BODY RESTORATION SPA

Located in the heart of Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Row, Body Restoration spa overlooks Center City’s premiere shopping and dining destinations. The spa specializes in progressive and holistic spa services designed to reduce stress and jump-start the body's natural healing process. The 1,800-square-foot spa facility offers five treatments rooms as well as a comfortable lounge. Clients enjoy luxury amenities such as plush robes and sandals amidst the spa's minimalist, chic design.

Voted by Philadelphia Magazine in 2003 for Best of Philly® in Brazilian bikini waxing, the spa quickly identified their niche in hair removal. In 2005, the spa received nods from Philadelphia Style Magazine for Best of Style® in Massage, and Philadelphia Magazine for Best of Philly® in Deep Tissue Massage. More recently, the spa earned the Audience Winner award for Hair Removal in Best of Citysearch 2007-08.

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CARA L. SOLOMON owns the skin and body work day spa, Body Restoration®. A New York State licensed massage therapist Cara has been in massage therapy practice since 1996. She began working as a massage therapist for center city hotels – massaging hotel guests. By 1999, Cara opened a massage therapy practice in center city and developed a strong local following. During this time, Cara was also in school studying esthetics. She became a Pennsylvania State licensed esthetician in 2000.

Plans were in the works for Cara to expand into a spa offering skin care and body services. By 2002, Body Restoration spa opened. Staying abreast of the latest in anti-aging and wellness, Cara has incorporated into the spa’s services- the practice of Vinotherapy: the art of using wine-making supplies as spa therapy. Partnering with the largest winery in Pennsylvania, Cara approached Lee Miller, of Chaddsford Winery. Together they developed the region’s only Vinotherapy program creating the Crushed Chianti Scrub and the Pinot Noir Wrap using grapes from Chaddsford.

These days, Cara is needed in the waxing area of the spa. Massages and facials are performed mostly by the staff. Body Restoration has grown quite a bit which has required Cara to move into more of a managerial role.

A graduate of Massage Arts and Sciences and Pennsylvania School of Muscle Therapy respectively, Cara also continues her studies in skin care at the International Dermal Institute. In addition, Cara holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Drexel University.

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PAMELA is an esthetician at Body Restoration since May of 2004. Pam has always been interested in Esthetics even as a young girl. While everyone else was spending their allowance on normal teenage things, Pam was buying face masks from the local drugstore.

Before starting her career as an esthetician, Pam attended the State University of West Georgia. She graduated with a BS in Sociology in 2000. Pam worked as an underwriter in Atlanta for several years. Knowing it wasn’t her ‘calling’, Pam returned to her home town of Yardley, PA and enrolled in Jean Madeline Aveda Institute for the Advanced Esthetics class. Upon completion of the Esthetics program, she began working at Body Restoration.

Pam has worked at Body Restoration and has enjoyed every second of it. Pam feels fortunate to have a job that she really enjoys: helping others to feel good about them selves. Whether it is a treatment that helps a client relax or a treatment that gives someone some much needed confidence. In the past four years, Pam has gained a wonderful client base and she wishes to keep learning new information and techniques that she can share with her clients.

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JENNE joined Body Restoration as an esthetician in December of 2004. She attended Rizzieri School of Healing Arts in Marlton, NJ. Jenne has a passion for delivering holistic wellness through her facials and back treatments. She’s a natural at performing esthetic treatments and her love of making people feel better inside and out comes through in her healing hands. This is reflected in her quickly established book of clients who have been loyal for years.

Body Restoration launched Vinotherapy, featuring skin products made from grapes. Wild about the results, Jenne has been introducing clients to the healing and aromatic effects of this truly outstanding innovation in spa therapy. She is booked well in advance and the demand for her services has required her to extend her hours with Body Restoration.

Jenne loves being a mom to her two daughters, Mikayla and Alia. Residing in Glendora, NJ, she and her husband Michael have taken on the endeavor of restoring their charming old house.

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ALYSON is thrilled to be a part of the Body Restoration team. Skincare and makeup have been a passion of hers since she was a little girl making her own masks at home and begging her six older sisters to do their makeup.

After graduating from Loyola University New Orleans with a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in Vocal Performance and Music Business, Alyson spent a few years working in the music industry both as a performer and for a record label. Needing a change, she accepted a position with Clinique Cosmetics and began taking skincare and makeup classes while working as a freelance makeup artist in the Los Angeles area. She attended the Aveda Institute's 600 hour Esthetics program in 2006 and feels so lucky to have found her true calling and passion in life as an esthetician.

Alyson equally enjoys providing therapeutic facials, administering an efficient, friendly wax service, and providing skincare knowledge; all while getting to know her wonderful clientele. In her free time she enjoys exploring Philadelphia and hearing live music, especially jazz.

