Twenty-five years ago, London-raised Deepak Bedi, known to his clients as David, came to Richmond to visit friends. He liked the city so much he made a permanent decision: to open a beauty salon in Westhampton. London Hair Design brought international aesthetics to a city known for its conservative inclinations, and Bedi found a willing audience.
BELLE: AS A PROFESSIONAL IMAGE MAKER, WHAT’S YOUR GUIDING PRINCIPLE?
BEDI:
I like to see natural beauty. Hair should be healthy and natural, skin should be healthy and natural, hair color should look natural. There are millions of shades from black to blond, and if you dye your hair it should compliment your skin tone. It took me a long time to learn that what I do is actually beneficial and not superficial. I’m not just beautifying people, I’m making them feel better about themselves. The strength of that point hit me very hard one day — I’m not just standing there cutting hair, I’m giving clients confidence. I’ve worked with a lot of cancer patients and they say they couldn’t have gotten through it without my help. That was a big epiphany for me.
BELLE: DO YOU EVER SEE A PERSON YOU’D LIKE TO GET YOUR HANDS ON AND COMPLETELY MAKE OVER, AND DO YOU HAVE TO FIGHT THE URGE?
BEDI:
All the time! It’s my occupational hazard. I can never close my eyes. I see somebody and I see the potential in them and I just want to take them home and redo their makeup and hair and dress them up. I encourage people to come to me and ask. … Most people do not see themselves as they are. It’s rare for them to say “This is what I look like.” We look at ourselves in the mirror but we don’t subject ourselves to the analysis. The job of your image consultant or hairdresser is to see that, to have the correct vision of what you look like.
BELLE: YOU’VE CUT THE HAIR OF FORMER VIRGINIA GOVERNORS GILMORE AND WARNER, AND YOU SAY MICHELLE OBAMA IS FANTASTIC AND BRILLIANTLY PUT-TOGETHER, BUT YOU’D LIKE TO GIVE THE PRESIDENT A MAKEOVER. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR MR. OBAMA?
BEDI:
As far as the hair goes, he’s fine, but for dress, I’d get rid of the pleated pants and definitely put him in flat fronts. He’s tall and slim, and should wear shorter jackets that aren’t so boxy. He still obviously has to wear suits, but he needs to take a leaf from Europe. Ozwald Boateng suits would be perfect for him, or Paul Smith suits.
SERVICE MENU
Haircut / blowdry $90 +
Haircut only $75 +
Blowdry only $50 +
Men’s haircut $50 +
Up-do $85 +
AMINEH, Stylist
SERVICE MENU
Haircut / blowdry $60 +
(short hair) $55 +
Haircut only $50 +
Blowdry only $50 +
Men’s haircut $30 +
Up-do $85 +
Danna, Stylist
SERVICE MENU
Haircut / blowdry $65 +
Haircut only $50 +
Blowdry only $50 +
Men’s haircut $35 +
SEAN, MASSAGE THERAPIST
SERVICE MENU
Massage Therapy – $80/hour
Chair Massage – $20
Massage Modalities practiced at Alua Wellness
Thai Massage is an integrated, sequenced procedure that normally takes 90 minutes that is performed on a mat instead of a table and combines gentle, yoga-like stretching postures with massage of the muscles, tendons, pressure points, and energy lines, or Sen. Techniques may employ the use of elbows, knees, and feet in addition to the hands.
Myofacial Release Therapy is a very effective hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure into connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion that is performed directly on skin without oils, creams or machinery. This enables the therapist to accurately detect fascial restrictions and apply the appropriate amount of sustained pressure to facilitate release of the fascia.
Structural Integration involves a systemic approach to massage therapy designed to align and balance the body by manipulating the fascia in a way that returns the body to its structurally optimal position and allow the muscles to move more efficiently. When a body is aligned and balanced it moves with greater ease, becomes more flexible, more coordinated, and even breathing is easier.
