Art in our daily life.

Having my workplace saturated with the artwork of a talented painter has brought about a keen awareness of the role art can play in our lives. It adds a texture far beyond the colors, shapes and emotions portrayed on canvas, paper, wood or stone.

Today, I rushed past a violinist playing in front of the grocery store where I bought my breakfast. It reminded me of the experiment I read about last year where a world class violinist played several exquisite pieces of music in a subway. The question being posed in this experiment: "In a banal setting at an inconvenient time, would beauty transcend?"

The answer was mostly no. Reading the article, I can remember not being surprised. Jeff Hengst often talks about setting the stage for people to enjoy art. People have to be prepared for a moment of aesthetic arrest. If they aren't, they shut down to it rather than be unexpectedly overwhelmed. Context is always important. Jeff sometimes jokes that the reason he started little Red Studio was to have a good place to show his paintings, not liking the sterile-white-walled-gallery model of show casing art.

And now the Spa is another place where people can relax into the experience of contemplating art. Some paintings, I have found, need more than a minute of your time to be fully experienced. In the Spa, people have the time gaze lazily or intently at a piece of art, as their interest dictates. And I am lucky to have the art constantly changing. Every Art Talk night that Jeff hosts on Tuesdays leaves me a surprise on Wednesday when I come in. At least two of the dozen paintings hanging in the spa get changed out, and I can experience a new atmosphere. Sometimes I have to remind him that he hasn't changed things up enough. Sometimes I ask for a painting to stay for a while longer. Having the art change regularly keeps me engaged and excited about coming to work far better than vacation or family photos.

While I felt a pang of guilt at the time for squandering a chance to listen to lovely music. Upon arriving at the Spa, I couldn't remain mired in those feelings. Not surrounded by all the different emotions and colors vying for my attention. But it did cause me to search through the CD collection for violin concertos.

Spots still available for Men's Massage Party

Our friend, David, who is renting out the spa for a massage class and party, has informed me that he still has a few reservations left for the Men's Only Massage Party this coming Sunday. If you attend our Men's Spa Night's you may be interested in attending David's event.

If would like the full description or you are interested in attending, please email him directly: dastardly.deeds.david at gmail.com

Holiday Hours at the Spa

I'm amazed that August is almost done! Suddenly I find myself awash in back to school activities and end of the summer vacation plans.

Just a note to let you know that the Spa is open regular hours the Labor Day weekend, except that Sunday and Monday is by advance appointment only. I won't be answering the phones on either of those days. But if you schedule an appointment, we'll be there for you! If you don't schedule, we will take our time off to celebrate the achievements of American laborers by indulging in leisurely activities.

Ladies' Night will go on, as usual, without me. Courtnee will host from 7pm - 10pm at the Spa. I want to remind you that this will be the last week of summer hours. Starting September 8th, Ladies' Night will adopt winter hours of 6pm - 9pm. Same cost of $10 entry fee and an additional $10 for a short massage.

RSVP for Couple's Spa Night

Couples' Spa Night - 2nd and 4th Sundays!
Reservations Required by 5pm that day (206) 963-0772

7- 10pm
Cost: $25 per couple
Little Red Day Spa
1506 Franklin Ave. E. Seattle

Courtnee is away for the weekend, so I will be hosting this Sunday's Couple's Night. We have a wonderful dessert to share with you that Kim made special for a private dinner on Friday. It was so incredible that he offered to make it for me to offer at Couple's Night. It is a caramel and nut tulle filled with chocolate mousse and on a bed of naked truffle sauce.

new session?

I have a friend who is a certified hypnotherapist come in for a watsu session. He was impressed with how comforting and relaxing an experience it was, despite him not being much of a "water person." He likened it to the deep state of relaxation that he had only ever been able to achieve via hypnosis.

We had a brief discussion about how well the two therapies, watsu and hypnosis, could work together. The idea of being able to get someone into a more advanced state of relaxation is interesting to me, to say the least. While he is excited about being able to do accelerate subconscious work with the added benefit of the person already being relaxed via floating in warm water. Perhaps there will be a collaboration in the future.

