice how the ankle "puffs out" and how the top of the foot is rounded. This has kept my client from being able to put on sandals or any other type of shoe without assistance or great difficulty. It is also hard for this client to get around, because the swelling in the ankle reduces the range of motion. Walking long distances and driving are just not possible.

These pictures (on the bottom) show the amount of reduction that is possible in just one focused one-hour session. Unfortunately when the excess fluid is caused by a medical condition, it does come back over time. In some cases the foot will be as swollen within a week.

Generally for clients with this problem I recommend that they receive focused bodywork twice a week. Sometimes half-hours are effective, othertimes a combination of times is necessary. Often it is not possible to work above the knee due to medical problems, and a doctor's permission is required.

(The work I did on this client was done with the legs elevated. The photos were done before and after we adjusted them.)

Susan Pictures!

To keep you up to date, the "after" photos were taken after only three treatments.

- Two different peels
- One oxygenating treatment

After we took these photos Susan had oxygenating peel treatment (combines both a peel and an oxygenating treatment for enhanced results). I can't wait to see her "new after" pictures in a few weeks!

FOR BEST EFFECT, CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO ENLARGE!













This will give you an idea of the whole picture. The one on the left (the slightly warmer colored one) is the "before". The one on the right is the after. Please click to see the larger version.







This is a closeup of the mouth. Again, click to see the larger version. You will notice the appearance of the small lines around the mouth have greatly improved. Also, though it's not highly visible on the left, you can see that the nasolabial crease (from corner of nostril) is less defined as well. Left=Before / Right=After

















And again, click to enlarge. (Top=Before / Bottom=After) Here you sill notice that the eyes appear less sunken, the appearance fo the fine lines has been imprived, the area is tighter in general, and it appears less crepe.

Click this one to enlarge; it's the same as before, only with two right eyes instead of two sets of eyes. The circled areas will draw your attention to two particularly improved areas. The area by the nose is much less reduced in appearance. This helps her eyes look less puffy. The area under the outside of her eye is less crepe-like and the texture has greatly improved.

It's hard to tell because of the lighting difference (we now have a set wall for pictures, so things should be more uniform soon!) but the appearance of the sun damage (those cute little freckles) has also become less apparent.

Videos: Waiting Room and Treament Room

This is the waiting room at our office: 2132 Gulf Gate Drive in Sarasota, FL



This is an overview of one of the new treatment rooms. Those of you who visited our old treatment room will be able to tell it's a lot bigger! We went from 91 sq. ft. to 200!

Father's Day Special

We can customize a gift certificate for any dollar amount or treatment from our service menu for Father's Day or any occasion. (www.lightweavermassage.com)

Our Father's Day Special is a series of three 75-minute massages focusing on areas that dads who like golf, tennis, or baseball use regularly. This series will improve their swing, range of motion, and overall enjoyment of the game.

Each treatment focuses on a different goal. One loosens up the rib cage so that Dad can breathe easier and have more stamina. One focuses on the muscles involved in the twisting action that all three sports share. Finally, another focuses on the muscles in the arms and shoulder (rotator cuff) to help with range of motion and flexibility.

Normally the treatments would cost $240 ($80 x 3) however for Father's Day, if you order by June 15, this series is only $200.

Please order by June 15 if you would like us to email the gift certificate to you so that you may print it out and give or send it to that special father. If you want us to mail the gift certificate, either to you or to the recipient, or you want to come pick it up at our office, please order by June 13.

Call Lizz at 941-321-5311 to order your father's day gift certificates today!

Light Weaver Massage & Esthetics offers massage for relaxation and pain relief, relaxation facials, results-based skin care treatments such as chemical peels, and spa body treatments such as our sunburn relief wrap. Please call today for more information 941-321-5311.

FAQ: Why do housecalls cost more?

Q: Why do housecalls cost more? An hour of massage is an hour of massage no matter where I get it.

A: Housecalls take (depending on where you live) almost 2 to 2.5 times more time, plus gas, plus wear and tear on our equipment and our vehicle.

