The Iceing On The Cake Is Literally on My Toes Thanks to Le Petit Spa!

It was my birthday yesterday (April 12th) and I decided to take myself to the spa for some much needed pampering; and of course, which spa would I go to other than Le Petit Spa?

I treated myself to the Guinot Glycolic Facial, some facial threading (which I am addicted to now) and a Nail Art Pedicure - it was a day of firsts for me as I had not tried these particular services before.

For my pedicure, I wanted something different. I’m a huge fan of cake, especially pretty wedding cakes and I used one that I saw at a local cupcake store as my muse for my toes - a chocolate brown cake with a pretty pink flower pattern on it.

It was a risk and something different, but the compliments from other clients in the pedicure area assured me I had taken the right risk (after all, I was supposed to go bungee jumping for my birthday, that might have been too big of a risk).

This blog talks about the fabulous Nail Art Pedicure available at Le Petit Spa:

1. I was treated to a fabulous soak for my feet - a pretty pleasant experience as my feet were freezing, not the warmest April 12th on record! I was served chocolates, cookies and the new French Rabbit Wine Le Petit Spa carries now for all of their guests - not only was that a nice birthday toast to myself, but it’s as good for the planet as it was for me! (It’s an eco friendly wine company)

2. Next, my feet were wrapped in warm towels as my cuticles were cleaned up (I must apologize to the co-worker who worked on my feet!) and my nails were trimmed and filed into the perfect shape.

3. The calluses on the bottoms of my feet were then worked on and smoothed away - I haven’t had feet this smooth in a long time!

4. A sea salt French Lavender scrub with Le Petit Spa’s Signature Sea Salt Scrub was then smoothed up my leg to my knees as well as on my feet to remove dry, dead skin and reveal sandal ready skin for my night out.

5. The absolute best part! My favourite part of a pedicure treatment is the foot massage - I found myself relaxed and wanting to fall asleep. This is especially good if you wear high heels like I do, the esthetician working on my feet found some really tight, tender spots that I need to start taking care of.

6. Nail lacquer application - So, as I was taking a risk with a dark, chocolate brown shade from OPI on my nails, this was a little scary, but I quickly got over it as the shade of brown matched my skin tone nicely.

7. The nail art began with an application of white dots where the flower pattern would go (if we put the pink color right on top of the brown, it would change the color of the pink). After the white came the pink color “Strawberry Margarita” a vibrant shade of pink. It looked absolutely perfect! A toothpick was dragged through each dot of nail color to give the “petal effect” for the flowers. A lovely and very girly pink rhinestone was then placed in the center of each flower.

The perfect toes to end my idea of a perfect day! I couldn’t wait to show them off with strappy sandals at my birthday dinner!

The estheticians at Le Petit Spa are all trained on nail art and all have very different nail art patterns they can do to give each clients something unique and “custom made” for them. They’ll give great advice on the perfect shades for your skin tone, and if the pattern or idea you have for your nail art will work, and offer advice that is specific to you!

If you come into Le Petit Spa on a Tuesday for any of Le Petit Spa’s pedicure treatments you’ll receive a special incentive…read more on “Toes-days” at Le Petit Spa.

Sign up for our newsletter to receive the scoop on monthly service promotions, new services or other special events at Le Petit Spa before anyone else, or if you have spa related or beauty questions email me and I’ll post a reply in a future edition of this blog!

RMT or Body Worker - We Give You the Facts

One of the most common questions we have at the spa is “Do you have RMT's?” or “Registered Massage Therapists”.

This blog talks about the difference between Certified Body Worker and Registered Massage Therapists.

Certified Body Worker

A certified body worker is certified through one of the many qualified body work schools throughout Canada.

These schools usually teach body work, spa therapy and massage programs. During the programs, students are also taught the human sciences including
Anatomy and Biology. After completion of the course, all body workers are certified according to the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, and takes a full year to complete successfully.

Body workers are more of a holistic approach to health care; they are more than qualified to perform therapeutic massage, but because of the length of time they spend in school (one year of full time) they are not considered to be medical specialists like RMT’s.

Registered Massage Therapists

Massage Therapy is a regulated health profession in BC. RMT’s are registered by the government of BC; therefore, you may claim the expense of seeing one for a treatment through MSP.

