Day Spa in San Marcos

When first meeting clients, licensed massage therapist Stacey Allen goes over their health histories and asks them what their goals are. She does this as a way of engaging the client, but she can usually sense their aches just by watching them walk into the studio. A patient may complain, for example, of chronic neck pain, but Stacey notices something off in his gait. Then she learns of an old knee injury. Working over the client's body, she can tell that though his knee has healed, his body hasn't let go of the tension that resulted from compensating for the injury. And so she sets to work, gradually undoing the deep-set tension reaching from the knee to the neck. Stacey gives every client this depth of individualized treatment, drawing upon massage modalities that include therapeutic, Swedish, sports, and deep-tissue work. Her journey into massage therapy started somewhat by happenstance?as a bookkeeper, she'd often greet coworkers with a quick shoulder massage, which became her form of a handshake. When the economy slowed, she decided to expand her repertoire and study massage. Naming her practice after a mentor's mantra, "We heal from within," Stacey puts guests at ease with relaxing spa music, Tempur-Pedic table toppers, and candles scented like a mother's love.

Massage therapist. Lifestyle coach. Group fitness instructor. The list of Kathleen Pleasants’s vocations goes on and on. At Clearly Unique, Kathleen caters to clients' health and wellbeing, relying on her years of experience as a holistic health practitioner. As head massage therapist, she charms muscles into relaxing and dissipates stress and pain with deep-tissue and Swedish massages and neuromuscular therapy. Kathleen also has a special touch for carpal tunnel syndrome, alleviating the painful symptoms with three physical-therapy sessions. Going above and beyond traditional massage services, Clearly Unique also hosts a range of workshops. Classes teach the art of reiki, advanced massage techniques, energy balancing, and even nutrition, in which Kathleen—who is not just a nutritional counselor but is also featured in the book Is She Naturally Thin or Disciplined? —leads the way to healthy eating.

Skin Alive and its aesthetician school, Mequon Thiensville School of Esthetics, are devoted to the study and practice of skincare. Clients can choose to visit the hands-on student-learning center for aesthetic services performed by students under instructor supervision, or head to the Skin Alive spa for services performed by a licensed professional. Both offer basic beauty services, such as facials, peels, and waxing, but the licensed aestheticians at Skin Alive can also slough off dead skin cells with diamond-tip microdermabrasion, rejuvenate skin with lasers, and vanquish unwelcome hair with laser hair-removal treatments that leave skin smoother than a cue ball smothered in olive oil.

Signature Service: Massage Established: 2013 Reservations/Appointments: Recommended Handicap Accessible: Yes Staff Size: 11?25 people Parking: Parking lot Minimum Age Requirement: 12 Pro Tip: Please let us know what type of massage you like so we can match you with the correct therapist. Q&A with Michael, Owner Sometimes the little things make all the difference. Do you bake any supplementary services into your main services? Our trained massage therapists perform Swedish, deep tissue, prenatal, and hot stone massage. Some have had advanced training in other techniques, and all of them specialize in certain techniques. That is why we look at your health history, goals, challenges, and lifestyle?to match you with the best therapist for your situation?rather than just putting you in a time slot.

After Doctor of Chiropractic Joe A. Hernandez spent his undergraduate years studying exercise physiology, he went on to train at Palmer College of Chiropractic. A postgraduate internship brought him under the wing of seasoned chiropractors who taught him how to treat professional athletes. Today, this former certified medical examiner works out of his own practice, where he supports the body's innate healing abilities by strengthening the immune system. He relies on a range of techniques—including newer, safer adjustment methods that can also be used to solve a Rubik's cube.

Holistic Hideaway founder Tenia Bentley is a one-woman show when it comes to health. In addition to her role as a licensed holistic-health practitioner, she plays the part of a certified clinical nutritionist, an oriental-arts massage therapist, and a yoga instructor. All these approaches to living healthfully give Bentley a certain circumspection when clients approach her with the desire to learn how to improve their diets or bolster their immune systems through her unique brand of raindrop aromatherapy.