While you are paying for an hour massage, you're actually paying for the amount of time that we spend on your massage. That includes time to go to the office, get our equipment loaded in our car, drive to your place, unload it and set it up, go through the intake process with you, get you on the table, perform the massage, wait until you're dressed, take the equipment down, load it back in the car, drive back to the office, and set up the equipment there.

We don't charge that much for the non-massage time.

An office massage for an hour: $65
Basic service area housecall: $85

That's only $20 more for about an extra hour to ninety minutes of our time. Plus gas, etc.

The furthest service area we do, which is about a 45 minute drive, is only $50 more. That covers almost an extra two hours on top of the massage time.

We feel that it's reasonable and may even increase our rates slightly soon to cover the increased cost of gas.

Allison's Next Appt. Is Tomorrow

Allison is coming in for another appointment tomorrow. I'm probably not going to post any videos or pictures from her visit. Mostly because I'll be busy setting up everything and getting used to being in the new space.

We'll be doing a deep-pore cleanse followed by either an oxygenating treatment or a peel. I haven't had a chance to look at her skin very closely lately, even though I did see her a few days ago. Stay tuned!

You think my photo was silly?

We both went to one of the largest area employers to do onsite chair massage this week. They also had a group of thai massage therapists come in for demonstrations.

It was a crazy day! It's probably the most fun I've had doing chair massage (sorry, Gaylee--you got trumped!) because the employees were having so much fun, were laid back and loved to joke and laugh, and the demonstration was truly impressive and awe-inspiring.

The small woman who was doing the table-demo had no compunctions about jumping up on someone's back, grabbing their leg and pulling it over their head, picking them half-off the table, or any number of very impressive modified thai massage moves.

It made my "silly" elbow photo from a month or so ago seem tame by comparison.

Now, if I offered to walk on someone's back, I bet they'd run off the table and out the door so fast that they'd forget to get dressed first... hehe. I can't imagine the reaction if Jay offered.

(For our not-yet clients, I'm 5'10" and he's 6'4". We're both sturdy at that height; neither of us are skeletal by any stretch. The woman doing the thai demo must have been under five feet and maybe 115 sopping wet with lead in her pockets.)

So much fun!

We're Officially Moved!

The rooms are nowhere near as snazzy as we'd like them to be, but we are officially out of our old treatment room and into the new one(s).

We stayed with the purple and tan (my interior designer would kill me, but I can't remember the exact "name" of the color--so sorry!) color theme and kept all the furniture and shelving that had been built for us.

The ceiling fabric may not be replaced. Honestly, the plain ceiling looks fine. In our old room some of the "tiles" were stained. The new room is pretty pristine and had recently been repainted a nice white. Because the room is so much bigger I think that expanding the ceiling treatment to fit would be overkill. We're not entirely decided on this issue however. (Got a vote? Comment!)

The front treatment room/consultation area has no furniture in it yet. We need to find a nice table and some shelves before it will be finished. There also needs to be blinds or drapes for privacy.

We can fit two people in the new room, but it's going to be a tight squeeze. If it's a facial and a massage it will be a lot easier because one person won't need a lot of "around" room. We can probably make it work for the massage, but we want to give it a practice go first.

So... if you'd like to be a guinea pig and you can come in around 6:30 on a M-Th with your friend, significant other, spouse, etc. we'll give you a discount. Normally $130 for 60 minutes, the first person to respond and make an appointment will receive a rate of $100 one-time only.

May 17th at SSMT

I've been invited back to speak at the massage school again. I had so much fun the first time; it was great to share what I've learned. One day I hope to teach massage to students just like them, and this is a step in that direction.

May 17th at 10:45 AM I'll be a guest lecturer at SSMT again. Yay!

Quick Note about Lizz's Appointments

(These affect Lizz's clients only; Jay will not be changing any of his appointments.)

I'm changing the types of appointments I'm going to be taking from now until the new year. I hope this doesn't inconvenience anyone; I really don't think it will.

