Hammond, IN Spa and Massage

Floor-to-ceiling alabaster columns span Serenity Day Spa, an idyllic oasis staffed with certified aestheticians and massage therapists adept at drawing out inborn beauty encumbered by age and pent-up stress. Pastoral murals splash their soft hues against the walls of the spa’s private rooms, where pampering professionals cocoon clients in customizable body wraps and alleviate deep aches with a wide array of massages, from traditional Swedish bodywork to holistic reiki. Personalized skin analyses prelude facials and peels designed to combat the natural effects of aging or getting a bear hug from Father Time, and a comprehensive menu of waxing services ensures that fur-ridden guests can shed superfluous strands from toes to top hats.

Kathleen Fitzgerald is more than familiar with the hectic schedules of modern life; having founded and run A Relaxed You, Inc.'s two locations for nearly two decades, she understands the importance of a peaceful, welcoming space. From her dual relaxation centers, Kathleen's staff doles out soothing hot-stone and prenatal massages, aromatherapy body wraps, and facial treatments that banish dead skin cells from cheeks and voter-registration roles. Skilled techs pamper nails at both locations as clients shift skin tones with airbrush spray tans in Palos Heights or follow the tranquil poses of certified yoga instructors at the Chicago center.

Salon technicians within The Set Free Salon & Spa bolster beauty amid glass shelves brimming with colorful crowds of OPI polishes and Ardell eyelash extensions. The private treatment areas cosset clients beneath gentle lighting during Dermalogica facials, which brighten and smooth skin and draw jealous glances from previously aloof velour suits. Specialized services for men draw gents to shed dull skin cells and cleanse pores.

A Relaxed You's tranquility experts call on their diverse expertise to liberate bodies of tension, impurities, and dull hues. Seven types of massage run the gamut from classic Swedish to Eastern-inspired reiki treatments, and BelAvi facial massages and aromatic scalp work keep headscapes from registering bodies for triathlons out of spite. An arsenal of youth-renewing skincare technology—such as microdermabrasion and ultrasonic devices—merges with Dermalogica and PCA Skin products to free faces of dulling outer layers and help to soften the evidence of sun damage and aging. OPI polish crowns vibrant manicures and pedicures bolstered by paraffin, scrubs, and ME bath products, and, at certain locations, airbrush tanning and revitalizing yoga instruction ready bodies for swimsuits and eveningwear alike. Children can also escape the stresses of the recess rat race with kid-tailored nail services and a range of beautifying birthday-party packages.

Trained massage therapist Sharon Madison incorporates more than 20 years of experience—including time spent working for the University of Minnesota Athletic Division—into each treatment she performs at Heart and Soul Bodywork. Offering custom massage, energy-work, and spa-detox treatments, she is well versed in myofascial-release, trigger-point, and hot-stone therapies as well as acupressure and reflexology. Madison also brings bodies back into balance with the reinvigorating powers of reiki energy work, and sports massages reduce the pain and swelling athletes may experience after doing arm curls with the Stanley Cup.

Licensed massage therapist Katrina Guthrie likens herself to a body mechanic; indeed, the names of her massages sound more like services at an auto shop than a massage center. The Tune Up combines a variety of modalities to forge full-body relief, and the Lube Job takes its name from the essential oils starring in the aromatherapy massage, which invigorates clients’ senses and ensures they don’t stick to their wok-shaped shoes. These whimsical titles belie Katrina’s serious approach to her profession, she possesses a strong belief in human touch as a mechanism for natural healing. Within a quaint brick building, she harnesses natural healing remedies to melt away stresses, aches, and pains from the bodies and minds of her clients.