Some people are very fortunate to do the things they love for a living. We've heard of gourmets opening up restaurants, shopaholics putting up boutiques, car lovers setting up auto shops...and so the list goes on. Friends Emma Lyn Policarpio, Bambi Bagatsing, and Diane Manglapus are three of those lucky ones.

By Pauline Mangilog-Saltarin, Pinay Traveller

They are certified Spaholics-a term they use to refer to their love for spas. If some people visit a spa to relax, these women take it more seriously. It is a shared passion that has brought them around Asia and Europe in search of the perfect spa. And because they wanted to share their passion with others, they have decided to put up their own spa business, but with a delightful twist: the treatments are done right in their clients’ own homes.

“Imagine going home from work and having your own spa set up complete with Maple spa bed, fresh linens, aromatic scents, relaxing spa music, and an excellent therapist that will even serve tea after your treatment! This is your Spaholics experience. This is what sets Spaholics apart from the usual home service spa." says Policarpio who admits that when she travels, she “would rather spa than shop."

With Spaholics, a spa treatment is just a phone call away-a concept quickly embraced by their growing clientele, most of whom women who lead hectic lifestyles. In the beginning, they catered exclusively to the Alabang and BF Paranaque areas. But an increase in the demand for their services prompted the trio to eventually branch out into the areas of San Juan, Makati, and Quezon City.

Some people might say that getting a massage is quite an extravagance especially during these hard times. But Policarpio disagrees.

“A massage is probably one of the wisest health investments you can make because it has been proven that the number one cause of any illness is stress! And having a good spa experience heals not just your body, but it nurtures your mind and soul as well."

Spaholics Home Spa offers a wide variety of services in their spa menu at very reasonable prices: “Spaholic Massage" (a combination of Swedish, Hawaiian and our local hilot) and “Sui Thai Massage," both priced at P500/hour; the popular “Hotstone Massage" (which uses hot stones) that goes for P650/hour; the “Ka huna Massage" (where one uses Hawaiian Lomi Lomi technique ) for P600/hour; and the “Bentosa massage" (an ancient cupping treatment) also for P650/hour.

Policarpio also takes pride in their Synchronized Massages. She says that nothing compares to the feeling of the dancelike, graceful movements of four hands on one’s body.

“[It is] our most luxurious treatment...[it] is truly worth your time and money at P1,300/hour. This is the perfect gift for those jaded spaholics and for those who have it all," she adds.

For women who want to share the Spaholic experience with their friends, they also offer Spaholics Spa party packages, much sought after because they can turn your space into a spa, complete with Spa decor and Balinese or Hawaiian-themed sparties for a minimum of P3,000. This is ideal for bridal showers and small get-togethers. In fact, some companies have availed of sparties for team-building activities.

The trio’s passion and dedication for their spa business is so apparent that one partner, a Cornell Spa Management graduate, aptly coined the meaning of SPA as Self love, Pampering and Age management.

“Put that way, shouldn’t we all be Spaholics?"

You can get in touch with Spaholics Home Spa at 6335880 or 0917-5313531 or email them at spaholics_homespa@yahoo.com. Operating hours are from 1pm- 1am, seven days a week.