Ballaura Wellness Blog
Insurance Reimbursement & Documentation
Insurance Reimbursement & Documentation Ballaura Wellness Spa does not bill medical insurance directly. However, some insurance plans may reimburse members for massage therapy received from an out-of-network provider. As a courtesy, we can provide limited...
The Many Enhancements We Offer At Ballaura
When it comes to massage therapy, there is a wide range of enhancements available that can elevate your relaxation and healing experience. From ancient techniques like guasha and cupping to modern tools like massage guns, incorporating these enhancements into your...
Tips to Enjoying a Massage at Ballaura
Ballaura is where the South Sound comes to relax. And, with these tips, you can become an expert relaxer too!Before Your MassageSleep Get 8 hours of sleep the night before This is easy to overlook, but getting enough sleep will allow your body to support the shifts...
Infrared Sauna Benefits: Improve Recovery, Reduce Stress, Sleep Better & Feel Your Best
Infrared Sauna Benefits: Improve Recovery, Reduce Stress, Sleep Better & Feel Your Best If you're looking for a simple way to reduce stress, support recovery, improve circulation, and enjoy a moment of complete relaxation, an infrared sauna may be exactly what...
How to Choose the Right Massage Therapist or Spa in Olympia, WA
How to Choose the Right Massage Therapist or Spa in Olympia, WA Choosing a massage therapist or spa is personal. You are trusting someone with your body, your comfort, and often the small amount of time you have set aside to care for yourself. The right choice is not...
Why Joining the Waitlist Matters
Have a favorite massage therapist? You're not alone. Many of our most requested providers book weeks in advance, especially evenings and weekends. If you can't find the appointment you're looking for, joining the waitlist is the best way to be notified when something...
Booking Guide
Book your massage, facial, or infrared sauna through our website booking widget, direct Mindbody booking link, by logging into your Mindbody account other ways you can use the website ai bot, text the spa phone number, or call the front desk for help.
Massage for Stress Relief Month
April is Stress Awareness Month, a time to notice how stress shows up in daily life. While short bursts of stress can be helpful, ongoing stress can quietly affect both the body and mind. What Stress Does to the Body Stress activates the release of cortisol and...
Love That Lasts: A Commitment to Wellness
Valentine’s Day is often framed as a single moment — a card, a gift, a reservation. While these gestures can be meaningful, they are temporary. Real commitment, whether in relationships or in health, is built through consistency, care, and intention over time....
Memberships Create a Sustainable Wellness Rhythm
Consistent massage care supports long-term balance, stress relief, and a sustainable wellness routine.
Listen to Ballaura Music Channels On Spotify
Wellness Makes the Perfect Gift
Celebrate Small Business Saturday by supporting Ballaura—your local source for meaningful, personalized wellness care.
Double the Benefits: Combine Sauna + Massage
Heat + Healing Amplify your massage results with the power of infrared warmth. At our wellness spa, we’re always looking for ways to help our guests achieve deeper relaxation, faster recovery, and an overall sense of well-being. While massage therapy alone offers...
Experience Pure Renewal
At our wellness spa, we believe that deep healing doesn’t have to involve discomfort. Our 90-minute Rosemary Scalp Massage Facial is a perfect example of this philosophy—a deeply nourishing and sensory-rich experience that supports your body’s natural rhythms and...
What Kind of Dads Need a Massage? (Hint: ALL OF THEM)
Massage isn’t indulgence, it’s relief. Discover why every kind of dad benefits from time on the table, from tension relief to total reset.
Top 5 Spa Treatments Every Mom Deserves
Because Self-Care Isn’t a Luxury—It’s a Necessity Motherhood is one of the most rewarding—and demanding—roles a person can take on. Between the juggling act of work, caregiving, emotional labor, and everything in between, moms often put their own well-being on hold....
Why a Massage Membership is the Best Investment in Your Well-Being
In today’s fast-paced world, self-care often takes a backseat to busy schedules, work demands, and everyday responsibilities. But what if prioritizing wellness was as simple as signing up for a massage membership? Regular massages aren’t just an indulgence—they’re a...
