May 11--MALONE _ A full-service salon in Malone has added a new feature for those seeking something a little different than a traditional massage.
Cuts Are Us at 9 Finney Boulevard has added aqua-therapy massage for those who may be uncomfortable with hands-on techniques or suffering medical problems that require gentle, hands-free help.
The person stays completely dry, completely dressed and completely in control of how long and how powerfully they want the water jets to pulsate against their tense muscles.
A client lays face-down on the table, and an arm holding 36 baffles encased in parachute-soft material lowers onto their back. The water heads carry 80-degree water up and down the body and back again, coaxing away tension and revitalizing the person.
The water gently kneads the muscles, and the user controls the strength of the force, using a hand-held remote.
Treatments are $1 a minute or $50 for an hour. Customers typically use it for 10 to 15 minutes.
Those unsure of what to expect may have a free five-minute trial to see what it's like before committing to a full treatment.
The full head-to-toe massage is carried out in total privacy, the customer can use it as often as they like, and there are no slippery oils or heated rocks in sight.
"We are the only place to have one in the northern New York area," said Tammy St. Mary, one of the salon owners. "The next-closest one is in Vermont."
She and co-owner Heidi Miller saw an aqua-massage demonstration two years ago, but with a licensed massage therapist on staff then, they didn't pursue the idea.
But when the therapist left to have another child, the business partners decided the time had come to invest in the new technology.
The new machine will be more convenient from customers because it is available when the salon is open _ Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Previously, clients scheduled appointments for certain days and times with the masseuse or tried to drop in to catch her with free time.
"This is new, it's fun, and you don't get wet," Miller said. "It goes from the top of your head to your feet, and it gets your sides and back and places that no hands can get all at once."
In addition to relieving stress, the Cuts Are Us therapy table can help those with certain medical conditions feel better.
"It can help people with arthritis and fibromyalgia," said St. Mary, referring to a condition that can cause constant pain for people when they are touched.
Miller said one customer who could find no relief for her pain otherwise used the machine "and absolutely loved it. She said it helped her so much."
Others who can benefit from the aqua-massage therapy are the clients who already use the salon's tanning beds and tanning booth.
"It's really important for people who tan to realize that they should do the aqua massage before they tan because it opens up the pores, and it tans you better," Miller said.
"It brings the pigment out more," St. Mary said.
A related service starting at Cuts Are Us in a few months will be spray tanning by Kelly Bracy, who will offer sessions for those who can't use traditional tanning beds and booths to achieve the dark, healthy look they want.
The shop plans to offer aqua-massage and tanning sessions in specially priced packages, combining the services to give their clients more of what they want for one price.
For more information on any of the services offered at Cuts Are Us, call 483-8988.
draymo@pressrepublican.com
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