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ANTIDOTES TO THE DIGITAL AGE Rolled-forward shoulders and knotted neck muscles are hallmarks of the computer-dependent client. An infamous 2009 study by the Council for Research Excellence stated that American adults spend 8.5 hours per day looking at screens, from computers to televisions. No doubt that number has risen even higher since then. But maintaining the posture required to gaze screen-ward leads such oft-sedentary clients to suffer from rolled-forward shoulders, hunched backs and stiff necks. To combat such symptoms, Burke Williams created the 20-minute Dot.com ($20), a massage enhancement inspired by input from the spa's senior techs. The customizable upper-body service incorporates clay heat-packs to prepare muscles for deep-tissue work, as well as special tools such as a stretching wand and therapeutic ball that help to open up the pectoral area (as hunching over can shorten muscles in certain areas). To help prevent bodily strain between services, therapists recommend daily stretching and selfmassage with a therapeutic ball. And clients have reported positive results, including improved breathing and elimination of tension headaches. Perhaps best of all, the Dot.com does a good job of increasing awareness about massage as an effective solution for total-body wellness. "We found there was a fear of deep-tissue treatment, but this massage introduces clients to a more therapeutic realm," says Hoffman. "The tools and techniques we use are not very invasive, yet they are still effective in addressing work-related injuries and stress." In addition to offering professional treatments for immediate relief, cross-promoting a fitness component can be fundamental in keeping clients' symptoms at bay over the long term. New York-based Exhale Mind 72 DAYSPA | JULY 2013 Body Spa, with 20 locations nationwide and in the U.K. territory of Turks and Caicos, suggests regular workouts and yoga sessions to keep one's chronically hunched spine supple. The brand's staff also promotes improved posture and daily movement, as well as prescriptive meditative and breathing exercises designed to help curb stress. Laura Benge, national spa director for Exhale, recommends simple morning stretches, plus yoga and core workouts a few times each week, to help balance the body and mind. "During the hourlong yoga class we offer, clients are not attached to their mobile devices," notes Benge. "They may walk in harried, but they walk out transformed because they've disconnected. We teach clients the importance of taking time for oneself." Alisha Lalji, owner of EM Luxury Spa in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, agrees that spa owners should recognize the mind-body connection as a crucial component to eliminating issues stemming from © ISTOCKPHOTO.COM HAVING A HUNCH