Photo of the Four Seasons Toronto Spa by Christian Horan.

In a heated, tangential convo amongst the beauty team during a recent story meeting, we discovered that a lot of
questions come to mind during a spa appointment that have nothing to do with the treatment itself. (Read: those awkward can-I-ask-my-esthetician-
that debate going on in our heads while getting a back massage.) To put our racing minds at ease, we consulted Todd Hewitt, senior spa director at the Four Seasons Toronto Spa.
What questions should we address with a massage therapist before beginning a treatment? "Don’t be afraid to talk to your therapist. They are going to have their hands all over your body, after all! Address any issues you have about the type of oil used, whether it contains perfumes, etc. Speak up when the pressure is too much or too little. Same goes for volume of music and brightness of lights. The therapist actually prefers that people know exactly what they would like."
What requests can we make to tailor a treatment to our liking? "Most spas will have protocols and standards that they are to perform. It is always up to the guest as to whether these get changed or not. So in a massage for example, if there are areas you would like the therapist to concentrate on, don’t be afraid to ask them. And even go as far as being specific, such as asking for them to concentrate on your neck and back for 30 minutes. For facials, the same applies. If you prefer a scalp massage, instead of forearm massages, then ask the esthetician if they would take the time to massage your scalp instead of touching your arms."
Read on for more of your spa questions answered!
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