Austin’s Viva Day Spa + Med Spa Founders Reflect on 20 Years of Wellness and Care

Sisters Maya and Laurie Aroch and their friend Shannon Mouser set out to create a destination spa in Austin 20 years ago.  When the trio launched Viva Day Spa + Med Spa in 2005, “wellness was a new way of life,” says Laurie. “Now it’s a given.” Mouser started as a massage therapist, while the Aroch sisters were largely consumers within the lifestyle and wellness space. The Viva founders thought they could do better than what Austin had to offer, so they created a new version of approachable luxury for Austin to enjoy.

“There were so many aestheticians and therapists that needed a place to call home, and we love connecting with the clients, seeing them come in one way and leaving a better way,” Maya said.

As the wellness industry grew in Austin over the past 20 years, so has Viva. It first started as a neighborhood spa, debuting with a day spa location for facials and massages in Central Austin on 35th Street. They expanded in 2008, opening a second location in South Lamar. And in 2016, they decided to take the leap into med spa treatments with a flagship location within The Domain, offering Botox, fillers, laser treatment, chemical peels and more. 

Pioneering med spa treatments

“We were the first spa in Austin to start offering these treatments under one roof,” Maya says. “It was a taboo topic at the time. Our clients and employees were all getting them, but no one really talked about it.”

“Our clients were seeking these services in environments that were more approachable and accessible than say a plastic surgeon office, so it was a natural progression,” Laurie adds.

In 2023, Viva opened a fourth location in Round Rock, its first outside of Travis County, and in early October this year, the brand is widening its reach with a 19-room spa in Dallas.

Viva has grown from eight employees to 200, forming a team of experienced wellness providers and a med spa staff of physician assistants, nurse practitioners, licensed medical estheticians and licensed laser professionals, all led by medical director and board-certified plastic surgeon Aisha White, M.D. The spa has been named one of the best places to work by Modern Healthcare.

Individualized wellness services

“For us, it started with the culture of caring,” Maya says. “We believe that if you take great care of your employees, you attract the right people who meet your core values. In turn, happy employees provide better services and keep the clients coming back.”

Viva specializes in massages, including its offerings for pregnant clients and its signature massage, a 75 to 90-minute option that blends fluid Swedish techniques with firm deep-tissue methods. Other client favorites include the 60-minute custom facials, hydracials and even the new teen facial, in addition to its med-spa offerings and personalized packages for men, moms and brides. 

“The Viva method is a process we follow from the front desk, all the way to the back,” Maya says. “Every service is about individualized attention. We find out what’s going on with our client and target what they need that day.”

Celebrating 20 years of Viva

Maya recommends going with friends or family to share the experience with two or three services to achieve the max relaxation. “Get our signature High-Touch facial with a custom mask, a warm massage and a pedicure if you have time,” she says. “Then you can grab a glass of wine to end a perfect day.”

Celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, the Arochs are proud of the boot-strapped business they dreamed up and transformed into a thriving community. They hope to continue to expand into other markets that need a little more self-care.

“It’s difficult for brands to grow and keep their original intent,” Laurie says. “Our goal and focus is to grow while keeping the essence of Viva. If anything, we’ve cemented our values of what’s important to us and who we want to be as a brand.”

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