April 2012: Marianne Arcangeli


How were you introduced to Rasa Spa and what motivated you to become a spa member?

I'm a New York State Licensed Massage Therapist who completed the first part-time program that was ever offered at the Finger Lakes School of Massage. Rachel was one of my teachers there and, post-graduation, I followed her work all the way to Rasa. My spouse and I agreed that one of the best ways to practice good self-care was to become members at Rasa Spa. We began as seasonal members, thinking that the winter was the only time we'd want regular treatments, but it didn't take us long to recognize the value of being connected year round.

How has membership improved your time at Rasa Spa?

In my early days of membership, the 12, 60-minute treatments assured me that I would, at the very least, make a monthly appointment for self-care. Now the benefits are even better because I can pick and choose my services in 30-minute increments; from 24 30-minute sessions to 8 90-minute sessions. I really appreciate this greater flexibility. It encourages me to try treatments and combinations that I might not otherwise.
In a world that just seems to get bigger and bigger every day, it's nice to drop into Rasa and have the staff know me by name. The fact that I have daily access to the Spa, including the Tranquility Room, Meditation Room, saunas, and changing rooms at no additional charge, means that I'm more likely to drop in for an hour or two of peace in an often "too-noisy" world.

How does bodywork contribute to your overall health? What health benefits or experience do you expect (and get) from your visits to Rasa Spa?

Regular bodywork, offered by skilled, knowledgeable, and sensitive therapists is invaluable to me. It helps me to know myself better, to find my balance, and to recharge in a way that nothing else does; it seems apparent that the Rasa therapists are carefully chosen to fit this description. I've had the opportunity to work with many of them, and I always appreciate the questions they ask and the suggestions they offer. After every massage I enjoy increased circulation, definite stress reduction, better body awareness, and a great night's sleep! 


Rasa Spa advocates wholeness, what does whole health mean to you?

Essence is defined as the basic, real, and invariable nature of a thing or its significant individual feature or features.To me whole health means finding my essence - the basic, real me in my physical body, and my soul and my spirit. Rasa offers countless ways and a supportive environment in which to explore my own wholeness: friendly and welcoming staff, a peaceful physical space, specialized treatments, classes, events, and guest teachers. I really like the new borrowing bookshelf too!

At home, do you have any healthy practices that you'd like to share? What are some other ways that you take care of yourself?

Eating a diet based mainly on lots of pure water, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins is a daily goal of mine. Practicing gentle yoga with my spouse is another, and taking regular vacations, which include plenty of fresh air and sunshine (and next to no telecommunications devices) is one more!To maintain my balance, I'm always looking for ways to "give back" to the world. While I don't always hit the mark, I remind myself, in the words of Barbara DeAngelis, that I'm performing the dance of life: the place between who I once was and who I'm now becoming. I look for all the rainbows on the way and try to enjoy the trip.

Please share a little about yourself.

I'm a newlywed (thank you NYS!), mother of 2 grown children, and grandmother of 2. For the last 8 years, I've been working as a student services representative in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University. I love feeling healthy, spending any kind of time with my large extended family, listening to music and singing, reading good books, observing the natural world around me, and shopping at the Ithaca Farmer's Market.