The Blog.

The benefits of prenatal massage or massage during pregnancy:

Studies show that massage therapy performed during pregnancy can reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and improve labor outcomes and newborn health.

Massage therapy addresses different needs through varying techniques,  directed to relax muscle tension and improve lymphatic and blood circulation through mild pressure.  Swedish Massage is the recommended prenatal massage method during pregnancy because it addresses many common discomforts brought on by physical and hormone shifts during pregnancy.

Hormone regulation

Studies done in the past 10 years have shown that hormone levels associated with relaxation and stress are significantly altered, leading to mood regulation and improved cardiovascular health when massage therapy was introduced to women’s prenatal care. In women who received bi-weekly massages for only five weeks, hormones such as norepinephrine and cortisol (“stress hormones”) were reduced.  Dopamine and Serotonin levels were increased (low levels of these hormones are associated with depression). These changes in hormone levels also led to fewer complications during birth for both mom and the baby. The evidence points strongly to maternal and newborn health benefits when therapeutic massage is incorporated into regular prenatal care.

Reduction of swelling

Edema, or swelling of the joints during pregnancy, is often caused by reduced circulation and increased pressure on the major blood vessels by the heavy uterus. Massage helps to stimulate soft tissues to reduce collection of fluids in swollen joints, which also improves the removal of toxin and tissue waste, carried by the body’s lymphatic system.

Improvement of nerve pain

 Sciatic nerve pain is experienced by many women in late pregnancy as the uterus rests on muscles of the pelvic floor and lower back. The pressure of the uterus spreads tension to the muscles of the upper and lower leg, causing them to swell and put pressure on nearby nerves. Massage therapy addresses the inflamed nerves by helping to release the tension on nearby muscles. Many women have experienced significant reduction in sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy through regular massage.

 Q&A:

Q: How far along do I need to be before I can receive a massage?  

A: Women need to be at least 12 weeks along or into their 2nd trimester of pregnancy.

Reason:  When the pregnancy is new and in the first trimester there is a risk of massage causing a miscarriage.

Q: How long after I give birth can I receive a massage?

A: Women need to have given birth 6 weeks prior to the massage.

Reason: The reason for this is because massage can cause a change in blood pressure and there is a risk of causing the new mom to hemorrhage.  Also, having a baby is a huge ordeal for a woman’s body.  A new mom’s hormones are still balancing out, calming down, and we can make them feel even worse.

The staff at Amara  had the pleasure of listening to world renowned speaker Geno Stampora!  He enlightened our minds and brightened our visions; we can’t wait to see the results from the changes we’re making!  “Believe in yourselves, and become an expert at what you do.”

Geno Stampora has made a major contribution to the beauty industry in many ways. He has owned, managed, and worked behind the chair in his collection of salons. He has owned two beauty academies, where he also instructed. Geno has been a distributor and sales consultant to salons, a major platform artist, and has shared the stage with the world’s greatest artists.

Industry Expert and Speaker

Geno has consulted with many manufacturers. He has educated industry artists and sales people all over the world. He continues to work with the industry’s finest teams, such as:  Professional Beauty Association, International Haircolor Exchange, International Beauty Systems. International Chain Salon Association, National Cosmetology Association, Cosmoprof, Intercoiffure, Chicago Cosmetology Association and the Midwest Beauty Show, North American Hairdressing Awards, The BBSI, and more.

A Coach, Image Consultant, and In Salon Educator

Geno has trained thousands of salons worldwide. He has worked with groups large and small helping them to fine tune and refine their ability to grow. He has been named as a strong force in the success of thousands of beauty professionals. The industry’s finest salons use Geno frequently as a guest artist and salon trainer helping to keep them on the cutting edge.

Geno is on the Advisory board for Nailpro Magazine. His work has been featured in Modern, American, Salon Today, Nails, Dayspa, Launchpad, and almost every salon and spa trade magazine. You can also find articles in Glamour, Elle, The New Yorker, Washingtonian Magazine and others.

Geno continues to be an outstanding example, role model and keeps the creative juices of beauty professionals flowing everywhere he goes.

Amara is proud to introduce for summer 2011:  The Special Events Team

We have always offered makeup and hair styling services at Amara for special events, such as weddings, dances, date nights (etc), but now we have a team designated especially for such events!  There are eight stylists on our Special Events Team who, with their combined years of experience with hair and makeup design for events, film, and photo shoots, now offer Amara styling services on location as well to better serve our clients.

 What does this mean for you?  It means that we can come to you on your wedding day, dance day, or to get you ready for date night.

 The Special Events Team has already experienced many great opportunities by participating with Thanksgiving Point in their Wedding Bloggers Preview event, where we introduced the latest hair and makeup trends for brides.

(See here Part 1 and here Part 2)

Part 1

Part 2

 We also had the great opportunity to work with photographer McKenzie Deakins on her visionary photoshoot “Bridal Tea Party,” where we designed and styled the hair for three models (see below, so adorable!).

 The Team has been featured already on several blogs, including Utah Valley Bride, Blossom Sweet, and Utah Bride Blog.

 For more information on how we can be involved in your special day, email us at specialevents@amaradayspa.com, or you may contact the salon and speak with our Special Events Team coordinator to answer any questions you might have.

Do you want the summer tan look without the worry of skin damage? We have the best solution for you, come get an AIRBRUSH TAN!  South Seas Tanning products are the most widely recognized brand of high quality spray tanning solutions in the industry. They have been recognized by Hollywood’s elite, and South Seas® was voted “Best of Beauty” by Allure magazine for three consecutive years. Their Tahitian Tan solution delivers a flawless tan, with a perfect mahogany color for all skin types. Our clients will experience the world’s best spray tan. As you can see, South Seas® is truly the…SMART, SAFE, SEXY way to tan.

Mini Beach Kit/ Mini Traveling Kit
Beach Ready? This multi-pack includes South Seas® signature vacation products to get ready for the beach. Includes Extender Lotion (2oz), Shimmer Lotion (2oz), and Tanning Mist (3oz). Airplane friendly – less than 3 oz.

Brazilian waxing, there is no better time to start than summer time! Just in time for your vacations and outdoor/pool time.  Amara is known for having the “best waxers in the county”.  Make sure you come to a reputable spa like Amara where their estheticians have been doing these types of treatments for years!

 Need a fresh cut and color for the summer? Get the new style of the year at Amara with our talented stylists.