- I will not be using essential oils (aromatherapy) during the massages.

- I will not be doing housecalls unless the person already has their own (set up) massage table OR unless it's a couple's massage in which case Jay will also be coming with me. (Chair massage is unaffected.)

- For the next few weeks, at least, I won't be taking any appointments early in the day, and I'll also be cutting back on late-night appointments as well. We will also be enforcing the 10-4 business hours on Friday; I've worked late almost every Friday for the past few months.

There is a very good reason for all of this which we'll likely announce in one way or another in a few weeks.

Thanks,
Lizz

Photo from Gaylee

I asked for photos from different events we've gone to, and Gaylee came through!

We both had so much fun at her housewarming. We normally try to be professional and accomodating at spa parties and chair massage events; it's our image and we're getting paid to take care of people. But Gaylee's a long time client and it was a gift to her, so we goofed around a lot.

I got to play soccer in her huge back yard with her little son. I've gotten a kick out of seeing his furniture evolve from crib to big boy bed over the years I've done housecalls at her place. We had some great food, met lots of her neighbors, and Jay gave the boys a run for their money in a playstation 2 golf video game. Lots of fun.

It's common for clients to ask us to take a picture for their newsletter. I always give them the normal one and then "one for fun" which usually looks like below. I've got the elbow ready to dig in, a maniac grin, and "Crazy Eyes". I love it. What's the point of life if you can't laugh?

So here is your Lizz caught in the act of being very silly:

Allison Videos

We shot three short videos at Allison's latest appointment. She's the only model that I have not put a video up for, so please enjoy!

The first video addresses a comment that she had made to me early in the process. She's tried so many things, and nothing has worked until now. This is a huge compliment. Allison is actually a NY-trained cosmetologist and is trained to do facials and skin care herself. So for her to not only have not found anything that works for her skin previously AND to be impressed by my line says a lot. To me, anyway.



I also asked her about the level of complication and time needed to do her routine. Cheryl had commented that it was more complicated than what she was used to. I appreciate her honesty a great deal, but I also knew that not everyone felt that way. I wanted to get the perspective of someone who is used to using skin care products and who is also a busy mom (five kids).



The last video addresses the most commonly asked question: how much did it hurt? I asked Allison what questions her friends and coworkers ask her the most and the question was the same. Since she's had almost every treatment I offer, she's a good one to ask.




BTW - I am fully aware that the quality of my videos leaves something to be desired, from the lighting, the audio quality, and so forth. When we move into the bigger space I'll have an actual spot set up for my before and after photos, videos, and so forth, with MUCH better lighting. The audio quality is the camera's fault and unless I spend several hundred dollars on a new digital camera that takes better pictures and video, this is it for now. =-) If any of my videophile clients have suggestions or would like to help me out, it would be greatly appreciated!


To schedule your consultation or skin care treatment in Sarasota, please call 941-321-5311 or visit www.lightweavermassage.com

Purple and ivory it is!

We've gotten a lot of feedback in the office about our colors. Pretty much everyone that's come in for a treatment has gotten the bigger-room upgrade information in person. The first thing most of you has asked is, "are you taking everything with you?" The second is if we're sticking with the same colors.

The answer is yes--we're taking everything with us, and yes, we're going to paint the walls the same colors.

Thanks for all the great feedback!

And if you have any requests or suggestions about setting up the new room based on what you loved or hated about our current room, please comment, call, or email.

FAQ Cards

I'm putting together some handouts that I can have ready for my clients. These are the topics. If you can think of any others that either you've wondered about, would like to have, or things friends have asked you after one of your appointments, please comment.

- What is a chemical peel? (Basic chemical peel information)

- More information about the advanced results-based skin care that we offer with more info than the brochure or website has, featuring our oxygenating treatment, deep pore cleansing, and chemical peels.

- Information about our packages, tailored to the group such as athletes (golfers, swimmers, tennis players, and baseball being the most common that we see), headache sufferers, back pain, etc.

