Beauty & Spas in East Lake

Fully intending to pursue a career in physical therapy, Jeremy Miracle began to study various massage modalities as a means to an end. He realized quickly, however, that he needn't go any further—he had discovered his passion. Believing in massage's therapeutic benefits and its ability to cultivate a pain-free lifestyle, Miracle founded Nautical Massage.

Instead of asking clients to decide on one modality for the entire treatment, Jeremy begins every session by asking them to describe their discomfort, expectations, and Twister-playing habits. Based on this information, he administers a completely custom mélange of modalities that can include salutary deep-tissue work, relaxing Swedish techniques, and neuromuscular therapy. He also welcomes feedback throughout the entire session, constantly altering his game plan to accommodate each client's unique needs.

Surrounded by calming, neutral-toned walls, the treatment room gently reverberates the sounds of soft piano music. Clients can also bring along their own music or band of singing whales if it will help them to fall into a relaxed stupor more easily.

At Beauty and Health Institute, doctors and cosmetology instructors help students fine-tune abilities while they pursue careers as aestheticians. In a spa setting and under the direct supervision of a licensed instructor, the Beauty and Health Institute's scholars perform basic spa treatments such as facials, peels, and waxing. They also tackle advanced, laser-assisted treatments, such as hair removal, permanent-makeup application, and tattoo removal to fade unwanted images of Walter Mondale.

As business partners, spouses, and licensed massage therapists, Gary and Karen Amundson have spent the past 23 years mending muscles at Massage Therapy Center of Florida. Their sinew-soothing skills caught the attention of the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce, who dubbed them Business of the Year in 2000. Gary and Karen begin all of their massage sessions with heated lotion and conclude with a hot towel, sandwiching in techniques such as prenatal massage, trigger-point therapy, and myofascial release. In addition to nurturing injured tissues, they keep their shelves stocked with Biofreeze, a menthol-infused topical pain reliever that subdues soreness and cures rare cases of shoulder halitosis. Gary and Karen also collaborate with licensed aestheticians Donna Byrd and Laura Symons, who nourish epidermises with spa treatments such as facials, body wraps, and waxing.