Welcome!
At Soak Spa we believe that by creating an atmosphere of healing and wellness for our clients we will help them feel better about themselves. In everything we offer at the spa, we embrace nurturing care. We provide an oasis from stress, a healing touch, a kind word, a place to let go and breathe slowly, deeply. We nourish the joy of wellness in our own lives and yours. Within the caring and calming environment of Soak Spa, our clients can choose from an array of holistic and alternative spa treatments.
Our spa services will immerse you in total relaxation offering therapeutic massage, couples packages, alternative body therapies, luxuriating body scrubs and wraps, facials, advanced skincare treatments, waxing, tinting, spa packages and foot soaks and massages in our Foot Sanctuary. Soak's spa treatments incorporate a whole body experience that will bring you to a peaceful state of being.
We nurture your body and skin with all-natural organic products that will delight your senses. We are committed to a non-invasive approach to skin-care using fruit and vegetable enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and active botanicals to regenerate your skin.
Melissa Stewart was born and raised in New Orleans where one of their local traditions is providing "Lagniappe" (A Little Something Extra) which is what will be added to your experience while you are visiting with us!
We invite you to come and Soak your cares and stress away and be rejuvenated at Soak Spa...
Melissa - Owner
Melissa Stewart has over 15 years of experience as a Holistic Skin Care Therapist. Melissa offers luxurious treatments to help you have glowing, radiant skin from the inside out. Melissa's unique attention to detail engages your body's natural healing ability by incorporating a therapeutic touch, integrating both medical skincare science with natural solutions.
Educated at Island Spa Beauty & Esthetics School in Honolulu, Hawaii, Melissa is an experienced and knowledgeable Holistic Skin Therapist with additional certifications in Chemical Peels, Microdermabrasion, Dermaplaning, Oncology Esthetics and Micro-Needling (Collagen Induction Therapy). She is continuing her education with Neo-Lifting facial techniques that incorporates buccal, lifting, and lymphatic massage.She firmly believes that continuing education, along with an open heart and mind are required to give each individual client the most nurturing care they deserve.
Gretchen - Owner
Gretchen is a licensed massage therapist trained at the Healing Arts Institute here in Fort Collins. She has always had a passion for helping people to find healing through the body-mind connection. She firmly believes in recognizing the needs of each individual and working together to teach them how to maintain that healing.
She currently specializes in relaxation massage, hot stone, reflexology, and deep tissue massage with a focus on Body Insight. This technique incorporates deep tissue with movement to release muscle tension. She feels strongly that continuing education is an important part of massage, and is dedicated to increasing her skill set as a massage therapist.
Abbie - Massage Therapist
Abbie has been practicing massage therapy since 1991. Abbie considers massage therapy an art form and strives to create a balanced massage experience, responding to the unique needs of each individual. Whether you are seeking a soothing, gentle and relaxing massage, a deep massage to work out problem areas, a sports massage - or some combination of these - Abbie will customize your massage experience to meet your needs.
Beka - Massage Therapist
Beka has been a massage therapist for 5 years. Graduated in 2019 from Well Spring School of Allied health in Kansas City, Missouri.
"I like to integrate Swedish massage with trigger point work, deep tissue, hot stones and cupping. I value self care and want my clients to care about their wellness as much as I do. I want everyone to feel comfortable and welcome and know they can communicate about their goals and needs for the session. Whether you need a detailed deep tissue massage or just a relaxing flow."
B - Massage Therapist + Reiki Practitioner
Massage therapy is where anatomy and healing come together for me. There are a myriad of measurable benefits from massage therapy, ranging from effective pain relief for an injury to improved cognitive function. The mind-body connection has a powerful impact on an individual's overall mental health. Massage therapy can be utilized in all communities and at any stage of your wellness journey. I pride myself on providing safe and inclusive environments above all else. Particularly for members of the LBGTQIA+ community that maybe uncomfortable with touch or transitioning. I encourage my clients to discuss their individual focus areas and areas you would prefer to avoid. One of my core passions is self care. I enjoy offering a relaxing place of refuge for all my clients. My massage is a relaxing balance of rejuvenation and restoration with a knowledgeable and mindful professional. I specialize in Swedish massage which focuses on connective tissue and myofascial relaxation. I offer Cupping, Target Hot Stones, Aromatherapy, Foot Soaks and CBD as enhancements to any of my massages therapy sessions. My work is deeply rooted around Chakra work and Traditional Chinese medicine principles. I am sensitive to energies and intuitive to the body systems. I hold an AS Integrative Health and my AA in Health Sciences. I also hold training and licenses in: Massage Therapy, Reiki Master, Accudetox Practitioner, and Yoga Instruction. Training for both Gua Sha and Prenatal massage currently.