- Anti-Aging information and concepts

- Acne information and concepts

- Basic skin care routines and the importance of home skin care

That's what I have to start with. Suggestions?

Jay's CEU Class Weekend

Short version:

Jay has spent all weekend, both days, taking another neuromuscular therapy continuing education class from Jim Cain. It's focused on the upper extremity, so he's getting a good refresher for a lot of the shoulder and carpal-tunnel work that he does with his clients. Thanks to those of you who called wanting a Saturday appt. with him for understanding why he can't accomodate you this week.

The long version:

Jim Cain is a local neuromuscular therapy teacher. He's the one that we chose after we graduated over all the other options.

Why?

He was the only one that worked on me without making me cry.

You've probably heard this story before, but new clients might not have, so here it goes.

We get a lot of training to be LMTs. It's quite amazing. The school I went to used the same pre-med text books for anatomy and physiology as the university and we learned a lot. And then we started learning about the muscles.

Myology is the study of muscles and hence is what the class segment is called. We learned almost every muscle that can be touched, some that can't, where they start and end (insert and attach), and what they do. Some muscles only do one thing but most do their primary action and assist in others. It's fascinating.

The school realized two things about massage therapy students. One is that we are very kinesthetic (learn from doing/touching/interacting) and the other is that neuromuscular therapy is something we'll need in our career. It's an effective and almost expected tool for our therapy tool boxes.

Our "practicum" for myology was neuromuscular therapy training. We learned the technique and how to palpate and treat each muscle. Granted, it wasn't as in depth as the CEU classes; we were just getting our foundation.

Now I'm a bit type-A in a lot of ways. I'm a lot better than I used to be, but when it comes to school I still show my colors. I have to learn what they teach us, what the book says, do more research and be "the best" in the class, whatever that means. Even if I hate the class.

And I hated it. I thought it was the most awful thing to do to someone.

(You see, and I've told most of my clients this on their first visit, their really is a huge range of what people like touch-wise. Jay likes extremely deep pressure. The joke is that, "If I stood on his back in stilletos and weilded a sledgehammer, that would be his favorite massage ever." It's not that big of an exaggeration. Now I, on the other hand, am a little hypersensitive. I like what most people consider a "fru fru" massage, and in fact my favorite techniques are all, or at least start out with, a lighter touch.)

The reason why I hated it was because when the students would try to find these muscles and the adhesions (what you might call a trigger point or, more commonly, a "knot") I would get all kinds of pain. It really really hurt.

So I learned it. I wanted to be the best at it, but I felt I'd be damned before I'd ever use it on someone.

Allow me a minute to laugh at my naivety.

Thanks.

It got so bad that I would get so anxious that I was literally sick to my stomach before class. The owners of the school gave me permission to not get the work done; to just give. So for the rest of this long segment in my educational career, I gave a lot of hands-on work.

Several teachers knew about my issues and would ask to work on me. It became a fairly common request. About that time we moved into studying other modalities (techniques) of massage and had a different teacher each week for that segment.

I let each teacher that asked give it a try. Each teacher put me into or near tears. One even pressed hard on a trigger point in my upper trap (shoulder) that referred to near migraine pain and I had to go home.

Finally, Jim Cain had us for a class. I wish we had had him for our myology training. Beaner was a great teacher, don't get me wrong, and I love it when we end up in the same weekend CEU classes, it's just that everyone explains things differently and has a different touch.

Jim asked me if he could work on me. At this point I was in a bit of pain (I'm a neck pain and headache stress-carrier; it's why I chose to specialize in helping others with the same problems) so I agreed, once more, swearing that it would be the last time.

But something happened. Jim Cain worked on me. And he didn't hurt me. Actually he helped me quite a bit in the five (if that) minutes he had his hands on my neck. He was gentle and respected that my comfort level was so much less than what most other people have.

I became enamored with this technique that I had previously despised and Jay and I both decided that after we graduated we were going to do our NMT training with him.

And we did.

