Here’s how to soak up the many advantages of being a nonskier
The soothing heat from the gentle rubbing of hot stones on my back elicits a long sigh and a serious release of muscle tension. Is this heaven? No, it’s River Stones Therapy, a hot-stone massage at the spa in the Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch.
I follow this bliss with a leisurely swim in warm water of the coed (bathing suits required), rock-lined grotto.
Skiers used to pop in for a sports massage after a day on the slopes, but now they’re staying in the spa for hours. Lazing in spa pools after a body scrub or indulging in a pedicure, massage or other pampering is an increasingly popular way to spend a half-day in ski country during winter.
Just ask Angie Primmer, director of the Spa at Cordillera in Edwards, CO. “We definitely get people up here scheduling a spa day instead of skiing,” she says. She also says nonskiers book spa treatments while companions are on the slopes.
“Another trend we are seeing,” she continues, “is more people are scheduling body treatments. They want something that is relaxing, but also helps improve the feel and look of their skin.”
The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, in Beaver Creek, Colo., offers Mountain Spa Mornings, which include a snowshoe hike, yoga and a massage. Add a vanilla bourbon milk bath and a pedicure, then soak in the grotto pool, to make it a full day. Spa Mornings are $250 per person, plus 20 percent service charge (minimum two people; maximum, four). The Ritz-Carlton also offers overnight spa packages.
Keystone Resort, in Keystone, Colo., wants travelers to experience its newly renovated and expanded RockResorts spa. The Get Hooked couples package includes a guided winter fly-fishing tour, a couples massage and a night in a loft suite at the Keystone Lodge & Spa. Fishing equipment, yoga classes and wine tasting are included as part of Keystone’s free Adventure Passport lodging program.
A large mineral swimming pool with a cascading waterfall is the heart of the Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Banff Springs, in Banff Springs, Canada. Daily guided snowshoe hikes are offered through the hotel’s fitness facility, and it’s easy to link one to an extended visit to the spa, perhaps for a Willow Stream Facial to soothe the windburn from the hike, a Wildflower Body Polish or a Ritual of Two. During the two-hour ritual for couples, a therapist teaches how to give a spa treatment. Participants choose from muds, masks and baths to practice on each other. The ritual also includes side-by-side aromatherapy massages.
Tune in to your inner self while enjoying a Symphony at the Aria Spa & Club in the Vail Cascade Resort & Spa, in Vail, Colo. The six spa packages offer lively movements such as a private Pilates session, a yoga class or a guided snowshoe hike, followed by adagios such as a five-minute organic body wrap, a target massage or a mini antioxidant facial.
Cordillera, a RockResort on a mountaintop in Edwards, Colo., has overnight and day spa packages. The $330, three-hour program includes a Gentle Rain body scrub, a Mountain massage and a Radiance facial.
The $365, four-hour Relax and Restore includes a 25-minute Sole Connection, High Altitude Rescue body wrap, Twilight facial and spa lunch
North America’s top ski destinations have many excellent spas. If you’re heading to Jackson Hole, Wyo., consider the Bear Necessities and the Special Request packages at the Snake River Lodge & Spa
Spa Gift Certificate
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Massage may help ease pain and anxiety after surgery
This article brought to you by Spavelous
A 20-minute evening back massage may help relieve pain and reduce anxiety following major surgery when given in addition to pain medications, according to a report in the December issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Many patients still experience pain following major surgery despite the availability of pain-relieving medications, according to background information in the article. Pain may be under-treated because patients fear becoming dependent on medications, are concerned about side effects, believe that they should endure pain without complaining or worry about bothering nurses. Physicians and nurses may administer ineffective doses of pain relievers because of personal biases, cultural attitudes or a lack of knowledge.
Allison R. Mitchinson, M.P.H., N.C.T.M.B., of the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Mich., and colleagues conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 605 veterans (average age 64) undergoing major surgery (chest or abdominal operations) between 2003 and 2005. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups for the five days following surgery: 203 received routine care; 200 received a daily 20-minute back massage; and 202 received 20 minutes of individual attention each day from a massage therapist, but no massage.
“The purpose of this group was to assess the effect of emotional support independent of massage,” the authors write. Patients were asked daily to rate the intensity and unpleasantness of their pain, plus their level of anxiety, on scales of one to 10.
“Compared with the control group, patients in the massage group experienced short-term (preintervention vs. postintervention) decreases in pain intensity, pain unpleasantness and anxiety,” the authors write. “In addition, patients in the massage group experienced a faster rate of decrease in pain intensity and unpleasantness during the first four postoperative days compared with the control group.” There were no differences in long-term anxiety, length of hospital stay or the amount of pain-relieving medications used among the three groups.
“The effectiveness of massage in reducing both the intensity and unpleasantness of pain suggests that it may act through more than one mechanism,” the authors write. “Massage may ameliorate suffering by helping to relieve the anxiety that so effectively synergizes with pain to create distress.” It could also generate mood-boosting endorphins or create a competing sensation that blocks pain, they note.
Spa Finder
A 20-minute evening back massage may help relieve pain and reduce anxiety following major surgery when given in addition to pain medications, according to a report in the December issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Many patients still experience pain following major surgery despite the availability of pain-relieving medications, according to background information in the article. Pain may be under-treated because patients fear becoming dependent on medications, are concerned about side effects, believe that they should endure pain without complaining or worry about bothering nurses. Physicians and nurses may administer ineffective doses of pain relievers because of personal biases, cultural attitudes or a lack of knowledge.
Allison R. Mitchinson, M.P.H., N.C.T.M.B., of the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Mich., and colleagues conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 605 veterans (average age 64) undergoing major surgery (chest or abdominal operations) between 2003 and 2005. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups for the five days following surgery: 203 received routine care; 200 received a daily 20-minute back massage; and 202 received 20 minutes of individual attention each day from a massage therapist, but no massage.
“The purpose of this group was to assess the effect of emotional support independent of massage,” the authors write. Patients were asked daily to rate the intensity and unpleasantness of their pain, plus their level of anxiety, on scales of one to 10.
“Compared with the control group, patients in the massage group experienced short-term (preintervention vs. postintervention) decreases in pain intensity, pain unpleasantness and anxiety,” the authors write. “In addition, patients in the massage group experienced a faster rate of decrease in pain intensity and unpleasantness during the first four postoperative days compared with the control group.” There were no differences in long-term anxiety, length of hospital stay or the amount of pain-relieving medications used among the three groups.
“The effectiveness of massage in reducing both the intensity and unpleasantness of pain suggests that it may act through more than one mechanism,” the authors write. “Massage may ameliorate suffering by helping to relieve the anxiety that so effectively synergizes with pain to create distress.” It could also generate mood-boosting endorphins or create a competing sensation that blocks pain, they note.
Spa Finder
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Chocolat Goodness
At a special grand opening ceremony with family, friends and Mayor Sam Teresi present, Chocolat Day Spa officially opened its doors to the public.
The full-service day spa offers a variety of options for pampering. In addition to capsule or bed tanning, Chocolat also offers professional skin care from a certified esthetician, massage therapy, manicures, pedicures, hair styling and body waxing.
‘‘Jamestown doesn’t have anything like this,’’ Dwaileebe said. ‘‘It’s where luxurious beauty meets sweet chocolate indulgence.’’
Located in the former Sun Capsule building on Washington Street, the entire business has been remodeled from the floor to the ceiling. The walls are varying shades of ‘‘chocolate,’’ as she described it. Each section is semi-private and loaded with top-of-the-line equipment and products.
The owner explained that Chocolat isn’t just for women and provides many services to men as well.
‘‘We’ve been doing a lot of mens hair cuts,’’ she said. ‘‘And most of the tanning business has been men.’’
Among the tanning customers, their reasons for entering the bed or capsule vary.
Chocolat patron Bob Jaffy explained that his physician recommended tanning as a therapeutic treatment to deal with a skin condition.
‘‘The tanning has really helped me out,’’ he said. ‘‘And Mary’s been just wonderful and taken great care of me. People should come on down and see what she’s up to.’’
In Chocolat, there are chocolates from Peterson’s Candies everywhere. Dwaileebe said that the decision to use chocolate from Peterson’s was a choice of conscience.
‘‘I found better chocolate deals online,’’ she said. ‘‘But I felt that as a local business, it is important to support the other small businesses in the area.’’
She also said that Chocolat is offering gift cards and packages geared toward the coming holiday season.
‘‘It’s kind of like a queen for a day package,’’ she said. ‘‘We are here to pamper our customers. People should stop in and see what we have to offer.’’
Chocolat is open daily with the exception of Sunday. Dwaileebe said that walk-ins are welcome but appointments are appreciated. Those with questions about services or looking to schedule an appointment are encouraged to call 716-664-3472. Please let them know you found them on Spavelous.
Spa Gift Certificates
The full-service day spa offers a variety of options for pampering. In addition to capsule or bed tanning, Chocolat also offers professional skin care from a certified esthetician, massage therapy, manicures, pedicures, hair styling and body waxing.
‘‘Jamestown doesn’t have anything like this,’’ Dwaileebe said. ‘‘It’s where luxurious beauty meets sweet chocolate indulgence.’’
Located in the former Sun Capsule building on Washington Street, the entire business has been remodeled from the floor to the ceiling. The walls are varying shades of ‘‘chocolate,’’ as she described it. Each section is semi-private and loaded with top-of-the-line equipment and products.
The owner explained that Chocolat isn’t just for women and provides many services to men as well.
‘‘We’ve been doing a lot of mens hair cuts,’’ she said. ‘‘And most of the tanning business has been men.’’
Among the tanning customers, their reasons for entering the bed or capsule vary.
Chocolat patron Bob Jaffy explained that his physician recommended tanning as a therapeutic treatment to deal with a skin condition.
‘‘The tanning has really helped me out,’’ he said. ‘‘And Mary’s been just wonderful and taken great care of me. People should come on down and see what she’s up to.’’
In Chocolat, there are chocolates from Peterson’s Candies everywhere. Dwaileebe said that the decision to use chocolate from Peterson’s was a choice of conscience.
‘‘I found better chocolate deals online,’’ she said. ‘‘But I felt that as a local business, it is important to support the other small businesses in the area.’’
She also said that Chocolat is offering gift cards and packages geared toward the coming holiday season.
‘‘It’s kind of like a queen for a day package,’’ she said. ‘‘We are here to pamper our customers. People should stop in and see what we have to offer.’’
Chocolat is open daily with the exception of Sunday. Dwaileebe said that walk-ins are welcome but appointments are appreciated. Those with questions about services or looking to schedule an appointment are encouraged to call 716-664-3472. Please let them know you found them on Spavelous.
Spa Gift Certificates
Friday, December 7, 2007
Upscale spa will give downtown a dose of fancy
Nina Ummel, chief visionary officer of Ummelina, an upscale Seattle spa expanding to downtown Yakima, admires a table and sink in the entry of the new spa location on Friday. The sink and table were made from ancient Chinese stone. Ummelina will open its new spa next to the Hilton Garden Inn next week.
Even through the construction crews and paint tape, it’s easy to see that Ummelina Yakima Spa Retreat will be a new experience for the Yakima Valley.
Outside stand large, heavy pots filled with plants from around the world that decorate the spa’s “Temple Garden.” Inside the retail area is a table and sink made from ancient Chinese stone. In the rooms, there are a variety of water fixtures such as a Japanese-style soaking tub.
The Seattle upscale spa will open its second location next week at 399 E. Yakima Ave., adjacent to the Hilton Garden Inn. The spa’s retail store, Global Remedies, opens Monday and will sell the company’s line of skin and body care products. Patrons also will be able to order gift certificates and book appointments.
The full-service spa will open the day after Thanksgiving.
“We’re anticipating (customers’) arrival and we know we have something very special for them,” said Nina Ummel, the company’s founder and chief visionary officer.
Ummel opened Ummelina in downtown Seattle about 20 years ago, when the area was struggling to gain foot traffic. Ummel and her partner, Meghann Lawrence, a 1996 Naches Valley High School graduate, were drawn to Yakima by revitalization efforts in the downtown core.
For people in Yakima, it’s an overdue amenity.
“It’s nice to have spa services done in your hometown,” said Brad Baldwin, owner of Stems, a wine and gift shop that is also adjacent to the Hilton Garden Inn. “It’s nice to be close to home instead of having to run to Seattle for those services.”
Robert Utz, general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn, said he’s confident the hotel’s clientele will take advantage of the new spa. He also wants to work with Ummelina to offer hotel and spa packages.
Ummelina has hired all of its staff. The new location will have two store managers — at Ummelina they’re known as “customs officers” — and 16 other staff members or “guides.” The staff has spent almost two weeks in training, which included a trip to the Seattle spa.
“They’re ready,” Ummel said. “And I’m so pleased with the staff we’ve been able to have.”
In addition to opening the new
Yakima location, Ummel wants to develop skin and body care products made of ingredients grown in the Yakima Valley. She hopes to have the new products ready by early next year.
Ummel said she has already received several group bookings and several people have purchased gift certificates at its Seattle location to use here.
“They’re just waiting for us to get open,” Ummel said. “We have numerous groups that have already booked. We anticipate with the season, we’ll be pretty busy.”
The spa’s hours will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Baldwin, of Stems, said he may take advantage of the late hours.
“I love a nice massage,” he said. “It will be nice after a long day’s work to go over and have a massage.”
Spa Deal Finder
Even through the construction crews and paint tape, it’s easy to see that Ummelina Yakima Spa Retreat will be a new experience for the Yakima Valley.
Outside stand large, heavy pots filled with plants from around the world that decorate the spa’s “Temple Garden.” Inside the retail area is a table and sink made from ancient Chinese stone. In the rooms, there are a variety of water fixtures such as a Japanese-style soaking tub.
The Seattle upscale spa will open its second location next week at 399 E. Yakima Ave., adjacent to the Hilton Garden Inn. The spa’s retail store, Global Remedies, opens Monday and will sell the company’s line of skin and body care products. Patrons also will be able to order gift certificates and book appointments.
The full-service spa will open the day after Thanksgiving.
“We’re anticipating (customers’) arrival and we know we have something very special for them,” said Nina Ummel, the company’s founder and chief visionary officer.
Ummel opened Ummelina in downtown Seattle about 20 years ago, when the area was struggling to gain foot traffic. Ummel and her partner, Meghann Lawrence, a 1996 Naches Valley High School graduate, were drawn to Yakima by revitalization efforts in the downtown core.
