Massage in Mounds View

The seven cosmetologists at JB Cavour Salon Spa wield more than a century's combined experience in the beauty business, as well as an arsenal of botanical Aveda products. Now in its second generation of family ownership, the recently renovated sanctuary keeps a healthy stream of “ahhs” flowing out the big bay window with luxurious massage, skincare, and hair services.

Private rooms blanketed in soothing music provide a relaxing environment for guests partaking in spa services. Aestheticians use 100% organic hard and soft wax to remove any unwanted hair from faces and bodies, and even offer Brazilian waxing parties for groups of ladies. Microdermabrasion treatments and chemical peels aim to soften fine lines on faces, and eyelash extensions create lashes long enough to braid. Other pampering services include mani-pedis and massages.

For 20 years, Doctor of Chiropractic Catherine Gray has taken a whole-body approach to alleviating pain and helping each client find their physical potential. She leads a handpicked team of holistic health experts, including Doctor of Chiropractic Theresa Burns, who specializes in caring for athletes and children; personal trainer and medical exercise specialist Chris Chronister; and two licensed massage therapists. The doctor showcases her dedication to healing bodies in every facet of her career. In addition to owning and operating MorningStar Chiropractic, she runs a consulting company that helps students transition from chiropractic school to private practice, and is a quarter-time faculty member at Northwestern Health Sciences University. Jeff Zachman, L.Ac has also recently joined the team.

The team takes a multifaceted approach to chiropractic care, addressing damaging subluxations and their physical consequences with methods ranging from cervical traction to ultrasound physiotherapy. They also offer soothing reiki sessions to balance chakras impacted by stress or metaphorical meteors.

The licensed massage therapists at Massage Advantage dote on visitors with a slew of custom massage techniques, including Swedish, prenatal, and deep tissue. Armed with warm blankets and a credo to respect patients' privacy, therapists begin each 30- or 60-minute session with a discussion on clients' specific aches and ailments. Therapists can also haul their equipment to office buildings for workplace chair massages that help reinvigorate fatigued employees or stressed-out water coolers during 5–15 minute stints. Each succession of kneads is designed to alleviate stress, muscles soreness, and various medical conditions, such as high blood pressure.

The beauty team at Villager Salon and Spa pampers and primps clients in a combined spa and salon setting. On the salon side of the facility, a small band of experienced hair stylists with years of experience bestows hair sculptures with a parade of high-end hair and beauty products by Paul Mitchell, Coppola, and Kenra. Villager's equally tight-knit spa technicians carry out their own collection of services, each with a diverse skill set that encompasses trigger-point massage techniques, waxing, and the use of hot stones for massages and extreme juggling.

A wildly successful alternative to traditional day spas—its more than 300 locations blanket 36 states and half a dozen countries—Planet Beach Contempo Spa is a futuristic relaxation station where state-of-the-art machines administer all the spa and tanning services. These friendly automatons sometimes replace familiar treatments, such as the Luminous facial, a light-based service that delivers blemish-busting results similar to those of a conventional facial. But other equipment maps out new spa territory entirely: the Hydro-Derma Fusion chamber moisturizes the whole body with nutrient-rich steam in order to offset the effects of a dry climate or a rear-end collision with a salt truck. Other machines whiten teeth, spray-tan skin, and massage muscles.

Planet Beach operates on a gym-style membership system, meaning members purchase packages or pay flat monthly rates. As members spend more time at the spa, they get to know the helpful assistants who are always on hand to demonstrate how to use the equipment without activating its ability to cry.

At Essentially Massage, licensed massage therapist Colby coaxes tension from his patients’ muscles with a range of techniques. His services include Swedish, deep-tissue, prenatal, and prescription worker’s comp or auto injury massages.