A lot of my clients remark that I'm the first person they've gone to that didn't hurt them. That means a lot to me. I've helped many people with a variety of pains find relief. It's the most rewarding part of what I do; especially with the headache, neck pain, and TMJ dysfunction treatments.

I'm really proud of that. It makes me look forward to getting up in the morning and seeing my first client of the day. It keeps me going so that I give the last client of the day the same amount of enthusiasm and attention. I have that love for what I do. (Being able to make my own schedule helps a great deal, too. Spa therapists don't have that and burn out quickly in some cases.)

So that's the long story. We really respect Jim Cain and love to take his classes. This is also the story of why we chose to study with him and why we use the technique and philosophy that we do, rather than a harder/tougher/"go for the pain" attitude.

Video forthcoming from Allison

I have about four videos that Allison and I took while she was getting her treatment. Unfortunately I haven't had time to edit and upload them yet. I should have them up by this weekend.

Our current (soon to be old) office: before and after

Excuse the sleeve of the interior designer who took this picture!

The left is the before; the right is the after. Special thanks to Gary Conner and Sonia Hamouda who designed the cabinet unit.

The previous ceiling treatment and our current ceiling treatment. (We will be taking this with us however will have to make it twice as wide. Any votes on muslin versus purple?)

The view from the rear of the room before and the area to the right of the door after.

Big Announcement: New Space!

I've hinted at this in a few posts but have yet make an announcement. (Though I have let it slip to several of my best clients. Who are probably the ones that actually read the blog. Indulge me anyway...)

In May we will be expanding once more. One year ago we were preparing to add a physical location to our housecall-only massage business. Six months ago (ish) we added facials and chemical peels. And now, a year later, we are expanding to a larger office.

We will be in the exact same building. There will be no inconvenience to our clients with this move because of that. We wanted more space but weren't sure if we could find something close to our current Gulf Gate location.

Lo and behold, the massage therapist that was in the front office suddenly decided to move back to California. I jumped at the chance to increase our square footage.

One of our therapist friends joked, "So Lizz, you're coming out of the closet!" I had to laugh. Our office is the perfect size for massage. It's just big enough for our table, an area for client comfort with a place for hanging up clothes, and a large cabinet unit that has all of our equipment. For facials, massages, chemical peels, body treatments, and our new blended treatments, however, it was getting a bit small. In other words, it's about the size of a very large walk-in closet.

And we're coming out!

Jay and I will be taking over a space that is more than twice as large as what we currently have. There are two rooms. The front has a lovely tile floor and a huge window. (I've made about a dozen suncatchers already!) The second room is carpeted.

We will be using the front room for skin care consultations or for treatments if the second room is booked. (It's large enough to do a massage if we utilize shelves rather than furniture, other than the small table and chairs.) I may keep one of our massage chairs in their for walk-ins. I haven't decided yet.

The large room can fit two massage tables and we will be using it for couples massage, or with one table for individual treatments.

I can't wait!

I'll be posting pictures of the progress we're making. Many of you that started seeing us last year this time in our office remember how we transformed it. I'll probably post before and after pictures of that as well.

I'm so excited!

Don't go to the cosmetics counter without me...

A good friend of ours used to teach skin care to girls who were working to become models. He told me about this book and about how he learned most of his skin care knowledge (product-wise) from it.

I've toyed with the idea of purchasing it, but hadn't had a chance to sit down and read it. After all, I read six to eight industry magazines (American Spa, Skin Inc., Massage & Bodywork, etc.) each month and about ten consumer magazines (such as Allure, Glamour, and Shape). The majority of consumers get their beauty info from these magazines. Just look at the tiny little beauty section in Barnes and Noble and the overwhelming section of women's magazines, all claiming to have the latest secrets.

Jay and I had a coffee date at said bookstore this evening. It was one of the few nights that neither of us had an appointment and it was nice to spend some time with him just gabbing and looking at books.

