Seventh Heaven Spa opens

Rushing around to take care of our families, our friends and our communities, we often forget to take care of ourselves.

Now at Seventh Heaven Spa and Salon in Chiefland, a team of trained experts will pamper you until you turn to Jell-o and look like a million bucks-without emptying the bank.

The lifelong dream of Carla Cothron became a reality last summer when she and a friend, Brenda Herring of Cross City, decided to put their vision into action.

Securing the old Lighthouse Word Church, located off Hwy. 19, the two began transforming the square building into a place of serenity, beauty and elegance-all designed to make every patron feel special and relaxed.

The Tuscan-themed spa is luxurious and inviting with its low lighting, soft music, aromatic scents and tasteful furnishings.

Clients are greeted at the door with a sign bearing their names and are put at ease from the moment of entry.

The essences of all-natural oils waft through the air.

The spa sells only Aveda products, Cothron said. Ingredients in Aveda products are found in nature, she said, even the hair color.

"We want to help you get your body back into balance," Cothron said, adding aromatherapy rituals are a basic part of all treatments.

Clients to the spa and salon can choose from dozens of services including massage, facials, manicures, pedicures, spray tanning, specialized baths, steam room, sauna and even teeth whitening.

Before opening, Cothron visited several other spas to get ideas on what she did not want for Seventh Heaven.

The result, she hopes, will enable individuals to become restored. And when individuals are restored, she said, the community as a whole will get back into balance.

"We try to go overboard," she said. "You can't give too much. What you give, will come back to you."

In the salon, clients can relax at a table while their hair is being curled or colored. Refreshments are available in most areas and include healthy choices of fruit, granola and water-bottled from an artesian well in Fiji.

Plush robes and secure lockers are available for clients who are utilizing the skilled services of a masseuse or luxuriating in a rose petal sprinkled bath.

While waiting, a relaxation room with plush furniture is on standby for meditation.

The spa will also customize birthday parties, girls night outs or couple's retreats.

And it's not just a spa for the ladies.

Many men are utilizing the services, especially for massage and the sauna, Cothron said.

"I'm excited about the whole process," Cothron said.

"I always wanted to do this," she said, adding provided services to people who will always leave happy is a special bonus.

The trained staff currently includes two receptionists and four service technicians.

The spa is open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and after hours appointments are available.