Changing the World From Ipswich

By Michael DiMattia

 Reprinted from The Town Common, http://www.thetowncommon.com/index.html August 12, 2007

IPSWICH -
Through massage therapy, aesthetics, cosmetology and polarity therapy, Nancy Risley is making people feel better throughout the world, and that feeling is spreading.

"It's not a job, it's a mission," said Risley.

In 1980, she founded the Polarity Realization Institute, now known as Spa Tech Institute located at 126 High Street, Ipswich, to give back to the world and make everyone she meets feel better. 

She grew up with an appreciation of life, and carried it through her education.

In 1975, she left for Europe and was exposing herself to many new ideas like radionics, astrology, psychic development, and conscious channeling, helping shape the path she would take later in her life.

"She is a phenomenal energy worker, one of the top ten in the world," her husband and Spa Tech President, Kris Stecker said.

Before being married, Stecker suffered from a back injury, it was not until he underwent polarity therapy, administered by one of Risley's graduates, when his pain subsided.  He said it was the best he had felt in nearly twenty years.  Risley's mission soon became his own, and the two have worked together since.

The first Spa Tech began in Gloucester in 1980, and soon moved to Ipswich, a town that both Stecker and Risley have a connection with and feel has a calming atmosphere.  Spa Tech soon grew to have five locations throughout Massachusetts and Maine.

Risley said through her institute she is creating the field of the future and giving people a chance to earn great jobs they are passionate about and enjoy doing.  Passion is important to the Spa Tech Institute. 

Anyone looking to become a student must undergo an interview process with the On-site Director, in Ipswich it is Grace Marchese.  The interview is to determine if the candidate will be passionate about their future as a therapist, aesthetician or stylist and to assure success.

Risley and Stecker said they are focusing on giving back to the community and that children of graduates are enrolling in the institute and able to take their education one-step further. 

"We know our future students will take the field to another level," said Risley.

Spa Tech is one of the few schools where founder and owner are heavily involved.  Risley uses the twenty-seven books she has written over her career as references in creating a curriculum for the institute.

Exclusive to Spa Tech is the process of Realizing Your Sublime Energies.  In her book, RYSE: Tools for Life, Risley explains how people can become aware of their energy systems and learn to manage them properly, “gaining true self empowerment.”

"Education is such an amazing process," said Stecker "we're trying to get people the best education they can get."

Spa Tech received perfect re-accreditation in 2007 at all five of their locations.  The equipment at the institute is of the highest quality, and is beyond what is required.  Risley and Stecker helped define the standards of the field while they served on the first American Polarity Therapy Association Standards of Practice committee in 1987. 

"We're here to provide education to bring people higher, while helping the whole industry grow," said Stecker.

According to a study done by the International Spa Association, since 2003 the number of spa locations has increased by thirty-nine percent and the number of spa visits has increased by an average of nine percent.  The amount of money spent each year on services and products has risen to an average annual growth of eighteen percent, bringing the total revenue generated by the industry to 9.7 billion dollars in 2005, and growing.

Spa Tech Institute will be holding an open house on August 21, inviting the community in to see their blissful headquarters.  Their desire is to share their mission with as many people as possible.  Risley said she would continue to practice for as long as possible, spreading knowledge, and changing people's lives.