For people in Yakima, it’s an overdue amenity.
“It’s nice to have spa services done in your hometown,” said Brad Baldwin, owner of Stems, a wine and gift shop that is also adjacent to the Hilton Garden Inn. “It’s nice to be close to home instead of having to run to Seattle for those services.”
Robert Utz, general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn, said he’s confident the hotel’s clientele will take advantage of the new spa. He also wants to work with Ummelina to offer hotel and spa packages.
Ummelina has hired all of its staff. The new location will have two store managers — at Ummelina they’re known as “customs officers” — and 16 other staff members or “guides.” The staff has spent almost two weeks in training, which included a trip to the Seattle spa.
“They’re ready,” Ummel said. “And I’m so pleased with the staff we’ve been able to have.”
In addition to opening the new
Yakima location, Ummel wants to develop skin and body care products made of ingredients grown in the Yakima Valley. She hopes to have the new products ready by early next year.
Ummel said she has already received several group bookings and several people have purchased gift certificates at its Seattle location to use here.
“They’re just waiting for us to get open,” Ummel said. “We have numerous groups that have already booked. We anticipate with the season, we’ll be pretty busy.”
The spa’s hours will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Baldwin, of Stems, said he may take advantage of the late hours.
“I love a nice massage,” he said. “It will be nice after a long day’s work to go over and have a massage.”
Spa Deal Finder
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Amour Package - L’Auberge de Sedona
Celebrate your special occasion with this package. Upon arrival, chilled champagne and strawberries will greet you in your room. That evening, enjoy our chef’s nightly seasonal tasting menu in our award-winning L’Auberge Restaurant on Oak Creek. Wake up to breakfast in L’Auberge Restaurant as you watch the ducks playing in the creek. This will truly be a celebration to remember.
The Amour Package includes:
Accommodations for two
Tasting menu for two at L’Auberge Restaurant on Oak Creek
Breakfast each morning at L’Auberge Restaurant for two
Champagne and strawberries delivered to your room upon arrival
Rates from $335 per night*, two night minimum required
*A $25 service charge per night of your stay will be added to cover all gratuities for the bell staff, concierge, guest services, housekeeping staff, wireless Internet access throughout the resort and use of our Business Center. Package prices do not include room or restaurant sales tax, alcohol, or restaurant gratuity. Early departure fee of one night plus tax.
Day Spa Finder
The Amour Package includes:
Accommodations for two
Tasting menu for two at L’Auberge Restaurant on Oak Creek
Breakfast each morning at L’Auberge Restaurant for two
Champagne and strawberries delivered to your room upon arrival
Rates from $335 per night*, two night minimum required
*A $25 service charge per night of your stay will be added to cover all gratuities for the bell staff, concierge, guest services, housekeeping staff, wireless Internet access throughout the resort and use of our Business Center. Package prices do not include room or restaurant sales tax, alcohol, or restaurant gratuity. Early departure fee of one night plus tax.
Day Spa Finder
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
A better gift this year
Just one look at the catalogs filling your mailbox, one sound of TV and radio ads, and a glimpse at any store window will tell you that the season of giving is upon us.
You could easily spend your money on the latest gizmo or techno gadget for those on your list. But what if you gave a gift that really tells them you care. How about considering something that gives them the gift of good health?
We are bombarded by the message that many of us do not take care of our physical and mental health the way we should. How can we do better? How can you help the important people in your life to live healthier?
One of the greatest keys to a good life is being physically active. Moving our bodies is important at all ages. Continuing to move is necessary to remain in good physical condition for a lifetime. Even people with physical constraints can generally do some type of physical activity. So what gifts can assist in this goal?
How about a gift certificate to an exercise class — yoga, tai chi, aerobic dance, spinning, Pilates, karate, etc.? Or the gift of relaxation afterward with a spa gift certificate?
The gift could be related to an activity — like a yoga mat or exercise clothing. Maybe the many exercise accessories are the answer for someone on your list — an exercise ball, exercise bands, free weights, hiking gear, a pedometer, jump rope, bike trip calculator, sports-specific shoes or boots, etc.
A larger gift might be a piece of exercise equipment — a treadmill, stair machine, rowing machine, road bike, stationary bike or resistance stands for a road bike to convert it to a stationary one.
A gift of the services of a personal trainer and/or registered dietitian can help them achieve their New Year’s resolutions. Plus, it provides a personalized plan to fit their needs.
For mental health and relaxation, consider some relaxing music CDs. Maybe a gift certificate for a massage, a meditation class, or a day at the spa would be a welcome treat. For a busy mom, maybe give the gift of taking care of her children so she can go to the spa and pamper herself away from the house for the day. Even just a few hours alone to take a bubble bath or read a good book can ease away stress.
The list goes on and on. There are so many possibilities for helping your loved ones healthy and happy for many years ahead!
Spa Finder
You could easily spend your money on the latest gizmo or techno gadget for those on your list. But what if you gave a gift that really tells them you care. How about considering something that gives them the gift of good health?
We are bombarded by the message that many of us do not take care of our physical and mental health the way we should. How can we do better? How can you help the important people in your life to live healthier?
One of the greatest keys to a good life is being physically active. Moving our bodies is important at all ages. Continuing to move is necessary to remain in good physical condition for a lifetime. Even people with physical constraints can generally do some type of physical activity. So what gifts can assist in this goal?
How about a gift certificate to an exercise class — yoga, tai chi, aerobic dance, spinning, Pilates, karate, etc.? Or the gift of relaxation afterward with a spa gift certificate?
The gift could be related to an activity — like a yoga mat or exercise clothing. Maybe the many exercise accessories are the answer for someone on your list — an exercise ball, exercise bands, free weights, hiking gear, a pedometer, jump rope, bike trip calculator, sports-specific shoes or boots, etc.
A larger gift might be a piece of exercise equipment — a treadmill, stair machine, rowing machine, road bike, stationary bike or resistance stands for a road bike to convert it to a stationary one.
A gift of the services of a personal trainer and/or registered dietitian can help them achieve their New Year’s resolutions. Plus, it provides a personalized plan to fit their needs.
For mental health and relaxation, consider some relaxing music CDs. Maybe a gift certificate for a massage, a meditation class, or a day at the spa would be a welcome treat. For a busy mom, maybe give the gift of taking care of her children so she can go to the spa and pamper herself away from the house for the day. Even just a few hours alone to take a bubble bath or read a good book can ease away stress.
The list goes on and on. There are so many possibilities for helping your loved ones healthy and happy for many years ahead!
Spa Finder
Saturday, December 1, 2007
New business offers spa treatments in Salida, CO
This article is brought to you by Spavelous.com.
Clare Duggan, owner of Spa Essene, 339 G St., added a variety of spa treatments about a month ago to massage options already available.
Duggan said she wanted to add spa treatments for a long time but couldn’t because of space limitations. She needed room before the treatments could be initiated.
“I enjoy pampering people,” Duggan said.
Spa Essene has been open three years before being able to increase services.
Duggan added a FIR infrared sauna for therapy treatments. It can be used in combination with scrubs, wraps or massages. The treatments supplement massages.
The sauna heats the body with direct light conversion. It raises the temperature of the body only, not the surrounding air, meaning the body perspires and receives benefits of the sauna without breathing hot air.
FIR saunas dilate blood vessels and capillaries, promoting better blood circulation. Heat rids the body of toxins and metabolic wastes.
“I’m hoping it will help draw more clients using all different treatments,” Duggan said.
The spa offers essential oils, hot stones therapy, reflexology, mud wraps, herbal wraps, scrubs and specialized facials in addition to sauna treatments.
Services, she said, help rejuvenate the body. Blood circulation, exfoliation and detoxifying are goals of the various treatments.
Duggan completed her training at the National Holistic Institute in Berkeley, Calif. She has been practicing for more than 20 years.
The spa is available by appointment only. Gift certificates are available.
Spa Gift Certificates
Clare Duggan, owner of Spa Essene, 339 G St., added a variety of spa treatments about a month ago to massage options already available.
Duggan said she wanted to add spa treatments for a long time but couldn’t because of space limitations. She needed room before the treatments could be initiated.
“I enjoy pampering people,” Duggan said.
Spa Essene has been open three years before being able to increase services.
Duggan added a FIR infrared sauna for therapy treatments. It can be used in combination with scrubs, wraps or massages. The treatments supplement massages.
The sauna heats the body with direct light conversion. It raises the temperature of the body only, not the surrounding air, meaning the body perspires and receives benefits of the sauna without breathing hot air.
FIR saunas dilate blood vessels and capillaries, promoting better blood circulation. Heat rids the body of toxins and metabolic wastes.
“I’m hoping it will help draw more clients using all different treatments,” Duggan said.
The spa offers essential oils, hot stones therapy, reflexology, mud wraps, herbal wraps, scrubs and specialized facials in addition to sauna treatments.
Services, she said, help rejuvenate the body. Blood circulation, exfoliation and detoxifying are goals of the various treatments.
Duggan completed her training at the National Holistic Institute in Berkeley, Calif. She has been practicing for more than 20 years.
The spa is available by appointment only. Gift certificates are available.
Spa Gift Certificates
Friday, November 30, 2007
Bliss Package from The Phoenician
Our exclusive day package is the ultimate spa indulgence. Begin your day with a purifying 50 minute body treatment followed by a 50 minute massage of your choice. A personalized facial treatment will be customized to your individual skin care needs. Enjoy a nutritious spa lunch and spend the afternoon in our beautiful salon receiving the finest in hand and foot care, our Holistic Manicure and Pedicure.
This package also includes complimentary use of :
Fitness studio and exercise classes
Private locker room facilities
Meditation Atrium, whirlpools, Steam rooms and saunas.
Waters Bar serving complimentary refreshments
Offer Valid: February 1 - December 31st, 2007
$620 (price includes all gratuities)
To schedule your day of Bliss call our Spa Reservations Department at 800-843-2392
Day Spa Locator
This package also includes complimentary use of :
Fitness studio and exercise classes
Private locker room facilities
Meditation Atrium, whirlpools, Steam rooms and saunas.
Waters Bar serving complimentary refreshments
Offer Valid: February 1 - December 31st, 2007
$620 (price includes all gratuities)
To schedule your day of Bliss call our Spa Reservations Department at 800-843-2392
Day Spa Locator
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Breakthrough Laser Body Sculpting Procedure Draws A-List Celebrities to Rejuvalife Vitality Institute in Beverly Hills, California
Emmy and Oscar winning actors turn to Rejuvalife Vitality Institute’s proven anti-aging treatments, and less-invasive Smartlipo laser lipolysis to restore optimum health and vitality. Treatments offered take a holistic approach to health, beauty, and anti-aging with a special emphasis on customized patient care, education, and lifestyle change. We go beyond traditional medical practices and medi-spas to offer our clientele a comprehensive, holistic approach to health, beauty, and anti-aging with a special emphasis on customized patient care, education, and lifestyle changes
Rejuvalife’s advanced scientific breakthroughs and customized fresh approach to health, beauty, rejuvenation, and Laser Body Sculpting, including Smartlipo™, has attracted a worldwide clientele including Hollywood’s top A-List celebrities.
“We offer a viable alternative to surgery with the less-invasive Smartlipo laser lipolysis procedure,” said Dr. Andre Berger, founder of the Rejuvalife Vitality Institute. “We go beyond traditional medical practices and medi-spas to offer our clientele a comprehensive, holistic approach to health, beauty, and anti-aging with a special emphasis on customized patient care, education, and lifestyle changes,” adds Dr. Berger.
The Rejuvalife whole person approach to anti-aging treatments and wellness includes examining hormonal levels, nutritional intake, physical fitness, metabolism, lifestyle, bio-energetic functions and psychological make-up. With the results of these tests, Rejuvalife can focus on prevention and the early detection of problems at the cellular and energy level. Then, implement a customized anti-aging, wellness and cosmetic enhancement strategy that honors our clients unique body needs. The result is a radiant appearance and a longer, healthier life.
Rejuvalife incorporates the Smartlipo ™ light-based aesthetic treatment system for laser assisted lipolysis. This state-of-the-art Laser Body Sculpting procedure disrupts fat cells and causes coagulation of the tissue leading to skin tightening. The Smartlipo system provides aesthetic surgeons a new, less- invasive method for Beverly Hills, CA,
Rejuvalife incorporates the Smartlipo ™ light-based aesthetic treatment system for laser assisted lipolysis. This state-of-the-art Laser Body Sculpting procedure disrupts fat cells and causes coagulation of the tissue leading to skin tightening. The Smartlipo system provides aesthetic surgeons a new, less- invasive method for reducing fat cells ™.
“The Smartlipo system allows me the luxury of applying the laser’s energy directly to localized fat deposits to tighten tissue,” said Dr. Berger. “We have experienced excellent results with this targeted Laser Body Sculpting procedure.”
The Smartlipo laser lipolysis is a minimally invasive procedure that generally results with less swelling and bleeding as compared to traditional liposuction methods. The Smartlipo system received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2007 for laser assisted lipolysis, or Laser Body Sculpting.
About Rejuvalife Vitality Institute
The skilled and experienced physicians, nurses, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, dieticians, and estheticians at the Rejuvalife Vitality Institute are trained in the most cutting-edge scientific advances in less-invasive lipolysis procedures and anti-aging treatments. The Rejuvalife Vitality Institute is founded on an all-inclusive balanced approach to health and beauty with a special emphasis on customized patient care, education, and lifestyle changes.
Spa Gift Certificate
Rejuvalife’s advanced scientific breakthroughs and customized fresh approach to health, beauty, rejuvenation, and Laser Body Sculpting, including Smartlipo™, has attracted a worldwide clientele including Hollywood’s top A-List celebrities.
“We offer a viable alternative to surgery with the less-invasive Smartlipo laser lipolysis procedure,” said Dr. Andre Berger, founder of the Rejuvalife Vitality Institute. “We go beyond traditional medical practices and medi-spas to offer our clientele a comprehensive, holistic approach to health, beauty, and anti-aging with a special emphasis on customized patient care, education, and lifestyle changes,” adds Dr. Berger.
