Behind the Scenes Look at Spa Walden
By Intern: Tara Gallupe

What is so unique about Spa Walden?

Considered to be one of the most unique and adaptable spas in Ohio, Spa Walden is making a splash in North East Ohio with not only it’s customer ratings, but it’s customer service. The staff at Spa Walden take great pride in knowing that they are offering the best overall services for their clients. By taking the time to assess the wants and needs of their customers, they provide not only a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere, but serene and soothing services in order to leave their customers feeling relaxed and stress-free.

Let’s meet the Staff:

Dedicating their careers and time to fulfill the desires of their clients, the staff at Spa Walden strives for nothing less than perfection. Let’s meet the people who provide these restorative experiences everyday:

Cheri Heinzerling – Lead Esthetician:

o    Length in the spa industry: Almost 28 years

o    Favorite Spa Service: LOMI LOMI

o    How many licenses do you have: Between certifications and license over 15

o    Favorite Spa Walden Food Menu Option: Turkey sandwich

o    Chakra Most like: (RAINBOW) Love them all

o    Music/Artist you wish we would play in Spa Suites: Well personally I love Alternative Rock (Pearl Jam, Chris Cornell, etc.) However a playlist for all the 40 something rockers who don’t want spa music would be enjoyed (like Peter Gabrielle, Phil Collins, etc.)

o    Favorite Spa Event: Pool party

o    Favorite Spa Product you can’t live without: RX for face and Coconut oil for body. Coconut Oil is an antioxidant that blocks free radicals. It raises metabolism and boosts your immune system. It will also strengthen tissue and remove dead skin cells. RX products are my favorite because they are medical grade and have quick safe results.

Kelly Thompson – Esthetician

o    Length in the spa industry: 8 years

o    Favorite Spa Service: Massage

o    How many licenses do you have: 1

o    Favorite Spa Walden Food Menu Option: Asian Chicken Wrap

o    Chakra Most like: Crown (LILAC/GOLD) – I am most like the Crown Chakra because I know who I am and what my purpose is in life. I love helping people and informing them about skincare. Also my favorite part of the body to work on is the scalp!

o    Music/Artist you wish we would play in Spa Suites: Anything without words

o    Favorite Spa Event: Peel event with Dr. Husni

o    Favorite Spa Product you can’t live without: X-age is my favorite product because it is a part of our medical grade skincare brand Results Rx. It makes your skin flawless. Hydrates the skin with L-Sodium Hyluronate and firms the skin with 1% vitamin A to eliminate wrinkles.

Natalie Lopez – Esthetician

o    Length in the spa industry: 2 years

o    Favorite Spa Service: Facial peels

o    How many licenses do you have: 2 – Managing Esthetician and Reiki practitioner

o    Favorite Spa Walden Food Menu Option: Bento box

o    Chakra Most like: Crown (LILAC/GOLD) – I have a good sense of who I am. I am always moving forward and seeking my purpose. I feel I learn quickly and understand concepts well.

o    Music/Artist you wish we would play in Spa Suites: Instrumental relaxing music sound tribe sector 9 and Incubus aqueous transmission

o    Favorite Spa Product you can’t live without: make up product – Jane Iredale’s Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain in Forever Pink; My favorite facial product – Cosmedix’s Defy Age Management Exfoliator. The Defy Age Management Exfoliator is great because it is gentle, but delivers nutrients to calm and hydrate the skin.

Amanda Mack – Esthetician

o    Length in the spa industry: 9 years (4 of which in Sydney, Australia)

o    Favorite Spa Service: To receive: Massage, To give: Facial

o    How many licenses do you have: 3: Esthetician, Manicurist, Manager’s (+ Massage Certification)

o    Favorite Spa Walden Food Menu Option: Asian Chicken wrap

o    Chakra Most like: Sacral (ORANGE) – I am very empathic. I feel my and other people’s emotions strongly this is what connects me to the Sacral Chakra.

o    Music/Artist you wish we would play in Spa Suites: Nature sounds, less words and less beat, pan pipes,

o    Favorite Spa Event: Craft night at the spa

o    Favorite Spa Product you can’t live without: FACE: Results Rx A Solution BODY: Pure Fiji Mango body scrub. I love both of these products because they are smoothing to the skin surface. The scents of both are fruity and sweet.

Jeff Whitlow – Massage Therapist

o    Length in the spa industry: 11.5 years

o    Favorite Spa Service: Couples Massage in the outdoor spa suite

o    How many licenses do you have: Licensed Massage Therapist and applied science degree

o    Favorite Spa Walden food menu option: Mini Coke from the Spa Lounge

o    Chakra Most like and why: Solar Plexus (YELLOW) – Just seems to fit my overall personality!

o    Music/Artist you wish would play in spa suites: Kenny Chesney all day long

o    Favorite spa event: Pool Party

o    Favorite spa product and why: Results Rx, X-AGE my skin always looks and feel smoother and younger

Dan Tainer – Massage Therapist

o    Length in the spa industry: 6 years

o    Favorite Spa Service: Massage

o    How many licenses do you have: Massage license

o    Favorite Spa Walden Food Menu Option: the Turkey Focaccia

o    Chakra Most like: Root Chakra (RED) -Because family is the most important part of my life!

o    Music/Artist you wish we would play in Spa Suites: Mellow jazz

o    Favorite Spa Event: The pool party

o    Favorite Spa Product you can’t live without: Massage cream

Niki Battaglia – Massage Therapist

o    Length in the spa industry: 9 years

o    Favorite Spa Service: 90 minute relaxation massage.