Embracing Self-Love This Valentine’s Day: A Spa Experience Just for You
Self-love is the best gift. This Valentine’s Day, treat yourself to a spa experience—relax, recharge, and glow from the inside out.
Why Facials Are More Than Just Skincare: The Mind-Body Connection
Farm-to-skin facials deliver deep relaxation while rejuvenating your skin for a natural, healthy glow. These holistic treatments promote overall well-being by nurturing your mind, body, and spirit.
How to Build a Self-Love Altar
In our busy lives, it's easy to forget to nurture the most important relationship we have—the one with ourselves. A self-love altar can be a beautiful, intentional way to create space to honor yourself, cultivate inner peace, and set powerful intentions for your...
How to Prepare for Your Organic Facial at Ballaura Wellness Spa
You’ve booked your organic facial at Ballaura Wellness Spa—great choice! Here’s how to get your skin ready so you can walk away with that radiant, post-facial glow: 1. Skip the Exfoliants & Retinol: When: At least 3-5 days before your appointment. Why: Retinol,...
Nurturing Your Nervous System
Title: Nurturing Your Nervous System: Simple Self-Care Practices Our nervous system serves as our body's intricate communication network, regulating and coordinating virtually all bodily functions. It's the gateway to our experiences, responsible for receiving...
Discover Top Prompts for Inner Balance
In today's fast-paced world, finding moments of peace, self-reflection, and personal growth is essential for maintaining a healthy and balanced life. One powerful way to nurture your well-being is through the use of wellness prompts, which serve as daily reminders to...
Top 5 Healthy Dining Spots to Complement Your Blissful Massage
After a rejuvenating massage at Ballaura Wellness Spa in Olympia, Washington, the last thing you want is to undo all the relaxation and well-being you've just experienced with a heavy meal. To enhance the benefits of your massage and keep that post-massage glow,...
Nature’s Beauty:Top 3 Hikes Near Ballaura Spa
Nestled in the heart of the Pacific Northwest, Olympia, Washington is a city surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. With its proximity to the Olympic Mountains, Puget Sound, and lush forests, it's no wonder that hiking is a favorite pastime for both locals and...
3 Daily Wellness Prompts for a Healthier and Happier You
In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to forget to take a moment for ourselves. We often prioritize our work, chores, and responsibilities above everything else, neglecting our well-being in the process. But what if there was a simple daily practice...
Your Guide to Preparing for Your First Massage Experience at Ballaura Wellness Spa
Embarking on your first massage experience can be an exciting and rejuvenating journey. At Ballaura Wellness Spa, we strive to provide our guests with a serene and exceptional massage experience that promotes relaxation, reduces stress, and revitalizes both the body and mind. To ensure that your first visit to our spa is comfortable and enjoyable, we have put together a guide on how to prepare for your first massage session.
Experience the Ultimate Relaxation with Ballaura Wellness Spa Memberships
Escape the stresses of everyday life and experience ultimate relaxation at Ballaura Wellness Spa. Our extraordinary spa memberships offer highly trained massage therapists, customizable massage experiences, complimentary treatments, discounted rates, and exclusive benefits like the Infrared Sauna. Discover a haven of tranquility and prioritize your well-being today.
Mothering Self-Care
Taking on mothering oneself can shift any mindset around prioritizing self-care. Mothering oneself is the act of nurturing and taking care of one’s own needs, just like a mother takes care of her children’s needs. Often, we put our needs aside to take care of our families, careers, and other responsibilities. It is just as important to take care of oneself as it is of others.
The Importance of Self-Care as a Priority
What is self-care and what does it really mean to practice it? Self-care has been a hot topic these days and has been at the forefront of managing one’s well-being. It has almost become a blanket term as it is used to describe multiple groups of related things. So...
