BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Escape with aqua massage, infrared therapy - Bradford Era

[mnews]

Deborah Brewer knows what it is like to live with pain. Although diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, Brewer worked in manufacturing for 24 years. Every day, she would perform the same motions over and over until her muscles screamed for an escape.

Eric Davis stands with his girlfriend, Deborah Brewer, owner of the newly opened Escape Aqua Massage and Infrared Therapy Spa at 46 N. Kendall Ave.

Era photo by Savannah Barr

“I would leave work and wish there was some place I could go for like 15 or 20 minutes and just get a cheap massage and relax,” Brewer said. “I knew that I wasn’t the only one who needed that.”

Now retired from her former career, Brewer has realized her dream. The Escape Aqua Massage and Infrared Therapy Spa opens its doors today at 46 N. Kendall Ave.

The spa offers three different therapy beds that provide heat, massage and light therapy.

“All of the beds have infrared therapy and they all pretty much do the same thing but in different ways,” said Brewer.

For a treatment in the Infrared Sauna Pod, guests first wrap themselves in plastic.

“It makes the process more sterile because it captures all your sweat inside and it helps you to sweat more,” said Brewer. “So it is great for things like losing weight or sweating out toxins.”

Guests lie on a biomat composed of lights, magnets and black nettle, white nettle and jade stones.

“Those help put minerals back into your body,” said Brewer.

Once the pod is closed, light shines from above and below, heating the biomat and creating the sauna effect. A treatment costs $55 for the one hour session.

The SoQi Infrared Bed has three ceramic arches that reach over your body as you lie back on the bed. These arches become pleasantly warm once the machine is turned on. Once the customer is lying back they are asked to place their ankles into a chi machine that vibrates them back and forth for the duration of the treatment. A typical treatment lasts around 15 minutes but can go longer. It costs $1/minute.

The Aqua Massage bed has an infrared facial dome that produces a soothing heat and light on a guest’s face as they lie back and let the jets of water inside the waterbed wiggle their tense muscles into jelly.

“The infrared light helps with things like acne and aging,” said Brewer.

This bed costs $1.25/minute. Typical sessions start at 15 minutes.

“This is just easy because you can come in with a kinked muscle and lay down for 15 minutes or so and you will feel that relief,” Brewer said.

Brewer has not forgotten her roots. She strives to keep her price points low.

“This is for everyone regardless of how much money is in your bank account,” Brewer said.

“We all have the same aches and pains.”

Most of the spa’s therapy sessions start at around $20 and go up from there. She intends to offer monthly memberships and discounts throughout the coming year. She has gift certificates available as well.

“This is something that I want the blue collar worker to be able to afford,” said Brewer.

Brewer recalled her own mother, a certified nursing assistant for an ecumenical home, coming home from work bent double with pain.

“She is the exact person I had in mind when I put this together,” said Brewer.

The spa’s treatments are also great for athletes or those looking for an alternative to traditional medication.

“The wonderful thing about these treatments is they are non-invasive,” Brewer said. “I really hope that these therapies can help people out there have a higher quality of life.”