When you enter the blissful sanctuary at Exhale Spa, inside the Fitness Center at University Hospitals Avon Health Center, you’re immediately wrapped in peace

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Spa services, like a massage by Licensed Massage Therapist, Tennie Hall, are available at Exhale Spa, located adjacent to the Fitness Center at University Hospitals Avon Health Center.

By Laura Briedis

Everything at Exhale Spa is designed to make you do just that—take a deep breath, relax, and exhale.

Nestled inside the 60,000-square-foot Fitness Center at University Hospitals Avon Health Center is a blissful sanctuary offering spa services ranging from whole-body treatments like reiki and massages to facials, manicures and pedicures. And when booking a service at Exhale Spa, you get a complimentary pass to enjoy all the fitness center’s amenities before and after your salon services, along with the use of the pools, including the lap pool or warm water therapy pool, for a more relaxing alternative beyond exercise.”

Massage Therapy
The massages at Exhale Spa—although undeniably pampering—also have a therapeutic focus. The licensed massage therapists are well versed in Swedish massage, hot stone massage, cold stone massage, deep tissue massage, sports massage, pre- and post-natal massages and infant massages, as well as specialty ones like ashiatsu and cupping.

One of the few places in town offering ashiatsu, the therapist stands on the massage table above the client holding onto a bar and uses a barefoot massage technique with deep, long strokes and broad compressions.

Ashiatsu gets its name from the Japanese words “ashi” (foot) and “atsu” (pressure). It is an ancient type of bodywork that has been practiced for eons by Buddhists.

“This massage is beneficial for both deep-tissue work and relaxation,” says Dana Doheny, day spa supervisor at Exhale Spa. “The massage is done solely with the massage therapist’s feet using smooth, gliding motions while holding on to overhead bars attached to the ceiling to control the level of pressure and body weight.”

Another specialty massage that has been practiced for thousands of years, cupping also is on the Exhale Spa menu. For this negative pressure massage, the therapist slides a suction cup over coconut oil on your body, allowing a vacuuming of tissues that is similar to deep-tissue massage.

“For all our massages, our therapists always find out the whys,” says Dana. “They ask why you are getting a massage so they can identify what your body needs that day and personalize the treatment.”

As part of its focus on relaxation and stress reduction, the staff also is trained in Reiki, reflexology and ionic foot detox.

Eyebrow Microblading
Always on the leading edge, Exhale Spa offers innovative treatments like microblading, during which a small blade shaped like a hair is used to feather semi-permanent ink into the outer layer of skin.

Microblading at Exhale Spa results in natural-looking eyebrows.

“As an esthetician, I know how to shape the brow arch to complement the brow bone and facial features,” says Fhadya Ghommayd, certified microblading esthetician. “I blend the ink colors, usually one shade lighter than your hair color, but it can be customized depending on if you want a more dramatic or more natural look.”

“The ink will slowly fade, but it lasts for two years,” she adds. “These hair strokes are more natural than the line appearance of tattooed eyebrows that you can never get rid of.”

Give the Gift of Wellness
If you are looking for a thoughtful gift this season, the Fitness Center at UH Avon Health Center offers gift certificates for spa services, as well as personal training sessions.

“Gift certificates can be used by anyone, as you do not have to be a fitness center member to take advantage of our personal training or spa services,” says Dana. “And when you buy gift certificates, you get a bonus certificate for you to use based on the increments. So, when you give you also get.”

“During the pandemic, everyone needs to focus on their health and wellness and here we provide lots of ways to enhance your well-being,” she adds.

Exhale Spa is located inside the Fitness Center at University Hospitals Avon Health Center at 1997 Healthway Drive in Avon. Call 440-988-6801 to buy a gift certificate or to book a spa appointment.