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.