Private Massage Party for Men on 8/31

Our friend, David is renting out the spa for another massage class and party. The last one was a wonderful event and I am pleased he is choosing to use the spa to put on another one. If would like the full event description or you are interested in attending, please email him directly: dastardly.deeds.david at gmail.com

Backrubs and Frontrubs is a clothing optional oasis where we revel in all manner of tactile delights. It is our pleasure to provide one-one-one massage instruction to every guest. The party is August 31 from 7-11 PM but the hot tub will stay open until midnight.

The party will begin with massage education. You may arrive as early as 7 PM for social hour, but please arrive before 7:30 PM if you want to hear the main educational lecture. This party is for those 18 years of age or older, please.

The party/class cost is $30, but volunteers get in for free (and volunteering is a great way to meet other sexy people). RSVP's are required, as space is limited. You may request more information, get added to the email list, or RSVP, at dastardly.deeds.david at gmail.com.

Peace and pleasure,
David

I would love to see other educational and/or community building events held at the spa. Please consider this as a venue if you are planning an event!

Little Red Day Spa:(206)963-0772
Sophia at HengstStudio.com

Where did summer go?

I woke up to a thunderstorm this morning. It was dramatic and wet. in my email box was an eerie and beautiful photo of lightening streaming down in front of purple clouds in a pre-dawn sky. I am truly thankful for the chance to remember that there is beauty in everything, even scary thunder and lightening storms.


We ran out of salt glow yesterday and I was faced with the decision of whether to make more of the pineapple or create a new recipe. Ultimately, summer isn't over so I stuck with the pineapple, and intensified the essential oil component for fun. The symbolism of tying the scrub to the seasons made me loath to move forward toward fall too quickly.

Today is a quiet day at the spa, and if you are looking for a last minute appointment, I just had a 1:30pm slot open up. So this is your chance if you are the type who never knows their schedule. Tomorrow is still quite open, too.

Tonight is Ladies' Spa Night, 7pm - 10pm. Hope to see you here!

A quiet seeming week...

I am trying to keep on top of all the fun stuff we have going on at the Spa, as well as Little Red Studio in general. There is apart of me that wants to keep a regular schedule, but most of me would rather not have a ridged posting schedule. Hopefully, you will bookmark the LRS calendar to keep track of all the good stuff going on.

This Saturday, the 16th, marks the last date of the White Show. If you haven't had a chance to see it yet, you definitely don't want to miss this light-hearted, funny and sweet show!

The wearing of white between Memorial Day and Labor Day brings up many memories of decades past and societal mores. Summer beach vacations, sprinkled with lavish parties and secret rendezvous, entice us to remember our own days and nights of coming out and to peel off the layers of winter to see what's peeking at us underneath...

In bygone eras of our history and of our lives, we remember that moment when innocence was lost, while so much more was yet to be discovered.

White or light colored clothing is encouraged.

Please arrive between 8:30 and 9:00 at our offices and gallery at 406 Dexter Ave. N. and we will escort you over to the main space as we prepare to begin the evening.

Where: 750 Harrison Street
How Much: $30
Tickets can be purchased in advance at Brown Paper Tickets or reserved by calling (206) 328-4758

On Sunday the 17th, we are offering Men's Spa Night.

Men's Spa Night - 1st and 3rd Sundays!
Drop In: 7- 10pm
Cost: $10
Little Red Day Spa
1506 Franklin Ave. E. Seattle

These nights are designed to be a casual and social evening. Richard Jessup will be present to make you feel welcome and facilitate use of the spa's equipment. There will be areas set up for clay, salt scrubs and massage for you and your friends to pamper each other. For an extra fee, one can get a short massage or watsu during the evening. Email Richard directly, jussupdances at netzero dot net, for information or to get on the reservation list for bodywork.

An unusual circumstance.

Unusual in the sense that it is a link that is not all that work safe.

While this is not directly related to the Spa, it does touch on many things in how our culture approaches sexual expression that is considered nonconformist. This is a story worth reading if you consider yourself sex positive and want an opportunity to help change attitudes on a small scale.

This really struck a cord in me as a mother who only wants the best for her child, as it is obvious that Catalina Loves does, too.

Thoughts of Ruination

Yesterday, I saw on the back of a car the saying "I'd rather be ruining my life." I have been thinking about it ever since.