The Rejuvalife whole person approach to anti-aging treatments and wellness includes examining hormonal levels, nutritional intake, physical fitness, metabolism, lifestyle, bio-energetic functions and psychological make-up. With the results of these tests, Rejuvalife can focus on prevention and the early detection of problems at the cellular and energy level. Then, implement a customized anti-aging, wellness and cosmetic enhancement strategy that honors our clients unique body needs. The result is a radiant appearance and a longer, healthier life.
Rejuvalife incorporates the Smartlipo ™ light-based aesthetic treatment system for laser assisted lipolysis. This state-of-the-art Laser Body Sculpting procedure disrupts fat cells and causes coagulation of the tissue leading to skin tightening. The Smartlipo system provides aesthetic surgeons a new, less- invasive method for Beverly Hills, CA,
Rejuvalife incorporates the Smartlipo ™ light-based aesthetic treatment system for laser assisted lipolysis. This state-of-the-art Laser Body Sculpting procedure disrupts fat cells and causes coagulation of the tissue leading to skin tightening. The Smartlipo system provides aesthetic surgeons a new, less- invasive method for reducing fat cells ™.
“The Smartlipo system allows me the luxury of applying the laser’s energy directly to localized fat deposits to tighten tissue,” said Dr. Berger. “We have experienced excellent results with this targeted Laser Body Sculpting procedure.”
The Smartlipo laser lipolysis is a minimally invasive procedure that generally results with less swelling and bleeding as compared to traditional liposuction methods. The Smartlipo system received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2007 for laser assisted lipolysis, or Laser Body Sculpting.
About Rejuvalife Vitality Institute
The skilled and experienced physicians, nurses, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, dieticians, and estheticians at the Rejuvalife Vitality Institute are trained in the most cutting-edge scientific advances in less-invasive lipolysis procedures and anti-aging treatments. The Rejuvalife Vitality Institute is founded on an all-inclusive balanced approach to health and beauty with a special emphasis on customized patient care, education, and lifestyle changes.
Spa Gift Certificate
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Networking moves to the hotel spa
This article brought to you by Spavelous.com
The golf course is not the only place to do business in a casual setting. The new spot to network with colleagues and clients is the hotel spa.
According to the consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, 39 percent of the high-end hotels being planned in the United States will include spas, more than double the number five years ago. The increase is partly a result of demand from business customers, according to the firm.
For a growing number of companies, the spa is the novel choice for corporate outings. During annual sales meetings at the camera company Canon, participants wrap up several days of number-crunching and strategy brainstorming with a choice of either a golf outing or time at the spa. Over the years, the spa option has grown more popular, said Terry Markwart, a sales director for Canon.
“Golf isn’t relaxing,” he said. “It’s very competitive, and you have to get up early in the morning. It adds more to the stress.” A trip to the spa at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco two years ago gave Markwart the chance to get the kinks out of his back as well as hash out advertising strategies with colleagues.
“It’s a good chance to network and talk in a relaxed atmosphere,” he said.
Hotels say the demand for spa time among groups of business travelers is at an all-time high. “We’ve actually moved toward adding spas in virtually every one of our properties because spa usage is growing at a very rapid pace,” said Eric Terry, vice president for sales and marketing at Benchmark Hospitality International, which operates more than a dozen hotels and conference centers.
For many meeting planners, the lack of an on-site spa can be as much of a deal breaker as the lack of high-speed Internet access.
For their part, spa operators say they are finding a new customer base to try their services.
“The kind of clients we’re seeing are generally financial companies, law firms, people who would potentially be Bliss customers,” said Robyn Fishelson, brand manager for Bliss Spas, a company that has outlets in half a dozen W Hotels. Hotels also eagerly court potential spa clients because they help fill their rooms during low season.
Hospitality industry professionals say a major reason behind the growing popularity of spa networking is that the experience is no longer perceived solely as a pastime for the ladies-who-lunch set.
“There was a time when the word spa conjured up an image of facial masks and pedicures, but now I think that gender gap has been erased,” said Neil Pompan, president of the International Association of Conference Centers.
Terry Blumenstein, an independent meeting planner who helps companies plan sales conferences, said he had seen a similar shift among his clients.
“There’s definitely a change of more men not golfing and doing more spas instead,” he said.
Growing workplace stress and hectic schedules also make the promise of softly lit, aromatherapy-infused sanctuaries of calm all the more appealing. “After being in meetings for three or four days, people just want to relax,” Blumenstein said.
Anecdotally, hotel managers also say they are noticing increased interest in spas among business travelers.
“It used to be that golf was huge. Now our golf and spa revenues are competing with each other,” said Terry Bechtold, resort manager at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Florida. He said the Diplomat’s 30,000-square-foot, or 2,800-square-meter, spa was sometimes taken over by corporate groups wanting to combine debriefing with destressing.
This year, Laura Thieme, president of the search engine marketing company Bizresearch, started a conference series called Search N Spa that combines technology education sessions with spa activities.
“I saw a need for high-level execs that really want to get more attention. It’s been an extreme hit,” she said. The two events she has held sold out quickly, and she is planning more.
Mark Gerardot, an owner of a Web site design company, said he welcomed the chance to hit the spa during participation in Bizresearch’s Search N Spa conference on Mackinac Island, Michigan, in August.
“It’s a very concentrated slice of information you have to digest. The spa part of it allows you to relax,” Gerardot said. It also allowed him to ask Thieme questions about the subject matter in an informal setting, he added.
Just as the golf course demands knowledge of certain etiquette and customs, spas have their own codes of conduct and the potential for faux pas.
Spa Finder
The golf course is not the only place to do business in a casual setting. The new spot to network with colleagues and clients is the hotel spa.
According to the consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, 39 percent of the high-end hotels being planned in the United States will include spas, more than double the number five years ago. The increase is partly a result of demand from business customers, according to the firm.
For a growing number of companies, the spa is the novel choice for corporate outings. During annual sales meetings at the camera company Canon, participants wrap up several days of number-crunching and strategy brainstorming with a choice of either a golf outing or time at the spa. Over the years, the spa option has grown more popular, said Terry Markwart, a sales director for Canon.
“Golf isn’t relaxing,” he said. “It’s very competitive, and you have to get up early in the morning. It adds more to the stress.” A trip to the spa at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco two years ago gave Markwart the chance to get the kinks out of his back as well as hash out advertising strategies with colleagues.
“It’s a good chance to network and talk in a relaxed atmosphere,” he said.
Hotels say the demand for spa time among groups of business travelers is at an all-time high. “We’ve actually moved toward adding spas in virtually every one of our properties because spa usage is growing at a very rapid pace,” said Eric Terry, vice president for sales and marketing at Benchmark Hospitality International, which operates more than a dozen hotels and conference centers.
For many meeting planners, the lack of an on-site spa can be as much of a deal breaker as the lack of high-speed Internet access.
For their part, spa operators say they are finding a new customer base to try their services.
“The kind of clients we’re seeing are generally financial companies, law firms, people who would potentially be Bliss customers,” said Robyn Fishelson, brand manager for Bliss Spas, a company that has outlets in half a dozen W Hotels. Hotels also eagerly court potential spa clients because they help fill their rooms during low season.
Hospitality industry professionals say a major reason behind the growing popularity of spa networking is that the experience is no longer perceived solely as a pastime for the ladies-who-lunch set.
“There was a time when the word spa conjured up an image of facial masks and pedicures, but now I think that gender gap has been erased,” said Neil Pompan, president of the International Association of Conference Centers.
Terry Blumenstein, an independent meeting planner who helps companies plan sales conferences, said he had seen a similar shift among his clients.
“There’s definitely a change of more men not golfing and doing more spas instead,” he said.
Growing workplace stress and hectic schedules also make the promise of softly lit, aromatherapy-infused sanctuaries of calm all the more appealing. “After being in meetings for three or four days, people just want to relax,” Blumenstein said.
Anecdotally, hotel managers also say they are noticing increased interest in spas among business travelers.
“It used to be that golf was huge. Now our golf and spa revenues are competing with each other,” said Terry Bechtold, resort manager at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Florida. He said the Diplomat’s 30,000-square-foot, or 2,800-square-meter, spa was sometimes taken over by corporate groups wanting to combine debriefing with destressing.
This year, Laura Thieme, president of the search engine marketing company Bizresearch, started a conference series called Search N Spa that combines technology education sessions with spa activities.
“I saw a need for high-level execs that really want to get more attention. It’s been an extreme hit,” she said. The two events she has held sold out quickly, and she is planning more.
Mark Gerardot, an owner of a Web site design company, said he welcomed the chance to hit the spa during participation in Bizresearch’s Search N Spa conference on Mackinac Island, Michigan, in August.
“It’s a very concentrated slice of information you have to digest. The spa part of it allows you to relax,” Gerardot said. It also allowed him to ask Thieme questions about the subject matter in an informal setting, he added.
Just as the golf course demands knowledge of certain etiquette and customs, spas have their own codes of conduct and the potential for faux pas.
Spa Finder
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
NY Day Spa Offers a Massage for Every Reason this Spa Gifts Season
At New York Day Spa we offer a massage for every reason:
We indulge you with an aroma therapy massage to stimulate your sense of scent and your body’s response to touch;
We heal you with a lymphatic drainage massage to decrease painful swelling in the extremities that can be caused by strenuous exercise;
We reduce muscle tension with a deep tissue massage by increasing oxygen flow to stressed, inflamed muscle and tissue.
We lift your mood with an emotion-releasing Swedish Massage that will leave your muscles laughing and you filled with pride that you took this time to nurture yourself.
Now that you have decided to treat your fatigued muscles and frenetic mind to the massage of your choice, think about those on your holiday gift list who could also benefit from expert body work as the weather turns colder and the pace faster. New York Day Spa Gift Certificates will let your grateful recipients pick the massage treatment for which each has a special reason this Ho Holiday season.
Day Spa Locator
We indulge you with an aroma therapy massage to stimulate your sense of scent and your body’s response to touch;
We heal you with a lymphatic drainage massage to decrease painful swelling in the extremities that can be caused by strenuous exercise;
We reduce muscle tension with a deep tissue massage by increasing oxygen flow to stressed, inflamed muscle and tissue.
We lift your mood with an emotion-releasing Swedish Massage that will leave your muscles laughing and you filled with pride that you took this time to nurture yourself.
Now that you have decided to treat your fatigued muscles and frenetic mind to the massage of your choice, think about those on your holiday gift list who could also benefit from expert body work as the weather turns colder and the pace faster. New York Day Spa Gift Certificates will let your grateful recipients pick the massage treatment for which each has a special reason this Ho Holiday season.
Day Spa Locator
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Spa Chakra at the Conrad Miami–the Premier Spa and Well-being Experience.
Spa Chakra, Inc., a worldwide luxury spa network, is proud to announce its latest development in the Conrad Miami, the leading luxury hotel located in the financial district of downtown Miami.
Spa Chakra, Inc., a worldwide luxury spa network, is proud to announce its latest development in the Conrad Miami, the leading luxury hotel located in the financial district of downtown Miami.
As part of the new venture, Conrad Miami has expanded its spa facility on the 24th floor to encompass additional treatment rooms and services exclusive to Spa Chakra, a product of the hotel’s $700,000 renovation.
Renowned on the international spa circuit, Spa Chakra launched in 1998 as one of the pioneers of fully integrative medi-spas in Australia. By combining preventative health management with luxury spa therapies, Spa Chakra has quickly established global recognition as a premium urban and destination spa retreat.
Spa Chakra is situated one floor below the hotel’s dramatic Level 25, where a symphony of International flavors and style elevate the senses, as spectacular views of city and Biscayne Bay unfold below. The luxuriously appointed spa features 10 individual treatment rooms with the finest therapeutic equipment for facial, massage, and body therapies, as well as hydrotherapy and Vichy shower facilities, and Spa Chakra’s state-of-the-art footbath and relaxation lounges.
While enjoying the tranquility of the spa’s facilities, clients undergo a systematic analysis to customize their therapies. Each treatment is individually tailored according to the results of a pre-therapy questionnaire. The results reveal core conditions currently impacting the client’s skin, body, and well-being so that targeted therapeutic solutions can be refined to achieve optimum results.
Spa Chakra offers the complete line of world-renowned Guerlain skincare, fragrance, beauty, and well-being treatments. Guerlain’s unique and in-depth understanding of the skin is based on long-acknowledged expertise, groundbreaking technology, and the absolute mastery of skin aesthetics. Spa Chakra also features the exclusive Guerlain Méthode–a patented facial and body massage technique used in Guerlain’s Champs-Elysées Institute since 1939 and proven to provide exceptional results through enhanced product infusion and lymphatic drainage.
The ideal wellness continuum, Spa Chakra Fitness offers a uniquely intimate and peacefully invigorating environment to hotel guests and members alike. The club features conditioning and strength-training equipment, Life Fitness® multisensorial cardiovascular machines, Personal Training, the Kinetic Analysis, Nutrition Consultations, and a distinctive warm-up area for stretching and toning. Spa Chakra Fitness also hosts complimentary wellness classes, including yoga and Pilates, for guests and members beneath the skies from the rooftop of the Conrad Miami.
With an emphasis on customization and integration, Spa Chakra Fitness extends a comprehensive array of Membership Programs to suit every unique requirement. Members can personalize their program amenities with a selection of Personal Training, spa therapies, and Chakra Health and nutrition services to create an advanced plan that is individual, dynamic, and distinctive. Corporate memberships are also available.
Additionally, spa and fitness guests and members enjoy complimentary valet parking and access to the hotel’s magnificent rooftop swimming pool, Jacuzzi, and two beautifully manicured tennis courts.
The premier luxury hotel in South Florida, the Conrad Miami combines the ultimate in hotel service and the latest technological advancements. Together Spa Chakra and the Conrad Miami create a haven of beauty, intimacy, and exclusivity.
Spa Finder
Spa Chakra, Inc., a worldwide luxury spa network, is proud to announce its latest development in the Conrad Miami, the leading luxury hotel located in the financial district of downtown Miami.
As part of the new venture, Conrad Miami has expanded its spa facility on the 24th floor to encompass additional treatment rooms and services exclusive to Spa Chakra, a product of the hotel’s $700,000 renovation.
Renowned on the international spa circuit, Spa Chakra launched in 1998 as one of the pioneers of fully integrative medi-spas in Australia. By combining preventative health management with luxury spa therapies, Spa Chakra has quickly established global recognition as a premium urban and destination spa retreat.
