By Trish Payton
The golden door of opportunity opened for Heather Eller, shortly after her arrival in Gold Beach, the end of June, 2007; joining her husband Bill McMillan, hospital administrator at Curry General.
Eller received an invitation to open a day spa at the GoldRush Center; and without a moment's hesitation, responded in the affirmative, "Absolutely!"
The time frame allotted Heather was 1-1/2-2 months to pull it altogether, before the GoldRush grand opening, September 27, 2007. However, Eller rose to the occasion. Her choice of color, furnishings, display of local art, in addition to tranquil background music, created a vibrant, yet relaxing ambiance, she calls "Radiant Health Spa".
Nancy Zi is the first licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) to join Heather at Radiant Health Spa; a women with 25 years experience as a LMT. Nancy specializes in the following: Swedish/Relaxation, Deep Tissue/Sports and Pregnancy Massage, Hot Stone Massage where flat stones are heated in hot water and placed on your back and the palms of your hands. The stones are used to massage, placing pressure on the muscle, and allowing the heat to penetrate the body as well. The heated stones are adjusted to a comfortable, tolerable heat for the body massage.
Zi also does Reflexology, in addition to Zi Scrubs, consisting of Aromatherapy Sugar Scrubs, and Aromatherapy Dead Sea Salt Scrubs.
Look for upcoming Aloe Vera Enzyme Body Wraps; a dry wrap that cleanses and detoxifies the body; offered in January, 2009. In addition to Set-N-Me-Free Wraps; another deep cleansing, body detoxifying wrap.
Alice Taylor, Nurse Practitioner/Midwife, has recently joined the team as well. For all your skin/facial care needs in conjunction with a free consultation, Alice will continue to offer the following: IPL Photorejuvenation, IPL Laser Hair Removal, Microbrasion, Restylane, Perlane, Botox, Juvaderm treatments. Taylor's present hours at Radiant Health Spa are Thursday and Friday, from 2-6 p.m.
Heather also added to her team recently (but has not yet started) Carmen Woolsey, who will offer Microcurrent (facial toning), and facials, part time.
Downstairs are additional rooms, where an Infrared Sauna is offered, as well as a room for Eller's future acupuncturist, and a future wet room for body wraps and body scrubs.
This coming spring Eller will offer services in acupuncture, in addition to nontoxic nail care and chemical-free nail polish. Also on the menu are future Spa Parties/Spa Packages; and Gift Certificates are available all year round.
Heather's role as owner/LMT is also in promoting Nancy, Carmen, and Alice. "I would rather be behind the scenes a little bit and make them the stars," comments Heather.
Eller recently had a Trunk Party, featuring local artists, Terry Olin, and Gloria Sevy; showcasing their Spa Jewelry made exclusively for Radiant Health Spa, as well as all their different lines of jewelry. Eller invited the community to join and have a good time, serving wine and hor d'oeuvres.
"It turned out wonderful! People seemed to have a really good time!" Eller exclaimed.
Mark your calendar -- Saturday, February 7, 2009, for another Trunk Party showcasing fresh water pearls, from the Silk Road in China; which are Fair Trade pearls. Connie Sayler who strings pearls will be featured. The community can look forward to Eller's Trunk Parties, held once every quarter, featuring a selected artist.
Heather, a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) for the last eight years, acquired her education from Portland's East West College of Healing Arts, graduating in 2001. Shortly thereafter, travels to Thailand equipped Eller for six weeks training in Thai massage. Upon her return from Thailand, Heather was wed to Bill, joining him in Guam for the next five years.
Stepping into the arena of massage at Gold's Gym in Guam, Heather worked on body builders and Sumo wrestlers from Japan, which also led to injury bodywork. Eventually, Eller developed a large clientele for her bodywork, the remainder of her time in Guam.
What was the reason for Heather's career change into the Healing Art of Massage?
"I deeply care about people. I cannot stand to see people in pain. I want people to come, I want them to get better. If they want to come back and see me, because it's a maintenance issue, or because they want to relax. Wonderful! There's no reason in the world that people can't feel better someway. I'm not a miracle worker by any means. But people can feel better, whether it's emotional, or physical; I want to achieve that," states Eller.
Heather explains that massage is beneficial in so many different areas; from reducing stress, increasing mental activity/circulation, cleansing the lymphatic system, releasing toxins from the body, before and after surgery, (upon your doctors recommendation), recovery time is faster, and prevents injury. To touch in general is very healing.
In conclusion some of the most amazing circumstances Heather experienced, was working with people who had cancer, severe injuries, or recovery from personal illness.
"Pain in itself is extremely stressful. I can't image that someone who lives with chronic pain day after day, what they must go through! That's where I want to reach out to people," shared Heather.
Radiant Health Spa is open Monday-Friday,10-6 p.m. and Saturday, 12-5 p.m. For more information Heather Eller can be reached at (541) 247-2030.
The Radiant Health Spa offers something for everyone