I picked up five new May magazines to start with, he picked up a new copy of Dune, and then we wandered. I spent about fifteen minutes perusing Don't Go. I flipped first to the section, of course, that related to my own line of skin care products.

The introduction laughs at those of us who puff up with each positive recommended product and then proclaim the author knows nothing when one is said to be useless, potentially harmful, and--in short--a waste of money. I don't like to think that this is my reaction, and here are the logical reasons why:

The thing that struck me most is that the book is way outdated. The most recent version (cross checked with Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and the author's website) was printed in 2003.

There have been many cosmetic and skin care breakthroughs in the last four years.

Even searching on her website (which has the most update information, supposedly), the company name is still incorrect. Physician's Choice changed their name from Physician's Choice of Arizona to PCA.

No big deal.

The products listed in the book are incorrect. A handful of them are no longer made. Many current products are not listed at all. The ingredients listed for the products that are currently available are incorrect.

Example:

"pHaze 33 Acne Cream ($14.95 for 1 ounce) . As a topical disinfectant with 5% benzoyl peroxide this may be an option, but the castor oil in it can leave a tacky feel on skin and the cream base can be too emollient for those with breakouts. The lemon oil and jasmine make this product a poor choice for sensitive skin. It also contains 5% lactic acid (an AHA), but the pH of the product isn't low enough for it to be effective as an exfoliant"

Here is PCA's list of ingredients for this same product:

Benzoyl Peroxide
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil
Lactic Acid
Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil
Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A)
Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil
Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract

Jasmine? Lemon? I don't see either of those in this list. And furthermore, the product is not designed to be an exfoliant.

The product is designed to:

"This active 5% benzoyl peroxide acne spot treatment effectively delivers oxygen into the pores to help kill the bacteria responsible for acne breakouts. L-lactic acid and tea tree oil also work to inhibit breakouts while keeping the skin hydrated and smooth."

I read the book on the shelf and noted that the ingredients for almost all of the products were incorrect. I'm assuming that the company has made formulation changes due to improved knowledge of products and available technology since then. I doubt that the author would go to print without better fact checking.

If you do have this book and are concerned about trying the line that I carry due to the review, please visit www.pcaskin.com for updated information. You can find information for both professional and home care lines as well as ingredients, intended usage, and directions.

And, when in doubt, I do have sample sizes for sale.

To schedule a consultation and learn about what skin care products are right for your skin, call Lizz at 941-321-5311 or visit www.lightweavermassage.com. Schedule your facial in Sarasota today!

Makeup

Most of my clients have asked me from time to time if I do makeup. I'm trained to do makeup--it's part of the basic esthetician courses in almost any respected school--but I don't do it professionally.

We don't currently have the space, and we don't have the proper lighting.

However, I decided to post a picture of the makeup I did when Jay and I went to a party this weekend. The crystals are placed the same on the other side as well, with one lone crystal in the middle. I got a LOT of compliments on it and I thought it was a neat look.

Detox Gel

I tend to have clogged pores in my T-zone due to my oily skin type. This is a chronic thing for me and something that many of my clients also experience.

PCA has a wonderful product called Detox Gel. It's something that I had not used on myself yet, and as I like to give myself treatments (what woman doesn't?) not only to see how effective the products are, but also so I can describe what it feels like.

Below is my before (the streaks of orange by my nose are eye makeup--I had accidentally scratched and didn't realize it) and after pictures.



As you can see in the top picture my nose and the area to either side had many clogged pores.

In the below picture, after one treatment given last night, you can see that my pores aren't nearly as noticeable, don't have the blackheads, and my skin has a much better texture and appearance.

The product is applied after the skin is cleansed and toned. It's a thin gel. The scent isn't unpleasant but it's not something you would want to use as a perfume. (PCA does not add fragrances to their products.) It is massaged into the face for approximately 10-minutes while steam (or in my case, steam from a nice hot shower) keeps it moist. Initially there was a very slight sting (about what a strong astringent toner might produce) but this subsided almost immediately.