RMT’s go to school for about 4 years in order to become Registered Massage Therapists.

Which one is better?

Neither of these professions is better than the other. Both students are qualified to work on your body in a therapeutic manner. RMT's just allow you to write off the expense, but both will do wonders for sore muscles, joints and body parts.

RMT’s are currently not available at Le Petit Spa, but we offer many therapeutic massage services for even the most sore muscles:

• Aromatherapy Full Body Massage (45 min, 60, and 75)
  
• Hot Stone Massage
  
• Prenatal Massage (2nd and 3rd trimester only)
  
• Reflexology - an ancient Chinese medicine form of massage
  

Contact Le Petit Spa today to book your massage!

Have spa questions? Need to know more about what reflexology is? Email me with your beauty questions and spa related questions and I’ll post your answer in a future edition of this blog!

Sign up for our monthly newsletter to be the first to know about exclusive promotions, monthly service promotions and new product launches.

Spa Massage Services simplified at Le Petit Spa

Massage services at Le Petit Spa

Did you know? About 80% of known disease is linked to stress? Stress weakens our immune system causing our bodies to wear down, become tired and unhealthy.

Leading a balanced lifestyle of work and play AND relaxation will not only make you feel relaxed and invigorated, you will be able to function better both on a mental and physical level.

Not only does massage feel good it has many benefits including:

• Increasing circulation, allowing the body to pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs.
  


• Relaxing and softening injured and overused muscles.
  


• Reducing spasms and cramping.
  


• Reducing recovery time for strenuous workouts and eliminating subsequent pains of the athlete at any level.
  


• Relieving pain for migraine sufferers and decreasing the need for medication.
  

Massage services are a healthy, drug free, non-invasive way of maintaining a healthy body and mind. Massage is beneficial for all age groups including babies.

Read below for more information about massage services at Le Petit Spa:

1. Full Body Massage Services:

· 45 minutes (available in may)
· 60 minutes
· 75 minutes
· 90 minutes

These full body massage services allow for the perfect amount of incorporating relaxation and invigoration into your day. Choose from aromatherapy oils to create your very own unique experience.

2. Hot Stone Massage

· 75 minutes

Don’t let the name scare you. The stones are warm enough to induce intense relaxation of tight muscles, but are cool enough to touch and not cause any harm. Applying hot lava stones in a Hot Stone Massage to key points on the body stimulates organ function, relaxes tight muscles and joints and increases toxin removal from the body.

3. Prenatal Massage:

· 60 minutes

Specifically for expecting mother’s in the 2nd and 3rd trimester, this speciality massage will soothe strained ligaments, specifically in the lower back and pelvis regions. When you’re pregnant, the pelvis is pulled forward and the lower back has extra pressure put onto it - the prenatal massage focuses on these conditions.

4. Reflexology services:

· 30 minutes
· 45 minutes

A deeply relaxing massage, pressure is applied on key points on your feet that are thought to mirror organs elsewhere in your body. Stimulating these points on your feet increases blood flow, increases the elimination of toxins from the stimulated organs and soothes tired and sore muscle tissue in your feet - reflexology is truly a unique experience.

Sign up for our monthly newsletter to be the first to know about in-spa promotions, gift with purchases and monthly service promotions. Or, email me with your beauty questions and look for your answer in a future blog!

Aromatherapy Massage - not just a fancy name!

Aromatherapy Massage is one of the most popular day spa services in Vancouver. It is important to know the benefits of massage and the benefits of aromatherapy in order to appreciate such an experience.

You Le Petit Spa Massage Therapist will discuss with you the experience you are hoping to have during your massage (relaxing, invigorating) and discuss any health concerns that you may have.
Did you know? That Spa Massage Treatments address a variety of health conditions, the most prevalent being stress-related tension, which, experts believe, accounts for 80%-90% of disease. Bodywork offers a drug-free, non-invasive and humanistic approach based on the body’s natural ability to heal itself. A Full Body Massage has many physiological effects, such as:

• Increasing circulation, allowing the body to pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs.
  


• Relaxing and softening injured and overused muscles.
  


• Reducing spasms and cramping.
  


• Reducing recovery time for strenuous workouts and eliminating subsequent pains of the athlete at any level.
  


• Relieving pain for migraine sufferers and decreasing the need for medication.
  

