JNLiving0

MEGAN SWOYER
Special to The Jewish News

or Margo Gorchow, new sea-
sons signal action. Like many
of us, Gorchow rearranges
her clothes closets and
reworks flower beds as the seasons
change. - But she also gives herself a
healthy present. Every three months,
she makes an appointment with a
facialist.
"Facials are incredibly relaxing," says
Gorchow, a Troy resident and the
administrator of community relations
and marketing at Botsford General
Hospital in Farmington Hills. Not sure
if the soothing face and neck massage
actually makes her look better,
Gorchow, 50, says, however, she'll never
give them up.
"It might be an illusion that a line
has disappeared or you look less tired
after a facial, but really it's just nice to
take an hour to give yourself a gift."
Decades ago, if you wanted a rejuve-
nating facial, professional pedicure or
body wrap, your choices were limited to
a couple of ultra pampering salons and
spas for the wealthy. And for many, the
search meant checking into airfare and
booking a stay at a luxurious, expensive
resort in Arizona or California.
These days, though, there are as
many spas and salons in the metro
Detroit area as there are types of beauty
creams that cram drug store shelves.
Even many hair salons now offer foot
treatments, salt scrubs and other body
therapies.
"I have a lot of tension in my mus-
cles and the touching and massaging of
my face and neck muscles relieves the
pain," says Gorchow, citing that many
healthcare professionals now say mas-
sage is supportive medicine for dozens
of health problems for the young and
old alike.
"Pampering is not only about look-
ing good, but there's a wellness aspect,"
says Shelley Mackie, spa director at
Nordstrom in Troy. "There's a lot more
information available today about how
to stay healthier longer."
Mackie espouses the positive aspects
of massage. "Massages
turn out to be physical
Sheila Stone
therapy for those suf-
gets a facial
from Ina
fering from arthritis,"
Sushin at
Mackie says.
Papillon.
. "We have a few reg-

12/26
1997

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