As an esthetician, I noticed that the debris loosened dramatically from the pores. It was so easy to do extractions and get the pores clean. I even was able to get debris out of pores that I normally never can get anything out of, even with steam. It just slid out. I do extractions on myself all the time, so it's hard to judge the degree to which this is true, but it did feel less painful (I can be rough on myself) because it was so easy to get it out.

Today my skin feels and looks a lot cleaner. I'm very impressed with the results.

New Allison Pictures!

The picture on the left is before Allison received any treatments. The picture on the right is after she received two peels and an oxygenating treatment. It had been a long time since she received her last treatment. I'm still waiting on the "good" pictures from the first photo session. It will make a big difference with the before and after if the before picture is actually in focus.




You can see that her forehead is MUCH more clear.




The area around her nose is less red and has fewer breakouts. (Again, once I get the pictures we took with her camera for the first shoot you'll see a much larger difference.)


This is a side shot of the nose that emphasizes the difference. Her skin tone and texture is much more even with fewer breakouts and less redness.

On her visit Monday we used a stronger formulation of the PCA peels than we had used before. Hopefully we'll get back on track for the rest of her treatments and we will be posting more regularly!

The videos are coming soon.

Upcoming Chair Massage Dates

Right now I only have one date to mention, however we may be making other appearances as well. I'll update those as we make them.

May 18th from 8:00 to 10:00 PM at K2 Scrapbook Studio on Clark Road
$10 for 10 minutes

I was out there last Friday to do chair massage and had a blast. I can't help but spend just about everything I make on their awesome scrapbooking supplies!

If anyone has any photos of me from an open house, corporate event, etc. that you're willing to let me post on the blog, let me know!

To arrange for onsite chair massage at your next event, call Lizz at 941-321-5311 or visit www.lightweavermassage.com

New Treatment Package

Many of our clients have come to us seeking relief from headaches, neck pain, and/or TMJ dysfunction. Some of them have a more chronic condition that needs work beyond our normal package.

3x 90-minute sessions within 2 weeks
2x 30-minute sessions within 6 months
$300

Our new package consists of shorter, half-hour sessions, that are designed to be used between two and six weeks.

6x 30-minute sessions within 6 weeks
$175

Our regular prices are as follows for structural/pain-relief massage:
90-minutes $100
30-minutes $50

As you can see, our packages save you, the client, quite a bit of money while we work together towards your goals.

To schedule your appointment, please call 941-321-5311 or visit www.lightweavermassage.com.

FAQ: Chemical Peel Costs

Q: How much does a chemical peel cost?

A: Chemical peels cost between $90 and $180 for the face, and from $40 and up for the body.

That's a rather wide range of pricing, so allow me to explain.

Depending on the condition of the skin, the desired goals, and the client's desire for more gentle or aggressive treatments, a number of layers of product will be applied.

1 - 2 layers $90
2 - 4 layers $130
5 - 6 layers $160

If an enhancer is applied (this is a retinol (Vitamin A) product that is applied over the products to enhance exfoliation, increase absorbtion, plump, hydrate, and moisturize the skin, and help minimize discoloration from hyperpigmentation) it is an additional $20.

The first peel includes a peel kit as well. This is included in the price.

Most clients will have 2 - 4 layers applied as well as retinol enhancer and should expect to pay $150 for a peel. Clients have the option of signing up for a package of 6 peels for $675, regardless of the peel depth.

Susan's Second Appointment

These photographs are from one month after Susan's first chemical peel. They are from her second treatment session, but keep in mind she has had only one treatment in the pictures.

It's interesting that in the full-face photograph, it's hard to tell a difference between the true "before" photograph from last month and this one. Susan came in tired (it's been a long few weeks for her)and it really does make a huge difference.

I will show in the close up of her eyes, however, that she is definately showing improvement. The fine lines and wrinkles are not as prominent. She's been using the PCA anti-aging kit for a few weeks as well so next time she comes in there should be even more changes.