The addition of aromatherapy to a professional massage service adds further benefits to your body, mind and soul by stimulating sensory organs and effecting your mood and feelings. A day spa which has an aromatherapy massage on their menu will usually allow you to choose from a number of scents; all having different mood inspiring effects: Lavender to relax, Citrus to invigorate and Rosemary to stimulate are just some of the choices you may be able to choose from.

Essential oils have been used as an alternative to medicine for centuries because of their powerful effects on the mind. Infact, there is even a science devoted to the psychology of odours and their effects on the human mind: Aromachology.

Le Petit Spa offers Aromatherapy Massage in 60, 75 and 90 minute increments any day of the week. Le Petit Spa Massage Therapists are certified body workers and are highly trained in the most advanced techniques of body work and massage. Read about the Le Petit Spa team...

For more information about Le Petit Spa Massage Services, click here. Sign up for our monthly newsletter to be the first to know about in-spa promotions, monthly service promotions and special events or email me with your day spa service questions or beauty questions and look for the answer in a future blog!

Day Spa Packages at Vancouver's Le Petit Spa

Day Spa Packages perfect for giving the special someone in your life the “Gift of Relaxation”

This time of year, in my opinion, is the hardest: the weather in Vancouver is usually grey and rainy, and the next long weekend is no where in sight!

Enter Le Petit Spa and their answer for escaping a dreadful, grey day and being surrounded by warmth in candle lit rooms, luxurious down duvets and forgetting about the world outside.

Day Spa Packages at Le Petit Spa; the perfect escape from today’s busy west coast lifestyle.

1. Signature Package – This exclusive spa package at Le Petit Spa features Le Petit Spa’s signature French lavender products with premium day spa services. A Le Petit Spa Signature Facial, Signature Manicure and Signature Pedicure will induce a deep sense of relaxation, while refocusing your mind…Read more.

2. Vitality Package – This spa package at Le Petit Spa is here to add “vitality” to even the most overworked, overstressed, devitalized individuals in Vancouver. Featuring an invigorating anti-aging facial and Le Petit Spa Signature Pedicure, any client leaving Le Petit Spa after this package is sure to have a new vibrancy towards life…Read more.

3. Pour Les Hommes – Is the person in your life a Vancouver man? Le Petit Spa has a wide range of services incorporated into Le Petit Spa’s “Pour Les Hommes” day spa package for men…Read more.

4. Mummy and Me – Some quality time with baby in a baby friendly sanctuary for both mom and baby requires attention to detail and an understanding of how special this time is for Mum. Enter “Mummy and Me” spa package…Read more.

Any of these can be purchased as a gift certificate at Le Petit Spa. For more information on our one-of-a-kind gift cards and certificates, click here.

Sign up for our monthly newsletter to be the first to know about in-spa promotions, new product launches, special events and daily or monthly service promotions, or email me with your beauty questions and look for your answer in a future blog!

Hot Stone Massage at Le Petit Spa in Vancouver Choosing a Reputable Day Spa

The benefits of a full body massage are pretty self-explanatory: it promotes relaxation, blood circulation, and release of toxins and reduction of stress, which, according to some studies, has been linked to causing about 80% of disease.

Le Petit Spa introduces a new trend in spa therapy massage: Hot Stone Massage.

What is Hot Stone Massage?

Don’t let the name scare you. The stones are not actually hot, they are warmed before your service; the massage practitioner must be able to handle them with due care, so they are never too hot to handle.

Hot Stone Massage is a full body massage that incorporates warm lava stones into the massage that mirror the shape of particular organs within the body. The warmth from the stones stimulates organ function when placed on appropriate organs, stimulates blood circulation, and encourages the release of toxins from each organ that is stimulated.

Along with the above mentioned benefits, the warmth of the stones helps tight muscles to relax, loosen and be more susceptible to the therapeutic benefits of your massage therapists’ touch.

How are the stones warmed up?

The stones used in Hot Stone Massage treatments are warmed in a specialized heater for these stones. They are warmed up for about an hour before your treatment and allowed to cool slightly before the treatment starts.

Are they applied directly to my skin during the treatment?

The stones are placed on the massage table under blankets that allow the warmth of the stones to come through, but are thick enough to protect your skin from becoming too hot, or even worse, burning.

