WASHINGTON — There were waiting lists and lines at Just For You Day, held for ladies 18 and older at Senior and Family Services on Friday, but they moved quickly and no one seemed to mind.
Women chatted, browsed jewelry and makeup booths, and enjoyed refreshments at the free event - in between paraffin hand dips, manicures and chair massages. More than 150 women of all ages showed up to be pampered and learn about the ladies-only Fitness For You facility.
“I came because it’s my birthday,” said Feleacia Pottorff, who brought a friend along. “I’m 18.
“It’s pretty cool. I like it.”
The young mother of a new infant was ready to be pampered for her birthday. Following a hot paraffin hand dip, she was getting a manicure and a massage.
“I told another girl ‘You’re young. Start now and take care of yourself,’” Debbie Wilson told Pottorff as she sloughed the hardened paraffin off her hands.
Wilson, an instructor and fitness assistant with Fitness For You, was performing the hot paraffin hand dips with the assistance of her mother-in-law, Jeanie Wilson. Retired Senior Volunteer Program volunteers Betty Huelsman, Sheila O ‘Maley and Chris Peter used nail polish in bright, Valentine-inspired colors to give free manicures.
And Kim Bowling, an independent massage therapist, and Lesia Lopez, a massage therapist with Smooth You Med Spa & Boutique, gave a steady stream of ladies chair massages from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“It’s very interesting, and a lot of the things are relaxing,” said Betty Norris of Washington. “It gives ladies a chance to put themselves first for a change. I keep running into people I know.”
Others, like Pottorff, brought friends with them. Co-workers Linda Wise and Chrissy Hunt of Washington and Sandy Robinson of Vincennes were enjoying manicures together.
“It’s nice and relaxing,” Robinson said.
Keisha Cost of Vincennes spent some quality time there with her mother, Jacquelyn Cost of Montgomery. The pair planned to join the Fitness For You facility.
“It’s really cool,” Keisha said of the free spa day. “I think it‘s nice.”
The idea behind Just For You Day, according to Jill Cecil, SAFS executive director, was to introduce ladies to the Fitness For You Facility, which has a 30-minute circuit that works all the muscle groups, head to toe, and can be adapted to individual fitness levels. The doctor-approved program is built for women to help with strengthening, balance and toning.
It costs $20 a month, Cecil said, and participants pay by the month. There’s no joining fee and no age limit. Cecil stressed that women need to make it a priority to delegate time for exercise and make it a part of life. She said the health benefits are endless and it boosts mood.
To emphasize taking care of themselves, Just For You Day included the spa-type activities. In addition, there were booths by Avon, Smooth You, Mary Kay, by Tavi and Paparazzi jewelry. There also were giveaways.
Cecil was pleased with the turnout and the positive feedback she received.
“It’s just awesome,” she said.
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