Ballaura Anniversary
December is Ballaura Wellness Spa's anniversary month! On December 8th, 2008, Nicole Chryst founded Ballaura from nothing but a vision for a wellness space that would truly serve the Olympian community. Starting a business during the 2008 economic crash as a 25...
As seen in: Thurston Talk Holiday 2022 Gifting
Ballaura Wellness Spa is featured in Thurston Talk this holiday season! Thurston Talk is a community blog centered around sharing the positivity of life and community in Thurston County. Thurston Talk posts about community events, local businesses, and organizations...
Benefits of Using Infrared Sauna
Pair the Infrared Sauna with one of our Signature Massages for an invigorating healing experience.
As Seen In: Thurston Talk
Take a look at our Article ‘Couples Spa Day and Couples Massage for Valentine’s Day in Olympia; on Thurston Talk
Finding relaxation at Ballaura Wellness Spa
We recently had an article written about us and it perfectly describes Ballaura and who we are. At Ballaura, our number 1 goal is to help every person who comes through our door, whether it be through stress relief, pain relief or relaxation. We are here to help you,...
What causes Electrolyte Imbalance?
To start off with, let's define what electrolytes are. Electrolytes are essential minerals-like sodium, calcium, and potassium that are important to many key functions in the body but why do our bodies need them? Electrolytes help regulate muscle contractions and...
Feeling good with proper hydration
Proper Hydration is key after strenuous exercise but did you know it's also important after a massage or using our new IR Sauna? As your massage therapist is working your muscles and melting away your stress, toxins are released and can cause a nausea or even...
5 Ways to Maximize your Massage
Maximizing your massage benefits and helping you get the most out of our services is high on our priority list. At Ballaura Wellness Spa in Olympia, Wa, we specialize exclusively in massage. We solely have one specialty so that we can deliver top-notch service. We...
Can I Use an HSA Card for Massages?
In addition to using your HSA/FSA, we have memberships to help reduce out-of pocket-costs. In fact, we can also use your HSA or FSA card to pay for your monthly membership dues. We work hard to make massage accessible to you and encourage you to use these accounts for massage.
Massage For Couples in Olympia, Washington
Couples Massages in Olympia, Wa A couple’s massage is a great way to spend some quality time together, bond with your partner, or to just simply celebrate your relationship. At Ballaura Wellness Spa, it is our goal to make our clients feel relaxed and to help them...
Massage Therapy Information
What is Massage Therapy? Massage therapy is a process where a licensed massage therapist that is certified to perform manipulations to tissues in your body. In doing this, they loosen your body, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and skin by applying a variety of motions...
The Perks of Massage Therapy in Olympia, WA
Why should I get massage therapy in Olympia, WA? A quick trip to the spa is always a nice way to de-stress and relax. Along with helping you relieve stress, massage therapy provides many benefits to both your physical and mental health. Spas and other therapy clinics...
How to Manage Stress with the Self-Care Meter
I don't know about all of you, but the current pandemic has rattled me. In the beginning, it was a panic. You were not sure who this virus was going to affect; we had to start closing down businesses, could not find toilet paper, and then entered into a stay home...
Mother’s Day Gift Ideas: Support Small Businesses in Thurston County
With Mother's Day fast approaching and everyone except for essential/frontline workers in quarantine, it's more important now than ever to put our dollars in the pockets of local small business owners while we make sure to spoil mom and grandma. Here at Ballaura, we...
SBDC Article Featuring Ballaura – Olympia Wellness Spa
The SBDC wrote a fantastic article featuring Ballaura. Click here to read the original article.
Ballaura Featured in Seattle Refined – Olympia Wellness Spa
An article on Ballaura was recently written by Gretchen Bossio in Seattle Refined. Click here to read the original story.
Ballaura Featured In: Seattle Refined
We are thrilled to be featured in Seattle Refined's article about Ballaura Wellness Spa.
What’s that Mean? Common Massage Terms
Massage therapy is such a diverse practice and has a multitude of effects on the body. As such, there are some terms that you might hear your therapist use from time to time. Here, we discuss several common terms that come up during and after a massage. Adhesions and...
