www.lux-review.com Page 39 Page 38 www.lux-review.com LUX 2021 Resorts and Retreats Awards LUX 2021 Resorts and Retreats Awards European Day Spa of Fredericksburg (‘EDS’) has been serving the Texas Hill country since 1999, providing a variety of custom-tailored massage therapy, facial treatments, body treatments, as well as speciality services such as medical massage, full body lymphatic drainage, craniosacral therapy, lomilomi, and energy balancing. EDS serves individuals, couples, or small groups. At EDS, it uses only high-grade products, either medical grade or organic. Carissa Ballard, Founder of the spa, states, “We take our time and do not try to rush our clients through, allowing them to relax with a mimosa, coffee, or herbal tea. We always customize our services to the client’s needs and besides the high standards of services, we also provide medical massage, full body lymphatic drainage, craniosacral therapy, and energy balancing.” Carissa has been serving the cosmetology field since 1993 and the field of massage therapy since 1996. In 1996, Carissa managed and helped create the first-day spa in Fredericksburg. Just a few months after the spa program was launched, the spa was introduced as one of the top day spas in the country by SELF magazine. By 1998, Carissa opened her businesses, Spa to Go and European Day Spa of Fredericksburg. At EDS, before each treatment, staff listen to what clients want to achieve and receive and customize each treatment accordingly. Carissa states, “I have been involved in the Pino di Loto was created for use as a private shelter, a place to escape the everyday routine, discreetly isolated for travellers who wish to enjoy the true experience of an authentic stay on a special Greek island. The boutique bed & breakfast is located on the small hill of Lotos, just 300 metres away from the two picturesque beaches of Kini village. A simple, five-minute walk down to the beach and guests can reach the traditional restaurants or taverns, tasting the local cuisine. Pino Di Loto has six suites, each in keeping with the Cycladic architecture, while the minimal lines and earthy colours are harmoniously blended with family antiques: the main feature of the decoration that Owner Mary Rigouzzo herself brought to life. Owners Marinos and Mary dreamt of creating a small guesthouse on the place where their common life’s memories were firstborn; to the place where their daughter, Terezdina, took her first steps. With the help of Architect George Evripiotis, this dream came to life by building step by step Pino di Loto Boutique Bed & Breakfast. It took seven years from the initial planning until the guests finally were able to check-in. Mary’s great grandfather, Marin Rigouzzo, originally bought the land years ago and in the middle of the small terrain, proudly standing to protect and shelter, was a pine tree, which would eventually lend its name to the bed & breakfast. Martin spent endless hours next to his cellar for his favourite ritual: enjoying a glass (or two) of wine under the pine’s shadow. In later years, Mary’s family home was built around the cellar and the dream began. The tree’s shadow was extended, and Pino di Loto was born shortly after, in 2007. Following the wishes of its guests, Pino di Loto creates tailor-made services regarding Jun21326 Jun21273 European Day Spa of Fredericksburg Best Central Texas Day Spa 2021 Pino Di Loto Boutique Bed and Breakfast Syros Island Greece Best Boutique B&B - Cyclades spa industry for over 28 years and I recruit based on experience and passion for the industry. Each staff member is also trained by me on our unique ways of doing services. I try to create a unity between all of us, like a family.” In the early 90s, combined with cosmetology school, Carissa trained extensively in the realms of skincare, make-up artistry, and camouflage aesthetics. Additionally, she trained at the Scott & Amp: White Memorial Hospital Division of Plastic Surgery and Medical Aesthetics program. By the mid- 90s, after massage therapy school, Carissa worked with and assisted Dr Jin, a Chinese Acupuncture Doctor. Under their direction, she significantly expanded her knowledge of the body’s meridian systems and acupressure points. Shortly after, she went on to volunteer with The Look Good, Feel Better Program in Dallas, and worked with Cancer and Burn survivors within the realm of clinical aesthetics and camouflage. Clarissa realised she wanted to work more extensively in that area so she spent the next several years training in Manual Lymphatic Drainage, trained under experts from Spain, Germany, and France with well over 100 hours in MLD, making it one of her specialities. Carissa is also a Reiki practitioner and craniosacral therapist and has managed to develop her method of combining the different modalities, often working on a cellular level. Throughout her career, Carissa has taught beauty basics at various modelling schools and has trained many therapists in the Fredericksburg area in spa techniques. To this day, Carissa travels the world to attend the industry’s leading shows, seminars, and continuing education classes with the top experts of today, always expanding her and her staff’s knowledge base. Overall, EDS has had its best year yet. Clarissa states, “We have remained steadily busy since May of last year. Our area is easily accessible to the whole state and I believe the travel restrictions related to COVID-19 have helped us. We of course had sanitation guidelines in place and wore masks ourselves but other than that, we did our utmost to keep clients comfortable as possible.” The future regarding EDS is bright, as Carissa explains, “We are in the process of developing a retreat centre that will be focused on shamanic and energy practices and connecting people with more nature.” With nearly 30 years of education, knowledge and passion under her belt, Carissa has created one of the most successful and reputable day spas in the country. Having nearly 10 other features in magazines, it is no surprise that EDS has now won an additional award for Best Central Texas Day Spa 2021 at the LUXlife Resort and Retreat Awards 2021. workouts, yoga, Pilates and massage therapies that can take place either in the privacy of the guests’ suites or in the brand- new wellness area that the establishment has made, specially designed for the wellbeing of visitors. Pino di Loto’s members of staff are available 24/7 and are always by the side of the guests but in a completely discrete way. As the owners love to say, “At Pino di Loto, everything is just a phone call away.” Pino di Loto is about the people, wanting its colleagues to be happy and to enjoy the working environment and routine. Pino di Loto works with people who have a lot of team spirit, organisation and communication skills and people who are proud of the island. Ultimately, it seeks to work with those who are proud to #BeAPinoDiLoter! With regards to the pandemic, the effects have been unavoidable for all across the hospitality industry. Fortunately for Pino di Loto, it adapted to the social distancing rules before they came into effect. Having six suites and a maximum of 12-15 people to accommodate, Pino di Loto is always able to provide distance and privacy. This family-run business stemmed literally from a sapling and it has grown into a quaint and beautiful bed & breakfast, one that even Martin Rigouzzo would have been proud of. The future of Pino di Loto is strong and bright, as it has just recently won Best Boutique B&B – Cyclades, proving that a dream may take some time, but it’s certainly worth the wait. Company: Pino Di Loto Boutique Bed and Breakfast Syros Island Greece Contact: Terezdina Rigouzzo Carissa Ballard, owner and founder of European Day Spa, is a licensed cosmetologist, certified paramedical aesthetician, licensed massage therapist, certified medical massage therapist, intradermal cosmetic technician and reiki master. The most important thing for Carissa Ballard is for European Day Spa to share her passion for the spa philosophy and utilize the body’s natural ability to heal. Pino di Loto is a small boutique bed and breakfast, located on the exquisite island of Syros in the Cyclades in Greece, offering the elegance of Greek hospitality at its best and creating unique memories for guests. Company Name: European Day Spa of Fredericksburg Contact Name: Carissa Ballard Address: 402 Granite Avenue Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 Web Address: www. eurospafredericksburg.com Email:
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