Now more than ever, people are pinching pennies and looking for the best values. One fail-proof way to add value to your treatments—and to let your clients know you are giving them the highest level of service—is to offer a foot treatment with your massage. This add-on also helps you solidify loyalty from your clientele in an increasingly competitive business market. Foot treatments can be done right on the massage table. They incorporate a spa element, yet don’t require a wet room or shower. They add value to the massage experience and also introduce your clients to a new dimension of your treatments.
If you really want to recreate a spa experience, you can begin with a foot soak ritual while your client is sitting in a chair in the treatment room. If you do not have a chair in the treatment room, begin on the table with the exfoliation. The following is a simple table protocol you can follow:
1. In a small dish, combine 2 tablespoons of bath salts with 1 tablespoon of aromatherapy massage oil, and add 1 tablespoon of water to make a loose paste. Warm two hand towels in very hot water. Wring them out, and keep them insulated in a small thermal bag or chest.
2. While the client is supine, apply half of the salt mixture to her left foot. Exfoliate.
3. Apply a hot, moist towel compress on the foot and wrap in another dry towel to insulate.
4. Repeat this process on the client’s right foot.
5. While wrapped, return to the original foot and remove the salts with the hot moist towel.
6. Perform reflexology or foot massage, with a revitalizing aromatherapy blend of one drop each of rosemary, peppermint, lemongrass and tea tree essential oils.
7. Repeat Step 6 on other foot.
If you have moist heat therapy booties, you can first place plastic baggies over each foot and then, place the warmed booties on the feet and let your client relax, while you massage the hands or neck and shoulders. This is such a “wow” addition that your clients will sink into a lovely, deep state of relaxation. We know how profound foot massage can be when massaging reflex points to vital organs. Combining an invigorating exfoliation with moist heat therapy and reflexology foot massage creates a powerful combination that takes your treatment to the next level.
Tara Donna Grodjesk, president and owner of Tara Spa Therapy, Inc., has devoted her 27 years of experience in wellness to refining bodywork techniques, creating innovative body treatments and offering a careful selection of high-quality, natural products for the health and spa market. Since 1989, Grodjesk has been designing programs for world-class hotels, resorts and day spas as well as providing high-quality, detailed training for their therapists.