Outside of The Soak Spa I study and read mostly. I study Radiology, Herbalism, and Meditation. And I love to skate, I retired from Roller Derby in 2016, now coach my daughters team.I also write yoga classes and dabble with sound bowls in my free time.
Cara - Massage Therapist
Cara learned the Rossiter System (a bodywork technique that uses active stretching to release bound up connective tissue) and Thai Massage while working for a chiropractor here in Fort Collins. She decided she loved helping people find pain relief so she wanted to get her massage therapy license with the state. She graduated from Healing Arts Institute in 2011 where she learned Body Insight, which is a Neuromuscular therapy that combines deep tissue and active movement to effectively release muscle knots and free the nerves to restore function.
She has worked in a variety of environments and she is grateful for the experience and confidence gained by working with all body types. While she still enjoys giving a focused, active style of bodywork. She also loves to see the relief that comes from a deeply relaxing Swedish massage. She is trained in Prenatal and offers Cupping, Hot Stones, Aromatherapy and CBD as beneficial additions to her massages. She performs Body Scrubs and Wraps and Foot Soaks with Massage.
In her free time she loves to garden, paint, knit, and complete DIY house projects.
Dawn M - Master Esthetician
Dawn had a yearning as a young adult to practice and learn about skin care but life took her in a different direction. It was many years later that Dawn began her journey in Esthetics. She has over 19 years experience as a Medical Aesthetician, Master Esthetician, Skin Educator, Trainer and Holistic Skin Therapist. She received her Esthetics Certificate in 2005 and a Master Esthetician Certificate in August 2022.
She has extensive experience working in medical skin clinics, plastic surgery clinics and spas. She is certified in acne treatments,
chemical peels, dermaplaning, dermaflash, hydra-glow facials, microdermabrasion, micro-needling, facial and body sculpting treatments and holds several certifications in advanced laser services.
She customizes her treatments with at-home result-focused skincare. Her goal is to provide her clients with healthy, glowing and more youthful looking skin. Her goal is to combine her clinical practical experience with a holistic approach to skin health and well-being with an understanding that the skin is a reflection of all that is going on inside.
Dawn and her husband recently relocated to Colorado and are so grateful to be near family. Dawn enjoys paddle boarding, cooking and exploring all the beautiful areas of Colorado!
Dawn H- Massage Therapist
Dawn offers twenty plus years of experience performing therapeutic massage. She practiced within two highly respected OB/GYN groups in Fort Collins & Winston Salem, North Carolina as well as with several World Class Hotel Spas in both Vail and Clearwater, Florida. Women's healthcare is her passion. Cancer recovery, safe touch reintroduction for survivors of incest & abuse, creating positive body acceptance for those struggling with eating disorders, prenatal, postpartum, menopause, stress relief. Her work does not include deep tissue, rather it is deeply relaxing, allowing the body to quiet in order to facilitate one's own healing.
Michelle - Massage Therapist
Michelle is honored to be a part of your healing journey. She has over 17 years of experience and specializes in Deep tissue, Sports Massage, Myofascial, Lymphatic and Reflexology Massage. She believes that the mind and the body are connected and can be accessed through relaxation and focus. If you are ready to explore more of this connection, book a massage with Michelle.