Spa Chakra is situated one floor below the hotel’s dramatic Level 25, where a symphony of International flavors and style elevate the senses, as spectacular views of city and Biscayne Bay unfold below. The luxuriously appointed spa features 10 individual treatment rooms with the finest therapeutic equipment for facial, massage, and body therapies, as well as hydrotherapy and Vichy shower facilities, and Spa Chakra’s state-of-the-art footbath and relaxation lounges.
While enjoying the tranquility of the spa’s facilities, clients undergo a systematic analysis to customize their therapies. Each treatment is individually tailored according to the results of a pre-therapy questionnaire. The results reveal core conditions currently impacting the client’s skin, body, and well-being so that targeted therapeutic solutions can be refined to achieve optimum results.
Spa Chakra offers the complete line of world-renowned Guerlain skincare, fragrance, beauty, and well-being treatments. Guerlain’s unique and in-depth understanding of the skin is based on long-acknowledged expertise, groundbreaking technology, and the absolute mastery of skin aesthetics. Spa Chakra also features the exclusive Guerlain Méthode–a patented facial and body massage technique used in Guerlain’s Champs-Elysées Institute since 1939 and proven to provide exceptional results through enhanced product infusion and lymphatic drainage.
The ideal wellness continuum, Spa Chakra Fitness offers a uniquely intimate and peacefully invigorating environment to hotel guests and members alike. The club features conditioning and strength-training equipment, Life Fitness® multisensorial cardiovascular machines, Personal Training, the Kinetic Analysis, Nutrition Consultations, and a distinctive warm-up area for stretching and toning. Spa Chakra Fitness also hosts complimentary wellness classes, including yoga and Pilates, for guests and members beneath the skies from the rooftop of the Conrad Miami.
With an emphasis on customization and integration, Spa Chakra Fitness extends a comprehensive array of Membership Programs to suit every unique requirement. Members can personalize their program amenities with a selection of Personal Training, spa therapies, and Chakra Health and nutrition services to create an advanced plan that is individual, dynamic, and distinctive. Corporate memberships are also available.
Additionally, spa and fitness guests and members enjoy complimentary valet parking and access to the hotel’s magnificent rooftop swimming pool, Jacuzzi, and two beautifully manicured tennis courts.
The premier luxury hotel in South Florida, the Conrad Miami combines the ultimate in hotel service and the latest technological advancements. Together Spa Chakra and the Conrad Miami create a haven of beauty, intimacy, and exclusivity.
Spa Finder
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Prefect Spa gift - a Spa gift cards or Spa Gift Certificate
What could be better than giving or receiving a spa gift that’s always perfect? A Spa Gift Card gives both the recipient and the gift giver complete flexibility and convenience. Simply purchase an online spa gift cards for any value and at SpaWish or your preferred Spa and the person you give it to can spend that amount however they like to.
With a Spa gift certificate, you can give them exactly what they want: The flexibility to choose their own Spa gift service or retail products. What could be better then the gift of relaxation.
Why try to guess what your family and friends want most? You know they need time to distress and relax and focus on themselves. Give the perfect gift that everyone will appreciate. A gift certificate also allows the recipient to plan their spa day when it is convenient for them. If you are not sure which spa they would prefer, give them a choice with a Spa Wish Gift Certificate. Perhaps someone you know could use a makeover or a little pampering.
With the love affair people have with credit cards, a gift card or gift certificate of any denomination is sure to be appreciated. It can also fit nicely inside a greeting card, and some spas will even place the gift card in a small elegant box and wrap it with a ribbon.
Spa Gift Card
With a Spa gift certificate, you can give them exactly what they want: The flexibility to choose their own Spa gift service or retail products. What could be better then the gift of relaxation.
Why try to guess what your family and friends want most? You know they need time to distress and relax and focus on themselves. Give the perfect gift that everyone will appreciate. A gift certificate also allows the recipient to plan their spa day when it is convenient for them. If you are not sure which spa they would prefer, give them a choice with a Spa Wish Gift Certificate. Perhaps someone you know could use a makeover or a little pampering.
With the love affair people have with credit cards, a gift card or gift certificate of any denomination is sure to be appreciated. It can also fit nicely inside a greeting card, and some spas will even place the gift card in a small elegant box and wrap it with a ribbon.
Spa Gift Card
Friday, November 23, 2007
Parent & Child Savings - Canyon Ranch
May 1, 2007 - Oct 15, 2007TucsonWhen a parent and child age 14 or older share an accommodation, one pays full package rate with package services included, and the other enjoys great savings with a stay of four or more nights. The first child saves 25 percent off the nightly rate and receives a $110 allowance toward services. Additional children save 50 percent on the nightly rate and receive a $110 allowance toward services.
At Canyon Ranch, families stay together, play together and save together.
Share the Ranch800-742-9000
This special may not be combined or used in conjunction with any other promotions or membership stays, is subject to change without notice and is based on space availability. Specialty Weeks excluded.
Spa Deal Finder
At Canyon Ranch, families stay together, play together and save together.
Share the Ranch800-742-9000
This special may not be combined or used in conjunction with any other promotions or membership stays, is subject to change without notice and is based on space availability. Specialty Weeks excluded.
Spa Deal Finder
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Squaw Valley Women’s Clinics Combine Skiing and Spa
Squaw Valley, CA - Squaw Valley introduced the first women’s-specific ski clinics in the mid 1970s, and the concept of women’s specific instruction continues to thrive today at ski areas across the world.
For the 2007-08 ski season Squaw Valley’s Just for Women Clinics will for the first time offer the “Sapphire Package,” an après ski spa treatment and winemaker event option that adds a contemporary twist to the original all-women ski clinic. Over the past thirty years, instruction and techniques for women have evolved and today’s clinics are designed to address the specific challenges that women face in skiing with nationally ranked instructors.
Each three-day clinic features women specific coaching, stretching and body awareness techniques, video feedback, off-slope workshops in ski selection and equipment care, and evening socials. Prices start at $719 for the three-day Just for Women’s Clinic (includes instruction and program activities, lift tickets, lunch and videotaping). One-day clinics for ladies are also available for $199. New this year, all clinics offer a “Sapphire Package” option that includes a relaxing après ski spa treatment and a Friday night winemaker event at Uncorked Wine Bar.
This 2007-08 ski season, Just for Women Clinic dates are: January 4, 2008; January 11-13, 2008; January 18, 2008; January 23-25, 2008 (Ages 50+); February 8-10, 2008; February 15, 2008; February 29- March 2, 2008 (expert only); and March 14-16, 2008.
Book your Just for Women Clinic through Squaw Valley Central Reservations and receive a special discount on your lodging at the four-diamond Squaw Valley Lodge with ski in/out access and mountain views. Choose between a deluxe studio or larger accommodations with full kitchens and gas fireplaces. The Lodge is centrally located for easy access to Ski School, wine tasting and spa visits. To book the package call Squaw Valley Central Reservations at 866-891-8541 and mention that you’re calling for the Just for Women Lodging Special. To take advantage of the best offer, book your package by October 31.
Day Spa Finder
For the 2007-08 ski season Squaw Valley’s Just for Women Clinics will for the first time offer the “Sapphire Package,” an après ski spa treatment and winemaker event option that adds a contemporary twist to the original all-women ski clinic. Over the past thirty years, instruction and techniques for women have evolved and today’s clinics are designed to address the specific challenges that women face in skiing with nationally ranked instructors.
Each three-day clinic features women specific coaching, stretching and body awareness techniques, video feedback, off-slope workshops in ski selection and equipment care, and evening socials. Prices start at $719 for the three-day Just for Women’s Clinic (includes instruction and program activities, lift tickets, lunch and videotaping). One-day clinics for ladies are also available for $199. New this year, all clinics offer a “Sapphire Package” option that includes a relaxing après ski spa treatment and a Friday night winemaker event at Uncorked Wine Bar.
This 2007-08 ski season, Just for Women Clinic dates are: January 4, 2008; January 11-13, 2008; January 18, 2008; January 23-25, 2008 (Ages 50+); February 8-10, 2008; February 15, 2008; February 29- March 2, 2008 (expert only); and March 14-16, 2008.
Book your Just for Women Clinic through Squaw Valley Central Reservations and receive a special discount on your lodging at the four-diamond Squaw Valley Lodge with ski in/out access and mountain views. Choose between a deluxe studio or larger accommodations with full kitchens and gas fireplaces. The Lodge is centrally located for easy access to Ski School, wine tasting and spa visits. To book the package call Squaw Valley Central Reservations at 866-891-8541 and mention that you’re calling for the Just for Women Lodging Special. To take advantage of the best offer, book your package by October 31.
Day Spa Finder
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Acupuncture May Help Couples Trying To Conceive
A high tech South Florida fertility clinic is teaming-up with the ancient arts of acupuncture and massage.
The goal is to combine the therapies and help couples having trouble conceiving, bring home babies.
Sue McIntosh and her husband have waited two years to conceive a child and tried a number of treatments, including Invitro Fertilization.
“I’ve had three goes on Invitro Fertilization and the first two were unsuccessful. Then, I found out about acupuncture and Dr. Zoll and I came here and now I’m pregnant. So, it’s all fantastic,” says Sue.
Sue began acupuncture and massage four- months-ago at her doctor’s suggestion.
Dr. David Hoffman, says, “Now how does it work? That’s a good question. Maybe it relaxes the people. We know that it releases endorphins…that are the body’s natural release and there are studies that show it increases blood flow to the ovaries and the uterus.”
Dr. Hoffman sent Sue, who is 38-years old.. to Dr. Stuart Zoll, an acupuncturist who has specialized in fertility issues for 30-years. New studies confirm…the ancient oriental technique can be effective.
Dr. Stuart Zoll, says, “A lot of these women who have gotten older, may have a success rate of about 26-percent with Invitro Fertilization. The acupuncture group has at least a 50-percent higher pregnancy rate.”
While acupuncture and massage can be used in conjunction with Invitro Fertilization; Some couples opt to try just acupuncture first.
Pamela and Robert Ross went to a specialist after about a year of trying to conceive without success and says, “He suggested that we try acupuncture to assist in the natural way or to make Invitro Fertilization, if we have to go that route, more successful.”
Dr. Zoll is treating both Pamela and Robert.
“Okay this is the massage that is from the Mayan people and it is an external massage of the lower abdomen.”
Dr. Zoll says if a couple chooses massage and acupuncture to enhance fertility…they should also seek a reproductive endocrinologist to rule out other problems.
“Because you really need to communicate with Invitro Fertilization doctors, with reproductive endocrinologists. You need to be able to speak to them with their language, their terminology,” says Dr. Zoll.
The combined techniques may be effective, but they can also be costly.
Dr. David Hoffman, says, “A lot of insurance does cover alternative modalities, like acupuncture, deep tissue massage, but a lot don’t. A lot don’t cover Invitro Fertilization either. So, a lot of this is out of pocket and it’s expensive.”
Between the expense, the testing, the drugs, the uncertainty…It’s no wonder infertile couples feel stressed and it’s no wonder, that these stress relieving techniques yield results.
Robert Ross says “I Practically fall asleep every time we’re here because it helps me relax and get past the stresses and stuff. And stress is a big factor in having children.”
The average cost of each Invitro Fertilization procedure runs around 15-thousand dollars. Acupuncture and massage for fertility purposes averages around 100-dollars per session.
Spa Gift Certificates
The goal is to combine the therapies and help couples having trouble conceiving, bring home babies.
Sue McIntosh and her husband have waited two years to conceive a child and tried a number of treatments, including Invitro Fertilization.
“I’ve had three goes on Invitro Fertilization and the first two were unsuccessful. Then, I found out about acupuncture and Dr. Zoll and I came here and now I’m pregnant. So, it’s all fantastic,” says Sue.
Sue began acupuncture and massage four- months-ago at her doctor’s suggestion.
Dr. David Hoffman, says, “Now how does it work? That’s a good question. Maybe it relaxes the people. We know that it releases endorphins…that are the body’s natural release and there are studies that show it increases blood flow to the ovaries and the uterus.”
Dr. Hoffman sent Sue, who is 38-years old.. to Dr. Stuart Zoll, an acupuncturist who has specialized in fertility issues for 30-years. New studies confirm…the ancient oriental technique can be effective.
Dr. Stuart Zoll, says, “A lot of these women who have gotten older, may have a success rate of about 26-percent with Invitro Fertilization. The acupuncture group has at least a 50-percent higher pregnancy rate.”
While acupuncture and massage can be used in conjunction with Invitro Fertilization; Some couples opt to try just acupuncture first.
Pamela and Robert Ross went to a specialist after about a year of trying to conceive without success and says, “He suggested that we try acupuncture to assist in the natural way or to make Invitro Fertilization, if we have to go that route, more successful.”
Dr. Zoll is treating both Pamela and Robert.
“Okay this is the massage that is from the Mayan people and it is an external massage of the lower abdomen.”
Dr. Zoll says if a couple chooses massage and acupuncture to enhance fertility…they should also seek a reproductive endocrinologist to rule out other problems.
“Because you really need to communicate with Invitro Fertilization doctors, with reproductive endocrinologists. You need to be able to speak to them with their language, their terminology,” says Dr. Zoll.
The combined techniques may be effective, but they can also be costly.
Dr. David Hoffman, says, “A lot of insurance does cover alternative modalities, like acupuncture, deep tissue massage, but a lot don’t. A lot don’t cover Invitro Fertilization either. So, a lot of this is out of pocket and it’s expensive.”
Between the expense, the testing, the drugs, the uncertainty…It’s no wonder infertile couples feel stressed and it’s no wonder, that these stress relieving techniques yield results.
Robert Ross says “I Practically fall asleep every time we’re here because it helps me relax and get past the stresses and stuff. And stress is a big factor in having children.”
The average cost of each Invitro Fertilization procedure runs around 15-thousand dollars. Acupuncture and massage for fertility purposes averages around 100-dollars per session.
Spa Gift Certificates
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Facelift, Botox, or Both? Depends Upon Your Decade of Life
One facelift or Botox(R)injection does not fit all when it comes to looking younger. In fact, plastic surgeons analyze facial features and configurations to individualize results based on the decade of life a patient is in, say presenters today at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2007 conference in Baltimore.
“The composition of the human face varies person to person. As we age and enter certain decades of life, these variations become more distinct,” said Malcolm Paul, MD, ASPS Member Surgeon and panel presenter. “Different facial configurations require different surgical and non-surgical approaches to achieve optimal results in facial rejuvenation. The decade of life one is in has tremendous impact on whether surgery, injectable wrinkle fillers or a combination delivers the best results.”