Shiatsu is designed to stimulate and harmonize the flow of Qi throughout the body. Shiatsu uses a variety of manual techniques, including pressure, kneading, tapping, and stretching to access the vital Qi of the body. In the case where the client’s energy is low or deficient, the practitioner uses specific techniques to enhance and vitalize the Qi. When the client is over-stressed, wound-up, or anxious, the practitioner employs techniques to disperse the excess energy. In this way, the Qi is regulated.
Reiki is a form of energy healing that can help alleviate physical, emotional, mental and spiritual stress. Reiki philosophy is based on the body’s ability to heal itself naturally once energy blocks are removed. During a Reiki Session a practitioner places his or her hands on the client with the intention to channel universal energy towards the client in a way that reaches beyond the physical to address the mental or emotional state as well.
Swedish Massage is designed to be as relaxing as possible using long, rhythmic strokes to help the brain and body relax in tandem. Swedish Massage decreases the amount of stress hormones in the body, leaving clients feeling completely relaxed and rested, even after the session is over. The techniques used during the massage trigger changes in the brain’s chemistry, resulting in reduced stress and improved mood.
Postural Assessment is the quantifiable measurement of imbalances in strength, flexibility, and joint mechanics that cause bad posture and often result in pain. Without conducting an accurate postural assessment prior to treatment, it is possible for massage to make the underlying cause of the problem worse, even if therapeutic touch temporarily relieves pain. Massage involves stretching soft tissues so it is imperative collect as much information as possible about which tissues need to be lengthened before treatment to provide the most complete and holistic service.
Sports Massage is utilized to achieve a specific performance or recovery goal when treating an athlete of any kind. Sports Massage can be used as a means to increase blood flow, stimulate neurological pathways, aid recovery from exertion, increase flexibility, improve strength, improve posture, and more! Sport massage is applied through specific pre-event, inter-event, post-event, and restoration/training massage techniques which can be very different from a typical relaxation massage.
All of these modalities are used in collaboration together at Alua Wellness to provide clients with a unique experience designed specifically to address their needs and to maximize the healing potential of Massage Therapy and yourself.
What is fascia?
Fascia is a very densely woven web of collagen fibers and elastin fibers, covering and interpenetrating every muscle, bone, nerve, artery and vein, as well as all of our internal organs including the heart, lungs, brain and spinal cord, giving them shape. The most interesting aspect of the fascial system is that it is not just a system of separate coverings. Fascia is one continuous structure that exists from head to toe without interruption. When normal healthy tissue is damaged, scar tissue is used to replace the injured tissue. Scar tissue is made up of the same collagen and elastin fibers as fascia, so when any injury goes through multiple layers of tissue, it causes restirctions commonly known as knots. Collagen fibers are known to contract with age, especially during the first 6 months after new scar tissue is formed. Trauma, inflammatory responses, surgical procedures, and/or repetitive stress injuries can create fascial restrictions that can produce tensile pressures up to 2,000 pounds per square inch on pain sensitive structures in a way that does not show up in the majority standard medical tests (x-rays, myelograms, CAT scans, etc.) Additionally, the continuing pull of gravity and the stress of daily activities can pull fascia out of alignment as it gradually shortens, tightens and adjusts to compensate. Understanding fascia and how it works and affects the body is critical for providing long lasting results.
Our Promise
Alua’s mission is to spread joy through movement. Pain free motion is essential to personal well-being. Alua provides a space to restore and maintain the optimal balance within yourself.
Alua Wellness is, at its core, a facility that provides a space and a catalyst for the entire healing process from acute non-surgical musculoskeletal injury all the way to a creative outlet and a place to advance the body beyond previous physical levels. Alua is designed to be an organization that is truly beneficial to everyone involved: vendors, customers, and employees. To provide the highest quality experience and protect the environment, Alua is dedicated to using 100% organic or pharmaceutical grade ingredients in all of our products and services.
At Alua, we believe the key to good health is a well rounded, multi-disciplinary, holistic, and preventative approach to health care. This includes everything from diet and lifestyle choices to regular stretching, proper exercise, and mental health. Our goal is to provide a sanctuary of healing for the body, mind, and spirit. Physical changes in the body affects the whole person. We are made up of emotions, attitudes, belief systems and behavior patterns as well as the physical being. All are related. Align the physical structure and it will open up the individual’s potential.