Your massage therapist may use two to three stones while performing massage to incorporate heat therapy into your treatment; however, these stones are cool enough so that the therapist can handle them for long periods of time, they will never be hot enough to cause injury.

During your massage treatment your massage therapist will be in constant communication with you so that he or she knows how you are feeling, if the stones are warm enough, or in some cases with heat-sensitive clients, too warm.

Read more about Le Petit Spa's Hot Stone Massage...

How well trained are Le Petit Spa Body Practitioners?

All Le Petit Spa Body Practitioners are “Certified Body Workers”. They have been trained and educated at schools which are accredited Body work and Massage schools throughout Canada and continually update their skills with new techniques and education. Read more on Le Petit Spa’s Team of Estheticians and Body Workers…

The importance of strict training protocols in the day spa industry:

A couple of years ago, the BC government took legislation out of the Cosmetology Industry. Now, anyone can open a day spa and serve customers without any formal training in cosmetology or esthetics which is a very serious concern within the day spa community.

A credible day spa should only hire estheticians and body workers that have been through accredited schools and training programs. A spa should openly offer this information to you as a customer, as they should care about educating their clients about making the right choice when it comes to choosing an esthetician or body worker for a life-long relationship.

Proper training and education practices should be available to estheticians so that they may upgrade their skills. Strict protocols at day spas ensure that all clients receive the same service and the margin for error or injury is miniscule.

Why Massage Therapy?

Did you know that stress is believed to cause about 80 to 90 % of disease in the human species? Massage Therapy is a drug free, non-invasive approach to health care that is widely becoming a more popular alternative to pain killers and other forms of drug therapy.

Read more about all massage therapy services available at Le Petit Spa...

Have questions or concerns about day spa treatments? Email me with your beauty or spa service question and look for your answer in a future blog! Sign up for our monthly newsletter to be the to know about further exclusive day spa promotions in Vancouver, gift with purchase and monthly service promotions.

Le Petit Spa makes giving the gift of relaxation even easier this Valentines Day

Massage Services for Valentines Day

Vancouver Day spa services in a French Country Inspired theme. Lavender and soft candle lit treatment rooms are your sanctuary this Valentines Day, as your Le Petit Spa massage therapist works and smoothes all of your worries away.

Featuring four different kinds of massage treatments, you’ll be sure to find one at Le Petit Spa that will meet your bodies every whim and desired need.

Le Petit Spa’s Full Body Massage

Using the powerful aromatherapy benefits of Lavender, you will enter a world of deep relaxation as your Le Petit Spa massage therapist concentrates on specific areas of your body while determining any areas that require special attention. Available in 60, 75 or 90 minute increments, this massage will leave you feeling completely satisfied and indulged. Massage Gift Certificates available for Valentines Day…

Check out our Gift Certificate promotion for Valentines Day…

Hot Stone Massage

Incorporating warm lava stones into your full body massage stimulates different organs and circulatory systems through heat therapy. Promoting the same results and benefits as a regular full body massage, this 75 minute treatment will leave you feeling warm, rejuvenated and completely pampered. Massage Gift Certificates available for Valentines Day…

Reflexology

Reflexology is a pressure point massage technique that uses a mirror image map of your body to target specific areas of your body. It is thought that each part of your foot represents a particular part of your body. Reflexology promotes detoxification, blood circulation, improved organ and gland function and reduces stress. A professional Reflexology treatment at Le Petit Spa will leave you feeling grounded and balanced with a new found sense of energy. Gift Certificates available for Valentines Day…

Prenatal Massage

A Prenatal Massage at Le Petit Spa is designed specifically for those who are expecting and are in their second or third trimester. Our highly trained massage therapists are aware of all body parts that need special attention due to the extra strain of carrying a baby; the lower back and legs are all paid attention to. Read more on Prenatal Massage at Le Petit Spa…

Gift Certificates are available at Le Petit Spa for Valentines Day with a special promotion for the month of February: When you purchase your Gift Certificate on-line from Le Petit Spa before the 10th of February, you will receive free shipping! Buy Gift Certificates / cards on - line now...

Check out our daily promotions at Le Petit Spa; all delivering the best value in day spa services in Vancouver.

Sign up for our monthly newsletter to be the first to know about monthly service promotions, daily promotions, new product launches and special events. Or email me with your beauty or spa service questions and look for your answer in a future blog!