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RACHAEL is a native of Los Angeles and has actively studied therapeutic massage since 2003. She received her certificate in Swedish massage from Massage Arts Center of Philadelphia in May, 2004; a certificate for the completion of CranioSacral I from the Upledger Institute in July, 2006; and is expected to receive her certificate for the completion of Whole Health Shiatsu from Massage Arts Center in November, 2008. Additionally, Rachael trained in Tandem Point Therapy with Rena Margolies; and Feng Shui with Kevin Starbard.

In addition to her massage work, Rachael is an avid cyclist, cook and classical musician. After receiving her Bachelor's (Voice '01) and Master's (Voice & Opera '03) degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music, Rachael has since performed over 40 new works in concert, most being new commissions.

Rachael's schooling is the foundation for her work in Swedish, sports and deep tissue massage, pre-natal and shiatsu for the expectant mother, aromatherapy, and shiatsu. She is very happy to be a new member of the Body Restoration family, and plans on continuing her studies in CranioSacral therapy and deep tissue massage this year.

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CLARA joined Body Restoration in July 2009. After moving to Philadelphia from Chicago, Illinois, Clara completed the Swedish Massage Program at The Massage Arts Center in the spring of 2008. She obtained her National Certification of Therapeutic Massage and Body Work in April 2009. Though still enthusiastic about the Swedish technique she can’t help her curiosity around complementary methods. This curiosity lead her to become an adept practitioner of Hot Stone Massage, she also finds prenatal massage rewarding. Clara always appreciates the time she spends helping people be calm.

When Clara’s not helping others in their quest for inner peace she’s getting hers by knitting socks or taking a bike ride. She is happy to call historic Philadelphia her home.

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LAURA holds the National Certification of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and is a Certified Massage Therapist. She also holds her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Modern Dance from the University of The Arts. Her love of dance and the body sparked her interest in Massage Therapy. After college, she helped start a dance collective called Pink Hair Affair, and went back to school for a degree in Massage Therapy. She graduated from Cortiva Institute of Muscle Therapy in King of Prussia and is excited to be part of the Body Restoration team. Because of her background, Laura enjoys doing corrective work, deep tissue, light stretching, and also soothing esalen style strokes. Her goal is to continuing perfecting her technique, make her clients feel relaxed and at ease, and keep them coming back for more.

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ALICIA is enthused to be a part of Body Restoration. As a native Philadelphian, she is happy to be able to practice massage therapy in the city she loves. Alicia recently graduated from the Massage Arts Center of Philadelphia in November 2008. It was there that she began blending her style of Myofascial Release, Deep tissue, and Swedish massage. She also enjoys implementing Shiatsu fundamentals. She obtained her National Certification of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork in September 2009. Hot Stone therapy is the newest modality she has incorporated to her practice.

Alicia's original vocation was in painting and art conservation. She achieved a Bachelor's of Fine Art at Tyler School of Art, and worked at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in the conservation department. It was there that she began to realize that her passion for restoring art objects could be transformed into a career in helping people restore their spirits through bodywork. She believes that massage is both a luxury and a necessity for everyone to experience on a regular basis.

Alicia lives in West Philadelphia with her husband and their many cats. She enjoys drawing, performing, practicing Yoga, and dancing.

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HOLLACE made a recent career change into the world of massage therapy by attending Massage Arts Center. She finished in 2007 and joined Body Restoration shortly there after in June. Her beliefs in holistic wellness and interest in human anatomy made the shift into the healing arts a natural step. In her sessions, Hollace likes to integrate different techniques to meet clients’ individual needs. She is very effective with deep tissue work.

Hollace makes continuing education a priority. Taking the Upledger Institute’s level 1 Cranial Sacral Therapy workshop really opened her eyes to different observations in bodywork and especially to lighter touch. She has participated in some advanced workshops for Myofascial Release and is looking forward to an introductory Thai massage workshop. Hollace also performs body treatments at the spa.

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KELSEY recently joined Body Restoration as a spa coordinator. She earned her BA in journalism from Temple University and worked in the communications field for several years, focusing on copy editing, graphic design and public relations. She recently decided to pursue her dream of becoming a clinical psychologist and is currently in the process of applying to doctoral programs.

Kelsey believes strongly in the mind-body connection and is excited to expand her professional horizons at Body Restoration. She looks forward to applying the knowledge she gains at the spa to a holistic, wellness-focused practice in psychology in the future.

In her free time, Kelsey continues to write and is a fan of all things culinary. She lives with her boyfriend and dog in Center City and is thrilled to join the Body Restoration team.

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TINA is the main spa coordinator handling daily bookings and arranging appointments. She joined Body Restoration in April of 2007. A graduate of Jean Madeline Aveda Institute, Tina studied esthetics. She has an interest in moving into the spa’s esthetics department. But at the moment, she plays more of a spa management role.

Tina has become an essential part behind the spa’s retail sales guiding people on what is most appropriate for their skin type. It’s a bonus for any spa to have someone as the main contact upon arrival with a love for skin and waxing. She likes fashion and looks effortlessly beautiful each day and her make-up flawless.

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