The Base of Your Troubles: How Massage Helps the Neck
Massage as a part of a treatment plan goes pretty much hand-in-hand with neck pain, reduced range of motion, stiffness, strain, headaches, and more. A variety of conditions can prompt a Physician or a Chiropractor to prescribe massage to help alleviate such symptoms....
Massage and the Winter Blues
Winter- it’s that time of year again. From the short, dark days to the aching cold, winter has a way of getting to pretty much everyone. A major issue for many of us this time of year is the winter blues, also known as seasonal depression. This mental health condition...
Why Athletes Should Get Regular Massage
Pushing the body to its limits- that’s what athletes do. The quest for fitness can take a toll on the body, particularly with the musculoskeletal system. Working out stresses muscles and can put added pressure on joints and ligaments, causing pain and general...
5 Myths About Massage
At Ballaura Wellness Spa, we get a variety of questions related to massage that are common misconceptions. Here, we address a few of them. Myth 1: All Massages are the Same So not true! No massage is ever the same. Even at our spa, each massage therapist has their own...
Tech Neck: How to Treat this Modern Problem
When you hear “Tech Neck”, what comes to mind first? Tech Neck is a relatively new condition that is noticeable everywhere, affecting almost everyone. Tech Neck is described as the forward head posture caused by the use of modern technologies such as smart phones and...
How to Pick a Massage Therapist that’s Right for You
Massage therapy is like an art form- it is unique to each therapist and the person receiving it. Everyone has different preferences when it comes to what they want from a massage. In turn, each massage therapist is different and it can be overwhelming to know what you...
5 Self-Care Hacks to Help Transition into Fall
With Summer coming to an end, many of us are left feeling bummed. With the kids back in school, the weather getting cooler, and summer vacations coming to an end, it’s important that you take care of you during this seasonal change. Here, we share 5 self-care hacks to...
5 Things You Should Tell Your Massage Therapist
Since massage is medical in the state of Washington, your massage therapist will do a verbal medical intake with you before every session in addition to the intake form you fill out for the spa. This verbal intake gives your therapist more information about what is...
Communicating with Your Massage Therapist: Common Situations and Ways to Address Them
At Ballaura Wellness Spa in Olympia, Washington, it is our goal to help you achieve your wellness needs. As such, it is very important to us that you get the most out of your massage experience. Here, we discuss common situations that clients might have during their...
What to Expect at Your First Massage Visit
Our Licensed Massage Therapists at Ballaura Wellness Spa in Olympia, Washington are dedicated to improving the wellness of our clients through quality massage. Whether it’s your first massage because you received a doctor’s referral or because you’re coming in for a...
When Should You Reschedule a Massage?
Massage therapy is beneficial for the mind and body. Unfortunately, there are some conditions that either completely contraindicated massage or should prompt you to reschedule your appointment ahead of time. A contraindication for massage means that the massage...
5 Self-Care Tools to Enhance Massage Therapy
Massage itself is such a wonderful therapy to help with pain, achy muscles, tension, range of motion, circulation, and more. When used subsequently with other self-care tools, the side effects can be boosted and symptoms can improve even further. Here, we discuss 5...
5 Physical Conditions that Massage Therapy Can Help With
Massage therapy is very healing for the body. The gliding strokes used during massage increase circulation to the area, meaning increased healing and tissue regeneration. Massage also helps reduce pain in the body’s tissues and improves lymphatic drainage, which...
How Posture Works and Ways to Fix it
Stress, desk jobs, commuting, and being on our cell phones all day- these are common but difficult to avoid factors that contribute to poor posture. When our bodies rest in prolonged, unnatural positions for lengthy periods of time, our muscles begin to adjust to...
The Benefits of Pregnancy Massage
Pregnancy itself is such a wonderful process but has many uncomfortable symptoms that mom has to deal with. Massage is great for pregnancy in that it can help alleviate a variety of these uncomfortable symptoms and reduce overall stress levels. In this post, we...
