After weeks of winter's chill, most people are ready to welcome spring. But the cold temperatures and dry air can wreak havoc on your skin and body.

"The weather has been so bad that everybody is ready for spring and ready to get out and get a new hairdo, and of course they want to have a massage because they've been stiff and want to relax," said Vel Green, director of Elan Day Spa & Esthetic Centre in Cape Girardeau.

Some of the more popular treatments at the spa are the deluxe facials and a spa glow, which is a mixture of sea salt and essential oils rubbed across the body to help exfoliate the skin. A massaging shower rinses the mixture away.

"It's great in the winter for dry skin to get all the flakiness off and in the summer to get rid of the extra oils in the skin," Green said.

Another treatment -- the spa chocolate wrap -- is good for detoxifying the body and works on cellulite. It's an excellent treatment for dry skin, she said.

So to prepare myself for the upcoming spring season, I spent Tuesday morning as a guest at Elan, where I was treated to a deluxe facial and a Swedish massage.

Upon arriving, I was asked to fill out some paperwork that would help the staff know more about my skin and what sort of products were best suited to my skin care needs.

Coffee and ice water were available as clients waited for their appointments. The reception area was sleek and stylish with ceramic-tile flooring and black furniture. Soft music played overhead.

After completing the paperwork, I was greeted by Ann Marie Miller, an esthetician, who would be doing my facial. She took me to the ladies lounge where I was provided with a terry-cloth wrap, robe and slippers.

After changing, Miller led me to a private room where I would receive the facial. Soothing music played overhead while dim lights provided ambiance. I laid on the bench and was wrapped in a light blanket so that only my shoulders and head were visible.

The treatment started with makeup removal and a gentle cleansing using some fan brushes. Miller then used some machine brushes for exfoliation before applying a mask and steam. Several times during the facial, she wrapped my face in a warm towel. She ended the facial treatment with some gentle extraction, a pore-reducing mask and moisturizer.

But since mine was the deluxe facial, it also included treatments for my hands and feet. Miller applied moisturizing lotion and then wrapped my feet in plastic bags and slid them into warming booties. She did the same for my hands.

Eugene's Total Care Salon and Spa has seen an increase in its facial business, particularly in the 30-to-50-year-old age range.

"There's a generation that wants to look younger, and facials can actually make them look and feel younger" said Martha Parson, salon owner.

The salon offers facials that pamper, like a deep pore-cleansing facial and a signature facial that goes deeper into the skin and uses essential oils.

"There's a lot of massage and relaxing. It's the ultimate of facials," Parson said of the signature facial.

Another offering is a youth light that activates the collagen layers in the skin and gives the skin more plumness and more hydration, making it look younger and healthier.

As people age, their skin tends to dry out, so facials are good ways of restoring moisture to the body.

After my facial at Elan, which can cost between $50 and $65, I was able to rest for a few moments before Miller led me to the lounge where I waited for my massage.

Paula Keller, a certified massage therapist, promptly greeted me for my next appointment.

She led me to another private room, giving me time to sip water and then disrobe for the massage.

Keller uses a combination of Swedish massage, reflexology, Reiki and trigger-point therapies on her clients.

The key is to let the client's body tell you what it needs, she said. She tries to help people relieve tension and stress and to learn how to relax.

In a world where people have busy lives and jobs, they often get caught up in the rush and never take time to relax, she said. Massages help them do just that -- even if it's just for an hour.

She recommends a massage at least once a week if possible. A one-hour session costs around $60.

But if they cannot, she suggests shorter or less frequent sessions. People don't realize the health benefits that come with massage and feeling more relaxed, she said.

While many people think nothing of spending $60 or more on a weekend out, they think it too lavish to spend on themselves for spa treatments, Keller said.

But Miller and Keller agree the benefits are substantial.

Miller always tells her clients that when they feel good, the people around them feel it, and everyone is in a better mood.

Day-spa businesses are "growing by leaps and bounds" around the country, Green said.

Part of that growth is because people are learning to take time for themselves.

"You need to take one night a week to yourself and say, 'This is my night,' whether you soak in the bath or have a lovely dinner. You need to make sure to do it on a weekly basis," Green said.

She suggests breaking up your weekly routine by using candles or aromatherapy in the bath. Anyone can learn basic massage techniques and practice at home.

Women make up most of the client base at the spa, but more men are catching on. "They see women are outliving them, and it's because women learn to take care of themselves, and men are doing the same thing."

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126

AT-HOME SPA

While not everyone can afford to treat themselves to a day at the spa, there are some things you can do at home to pamper yourself. Here are some suggestions:

Soak in a hot bath. Light candles or use aromatherapy to help set the mood and ease you into relaxation.

Give yourself a facial. Spa products, and plenty of discount-store offerings, make it easy to do. First, remove your makeup and gently cleanse your face using some soft brushes or sponges. Apply an exfoliating mask or peel, then finish with moisturizer. Wrapping your face and neck in a warm towel also will make you feel relaxed.

Ask a spouse to give you a massage. Some simple massage techniques, like neck rubs or foot massages, can be done at home.

Massage therapy has long been touted for its health benefits, but before you sign up for an appointment, ensure that the massage therapist is licensed.

Here's a list of area locations that offer massage:Caring Touch Center, 243-9933

Don Miles offers a variety of standard Swedish massage and myofascial release. He is available for appointments at the Conscious Healing Institute in Cape Girardeau, 106 S. Farrar, Suite 101, from noon to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday. Limited Saturday appointments are available. Classic Design/Kabelle, 334-2906

Massage therapists are available after 5:30 p.m. weekdays and all day on Saturdays. Swedish and deep tissue massage is available. Elan Day Spa, 334-4700

Varieties include Swedish, back, neck and shoulder massage, aromatherapy, sports massage, prenatal massage, seated chair massage and stone therapy.Eugene's Total Care Salon and Spa, 334-3893

The salon offers therapeutic and relaxation massage. Therapists are available from 8 a.m. 9 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday. Therapist is available on call from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Karing Touch, 450-4144 or 204-1300

Karen Kibby offers a variety of massage options, from Swedish to aromatherapy and prenatal, as well as hot-stone massages. She also offers half-hour hand and foot massage. "After you do massage for a while, you can incorporate different techniques," she said.

She also offers facials. Call for appointment times, usually scheduled Tuesday through Saturday. Chiropractic Associates, 243-8164

Tina Menard offers neuro-muscular massage, which is a scientific approach to massage that relieves the muscle tension and then relaxes the nerves. She also does Russian massage. She is available for appointments on Tuesday in Jackson and Monday and Wednesday in Cape Girardeau. Massage therapists for relaxation are available five days a week.Monarch Center, 334-8329

Vickie Parker-Thomas operated the center, where she offers deep tissue and Swedish massage sessions in half-hour increments up to 90-minute sessions. She also offers spa treatments and facials and is in the process of adding spa room that would allow her to add wraps and spa glow treatments.Universal Health and Fitness Center, 335-3355

Therapists' schedules vary. Call the center for information or to schedule appointments.

-- From staff reports