What exactly do they mean? I have often wondered, and been annoyed, by the bumper stickers and license plate holders that proclaim what the drive would rather be doing, or driving. If you would rather be doing something else other than driving, for goodness sakes, do it! Or if I am feeling really cynical, I wonder how focused the driver is on the task at hand (namely, driving)if they would rather be skiing or riding their bike. It makes me nervous.

But, ruining your life? Is it catering to the idea that if it's fun, it must not be good for you? Combating this concept touches on the center of the why we have set up the Little Red Day Spa as we have. Every spa session has treatments what have tremendous health benefits, but the main thing we had in mind when we have created our offerings was joy. When you are enjoying yourself, when something is fun, you are rejuvenated. So much about our daily life revolves around "have to" and "need to" rather than "want to" and that in itself is stressful. Joy is necessary to maintain balance and health and happiness.

So please, don't think of doing things that bring you joy as wasting time, or ruining your life. Remember that joy is often what gives our lives meaning and fulfills us.

Monday is Ladies' Night!

Ladies' Spa Night - Every Monday!
Drop In: 7- 10pm
Cost: $10
Little Red Day Spa
1506 Franklin Ave. E. Seattle
(206)963-0772

When the days start getting noticeably shorter, sometime around Labor Day, I am thinking of going back to a 6pm start time for Ladies' Night. I have gotten a fair amount of feedback to the effect that being able to come in to the Spa right after work is optimal. That would put the drop in hours from 6pm until 9pm.

Consider this a pre-announcement to a possible change to the schedule. and let me know what you think.

Hope to see you tonight!

PS: I plan on having my box of essential oils available for sniffing and concocting. Last week, I got my order in from Original Swiss Aromatics!

LRS on the radio!

KUOW did an interview with Jeff Hengst about Little Red Studio and the Little Red Day Spa and it's going to air today at 2:50pm! KUOW is 94.9 on the fm dial. Tune in to your radio and hear the latest about the Studio, or Go to their website and click on "Listen Live to KUOW (MP3)"

Tonight's Gold Show at LRS is looking amazing. We have a new couple joining us who sing 18th century bawdy songs in full period undergarments, a storyteller with an erotic tale to entice you, a summertime dessert, poetry, Bellydancing, body painting, and I am doing a new aerials act! Whew, that's a lot and I didn't even list the whole program. As always, there will be dancing and a non-alcoholic drinks and dessert bar during the show, as well as after the final act. I am very excited about this new act. I don't want to give away too much, but it is going to ahve an element of puppetry to the aerials which has been really tricky to work out, but has turned out great. I hope to see you there!

Also, this Sunday evening is Couple's Night at the Spa. It's from 7pm until 10pm, $25 per couple and we are asking for reservations. Courtnee will be holding court in the spa, facilitating your use of the equipment. For a nominal gratuity, she will help you to pamper your sweetie with the mud or a salt scrub. Please call me at 206-963-0772 or email Sophia at HengstStudio.com to get your space saved.

Summertime, and the livin' is easy...

Some days, the phone is quiet and the sessions spread out. Other days, like yesterday, the calendar is packed solid and I fall behind of returning phone calls. While it is still best to call a few days before the date you wish to have an appointment, occasionally, a half a day's notice is sufficient. so feel free to take a chance if you want a last minute appointment. You might get lucky.

I am getting questions about next season's salt scrub already. The Pineapple with Eucalyptus and Myrrh has been very well received so I am wondering, why people are so keen for a new one? Perhaps I should rotate them more often than every three months.

Should I have a monthly salt scrub or stick with changing the scrub recipe with the weather? Feedback is always appreciated.

August's LRS Events

This month is a busy month for me in the performing department. Luckily, last week I had a wonderful meeting with a woman named Cheri who will begin working at the Spa soon.

So fear not! The multiple performance opportunities I have at the Little Red Studio will not impact you being able to get into the Spa for a session. I have plenty of people to cover for me while I do my special style of aerials in the Gold and White shows.


The Gold Show
Friday, August 8th @ 9PM

Our classic show at The Little Red Studio is a intimate, interactive theatrical event with an erotic theme held at our sumptuous venue here in Seattle.

The performances you will see at the Gold Show are created and performed by members of our Troupe and brought together in one rehearsal the evening before the show. Always creative, often amazing - you'll love the surprises that await!