Patients in their 30s, who have had limited sun exposure, often show signs of aging first in their eyes and temple area with crow’s feet and some bulging of the eyelid. With minimal loss of volume at this point,fillers or Botox often smooth out the unsightly lines that people dread quickly and easily.
As patients enter their 40s, the midface begins to shift as the cheeks lose fat and laugh lines set in. Much like a balloon losing air, the cheeks become deflated toward the late 40s and the jowls begin to sag. To help restore their youthful appearance, patients can expect a combination of fillers as well as minimal lifting procedures such as a mid-face or short-scar lift.
By the mid-50s, the skin has relaxed and requires the most attention around the neck. In addition, the skin around the face usually has fallen and repositioned itself, needing a more extensive combination of afacelift, fillers or implants to rejuvenate the face.
In the 60s and 70s, individuals often battle hollowness from losing a large quantity of facial fat and having a sizeable amount of hanging skin. Facelifts during these decades often replace some of the volume but also remove excess skin to present a smoother, fuller face.
Although the appropriate procedural approach can often be determined by age, personalizing a procedure requires plastic surgeons to analyze a patient’s individual facial configuration and bone structure also — including eye shape, cheek width and face length.
“By basing the cosmetic approach on one’s decade of life, personal degree of facial aging, and bone structure, patients can look 10 to 20 years younger without appearing like they’ve had surgery,” said RodRohrich, ASPS past- president and course presenter. “That’s the hallmark of good plastic surgery.”
More than 104,000 facelifts, 53,000 forehead lifts, and 233,000 eyelid surgeries were performed in 2006, according to ASPS statistics. In addition, 5.3 million non-surgical procedures involving injectable wrinkle fighters were performed.
Spas Finder
“The composition of the human face varies person to person. As we age and enter certain decades of life, these variations become more distinct,” said Malcolm Paul, MD, ASPS Member Surgeon and panel presenter. “Different facial configurations require different surgical and non-surgical approaches to achieve optimal results in facial rejuvenation. The decade of life one is in has tremendous impact on whether surgery, injectable wrinkle fillers or a combination delivers the best results.”
Patients in their 30s, who have had limited sun exposure, often show signs of aging first in their eyes and temple area with crow’s feet and some bulging of the eyelid. With minimal loss of volume at this point,fillers or Botox often smooth out the unsightly lines that people dread quickly and easily.
As patients enter their 40s, the midface begins to shift as the cheeks lose fat and laugh lines set in. Much like a balloon losing air, the cheeks become deflated toward the late 40s and the jowls begin to sag. To help restore their youthful appearance, patients can expect a combination of fillers as well as minimal lifting procedures such as a mid-face or short-scar lift.
By the mid-50s, the skin has relaxed and requires the most attention around the neck. In addition, the skin around the face usually has fallen and repositioned itself, needing a more extensive combination of afacelift, fillers or implants to rejuvenate the face.
In the 60s and 70s, individuals often battle hollowness from losing a large quantity of facial fat and having a sizeable amount of hanging skin. Facelifts during these decades often replace some of the volume but also remove excess skin to present a smoother, fuller face.
Although the appropriate procedural approach can often be determined by age, personalizing a procedure requires plastic surgeons to analyze a patient’s individual facial configuration and bone structure also — including eye shape, cheek width and face length.
“By basing the cosmetic approach on one’s decade of life, personal degree of facial aging, and bone structure, patients can look 10 to 20 years younger without appearing like they’ve had surgery,” said RodRohrich, ASPS past- president and course presenter. “That’s the hallmark of good plastic surgery.”
More than 104,000 facelifts, 53,000 forehead lifts, and 233,000 eyelid surgeries were performed in 2006, according to ASPS statistics. In addition, 5.3 million non-surgical procedures involving injectable wrinkle fighters were performed.
Spas Finder
Monday, November 19, 2007
The Gift of Massage
I received a fabulous gift recently: a gift certificate for a one-hour massage. I have spent the better part of my summer driving, driving, driving, and my upper back feels like it is full of marbles. Add to that my long hours of running to prepare for an upcoming race and I feel strung tight, top and bottom!
Touch is very beneficial and one of the oldest therapies known to man.
Consider what you do when a child has been injured. After treating the obvious wound, you hug and rub the same with upset tummies and wounded feelings. While touch is human, massage borderlines on divine.
Today’s massage therapists are trained, licensed professionals and their skills can be an effective treatment, remedy or complement to a wide variety of ailments.
Because muscles in the head, neck and shoulders tend to tighten up when stressed, causing the dreaded tension headache, massage can be a remedy and a preventive measure. I’m hoping to get my appointment to deconstruct my driving tension before the headaches begin.
Massage therapy increases blood flow to the capillaries, small arteries, veins and lymphatic vessels, bringing nutrients and removing waste material. This is a real boon to the regular exerciser. Massage also can prevent the micro-tears associated with exercise from becoming scar tissue that reduces range of motion and increases the chance of injury.
And then there is the pamper factor. Let’s face it. Having someone do nothing but pay attention to your needs for an hour feels pretty good. A great massage therapist will chat if you want to chat, or leave you in blissful silence. The real pros will sense when what they are is a little too intense and back off a bit. But every therapist should at least ask, “Is this amount of pressure good?” Wouldn’t it be great if your boss asked that!
Is massage expensive? It depends on your values. I value my health. I treat my body better than my car. I can always repair my car or purchase a new one. My body, on the other hand, is very expensive to “fix” and getting a new one isn’t an option. I will happily pay a professional for routine maintenance.
You won’t have to take off a stitch of clothing and, most likely, you will find yourself adding “gift certificate for a massage” to your next holiday wish list.
Day Spa Locator
Touch is very beneficial and one of the oldest therapies known to man.
Consider what you do when a child has been injured. After treating the obvious wound, you hug and rub the same with upset tummies and wounded feelings. While touch is human, massage borderlines on divine.
Today’s massage therapists are trained, licensed professionals and their skills can be an effective treatment, remedy or complement to a wide variety of ailments.
Because muscles in the head, neck and shoulders tend to tighten up when stressed, causing the dreaded tension headache, massage can be a remedy and a preventive measure. I’m hoping to get my appointment to deconstruct my driving tension before the headaches begin.
Massage therapy increases blood flow to the capillaries, small arteries, veins and lymphatic vessels, bringing nutrients and removing waste material. This is a real boon to the regular exerciser. Massage also can prevent the micro-tears associated with exercise from becoming scar tissue that reduces range of motion and increases the chance of injury.
And then there is the pamper factor. Let’s face it. Having someone do nothing but pay attention to your needs for an hour feels pretty good. A great massage therapist will chat if you want to chat, or leave you in blissful silence. The real pros will sense when what they are is a little too intense and back off a bit. But every therapist should at least ask, “Is this amount of pressure good?” Wouldn’t it be great if your boss asked that!
Is massage expensive? It depends on your values. I value my health. I treat my body better than my car. I can always repair my car or purchase a new one. My body, on the other hand, is very expensive to “fix” and getting a new one isn’t an option. I will happily pay a professional for routine maintenance.
You won’t have to take off a stitch of clothing and, most likely, you will find yourself adding “gift certificate for a massage” to your next holiday wish list.
Day Spa Locator
Sunday, November 18, 2007
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Miami
Awakening journeys combine treatments from all over the world at a deluxe spa on Miami’s waterfront
Fifteen thousand square feet of luxury, offering restorative treatments based upon the ancient traditions of Chinese, Ayurvedic, European, Balinese and Thai cultures. The spa is renowned for the Kundalini Journey, an innovative treatment exclusive to Mandarin Oriental, Miami; it combines stone therapy, advanced massage techniques and aromatherapy, to achieve a greater level of physical and mental relaxation.
The spacious room was candle lit with dim blue surround lighting and had steps that led up to a bath area. Fuchsia Orchid petals adorned the floor and soft Tibetan music filled the atmosphere.
Located on the island of Brickell Key, the spa has 17 private treatment rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the ocean. Its design embraces Asian culture with stylish touches including bamboo flooring, calming water features, granite tiles, mixed pebbles and untreated exotic woods. The steam room soothes with its infusion of scented energizing oils, while the subtle lighting throughout the spa provides an overwhelming sense of serenity.
EXPERIENCE The term Kundalini comes from Yogic philosophy and refers to energy that lies dormant at the base of the spine. This treatment is designed to help awaken the Kundalini and allow energy to flow through the entire body.
Before my treatment began, the therapist showed me a plate of semi-precious stones and asked me to pick three according to what most appealed to my senses. Using a blend of aromatic Frangipani, Jasmine and Mandarin essential oils she continued with a soothing, medium-pressured massageThis was followed by light stretching of the muscles and a combination of Thai and Shiatsu massage.
Soft Asian tunes were played to assist in relaxing my mind, body and spirit. Towards the end of the treatment the music was brought to life when the therapist gently sounded a Tibetan bowl and hovered it over my body.
She then went on to explain the meaning of the stones I had picked at the beginning of the treatment. I chose a quartz crystal, a carnelian and a citrine. The quartz crystal represented a need to let go and know everything will be taken care of; the Carnelian reflected openness to new things and creativity, and the Citrine, my knowledge of self worth. Overall, she said I was very well balanced.
At the end of every Kundalini Journey the client is presented with a gift. I was given an onyx necklace to help me stay balanced and to remind me of my awakening moment.
Regular celebrity guests include, Will and Jada Smith, Michael Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Penelope Cruz and Prince.
WALLET WATCH The Kundalini Journey lasts two hours and costs $340. Other Journeys start from $290. Private and couples suites can be booked, starting from $190.
Spa Gift Certificate
Fifteen thousand square feet of luxury, offering restorative treatments based upon the ancient traditions of Chinese, Ayurvedic, European, Balinese and Thai cultures. The spa is renowned for the Kundalini Journey, an innovative treatment exclusive to Mandarin Oriental, Miami; it combines stone therapy, advanced massage techniques and aromatherapy, to achieve a greater level of physical and mental relaxation.
The spacious room was candle lit with dim blue surround lighting and had steps that led up to a bath area. Fuchsia Orchid petals adorned the floor and soft Tibetan music filled the atmosphere.
Located on the island of Brickell Key, the spa has 17 private treatment rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the ocean. Its design embraces Asian culture with stylish touches including bamboo flooring, calming water features, granite tiles, mixed pebbles and untreated exotic woods. The steam room soothes with its infusion of scented energizing oils, while the subtle lighting throughout the spa provides an overwhelming sense of serenity.
EXPERIENCE The term Kundalini comes from Yogic philosophy and refers to energy that lies dormant at the base of the spine. This treatment is designed to help awaken the Kundalini and allow energy to flow through the entire body.
Before my treatment began, the therapist showed me a plate of semi-precious stones and asked me to pick three according to what most appealed to my senses. Using a blend of aromatic Frangipani, Jasmine and Mandarin essential oils she continued with a soothing, medium-pressured massageThis was followed by light stretching of the muscles and a combination of Thai and Shiatsu massage.
Soft Asian tunes were played to assist in relaxing my mind, body and spirit. Towards the end of the treatment the music was brought to life when the therapist gently sounded a Tibetan bowl and hovered it over my body.
She then went on to explain the meaning of the stones I had picked at the beginning of the treatment. I chose a quartz crystal, a carnelian and a citrine. The quartz crystal represented a need to let go and know everything will be taken care of; the Carnelian reflected openness to new things and creativity, and the Citrine, my knowledge of self worth. Overall, she said I was very well balanced.
At the end of every Kundalini Journey the client is presented with a gift. I was given an onyx necklace to help me stay balanced and to remind me of my awakening moment.
Regular celebrity guests include, Will and Jada Smith, Michael Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Penelope Cruz and Prince.
WALLET WATCH The Kundalini Journey lasts two hours and costs $340. Other Journeys start from $290. Private and couples suites can be booked, starting from $190.
Spa Gift Certificate
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Five New York Spas
Five of the Manhattan’s best spas
Fog or rain? You choose in the amethyst crystal steam room at the Mandarin Oriental spa in New York
Manhattan therapists are incredibly well informed about their trade and customer service is their primary concern. They are usually accommodating to your every need, constantly checking whether the music is too loud or too soft, if the room temperature is comfortable and they wouldn’t dream of leaving you alone when you’re cocooned in a heat-based wrap in case you feel claustrophobic.
They use words like “pore congestion”, “pore extraction” and “smart vitamins”.
A re-hydrating facial is the best tonic after a long-haul flight and facials, which locals take very seriously, are the most popular treatment in New York.
Best view - MANDARIN ORIENTAL80 Columbus Circle at 60th Street, New York 10023
You’ll want for nothing at the Mandarin Oriental Spa, and if you do you’ll get it instantly. A destination spa in the middle of a city where the only thing absent are real live geishas.
WALLET WATCH The Vitamin Infusion Facial 1 hour 20 minutes – $320. Time Rituals can be booked in blocks of time as opposed to specific treatments starting at $450 for 1 hour and 50 minutes. An Executive Suite costs $2,400.Best rooftop pool - COWSHED SPASoho House Hotel is open to the public, but The Cowshed Spa is only open to hotel guests and members. Cowshed Spa at Soho House, 29 9th Avenue, New York 10014
Cool treatments for both sexes in a retro-modern spa at a members’ club in the Meatpacking District with a roof-top swimming pool and restaurant overlooking the West Village and Hudson River.
WALLET WATCH My Cowshed massage lasted 60 minutes for $125; a speedy 30-minute facial costs $75; a Cowshed body wrap using sea salt and a choice of wraps, including spicy warming honey and mango wrap, costs $160 for 75 minutes. The 90-minute Cowgroom including a foot scrub and forehead pressure-point massage costs $300.
Best day spa - BLISS SOHO568 Broadway 2nd Floor, NYC NY 10012
The first of the renowned spa chain and skincare brand, Bliss SoHo succeeds in offering super-effective services in a fun, “no attitude” atmosphere.
