Spa opens its doors for Community Day

For many Sisters area residents, Shibui Spa at Five Pine is the place they turn to to make stress melt away. For some Sisters residents, a visit to this calming place is only possible thanks to Community Day.

For the past five years, owner Zoe Willitts has offered several days each year when folks who might have a hard time affording the usual rates can enjoy a massage. They make a donation of $10 rather than the usual $85 cost for a one-hour massage.

Last Sunday, almost 20 residents took the opportunity to de-stress in the spa.

“The benefits of massage are huge,” said Willitts.

She noted that as people age they use massage for health maintenance in addition to reducing stress.

Willitts and her fellow massage therapists donate their time.

“That’s why people go into this business — they want to help people,” said Willitts.

Willitts is happy to offer the opportunity to visit her spa since she knows the life-changing experience massage can be. She began giving massages a few decades ago in the garage of the little house on the FivePine property and last year opened the new 5,300-square-foot state-of-the-art spa.

“Once somebody comes in here, they know it’s the same as the little green house,” said Willitts of the welcoming spirit of her business.

Willitts wants to reach the appropriate people to participate in her next Community Day this spring. She has been proactive in contacting businesses with minimum wage employees and appreciates nominations from the community.

One Sisters resident appreciated the stress relief she finds in the newly constructed spa with its peaceful waterfall sounds, soothing earth-tone colors, original art works and friendly people.

“It makes things so they’re not so hectic,” said Nancy Reuter, who has enjoyed Community Day in the past. Her husband also visited last Sunday to find relief from back problems.

Willitts said the massage therapists show lots of positive energy on Community Days because they are doing what they love.

“Just being able to reach those people and provide a service to them is really nice,” said massage therapist Emden Griffin.

Willitts said for some participants in Community Day, this is their first massage experience.