Beauty & Spas in Bakersfield

A certified prenatal massage therapist working towards getting her massage doula license, Jodi Emdy earned her massage-therapy license in 2007 and remains an enthusiastic practitioner dedicated to massage as a means of holistic wellness. Her repertoire of five modalities expressly links mental and physical health, including reflexology and prenatal massages that assuage stress to help regulate hormone levels.

The body is always subject to stresses such as work, family, and your jerk roommate's rubber-band gun. That's where Regina "Gina" Nathan comes in. With 15 years of experience as a licensed massage therapist and 9 as a reiki master, she cultivates a calm, soothing environment that helps her clients leave stress and worries behind. Drawing on more than 900 hours of holistic healing education, she makes it her mission to untie tight muscular knots and promote wellness of the mind and body. During massages, she can administer light strokes to promote relaxation or access lower-layer aches with more moderate techniques. One of the first therapists in Bakersfield to become certified as a practitioner and instructor of Quantum Touch, she also uses energy-healing techniques to stimulate the body's immune system, reduce back pain, and promote balance within the body.

With 15 years of experience guiding her, co-owner-therapist Joy Staley and her team of therapists continue to help their clients experience the therapeutic and holistic benefits of massage. Besides the typical Swedish and deep-tissue massage, they also specialize in pressure-point and sports massage techniques. Every massage also comes with moist heat packs, to hydrate and increase circulation, and steamed towels to remove excess essential oils. Using whichever specialized modality best suits their client, they aim to reduce the lymph build-up and inflammation that blocks blood flow, causes muscular pain, and induces people to spontaneously do the worm. They work in a room with sand-colored walls and sumptuous curtains the color of red wine, keeping the lights dim to foster relaxation.

Founded with the goal of outfitting its pupils with the skills necessary to excel in the spa and salon industries, Milan Institute of Cosmetology deploys a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes professionalism and hands-on learning to train fledgling cosmetologists and aestheticians around the country. As the most important aspect of the course of study, student salons and spas serve as a real-world classroom wherein nascent beauticians—under the careful supervision of their instructors—can practice their newly minted skills on humans or sentient mannequins. The beauty apprentices gussy up patrons head to toe via sundry lavish salon and spa services—specific to each location—that may include nail services, haircare, facials therapeutic massages, or nourishing body wraps.

Licensed massage therapist Debra McCown believes that massage is more than just bodywork: it's about making the client feel as comfortable as possible. That's why she holds a pretreatment consultation to determine the source of lingering stress and customize her many bodywork techniques. Debra also urges clients to use her specialty body cushions during treatment. Not only do these specialty pillows insure an ideal resting position to prevent backache, they're easily adjustable for men, women, and scarecrows of all body sizes.