The picture on the left is her "before" photograph. The one on the right is one month after her first treatment. You can tell a big difference in the lines to the side of the eyes, the line that is by her eyebrow, and the general tone around her eyes. This is after only one treatment.

Today we did almost exactly the same treatment as last time, only we used a slightly different formulation for the chemical peel. She experienced very little sensation and rated it at around a 1.5-2.0 on a 1 to 10 scale. (Most people say that putting on toner in the morning is around a 2.0.)

No, this picture isn't sideways; she's laying down! I've included this because many people ask me how red they are going to be after a treatment. This photo was taken within two minutes of putting on all the products; approximately five minutes after the last layer of peel was applied. . You can see a soft pink line in the center of her forehead. Some clients do get slightly more red, however as you can see, Susan has normal skin tone. The slight shine is normal and is usually all that gets commented on, if anything

Many people have the preconception that a chemical peel is going to make them look like cooked fish--very "blanched". At Light Weaver Massage & Esthetics, I do only "superficial" chemical peels which have very little to zero downtime. ("Superficial" relates to the depth of the peel.)

The shows (such as Extreme Makeover and Ten Years Younger) that often show people getting chemical peels use the services of a plastic surgeon or dermatologist. Because they have only a few weeks to get results they use a more dramatic procedure called a "medium-depth" or even a deep chemical peel. These peels are very uncomfortable in comparison, have downtime, and cost much much more. However, fewer treatments are usually needed to get the same results.

To schedule your consultation with Lizz Pugh, licensed facial specialist, at Light Weaver Massage & Esthetics, call 941-321-5311 or visit http://www.lightweavermassage.com today! We also offer facials for relaxation, oxygenating treatments, and deep pore cleansing/detoxifying treatments in Sarasota.

New Susan Updates Soon!

Susan's next peel appointment is tomorrow, so I should have some new pictures, video, and interview material soon. She's been using the anti-aging system for a little while now and should have some results to show for it.

She is a certified KOLBE consultant. The KOLBE test is not a personality test or an aptitude test. Instead, it tells you HOW you should be doing things.

I swear it was like sitting down with a psychic. She was telling me things about myself that I've never really taken the time to articulate. There were so many things about the way that I work and do business that I have questioned myself over. An example would be having many irons in the fire at one time--five or ten different projects to focus on instead of just one. According to my index, this is exactly how I can be the most productive. I thrive on this kind of energy. Deadlines were another aspect. I thought I procrastinated with the best of them, but it turns out I simply prefer to wait until the last minute.

Check back in the next day or so for a Susan update. I'll try to remember to ask her for the cost of the consultation so that I can post it with her number.

Also, I'm trying out a new chiropractor from the Chamber of Commerce tomorrow. I really think that our styles are going to work well together. If I'm right we're going to talk about setting up the beginning stages of a referral system for each other. I'll post her contact info as well as some more about what she does as soon as that's in place.

(I'm always looking for cross-marketing partners. Even if you can't possibly think about how are businesses could help each other--trust me. I can almost always find a way. Please feel free to contact me. However--I am not interested in any MLM companies at this time--no exceptions.)

To find out more about massage, skin care, or chemical peels in Sarasota, visit us online at http://www.lightweavermassage.com or call Lizz at 941-321-5311. Light Weaver Massage & Esthetics welcomes your feedback. If you'd like to see posts on a certain topic, please let us know!

Comment on Comments....

I'm really glad to see that a lot of our clients and friends are enjoying our blog, and I hope we get even more traffic soon.

If you want to comment you have a few options:
- Log in to your google, gmail, or blogger account
- Post anonymously
- Or click "other" and type in your name

I didn't approve a few of the comments from "others". If you don't want to put your name, just put your intials or maybe your first name. C'mon, how many "Bob"s are there in Sarasota? Or simply post without a name (choose "anonymous").

I only mention this because there is a need to keep the comments as clean as possible. Names that skirt the line get declined, even if the comment makes me laugh or has something important to say. Similarly, comments that are inappropriate will also be turned down.

Thanks!