South Portland, ME Spa and Massage

At Jade Integrated Health's brand-new Fore Street location, John and Nancy Charlebois mix the old with the new. Inside the renovated space, this duo combines practices that range from traditional Chinese herbology to advanced physical therapy. John and Nancy tend to divvy up the work based on their own particular interests. John is a licensed acupuncturist and the resident herbalist who creates formulations from Jade Integrated Health's herbal pharmacy. A licensed physical therapist, Nancy takes a particular interest in helping women through pregnancy-related issues. She offers therapy for those who have undergone cesarean sections, leads pool therapy exercises for pregnant and postpartum individuals at the Portland YMCA, and can help women deal with pain associated with carrying a child.

When licensed aesthetician Linda Morrison Wacholtz isn't painting in her art studio, she's beautifying the world in a different way with a long list of spa services at Blissful Touch Skincare, Nailcare & Massage Therapy. The beauty haven’s facials immerse countenances with natural skincare products, and Jane Iredale mineral cosmetics add finishing flourishes. Limbs luxuriate during relaxing body wraps that soothe muscles, firm dermises, and squeeze toxins from corporal shells. Linda caps off wraps by performing scalp massages and also whitens teeth with Bleach Brite products, which she sells for home or on-unicycle use.

Following a surgery for a rotator cuff injury, Michael Snell received some troubling news from his doctor. Even with physical therapy and rehab, he would only regain 75% to 85% of his range of motion back. Unwilling to accept this, he turned to massage therapy to help further his recovery. The results pleased Michael so much that he earned his own massage therapist license so he could pay it forward.

At Integrity Bodyworks, Michael aims to ease pain using his expertise in trigger-point and neuromuscular therapies, as well as imbue a sense of relaxation with the long, gliding strokes of Swedish massage. He integrates hot stones for an additional fee to help melt tension and another set of hands to untie double-knotted muscles during massages.

"Hara" is a term for a person's energy center. Hara Holistic Bodycenter earns that name by giving its clients a place to reenergize through therapeutic bodywork. The center’s cocreators and licensed massage therapists draw on studies in Eastern massage and holistic bodywork to reduce stress and chronic pain with their massage and skincare services. Botanically based products smother skin during facial treatments to cleanse and restore complexions worn down by seasonal stressors and environmental impurities. A collection of massages helps heal physical ailments such as headaches, neck and shoulder pain, and tension that comes from constantly hiding a handcuff key in your cheek.

Soothing yellow walls and sleek hardwood floors greet patrons in a healing space that invokes the chi-rejuvenating elements of the natural world. Lush, green plants stretch out their leaves to tickle weary muscles, and a wall of branches filters the warm sunlight that seeps through a thin screen in the window.

More than 10 facial options and 7 massage modalities highlight Element Day Spa's service menu, which promises treatments that erase the signs of aging and chase away stress. Located near area ski resorts, natural light floods the lobby and private treatment rooms, where it illuminates MD Formulations massage and spa products that cleanse skin, ease muscle tension, and lip-synch lullabies to inner ears. Unwanted hair gets the sticky boot with waxing services for the brow, limbs, and bikini area, and nail services color digits with long-lasting, UV-cured Shellac polish. Stylists can customize cuts to every face shape or add vibrancy and texture to newly sculpted coifs with hair color, frosting, gloss, or spackle. After their treatments, clients can leave the spa laden with bareMinerals cosmetics and versatile Miche bags from the onsite boutique.