Why Massage is a Necessity and Not Just a Luxury
The idea of massage as only a pampering, luxurious experience is long gone. It’s easy to see why massage is thought of as a luxury; it’s so relaxing! Research has found many therapeutic benefits of massage that make it highly beneficial for most people. While massage...
5 Reasons to Get a Couples Massage
Ballaura Wellness Spa in Olympia offers a Couples Massage experience that you and your loved one can share together. Even better than a relaxing massage is sharing one with your partner! Change into one of our plush robes while soaking your feet next to your partner...
Massage Frequency: How Often Should I be Getting a Massage?
A question that our massage therapists at Ballaura Wellness Spa in Olympia get a lot is “How often should I be getting a massage?”. It is very important to finding out what your body needs based on your lifestyle, occupation, health, etc. Here, we take a look at...
Guest Blog Post: Mackenzie with Beautycounter
Hello Ballaura Wellness Spa community! I am honored to be writing as a dedicated client of the spa and as a safer beauty advocate for Beautycounter. I started my health journey about two years ago and since then I have gained a great deal of knowledge about the...
When to Use Ice and Heat During Stages of Inflammation
Many clients ask us when it’s best to use ice and heat on their sores muscles and injuries. Both have their benefits and are especially useful at various stages of inflammation during tissue repair. It is key to know how old your injury is and when it started as well...
Massage Care: Before and After Your Appointment
In order to get the best results from your massage, there is some recommended before and after care that you can take part in. Here’s our basic guidelines for pre and post massage care to ensure that you receive the best massage experience possible. Before: Take a...
Spa Etiquette: What to Expect When Visiting a Wellness Spa
Cancel in Advance Most spas, including Ballaura, have a 24-hour cancellation policy. You should have received an electronic version of our spa policies to sign, which includes our cancellation and no-show policies. On the flip side, we do our best to ensure that we...
5 Beneficial Essential Oils for Massage
Essential oils have been used therapeutically all over the world for thousands of years. Essential oils are a great way to boost the effectiveness of massage as well as improve overall mood. Here are 5 essential oils and their known benefits.
Injury Treatment Massage vs. Relaxation Massage
What’s the Difference Between a Relaxation Massage and an Injury Treatment Massage? A massage can provide relief from a number of different ailments, both mental and physical. Before you lay down on the massage table, you’ll want to specify your pain points so...
What is Sports Massage and its Benefits?
What is Sports Massage and its Benefits? Whether you play sports professionally or out of love for the game, you should explore the wonders of sports massage. Every sportsperson is aware of the fatigue and stiffness they experience after a game. For people who have...
5 Reasons to Add Magnesium to Your Massage
5 Reasons to Add Magnesium to Your Massage The health and skin benefits of magnesium are many and varied. For centuries, magnesium oils, salts, and waters have helped to restore the skin's natural beauty and help heal muscle injuries via immersion, consumption...
Five Health Benefits of Massage
Five Health Benefits of Massage The art of massage has been used for time out of mind and the world over to provide relaxation, healing, and comfort. Present in every culture, a rich depth of different techniques in massage exist to improve the function of the human...
The Benefits of Dry Brushing in Massage
Even if you've never heard of dry brushing, there are loads of benefits to dry brushing both before and after a massage. Dry brushing involves using a natural bristle brush (like boar bristle or horsehair) and gently moving it along the skin. From circulation...
5 Reasons Massage Makes a Great Gift
Ah, massage. The very word conjures up images of softly-lit rooms, comfortable massage tables, and deep relaxation. Massage is a soothing and beautiful experience after a long week, a major sports competition, or to aid in healing after injury. And for all these...
Five Paths to Self-Care
Explore five paths to self-care that support whole-body wellness, reduce stress, and help you feel balanced, energized, and restored.
Best Time to Get a Sports Massage
Learn the best timing for sports massage to reduce soreness, support recovery, and improve athletic performance.