WALLET WATCH The Fully Loaded Facial is 1hr 40min and cost $195. The Bliss Basic Facial is 1hr and costs. The Love Handler treatment tackles the spare tyre and cellulite with a vacuum-assisted massage and adipose-assaulting essential oils.Best for Bling - LA PRAIRIE AT RITZ CARLTON50 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019
The ultimate in cosmetic bling - a facial infused with 24-carat gold developed by Swiss skincare company La Prairie – the perfect antidote to a hard day’s shopping in New York. This Central Park hotel exudes classic opulence and its spa is as elegant as its townhouse home.
WALLET WATCH Pure Gold Radiance Facial and Caviar Firming Facial $275 – 90 minutes. Refining Microdermabrasion Facial $275 – 60 minutes.Best bar spa - G SPA AT HOTEL GANSEVOORT18 Ninth Ave between Gansevoort St and 13th St.
A red-glossed basement den with treatment rooms that transform from a spa by day into private club alcoves by night with flat-screen televisions and resident DJs.
WALLET WATCH The Double Happiness Reflexology Treatment costs $75 ;Pillow Talk Massage $400. Cheaper standard treatments including the aptly named bikini waxing options of “Go”, “Going” or “Gone” – from $35 to $85.
Spa Finder
Fog or rain? You choose in the amethyst crystal steam room at the Mandarin Oriental spa in New York
Manhattan therapists are incredibly well informed about their trade and customer service is their primary concern. They are usually accommodating to your every need, constantly checking whether the music is too loud or too soft, if the room temperature is comfortable and they wouldn’t dream of leaving you alone when you’re cocooned in a heat-based wrap in case you feel claustrophobic.
They use words like “pore congestion”, “pore extraction” and “smart vitamins”.
A re-hydrating facial is the best tonic after a long-haul flight and facials, which locals take very seriously, are the most popular treatment in New York.
Best view - MANDARIN ORIENTAL80 Columbus Circle at 60th Street, New York 10023
You’ll want for nothing at the Mandarin Oriental Spa, and if you do you’ll get it instantly. A destination spa in the middle of a city where the only thing absent are real live geishas.
WALLET WATCH The Vitamin Infusion Facial 1 hour 20 minutes – $320. Time Rituals can be booked in blocks of time as opposed to specific treatments starting at $450 for 1 hour and 50 minutes. An Executive Suite costs $2,400.Best rooftop pool - COWSHED SPASoho House Hotel is open to the public, but The Cowshed Spa is only open to hotel guests and members. Cowshed Spa at Soho House, 29 9th Avenue, New York 10014
Cool treatments for both sexes in a retro-modern spa at a members’ club in the Meatpacking District with a roof-top swimming pool and restaurant overlooking the West Village and Hudson River.
WALLET WATCH My Cowshed massage lasted 60 minutes for $125; a speedy 30-minute facial costs $75; a Cowshed body wrap using sea salt and a choice of wraps, including spicy warming honey and mango wrap, costs $160 for 75 minutes. The 90-minute Cowgroom including a foot scrub and forehead pressure-point massage costs $300.
Best day spa - BLISS SOHO568 Broadway 2nd Floor, NYC NY 10012
The first of the renowned spa chain and skincare brand, Bliss SoHo succeeds in offering super-effective services in a fun, “no attitude” atmosphere.
WALLET WATCH The Fully Loaded Facial is 1hr 40min and cost $195. The Bliss Basic Facial is 1hr and costs. The Love Handler treatment tackles the spare tyre and cellulite with a vacuum-assisted massage and adipose-assaulting essential oils.Best for Bling - LA PRAIRIE AT RITZ CARLTON50 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019
The ultimate in cosmetic bling - a facial infused with 24-carat gold developed by Swiss skincare company La Prairie – the perfect antidote to a hard day’s shopping in New York. This Central Park hotel exudes classic opulence and its spa is as elegant as its townhouse home.
WALLET WATCH Pure Gold Radiance Facial and Caviar Firming Facial $275 – 90 minutes. Refining Microdermabrasion Facial $275 – 60 minutes.Best bar spa - G SPA AT HOTEL GANSEVOORT18 Ninth Ave between Gansevoort St and 13th St.
A red-glossed basement den with treatment rooms that transform from a spa by day into private club alcoves by night with flat-screen televisions and resident DJs.
WALLET WATCH The Double Happiness Reflexology Treatment costs $75 ;Pillow Talk Massage $400. Cheaper standard treatments including the aptly named bikini waxing options of “Go”, “Going” or “Gone” – from $35 to $85.
Spa Finder
Top 3 Tips to be Beautiful Inside & Out!
Do we really need to spend a great amount of on products or artificial enhancements to make ourselves beautiful? A positive attitude, a sound mind and body, and a positive well-being are the top three assets that will help you glow from within. Here are the top 3 tips on how you can be beautiful inside out:
1. Explore yourself! Know who you are and be comfortable with yourself. The way that you feel about yourself will reflect on the outside especially on your facial expression.. If you are feeling stressed and annoyed, it will be shown on your facial expression no matter how much makeup you put on or how well you dress.
2. You are unique! Be confident and embrace your uniqueness. Beauty is simply a matter of perception. This vitality comes from their inner confidence. You need to focus on your good points and make an effort to bring out the best of who and what you are.
3. Reward yourself – you deserve it! Pamper yourself, eat well and take good care of yourself. Good health is essential to further enhance your inner beauty. Looking pale and unhealthy that comes from bad eating habits and not spending enough time exercising will not benefit you. Remember that eating healthy does not include starving yourself.
Pamper your self from time to time as a reward for all of the hard work that you do. By following these tips, you are on your way to be truly beautiful - both inside and out!
Spas Finder
1. Explore yourself! Know who you are and be comfortable with yourself. The way that you feel about yourself will reflect on the outside especially on your facial expression.. If you are feeling stressed and annoyed, it will be shown on your facial expression no matter how much makeup you put on or how well you dress.
2. You are unique! Be confident and embrace your uniqueness. Beauty is simply a matter of perception. This vitality comes from their inner confidence. You need to focus on your good points and make an effort to bring out the best of who and what you are.
3. Reward yourself – you deserve it! Pamper yourself, eat well and take good care of yourself. Good health is essential to further enhance your inner beauty. Looking pale and unhealthy that comes from bad eating habits and not spending enough time exercising will not benefit you. Remember that eating healthy does not include starving yourself.
Pamper your self from time to time as a reward for all of the hard work that you do. By following these tips, you are on your way to be truly beautiful - both inside and out!
Spas Finder
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Top 10 Hotel Spas The Americas & Caribbean
Here is the list:
Provided By The Best Spa Finder
- COMO Shambhala Retreat at Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos
- Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, British West Indies
- The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, New York, USA
- The Spa at Sandy Lane, Barbados
- The Blue Spa at Carlisle Bay, Antigua
- The Spa, Four Seasons Resort Whistler, Canada
- The Spa at Little Dix Bay, Virgin Gorda
- The Spa, Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Los Angeles, USA
- One & Only Spa at One & Only Palmilla, Los Cabos, Mexico
- The Spa, Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Jamaic
Provided By The Best Spa Finder
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Lipodissolve
The obvious difference between liposuction and lipodissolve is that the former is a surgical procedure; the latter, which involves a series of injections, is not. Plastic surgeons who do both say people who want just a bit of body contouring are lipodissolve candidates, while those who want to lose bigger fat deposits probably need liposuction. “Lipodissolve is inches, not pounds,” says Rockville, Md., plastic surgeon Roger Friedman. “Liposuction is pounds, not inches.” Recovery is quicker after lipodissolve, Friedman says. Lipodissolve proponents say it is safer than liposuction because it eliminates surgical risks. They say that fat cells eradicated by lipodissolve migrate to the liver and then are excreted naturally. But skeptics note a lack of studies about lipodissolve’s safety. “I’ve always said to my husband that for my 50th birthday, I want two things,” Promisloff, 49, says. “I want long-term care insurance, and I want a tummy tuck.”
Her husband can cross off tummy tuck. Promisloff now wears low-slung jeans to show off her newly flat stomach. Yet a scalpel never touched her abdomen. Promisloff swears by an increasingly popular and controversial treatment called lipodissolve, touted as a non-surgical alternative to liposuction.
The American Society of Non-surgical Aesthetics, a trade group, estimates that 50,000 to 100,000 lipodissolve treatments have been performed in the USA and Europe. That’s nothing compared with the 300,000 liposuction procedures performed last year in the USA, but the lipodissolve group predicts its U.S. market will grow to 500,000 a year.
Lipodissolve practitioners inject small amounts of a chemical found in lecithin — better known as a food ingredient derived from soybeans — into pesky protrusions of pudge, aka love handles, muffin tops and bra rolls.
Kansas moves to ban procedure
Promisloff, of Rockville, Md., says she did her homework before signing up in January at one of two Washington, D.C.-area MedSculpt centers. “The FDA thing didn’t bother me at all,” says Promisloff, who works in marketing and advertising sales. “They’ve been doing it in Europe for however long. There have been no cases of death or sickness or anything that would have dissuaded me.” She says she spent $2,500 to $3,000 on four treatment sessions and plans more, this time for her flabby flanks.
Another satisfied customer, Jodi Kusick, 62, says “it kind of bothered me that it had been going on in other countries, but the FDA doesn’t approve it yet.” Still, Kusick, of Safford, Ariz., has periodically been making seven-hour round trips to Scottsdale for lipodissolve shots in her abdomen at Fig (for figure), one of a chain of centers based in St. Louis.
In a few days, lipodissolve might not be in Kansas anymore, except in clinical trials. On Aug. 18, the State Board of Healing Arts, which regulates Kansas doctors, became the nation’s first to ban marketing and sales of lipodissolve, which was to go into effect this Friday. The Physicians Coalition for Injectable Safety, formed by three plastic surgery groups, supports the move.
Fig sought a temporary injunction, but the court did not reach a decision at a hearing Monday, says Mark Stafford, general counsel of the healing arts board.
The Kansas board has received complaints from lipodissolve patients of pain, nausea, diarrhea, elevated liver enzymes and lumps at the injection site, Stafford says. He acknowledges it’s impossible to tell whether the side effects stemmed from the shots.
The non-surgical aesthetics group says lipodissolve isn’t a drug but a treatment, and treatments aren’t FDA-regulated. And, proponents note, compounding pharmacists, who don’t need FDA approval, make lipodissolve.
The FDA disagrees. “These are unapproved drugs for unapproved uses,” spokeswoman Karen Riley said in an e-mail, noting the FDA is “investigating and evaluating” lipodissolve.
Yet, Kythera Biopharmaceuticals of Calabasas, Calif., recently announced that it is conducting clinical trials to win FDA approval for an injectable to trim double chins. And the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation just received FDA permission to conduct a 20-patient trial comparing lipodissolve with placebo shots.
“While this does sound almost too good to be true,” says Great Neck, N.Y., plastic surgeon Alan Gold, foundation president and president-elect of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, “hopefully this turns out to be something that is safe and effective for our patients.”
Spa Gift Certificate Directory
Monday, October 1, 2007
Man-icure, anyone?
The spa experience is no longer just a woman's world There was a time when the spa was a woman's escape. Not anymore: Today's man manicures, too. "The spa experience is really not seen as a frou-frou place of pampering anymore," said Lynne McNees, president of the International Spa Association. "It's seen as a place to go to take care of yourself and to really focus on a healthier lifestyle." According to the ISPA, men make up 31 percent of all spa-goers, up from 24 percent in 2002. And while massage (particularly sports massage) is still the No. 1 men's treatment, McNees said facials, pedicures and manicures aren't far behind. Men are just as concerned about looking good as women are." Indeed, the kempt man has come a long way since a sinister Christian Bale in "American Psycho" made it appear as if only psychotic men used moisturizer.
And considering that a (naturally) suntanned face is no longer considered "healthy," and copious amounts of chest hair lost mass appeal around, say, 1979, it's no wonder more and more men are flocking to spas and salons for facials and "manscaping" (slang for body-hair trimming). "If the man is going to expect the woman to look good, why shouldn't the woman expect the man to look good?" asked Vic Sosikian, owner of the Mark Matthew Fine Gentlemen's Grooming Club in Studio City, an upscale barber shop that offers massage, facials and other spa services for men. "Men's grooming is something that we should have been doing all along." But since men-only spas are still the exception, many facilities that have long been popular with women are creating separate menus to appeal to a man's sensibilities and to quell any potential spa timidity. Some spas even offer men's below-the-belt waxing, an arguable final frontier when it comes to making the men's spa experience on par with its female-oriented counterpart. "We do what men demand," Sosikian said, adding that the more "complicated" waxing can cost upward of $75. "Some guys just want their arm hair trimmed. To be honest, what other spa does that?" Honestly? Not many. Spas for Just for men in California
Spavelous Spa Finder
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Barton Inn Hotel & Spa is In Business
The Barton Inn Hotel and Spa on the Niagara River has opened for business — partly, at least — but it has come with a cost.
The initial $5 million construction estimate has doubled, the owners said, and rumors and cancellations have marred the inn’s long anticipated debut.
Ed and Diane Finkbeiner have worked every day for the last two years, often as long as 20 hours a day, to get to the point where the village has allowed the bottom two floors to open for business.
The Finkbeiners own Barton Hill, an 1815-style mansion they’ve completely renovated atop the hill that overlooks the Niagara River. They also bought vacant property behind their house at Center and First streets to “protect their investment,” then started planning how they could develop that land, too.
This past year, they also bought the historic Trafford Mansion, a two-story abandoned restaurant across the street, which they have renovated into a full-service spa. The spa also is open, complete with a hair and coloring salon and aromatherapy, massage, pedicure and manicure services.
The enthusiasm the couple has brought to the project has been a mixed blessing for village leaders, most of whom praise the project for bringing more panache to an already
classy village, but who also have heard complaints from some residents who believe that the Finkbeiners have been allowed to slide on village codes and occupancy rules.
The inn’s large rooms have crown molding, fireplaces, flat screen televisions, bathrooms with marble or ornate tile showers (whirlpool rooms are not ready yet) and even fancy iPod radio/alarm clocks that play nature sounds. Hard wood floors and antique fixtures are part of the design. An underground parking garage and a swimming pool remain under construction.
Quality takes time, Diane Finkbeiner said. She said the hotel came out the way the couple wanted, but called the process “evolutionary.”
Giusiana and Diane Finkbeiner said building codes were followed completely and both said it was common to do a project of this size in stages, noting that the Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel opened in phases in Niagara Falls.
