Florida State Massage Therapy Association

Lexington, KY - From customizing your style, to customizing your car - we all want services tailor made to our busy lifestyles. This is why, as the voice of the spa industry, the International SPA Association is forecasting customization as one of the hottest trends of 2009.

"In this economy, people are watching their money, plain and simple. Spa professionals are listening to the needs of customers and creating specialized treatments. Whether it's a 30-minute pick-me-up massage on a lunch hour, or soothing those worked-to-the-bone Wi-Fi fingers, it's all about meeting the demands of consumers," says ISPA President Lynne McNees.

· Customized Treatments: In addition to 30-minute facials and massages, spas are listening to the demands and desires of their customers. So whether you're looking to combine a series of treatments or have one tailored to fit your needs (i.e., Wi-Fi massage), talk to your spa about how it can best fit into your lifestyle.

· Mind, Body & Spirit: Consumers are looking to spas to recharge not only their body, but their spirit and mind as well. Many spas are increasing self-discovery services like ropes courses, art classes and other learning activities that help consumers to stop, be still and focus on themselves.

· Family-friendly Resort Spas: In an era where we're all moving at warp speed, more and more people are looking for spas that cater to families. These spas are responding to the need for families to communicate and spend time together, whether it's flying through the air on a trapeze or attending family yoga.

· Organic Spas: More spas than ever before are offering environmentally friendly products and services, but that's not all. Many feature outdoor treatments and eco-friendly facilities, as well as treatments that highlight indigenous plants and the environment in which the spa is located (i.e., seashell body treatment and blueberry body wrap).

· Spa Credits: In this economy, the smart traveler is the one who de-stresses at the hotel spa after a long flight. Hotels are looking to entice travelers and increase bookings by offering free treatments or spa credits when booking a room.

· Spa Memberships: Similar to a gym membership, it allows spa-goers to experience spas at a lower cost. A 12-month membership could include unlimited use of the facility, a treatment a month and discounts on additional monthly services.

· Half-day Spa Vacations: With people watching every penny, many are canceling their expensive vacations and instead turning to spas. Transform your morning or afternoon into a full-blown escape with a massage, facial and pedicure.

· Dental Spas: Your annual cleaning just got more relaxing. The American Dental Association says about 50 percent of U.S. dentists are providing spa amenities at no additional charge. With hand massages, paraffin wax dips and reflexology, you'll never dread the drill again.

· Tried & True: Consumers are moving away from the trendy and seeking treatments with proven and tangible results. They're getting back to basics, focusing on core spa services like deep tissue massage and clarifying facials.

· Increased Spa Amenities: Turn a 60 =-minute service into an entire afternoon of rejuvenation by taking advantage of the spa's amenities. After your hot stone massage, take a plunge in the pool, sit in the sauna or cool down in an ice room; today's spas encourage loitering.

ISPA represents 3,200 members, both spas and product companies, in 83 countries. It's simple to find an ISPA member on www.experienceispa.com.

Contributed by:

Lynda Solien-Wolfe
60 Parnell Street
Suite C
Merritt Island, Florida. 32953
321-459-0133

"Plan your hours to be productive.
Plan your weeks to be educational.
Plan your years to be purposeful.
Plan your life to be an experience of growth.
Plan to change, Plan to grow."

Dear Hands-On Health Professional Partner: Thank you for your support of the Biofreeze^® Pain Reliever brand! Hands-on health professionals are the sole source for Biofreeze – and we intend to preserve this. Many of you are aware that in the past few months, CVS, a major national drug store chain, began selling Biofreeze. Performance Health/Hygenic Corporation HAS NOT sold product to CVS and DOES NOT support offering our Biofreeze Brand through traditional retail stores. We are working diligently on the following items in order to rectify this situation and ask for you to stand with us in this fight:

1. How can Biofreeze be removed from CVS shelves? We met with CVS and advised them that the transactions that put Biofreeze on their shelves violate both our Authorized Dealer Agreement and our policy of selling only to and through hands-on health professionals. We are negotiating with them to discontinue selling Biofreeze product. While our negotiations with CVS continue, we must also stop the flow of Biofreeze inventory to them.

2. Can we effectively stop CVS from purchasing more Biofreeze? Since we are not selling Biofreeze to CVS, determining their source of supply is critical. Our initial investigation revealed a dealer who, we believe, knowingly sold product to CVS via a sub-dealer. We have since cancelled all open purchase orders this dealer had with us. However, CVS has significant expertise in sourcing “diverted” product through unauthorized distribution and, while we have shut down one clear source, we are confident that they continue to pursue unauthorized Biofreeze access from other sources. We have enlisted our entire dealer and sub-dealer network in an all-out effort to ensure that Biofreeze is only sold to legitimate hands-on health professionals. This battle is increasingly challenging, even as we increase our vigilance. It is not realistic to believe we can always prevent retailers from gaining unauthorized access to Biofreeze, evidenced by our current CVS dilemma. We are pursuing new strategies to win this fight going forward.

3. What can you do to join the fight in support of Biofreeze while we negotiate a resolution? We know that you had to work hard to gain your education, to establish your practice and to always provide excellent patient care. You are healers and fighters! Please join us in this fight by supporting as many of the following as possible:

· Display Biofreeze prominently in your practice so that your patients / clients know the product is available from you. If you need a countertop unit to display Biofreeze, contact us at 1-877-493-6734 and we will send you one immediately at no charge.

· Take full advantage of the Patient Education Program, which we provide to you at no charge. This program gives you brochures, with an attached gel sample, introducing Biofreeze Pain Reliever to your patients or clients. Brochures can be customized by us to include your practice’s name and contact information, providing referral of the services you offer in your community as well as the fact that you offer the Biofreeze Brand. Contact us at 1-877-493-6734 to order your free, customized brochures with Biofreeze Gel samples.

· The product that CVS was able to secure is being sold for about $15.00 each (4 oz. Gel Tube at $14.99, the 3 oz. Roll-On at $14.99 and the 4 oz. Spray at $15.49). Check your prices to see how you measure against what CVS is charging to ensure your patients receive a competitive offer from you.

We remain committed to upholding the statement that appears on every label of Biofreeze Pain Reliever: “Formulated for authorized distribution through hands-on health professionals for the patients, clients, and athletes under their care.” Thank you for your continued support of the Biofreeze Brand! Together we will resolve this issue.

Chapter Meeting Highlights

May 5, 2009

The Dade Chapter of the FSMTA held its monthly meeting on May 5, 2009 also known as Cinco De Mayo to those south of the Border. It was an exciting meeting on Ethics, a required course for license renewal. Michael Brechtel, director of education at Educating Hands, gavethe thought provoking presentation. The night had a full agenda with the local chapter president, Ms Eliasson sharing herday's itinerary when attending the State FSMTA meetings. Dr. Paul Canalli informed us of a workshop he's having, go to www. evolutionaryhealinginstitute.com, ANGEL OROZCO promoted his trip to Thailand in August, call 305.854.3100, BB Gould talked re: Tian Bamboo Massage she is teaching soon, call 305.895.2743 for details; and last but no least Monika Keller spoke about the Lymphatic Drainage Certification Course and all of its uses: 305.297.6157.When all was said and done, those with any pep in their step went to celebrate at "Tobacco Road" after the meeting was over. Those in attendance received two CEUS.

Click here for: Previous Minutes

NEWSLETTER

Chapter Meeting Highlights

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK "EDUCATING HANDS SCHOOL OF MASSAGE" FOR SUPPORTING OUR CHAPTER BY CONSENTING TO BE OUR "HOME" MEETING PLACE.

Florida State Massage Therapy Association - Dade Chapter