Mobile Spas
to Die For!
Diamonds and Strawberries!
Oh My!
By Jen Kay
For those who
can't relax long
enough to relax,
Spa on Location
may be your only
hope. If your
stock answer
to the question
of self-indulgent
luxury is "I
don't have the
time", you
may have to cook
up another excuse.
There is a new
sector of the
spa industry
that understands
the needs of
their most time-pressed
clients. This
is an increasingly
common situation
with scores of
women running
their own businesses,
often stretching
the work clock
to its limit,
relegating luxury
to some undetermined
point in the
distant future.
Although many
spas of note
are located just
outside of Los
Angeles, the
drive through
downtown, or
the 405 guarantees
a less than Zen
journey to any
oasis in the
quasi-desert.
Instead, technology
and demand has
prompted a few
exclusive (and
clever) spas
to offer mobile
services. Save
the gas money
and pony up for
an extra service
instead, perhaps "The
Dream Girl Massage" which
uses a million
dollars in diamonds
as part of the
ultimate-in-excess
spa experience.
As is the case
with Spa on Location,
these professionals
offer paradise
encased in the
form of a thirty
six foot RV.
Set up a party
from two to a
thousand guests,
with all the
beauty essentials
arriving at the
location of your
choice in the
Spa on Location "Mobile
Oasis" RV.
Standard services
for the basic
spa party include
mini-pedicures
and chair massages
performed by
licensed massage
therapists.
Hand chosen
by founder Maria
Aparis these
massage therapists
have specialties
ranging from
sports therapy
to facial massage.
Maria is quite
an effervescent
and savvy one
woman show. She's
got her hands
in everything
from personally
training new
massage therapists
to handling the
PR, developing
new business
plans, and coordinating
company expansion.
No wonder she
owns a company
specializing
in mobile spa
relaxation treatments.
Surely, she is
her own best
customer.
Such luxury
would be the
perfect wedding
present on the
big day for any
bride-to-be,
as services offered
include eyelash
extensions, spray
tanning, make-up,
hair styling,
and of course,
a bevy of other
services to boot.
The RV features
a "Zen Room",
complete with
running fountains,
plush bathrobes,
and aromatically
therapeutic scents.
Calming herbal
teas with the
slightest naughty
touch of freshly
chocolate covered
strawberries
are served by
Spa on Location
technicians.
Facials, manicures,
pedicures, tanning,
facials and waxing
are actually
on the low end
of the extravagance
spectrum in this
case. Spa on
Location is most
noted for their "Dream
Girl Massage",
which lays one
million dollars
in diamonds along
the spine, while
a skilled (and
trusted!) technician
utilizes them
in stone therapy
to help loosen
and relax the
muscles. This
is a specialty
by order service
that has sparked
a good deal of
media attention.
Spa on Location
partners with
Heart on Fire
Diamonds, who
literally secure
the precious
diamonds en route
with extra security
and an armored
Brinks truck.
S.O.L. has recently
brought this
extravagance
back on the menu,
albeit with a
slightly less
conspicuous entourage.
Currently, they
have no plans
to include the "Aspiring
Girl" Cubic
Zirconia Massage
that would more
likely appeal
to change purse
of the rest of
us non-Hollywood
starlet types.
Notable clients
include the cast
of Desperate
Housewives, who
generally favor
the Swedish massage,
according to
founder Aparis.
N.F.L. athletes
trust Spa on
Location for
their licensed
sports therapy
and deep tissue
massages. The
approach is very
individualized,
tending to the
specific needs
of each client.
Maria's friendly
and relaxed demeanor
is a contrast
to others who
traverse high
society circles,
and she ensures
that those who
work for her
company share
the same ethic.
Maria Aparis
has earned a
reputation as
being a stickler
for detail, clearly
a necessary skill
when catering
to those who
always have the
option of going
somewhere else.
As the premier
prep spa for
the Oscars and
the Victoria'
Secret Fashion
Show, Spa on
Location has
fostered loyalty
from the most
beautiful women
in the world.
Luckily, the
feeling of Hollywood
royalty is surprisingly
affordable, and
rolls in front
of your house,
painting your
envious neighbors
the most delightful
shade of green.