New general manager Jeffrey Demin comes from an upscale ranch resort in Arizona. He said his wife is from Youngstown and they are looking forward to living in the community. He has only been on the job a week and a half. “The great part about Lewiston is that we look out for each other,” he added. “We are concerned and want to do things right, but that has also made it difficult.”
The Finkbeiners are offering a guided tour to anyone interested in seeing the hotel.
Full Article
Spavelous Spa Finder
Monday, September 24, 2007
Man-icure, anyone?
The spa experience is no longer just a woman's world.
There was a time when the spa was a woman's escape. Not anymore: Today's man manicures, too.
"The spa experience is really not seen as a frou-frou place of pampering anymore," said Lynne McNees, president of the International Spa Association. "It's seen as a place to go to take care of yourself and to really focus on a healthier lifestyle."
According to the ISPA, men make up 31 percent of all spa-goers, up from 24 percent in 2002.
And while massage (particularly sports massage) is still the No. 1 men's treatment, McNees said facials, pedicures and manicures aren't far behind.
"Men are just as concerned about looking good as women are."
Indeed, the kempt man has come a long way since a sinister Christian Bale in "American Psycho" made it appear as if only psychotic men used moisturizer.
And considering that a (naturally) suntanned face is no longer considered "healthy," and copious amounts of chest hair lost mass appeal around, say, 1979, it's no wonder more and more men are flocking to spas and salons for facials and "manscaping" (slang for body-hair trimming).
"If the man is going to expect the woman to look good, why shouldn't the woman expect the man to look good?" asked Vic Sosikian, owner of the Mark Matthew Fine Gentlemen's Grooming Club in Studio City, an upscale barber shop that offers massage, facials and other spa services for men. "Men's grooming is something that we should have been doing all along."
But since men-only spas are still the exception, many facilities that have long been popular with women are creating separate menus to appeal to a man's sensibilities and to quell any potential spa timidity.
Some spas even offer men's below-the-belt waxing, an arguable final frontier when it comes to making the men's spa experience on par with its female-oriented counterpart.
"We do what men demand," Sosikian said, adding that the more "complicated" waxing can cost upward of $75. "Some guys just want their arm hair trimmed. To be honest, what other spa does that?"
Honestly? Not many.
Spas for Just for men in California
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There was a time when the spa was a woman's escape. Not anymore: Today's man manicures, too.
"The spa experience is really not seen as a frou-frou place of pampering anymore," said Lynne McNees, president of the International Spa Association. "It's seen as a place to go to take care of yourself and to really focus on a healthier lifestyle."
According to the ISPA, men make up 31 percent of all spa-goers, up from 24 percent in 2002.
And while massage (particularly sports massage) is still the No. 1 men's treatment, McNees said facials, pedicures and manicures aren't far behind.
"Men are just as concerned about looking good as women are."
Indeed, the kempt man has come a long way since a sinister Christian Bale in "American Psycho" made it appear as if only psychotic men used moisturizer.
And considering that a (naturally) suntanned face is no longer considered "healthy," and copious amounts of chest hair lost mass appeal around, say, 1979, it's no wonder more and more men are flocking to spas and salons for facials and "manscaping" (slang for body-hair trimming).
"If the man is going to expect the woman to look good, why shouldn't the woman expect the man to look good?" asked Vic Sosikian, owner of the Mark Matthew Fine Gentlemen's Grooming Club in Studio City, an upscale barber shop that offers massage, facials and other spa services for men. "Men's grooming is something that we should have been doing all along."
But since men-only spas are still the exception, many facilities that have long been popular with women are creating separate menus to appeal to a man's sensibilities and to quell any potential spa timidity.
Some spas even offer men's below-the-belt waxing, an arguable final frontier when it comes to making the men's spa experience on par with its female-oriented counterpart.
"We do what men demand," Sosikian said, adding that the more "complicated" waxing can cost upward of $75. "Some guys just want their arm hair trimmed. To be honest, what other spa does that?"
Honestly? Not many.
Spas for Just for men in California
Full Article
Spavelous Spa Finder
Spa, Winery Find New Use for Grape Extracts: Vinotherapy
The Chaddsford Winery in Chadds Ford and Body Restoration in Philadelphia have joined together to create what they believe is the region's first vinotherapy program.
I thought this would be more interesting and fun, tying wines with a spa treatment.
Vinotherapy is believed to have originated at spas in the wine-making region of Bordeaux, France, in 1999. Spa operators there developed a skin-care therapy that relies on the antioxidants found in the grape seeds discarded at the end of the grape harvest to soothe the skin and slow the aging process.
The products used by spas are derived from grape seeds, grape seed extracts, husks, grape seed oil and vine leaf extracts -- all of which have a high concentration of antioxidant compounds known as polyphenols.
Solomon got the idea to bring the treatment to her spa in Center City after reading a newspaper article about vinotherapy in France. Her research identified only one spa along the East Coast, a facility in Manhattan, offering vinotherapy.
Lee Miller, who owns the Chaddsford Winery in Chester County with her husband Eric, said Solomon approached her more than a year ago with the idea for a partnership.
Solomon, took the grape extracts she collected from different types of wine, dehydrating them and grounding them into an exfoliating substance -- ultimately developing a proprietary "crushed Chianti scrub" from the Chaddsford Winery's 2006 harvest.
In addition to the crushed Chianti scrub, Body Restoration has developed other body and skin treatments that rely on grapes from Chaddsford Winery's vineyards, including the Crepe Pinto Noir wrap, "a warm shaken blend of Chaddsford Pinot Noir, wine yeast, honey and essential oils drizzled over the back and limbs to moisturize."
Under the partnership, Body Restoration receives all the vinotherapy treatment revenues, while agreeing to purchase Chaddsford winery products to include in gift baskets for spa customers buying select packages.
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Spavelous Spa Index
I thought this would be more interesting and fun, tying wines with a spa treatment.
Vinotherapy is believed to have originated at spas in the wine-making region of Bordeaux, France, in 1999. Spa operators there developed a skin-care therapy that relies on the antioxidants found in the grape seeds discarded at the end of the grape harvest to soothe the skin and slow the aging process.
The products used by spas are derived from grape seeds, grape seed extracts, husks, grape seed oil and vine leaf extracts -- all of which have a high concentration of antioxidant compounds known as polyphenols.
Solomon got the idea to bring the treatment to her spa in Center City after reading a newspaper article about vinotherapy in France. Her research identified only one spa along the East Coast, a facility in Manhattan, offering vinotherapy.
Lee Miller, who owns the Chaddsford Winery in Chester County with her husband Eric, said Solomon approached her more than a year ago with the idea for a partnership.
Solomon, took the grape extracts she collected from different types of wine, dehydrating them and grounding them into an exfoliating substance -- ultimately developing a proprietary "crushed Chianti scrub" from the Chaddsford Winery's 2006 harvest.
In addition to the crushed Chianti scrub, Body Restoration has developed other body and skin treatments that rely on grapes from Chaddsford Winery's vineyards, including the Crepe Pinto Noir wrap, "a warm shaken blend of Chaddsford Pinot Noir, wine yeast, honey and essential oils drizzled over the back and limbs to moisturize."
Under the partnership, Body Restoration receives all the vinotherapy treatment revenues, while agreeing to purchase Chaddsford winery products to include in gift baskets for spa customers buying select packages.
Full Article
Spavelous Spa Index
Spavelous Information on Vinotherapies
G Spa Lounge at the Hotel Gansevoort in New York
The Gansevoort's spa may be located in the basement, but there's nothing dingy about this retreat tucked beneath the hotel in Manhattan's bustling meatpacking district.
Spa goers come for the signature "Hit the Spot" massage (a combination of acupressure, deep-tissue and Swedish massage) or the Mehta facial, which claims to reduce wrinkles and under-eye bags and puffiness -- a great way to get ready for an evening out on the town. And you won't have to go far to find a party, since the spa transforms into an uber-cool bar and lounge at night.
Treatment rooms turn into private cabanas (with a steep three bottle minimum), while the spa's infinity-edge soaking pools are covered with Plexiglas and transformed into shimmering dance floors. But good luck getting in; G spa only accommodates 75 people and young celebrities like Jessica Simpson and Jamie Lynn Sigler get first dibs.
Spavelous Spa Index
Spa goers come for the signature "Hit the Spot" massage (a combination of acupressure, deep-tissue and Swedish massage) or the Mehta facial, which claims to reduce wrinkles and under-eye bags and puffiness -- a great way to get ready for an evening out on the town. And you won't have to go far to find a party, since the spa transforms into an uber-cool bar and lounge at night.
Treatment rooms turn into private cabanas (with a steep three bottle minimum), while the spa's infinity-edge soaking pools are covered with Plexiglas and transformed into shimmering dance floors. But good luck getting in; G spa only accommodates 75 people and young celebrities like Jessica Simpson and Jamie Lynn Sigler get first dibs.
Spavelous Spa Index
Massage Therapists Announce the 4 Most Common Conditions They Treat
Elements therapeutic massage, provider of massage therapy services, released today four of the most common conditions treated on a regular basis. Since 2006, an Elements has been providing massage therapy in a retail setting.
1. Headaches - Many people suffer from headaches daily.
2. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) - Often people believe they have CTS, when actually they have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome or tightness in the pronator teres muscle in the forearm.
3. Plantar Fasciitis - When a client complains of foot or heel pain, the cause could be plantar fasciitis.
4. Prenatal/Pregnancy Massage - The benefits of prenatal massage are numerous.
As more physicians, chiropractors and other allied health care providers start to promote this age-old natural healing method, a massage may be exactly what the doctor ordered.
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1. Headaches - Many people suffer from headaches daily.
2. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) - Often people believe they have CTS, when actually they have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome or tightness in the pronator teres muscle in the forearm.
3. Plantar Fasciitis - When a client complains of foot or heel pain, the cause could be plantar fasciitis.
4. Prenatal/Pregnancy Massage - The benefits of prenatal massage are numerous.
As more physicians, chiropractors and other allied health care providers start to promote this age-old natural healing method, a massage may be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Full Article
Spavelous Spa Finder
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
According to a new nationwide government survey, 36 percent of U.S. adults aged 18 years and over use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
The survey, administered to over 31,000 representative U.S. adults, was conducted as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2002 National Health Interview Survey. Developed by NCCAM and the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, the survey included questions on 27 types of CAM therapies, including acupuncture and chiropractic, and herbs or botanical products, special diets, and megavitamin therapy.
CAM approaches were most often used to treat back pain or problems, colds, neck pain or problems, joint pain or stiffness, and anxiety or depression. According to the survey, the 10 most commonly used CAM therapies and the approximate percent of U.S. adults using each therapy were:
* Prayer for own health, 43 percent
* Prayer by others for the respondent's health, 24 percent
* Natural products (such as herbs, other botanicals and enzymes), 19 percent
* Deep breathing exercises, 12 percent
* Participation in prayer group for own health, 10 percent
* Meditation, 8 percent
* Chiropractic care, 8 percent
* Yoga, 5 percent
* Massage, 5 percent
* Diet-based therapies, 4 percent.
In addition the survey also found that:
* 55 percent of adults said they were most likely to use CAM because they believed that it would help them when combined with conventional medical treatments
* 55 percent of adults said they were most likely to use CAM because they believed that it would help them when combined with conventional medical treatments
* 50 percent thought CAM would be interesting to try
* 26 percent used CAM because a conventional medical professional suggested they try it
* 13 percent used CAM because they felt that conventional medicine was too expensive.
Interestingly, the survey also found that about 28 percent of adults used CAM because they believed conventional medical treatments would not help them with their health problem.
- Source: The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a component of the National Institutes of Health
Spavelous Spa Index
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Feel Pudgy? There’s A Shot For That
Anti-fat injections are one of the most hotly debated procedures in cosmetic medicine because they are spreading faster than the science behind them. Unlike mesotherapy, a process that entails superficially injecting vitamins and other substances into the skin, lipodissolve involves deeper injections of a compound drug that is supposed to break down cells in the fatty layer under skin.
But the Food and Drug Administration has not approved any drug to be used cosmetically in anti-fat injections. Neither the drug formula used in lipodissolve nor the method of treatment is standardized. And researchers disagree whether the shots eliminate fat cells, or merely liquefy fat so that it shifts around in the body, raising the possibility of long-term consequences such as the aggravation of heart disease.
Ms. Calzada went to a medical office in St. Louis, then called the Advanced LipoDissolve Center, which specializes in the injections. She was so pleased with the results that she spread the word to at least 50 friends and acquaintances, she said.
In an effort to collect some hard data, Dr. V. Leroy Young, a plastic surgeon here, said he had just received permission from the F.D.A. to conduct a small clinical study of one of the drug mixtures. In Kansas, the board of medicine last month tried to ban injections of the same drug compound after receiving complaints from consumers, but a judge last week stayed the restrictions after a petition from lipodissolve providers.
“These are unapproved drugs for unapproved uses and we can’t guarantee consumers’ safety,” said Karen Riley, an F.D.A. spokeswoman.
But the agency does permit doctors on an individual-patient basis to prescribe a compounded drug, formulated with ingredients from approved drugs and made by a licensed compounding pharmacy. That is how providers of lipodissolve obtain their mixtures.
Doctors said anti-fat shots often contain a compound of approved drug ingredients known as PCDC, which includes a phospholipid called phosphatidylcholine and a bile acid called deoxycholate. A drug containing PCDC called Lipostabil is approved in Germany as an intravenous medication to treat blood vessels blocked by fat embolisms. In Britain, where the drug is not licensed, it has been marketed for cosmetic anti-fat injections under the name Flabjab.
Now Fig., whose motto is “dissolve to your beautiful shape,” has 15 centers across seven states. In the last two years, Fig. offices have performed more than 100,000 lipodissolve treatments, said Chris Dornfeld, the company’s chief development officer.
Fig. has now expanded its services, but lipodissolve remains its most popular procedure, he said. Treatments typically cost $2,000 per body part and require a series of six injection sessions, spaced two weeks apart. Women most frequently request treatment on their abdomens and thighs while men choose love handles and jaw lines. A typical client signs up for two or three body parts.
Doctors and nurse practitioners who administer the treatments advise clients that the shots can cause stinging, swelling, redness and bumps and that the inflammation indicates the medication is working.
Rob Semaan, the chief executive of Fig., said that lipodissolve is safe, and that doctors, who have performed the procedure worldwide, had not reported any deaths or other serious consequences.