Where: 750 Harrison Street
How Much: $30
Tickets can be purchased in advance at Brown Paper Tickets or reserved by calling (206) 328-475.


The White Show
Saturday, August 16th @ 9PM ***Last Date***

The wearing of white between Memorial Day and Labor Day brings up many memories of decades past and societal mores. Summer beach vacations, sprinkled with lavish parties and secret rendezvous, entice us to remember our own days and nights of coming out and to peel off the layers of winter to see what's peeking at us underneath... In bygone eras of our history and of our lives, we remember that moment when innocence was lost, while so much more was yet to be discovered.

Where: 750 Harrison Street
How Much: $30
Tickets can be purchased in advance at Brown Paper Tickets or reserved by calling (206) 328-475.

Richard is back!

For those of you who enjoy Shiatsu and Watsu, I am please to let you know that Richard Jessup is back in town and taking appointments! Richard is one of my Watsu mentors and has been doing Shiatsu for more than 20 years.

He has been traveling along the west coast, coming back to Seattle every other weekend to take care of his guests and host Men's Spa Night. He will be in Seattle through August 17th, and then he will be traveling to Palm Springs for the last half of August.

If you are interested in receiving from this incredibly talented therapist, call him directly at (206)370-0423. You can also contact him via email at jessupdances at netzero dot net.

Ladies' Night or contact Improv Class

I'll be at the Spa, as usual, from 7pm-10pm tonight with a few tricks up my sleeve to make the spa a cool oasis on this warm day.

Cody will be teaching a Contact Improv class on Capitol Hill. If you are curious about this style of movement,, and want a glimpse of what could be in store for you when you schedule a Creative Movement Spa Session, check it out!

Here's the email she sent out today:

contact improv CONTACT IMPROV contact improv contact improv contact improv

** come learn it. play it. do it. enjoy it like crazy **

I'm just back from a week long jam and ready to share the goods! this will be two hours of learning and playing with the dance/sport contact improv.
curious what it is? you'll learn. already love it and want more? you'll get to play.
I will lead several exercises and activities to bring us into the dance. we'll have plenty of time to jam and have fun after. this is a non-intimidating, non-threatening and completely non-unthrilling contact class. feel free to send word out to friends/posse etcetera.


WHERE: studio current on capitol hill. directions at end of email.
WHEN: first monday of the month.TONIGHT 8/4 7-9pm.
BRING: comfy clothes. water. snacks. friends.
RSVP: helpful to let me know if you're coming.
COST: free.
WHO: all are welcome. no experience necessary. open to self-identified movers and non-dancers alike. this is an experimental class designed for all bodies, abilities and experience.
WHAT: this class combines movement exercises, body centering, stretching, dance, writing, meditation and goofing off. we explore and enjoy ways to move effectively in our own bodies and with each other. this class is great for clarifying what's up in your life and getting in alignment with what you want. THIS MONTH FEATURES CONTACT IMPROVISATION.


directions to studio current:
1417 10th Ave, between pike & union
studio current is a block off of broadway, the south end of capitol hill, located in the same building as SWEATBOX YOGA. it's down the street (on 10th) from nuemos. parking is typically easy on union but can be a pain, so give yourself parking time.
the door can be easy to miss, lots of posters, so look for the door to Sweatbox Yoga, enter, and keep going past the doggie school and we're the doors at the end of the hall.

Excited for Saturday's Bash

Last night's planning meeting and rehearsal for Little Red Studio's Summer Bash was short and action packed. All the preparations are in line for The Nasty Habits to play 2 sets of 80's dance music. They have played at all our big parties for the last year and they are fabulous! Of course, one could argue that there is no other way to describe this transgender cover band. I am glad that all my performing for the night will be done by the time of their first set at 10pm so I can enjoy dancing, too.

Other fun things besides dancing to the Nasty Habits: Massage and BodyPainting, Tarot cards readings, a cute skit about blow up dolls that can be activated, a Photo Booth, homemade pizza by Kim available for sale by the slice and other desserts and yummy treats and drinks.

Hope to see you there!

This weekend's schedule at the spa has filled up, I have a couple odd times available, but I imagine they will go fast. start thinking about making appointments for next weekend. We are getting more advance bookings than ever!