o    How many licenses do you have: Massage license

o    Favorite Spa Walden Food Menu Option: The Inn’s homemade crackers & hummus

o    Chakra Most like: Heart (GREEN) – Unconditional Love & Peacefulness. These two words describe me perfectly. With Air being the element of the Heart Chakra, I can closely relate, as being out in nature and simply breathing gives me nourishment and therapy. I can control my diaphragm, my chest, my breathing, to instill calmness and life.

o    Music/Artist you wish we would play in Spa Suites: Natural sounds i.e. waves, rain, and forest. Also, I would LOVE access to a very mellow mediation music.

o    Favorite Spa Event: Pool party & Men’s night

o    Favorite Spa Product you can’t live without: Coconut oil. It’s pure, healthy & my favorite medium for massage, especially bamboo massage. Aromatherapies are vital, too. I love the Phytomer Toning Body Scrub it make your skin feel great and so smooth.

Lindsey Lovsey – Massage Therapist & Nail Tech

o    Length in the spa industry: 2.5 years

o    Favorite Spa Service: Thai Massage

o    How many licenses do you have: 2, massage and nail technician and working on my 3rd -esthetics license soon to come

o    Favorite Spa Walden Food Menu Option: Turkey focaccia sandwich

o    Chakra Most like: Sacral – (ORANGE)

o    Music/Artist you wish we would play in Spa Suites: Nature music

o    Favorite Spa Event: All of them! They have all been fun everyone has a blast at them

o    Favorite Spa Product you can’t live without: Fake Bake and Savannah hair mask

Krystal Enlow – Massage Therapist

o    Length in the spa industry: 5 years

o    Favorite Spa Service: Lomi Lomi

o    How many licenses do you have: 1 Massage Therapist

o    Favorite Spa Walden Food Menu Option: Chicken Caesar salad & it’s yummy

o    Music/Artist you wish we would play in Spa Suites: Nature w/ piano or panpipes

o    Favorite Spa Product you can’t live without: For home my facial products for work massage cream

Adam Varga – Massage Therapist

o    Length in the spa industry: 2 years

o    Favorite Spa Service: hot stone massage.

o    How many licenses do you have: 1- therapeutic massage.

o    Chakra Most like: I prefer the chakras above the heart overall, Crown, Third Eye, Throat & Third Eye – I am most like the higher chakras due to my overall outlook and treatment of life. Ever since I can remember I have been seeking and searching for purpose and meaning to life. I always felt and knew it was more than what most people and religions talk about. I do not value or place “higher” attention towards these chakras, but do tent to be drawn to their energy more.

o    Music/Artist you wish we would play in Spa Suites: Deuter, Enya, Mike Wall, Paul Lawler, Deva Premal, David Tolk, Dean Evenson, Sacred Earth, and Coyote Oldman.

o    Favorite Spa Product you can’t live without: the Toning body scrub and Phytomer moisturizer which both contribute to healthy and vital skin; prolonging skin elasticity and overall health and function.

Peggy Finnegan – Massage Therapist

o    Length in the spa industry: 2 yrs.

o    Favorite Spa Service: Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage is my absolute favorite to give.

o    How many licenses do you have: Massage Therapy License

o    Favorite Spa Walden Food Menu Option: cheese and dried fruit plate

o    Chakra Most like: Heart

o    Music/Artist you wish we would play in Spa Suites: Deva Premal (chant); Karen Marie Garrett and/or George Winston (both piano); Anugama (shamanic)

o    Favorite Spa Event: Spirits & Spirits

o    Favorite Spa Product you can’t live without: Phytomer Pure Pore Heating Mask; Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil; Kashwear Robe; steam shower in our spa suites

Internal Training:

While working at Spa Walden, the staff members consistently get up to date training and learn new skills. This year alone the entire spa team was sent to Utah for extra training while the salon team was sent to California. Specific areas that staff are trained to excel include; tailoring standard services to clients’ needs, making Spa Walden a memorable experience, and providing a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere for all guests and employees. Most staff members agree that their personal contributions to the spa have helped to differentiate it from its competitors. These contributions range from training new staff, offering various services in one visit, to exceeding the client’s expectations and furthering their education. In addition to all of the training, staff members take time to discuss specific needs that the clients may have when they come in for their services. They regularly adjust services to fit medical conditions in a way that keeps the client comfortable. If faced with a guest condition, staff members may also offer different services that would be better suited for that area of need or concern. The atmosphere at Spa Walden, leaves not only the clients feeling relaxed, but also leaves the staff members with a sense of peace and happiness. The insurmountable joy that the staff receives when clients enjoy their services continues to drive them to work harder each and every day to provide that experience to every client they see.

New Incorporations:

This June 2014, Spa Walden is launching a new concept base around chakra journeys, this will be a mix of old and new here at Spa Walden. The energy around the spa is palpable as everyone gears up with more training and advancement to launch yet another new addition to the Spa Walden philosophy. Get ready to be guided on a sensory journey as you allow your mind to relax and your body to be your guide. The journeys will tie into the 7 main chakras: (top down) Crown, Third eye, Throat, Heart, Solar Plexus, Sacral, and Root. Each journey will provide sensory experiences through sight, sound, taste, touch, and insight. We hope you visit us soon to experience what is sure to be another great adventure at Spa Walden.