Rana - Massage Therapist
Rana is a highly skilled massage therapist with over 20 years experience. A Colorado native, she got her massage license from Cambridge College in Aurora, CO. Her love of massage stems from her childhood after witnessing how the therapeutic effects of massage helped her with a neck injury. She specializes in deep tissue, sports, swedish, chair massage, prenatal and hot stone massage. She is experienced with neuromuscular massage focused on injury recovery and rehabilitation. If you have been affected by whiplash, herniated discs, sciatica, headaches, back pain, muscle sprains, or TMJ she would love to help. When not working Rana loves to spend time with her husband and their three dogs Saydee, Gizmo and Pretzel.
Sam - Massage Therapist + Reiki Practitioner
Sam is a graduate from Front Range Community College. She received her AAS: Integrative Health Practitioner, Massage Therapy License, Reflexology, Reiki Master/Teacher, Jin Shin Level 2 Practitioner, and Yoga Teacher!
She is passionate about self-care and helping the body facilitate healing from within the body, mind, and spirit. With her background in the emergency medicine field, and from personal injuries she has learned how the body can heal itself if given the right circumstances. She has learned preventative care can have a tremendous impact on the body as a whole. She enjoys helping clients achieve their goals with body-mind connection and a combination of multiple modalities she specialize in! Some specialties she loves to combine with massage are Guasha muscle scraping, cupping, and hot stones. Reflexology pairs excellently with a relaxing foot soak and guided meditation!
In her free time you can find Sam with her furry best friend Achilles exploring the outdoors, dancing, snuggling up with a good book, yoga and meditation, and always working on self-care! She is very excited to hold space for you in your journey in self-care! She constantly reminds her clients to fill up their cup first before filling up others! Namaste!
Taleaha - Esthetician + Sound Practitioner
+ ASSISTANT MANAGER
With over 15 years of experience in the wellness industry, Taleaha began her career as a massage therapist before uncovering her passion for holistic skincare and education. Holding licenses as an esthetician and esthetics educator, along with certifications as a herbalist, reiki, and sound practitioner, she specializes in a range of holistic skincare modalities, including lymphatic drainage, facial cupping, gua sha, acupressure, sculpting facial massage, and reiki-infused sound therapy.
Recently moving from Arizona, where she owned her own business for the last 7 years, Taleaha now furthers her education in holistic nutrition at NTI in Denver. Outside of work, she finds solace in crafting herbal remedies, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, gardening, playing music with her band, and snuggling up with her fur babies with a cup of tea and book in hand.
"My purpose extends far beyond giving treatments; I aim to create sacred spaces where my clients feel not just safe, but truly sacred. Each person who lies on my table is more than a client—they are a soul deserving of deep peace and nurturing. My desire is to spread warmth, healing, and comfort, one interaction at a time." You can book holistic skincare treatments, individual reiki-infused sound therapy sessions, or group sound meditation sessions with her here at Soak Spa.
Front Desk Staff
Sydney
ASSISTANT MANAGER
Sydney grew up in Pennsylvania and moved to Fort Collins to attend CSU in 2013. She graduated with her Bachelors in Fine Arts and concentrated in drawing. She fell in love with learning about permaculture and sustainable agriculture after she graduated. When she's not at the Spa you can find her gardening, tending to her chickens, baking homemade bread, and crafting.
Rosie
ASSISTANT MANAGER
Rosie Wendel, assistant manager. As a Ft Collins native she loves calling this city her hometown. Her background in property management has afforded her the opportunity to really grow with the community and make lasting connections with the people here. She has volunteered extensively at the local radio station KRFC and loves to MC local events and music happenings. She is mom to an 18 year old cat named Olive who rules the household. She has an art background and loves to create sculpture and jewelry out of mixed media materials and found objects. She has traveled the world creating art in public spaces and enjoys jetting off to fun destinations. She was the art curator at The Downtown Artery for several years before it closed in 2020. Most recently she was employed at our local theater, The Lincoln Center, working as a stagehand and in the wardrobe and wig department for touring shows as well as in the gallery helping with art installations.
Mia
FRONT DESK RECEPTIONIST
Mia is a student at Colorado State University and is working towards her bachelors degree in Psychology. In her free time, she likes to read and hike. Mia grew up on the Western Slope of Colorado with her family and moved to Fort Collins in 2022.