And yet, in an effort to warn consumers in 2005, the British health authority reported that it had received complaints about side effects.
Last year, when Dr. Young, the plastic surgeon, was considering offering the shots at his office, he asked an instructor at a lipodissolve course to inject his right flank. Thirty minutes later, he felt like he had been stung by 50 bees and his skin turned black, he said. “It looked like I had been hit with a garden hose,”
A plastic surgeon in his office named Dr. C. B. Boswell, and their nurse, Holly Foelsch, also injected each other with PCDC. Dr. Boswell said that his stomach became so enlarged that he looked six months pregnant. Ms. Foelsch said that her thighs became so swollen with liquid that she wore panty hose to keep them from jiggling.
All three reported that the side effects dissipated after two weeks but none of them experienced any cosmetic benefit
Dr. Caplin, the medical adviser to Fig., said serious side effects had not occurred from treatments at its centers. “Certain techniques that use higher volumes than we do can get massive swelling,” said Dr. Caplin, who added that the occasional patient at Fig. had experienced skin blistering.
Dr. Young’s practice decided not to offer the shots to patients. But now he is about to start a pilot study of lipodissolve on 10 volunteers who will have PCDC shots on one side of their abdomens and a placebo on the other.
Patients will also have M.R.I. scans to see if their fat mass changes and blood tests to see if liquefied fat impacts their cholesterol. Such a small study will not provide definitive data, Dr. Young said, but it should establish whether the procedure warrants further research.
“It would be good if this turns out to work, but if it doesn’t work and all these people are wasting their money, we need to say that too,” Dr. Young said.
“If they ban one drug, people will just start offering injections of a different drug cocktail,” Dr. Kunin said. “I would have liked to have seen a more comprehensive ban that outlawed the injection of any type of agent into the body that claims to reduce or eliminate fat.”
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Spavelous Spa Finder
But the Food and Drug Administration has not approved any drug to be used cosmetically in anti-fat injections. Neither the drug formula used in lipodissolve nor the method of treatment is standardized. And researchers disagree whether the shots eliminate fat cells, or merely liquefy fat so that it shifts around in the body, raising the possibility of long-term consequences such as the aggravation of heart disease.
Ms. Calzada went to a medical office in St. Louis, then called the Advanced LipoDissolve Center, which specializes in the injections. She was so pleased with the results that she spread the word to at least 50 friends and acquaintances, she said.
In an effort to collect some hard data, Dr. V. Leroy Young, a plastic surgeon here, said he had just received permission from the F.D.A. to conduct a small clinical study of one of the drug mixtures. In Kansas, the board of medicine last month tried to ban injections of the same drug compound after receiving complaints from consumers, but a judge last week stayed the restrictions after a petition from lipodissolve providers.
“These are unapproved drugs for unapproved uses and we can’t guarantee consumers’ safety,” said Karen Riley, an F.D.A. spokeswoman.
But the agency does permit doctors on an individual-patient basis to prescribe a compounded drug, formulated with ingredients from approved drugs and made by a licensed compounding pharmacy. That is how providers of lipodissolve obtain their mixtures.
Doctors said anti-fat shots often contain a compound of approved drug ingredients known as PCDC, which includes a phospholipid called phosphatidylcholine and a bile acid called deoxycholate. A drug containing PCDC called Lipostabil is approved in Germany as an intravenous medication to treat blood vessels blocked by fat embolisms. In Britain, where the drug is not licensed, it has been marketed for cosmetic anti-fat injections under the name Flabjab.
Now Fig., whose motto is “dissolve to your beautiful shape,” has 15 centers across seven states. In the last two years, Fig. offices have performed more than 100,000 lipodissolve treatments, said Chris Dornfeld, the company’s chief development officer.
Fig. has now expanded its services, but lipodissolve remains its most popular procedure, he said. Treatments typically cost $2,000 per body part and require a series of six injection sessions, spaced two weeks apart. Women most frequently request treatment on their abdomens and thighs while men choose love handles and jaw lines. A typical client signs up for two or three body parts.
Doctors and nurse practitioners who administer the treatments advise clients that the shots can cause stinging, swelling, redness and bumps and that the inflammation indicates the medication is working.
Rob Semaan, the chief executive of Fig., said that lipodissolve is safe, and that doctors, who have performed the procedure worldwide, had not reported any deaths or other serious consequences.
And yet, in an effort to warn consumers in 2005, the British health authority reported that it had received complaints about side effects.
Last year, when Dr. Young, the plastic surgeon, was considering offering the shots at his office, he asked an instructor at a lipodissolve course to inject his right flank. Thirty minutes later, he felt like he had been stung by 50 bees and his skin turned black, he said. “It looked like I had been hit with a garden hose,”
A plastic surgeon in his office named Dr. C. B. Boswell, and their nurse, Holly Foelsch, also injected each other with PCDC. Dr. Boswell said that his stomach became so enlarged that he looked six months pregnant. Ms. Foelsch said that her thighs became so swollen with liquid that she wore panty hose to keep them from jiggling.
All three reported that the side effects dissipated after two weeks but none of them experienced any cosmetic benefit
Dr. Caplin, the medical adviser to Fig., said serious side effects had not occurred from treatments at its centers. “Certain techniques that use higher volumes than we do can get massive swelling,” said Dr. Caplin, who added that the occasional patient at Fig. had experienced skin blistering.
Dr. Young’s practice decided not to offer the shots to patients. But now he is about to start a pilot study of lipodissolve on 10 volunteers who will have PCDC shots on one side of their abdomens and a placebo on the other.
Patients will also have M.R.I. scans to see if their fat mass changes and blood tests to see if liquefied fat impacts their cholesterol. Such a small study will not provide definitive data, Dr. Young said, but it should establish whether the procedure warrants further research.
“It would be good if this turns out to work, but if it doesn’t work and all these people are wasting their money, we need to say that too,” Dr. Young said.
“If they ban one drug, people will just start offering injections of a different drug cocktail,” Dr. Kunin said. “I would have liked to have seen a more comprehensive ban that outlawed the injection of any type of agent into the body that claims to reduce or eliminate fat.”
Full Article
Spavelous Spa Finder
Voda Spa Opens in West Hollywood
Recently open in early September, voda Spa (named after the Russian word for “water”) is West Hollywood’s newest luxurious day spa. Combining Russian, Asian and European traditions, voda offers signature facials, body scrubs, wraps and massages in their 10 different upscale treatment rooms.
The visual aesthetic of voda spa is a clean, modern and upscale design. LA architects Rick Abramson and Gregory Fischer of WORKPLAYS (www.workplays.com) created a contemporary, sleek design, while at the same time, remaining highly functional.
A spectacular waterwall welcomes you. The design utilizes contemporary palattes of glass, polished metals and natural woods to heighten the visitors experiences.
Voda Spa houses 4 saunas, including two banyas, which are traditional Russian saunas.
Taking part in the banya will include the use of heated river rocks, water, aromatic essential oils and the very essence of this Russian ritual, the platza. A rigorous massage, the platza is performed using venki, a bundle of oak or birch branches. Offered in a peaceful and luxurious environment, these centuries old Russian practices are renown for increasing circulation, exfoliating the skin and relaxing deep muscle tension. Performed by Voda’s very qualified masseuses, Michael Canvin among others, spa goers will enjoy a relaxing and reinvigorating experience.
Much like the facial and skincare treatments offered, this sauna focuses on stimulating your body’s natural ability to heal itself while it boosts your metabolic rate and detoxifies your skin.
In the impressively large space, Voda also houses a café as well as a V room, the spa’s full service bar and lounge. Offering a full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu, Voda features edibles prepared by Los Angeles Chef, Adel Chagar.
The visual aesthetic of voda spa is a clean, modern and upscale design. LA architects Rick Abramson and Gregory Fischer of WORKPLAYS (www.workplays.com) created a contemporary, sleek design, while at the same time, remaining highly functional.
A spectacular waterwall welcomes you. The design utilizes contemporary palattes of glass, polished metals and natural woods to heighten the visitors experiences.
Voda Spa houses 4 saunas, including two banyas, which are traditional Russian saunas.
Taking part in the banya will include the use of heated river rocks, water, aromatic essential oils and the very essence of this Russian ritual, the platza. A rigorous massage, the platza is performed using venki, a bundle of oak or birch branches. Offered in a peaceful and luxurious environment, these centuries old Russian practices are renown for increasing circulation, exfoliating the skin and relaxing deep muscle tension. Performed by Voda’s very qualified masseuses, Michael Canvin among others, spa goers will enjoy a relaxing and reinvigorating experience.
Much like the facial and skincare treatments offered, this sauna focuses on stimulating your body’s natural ability to heal itself while it boosts your metabolic rate and detoxifies your skin.
In the impressively large space, Voda also houses a café as well as a V room, the spa’s full service bar and lounge. Offering a full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu, Voda features edibles prepared by Los Angeles Chef, Adel Chagar.
Spavelous Day Spa Finder
Lakeside Leisure New Resort Lake Arrowhead
A new resort spa in Lake Arrowhead, CA, draws on the healing practices of the area's first settlers to offer a truly authentic and indigenous experience.
An ideal retreat for those looking to escape the fast-paced life of Los Angeles, Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa (Lake Arrowhead, CA), located just an hour-and-a-half away, recently introduced an 11,000-square-foot spa as part of the property's $17 million renovation.
A popular resort town, Lake Arrowhead has a long history of attracting visitors interested in hiking, biking, and water sports.
Giving guests the opportunity to recover from a day at play, the new spa also helps them transition into vacation mode.
Creating a warm and inviting setting, the Journey Suite features a fireplace and private outdoor patio.
According to spa director Maggie Wagner, the atmosphere of the 10-treatment room spa truly encourages relaxation. Inspired by the natural alpine setting, the interior incorporates the use of stones and water throughout and features natural colors, such as beige, muted red, and warm green shades.
In addition to a men's and a women's relaxation lounge, the spa also includes a couples' lounge with an outdoor patio.
"Here, I've noticed more so than at any other spas I've worked, guests spend a lot of time relaxing in the lounge areas and taking advantage of the steam room and Jacuzzi," says Wagner.
In addition to a couples' suite, the spa also features a Journey Suite, which includes a fireplace and private outdoor patio that overlooks the lake. The Journey Suite sets the scene for the spa's three Journey experiences ($800 per couple, 3 hours), which include The Journey of the Great White Eagle, A Journey to the Stars, and Your Personal Journey. Complete with butler-style service, each of the Journeys offer two hours of specialized treatments. Guests are then given time to relax in the luxe suite.
Treatments also rely on indigenous ingredients, such as sage and pine. For instance, the Wayta' Yawa,' "Always Believe" ($165, 80 minutes) is a full-body, all-natural clay and organic white-pine body treatment. Soaring Spirit ($90, 45 minutes) is a stimulating body treatment custom made from organic oats, salts, grapefruit pulp, and pure juniper berry oil. According to Wagner, the focus on ancient healing traditions and native plants gives the spa a sense of authenticity missing in many of today's spas.
Like many savvy spa-goers these days, Wagner believes in choosing organic whenever possible.
Spa of the Pines
With 30 full-time employees on staff, the spa is able to accommodate approximately 85 guests a day. There is still room to grow though, as the spa typically caters to about 75 guests on a busy day.
The spa also has an extensive yoga program and offers yoga memberships for $50 a month, which include unlimited classes and workshops.
Full Article
Resort Spa
An ideal retreat for those looking to escape the fast-paced life of Los Angeles, Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa (Lake Arrowhead, CA), located just an hour-and-a-half away, recently introduced an 11,000-square-foot spa as part of the property's $17 million renovation.
A popular resort town, Lake Arrowhead has a long history of attracting visitors interested in hiking, biking, and water sports.
Giving guests the opportunity to recover from a day at play, the new spa also helps them transition into vacation mode.
Creating a warm and inviting setting, the Journey Suite features a fireplace and private outdoor patio.
According to spa director Maggie Wagner, the atmosphere of the 10-treatment room spa truly encourages relaxation. Inspired by the natural alpine setting, the interior incorporates the use of stones and water throughout and features natural colors, such as beige, muted red, and warm green shades.
In addition to a men's and a women's relaxation lounge, the spa also includes a couples' lounge with an outdoor patio.
"Here, I've noticed more so than at any other spas I've worked, guests spend a lot of time relaxing in the lounge areas and taking advantage of the steam room and Jacuzzi," says Wagner.
In addition to a couples' suite, the spa also features a Journey Suite, which includes a fireplace and private outdoor patio that overlooks the lake. The Journey Suite sets the scene for the spa's three Journey experiences ($800 per couple, 3 hours), which include The Journey of the Great White Eagle, A Journey to the Stars, and Your Personal Journey. Complete with butler-style service, each of the Journeys offer two hours of specialized treatments. Guests are then given time to relax in the luxe suite.
Treatments also rely on indigenous ingredients, such as sage and pine. For instance, the Wayta' Yawa,' "Always Believe" ($165, 80 minutes) is a full-body, all-natural clay and organic white-pine body treatment. Soaring Spirit ($90, 45 minutes) is a stimulating body treatment custom made from organic oats, salts, grapefruit pulp, and pure juniper berry oil. According to Wagner, the focus on ancient healing traditions and native plants gives the spa a sense of authenticity missing in many of today's spas.
Like many savvy spa-goers these days, Wagner believes in choosing organic whenever possible.
Spa of the Pines
With 30 full-time employees on staff, the spa is able to accommodate approximately 85 guests a day. There is still room to grow though, as the spa typically caters to about 75 guests on a busy day.
The spa also has an extensive yoga program and offers yoga memberships for $50 a month, which include unlimited classes and workshops.
Full Article
Resort Spa
Spa Etiquette
If I'm going to a spa to get a sea scrub treatment, am I supposed to undress completely, or leave some clothes
You may want to take a look at the Spa Etiquette area of the Spavelous. As a first timer it will help you with what to expect. Scrubs are used to exfoliate dead dry skin, while private areas will always be covered during a massage or treatment with a sheet or bath towel, it is always up to the guest how much they would like to disrobe. As with all scrubs, what goes on must be taken off.
Most spas will have you shower the scrub product off, either in a shower or on a viche shower table. Therefore, if you desire to keep any clothing on I suggest you wear a 2 piece bathing suit. Wet underwear can be very uncomfortable.
Some spas may also provided you with disposable underwear. The choice of what to wear is always yours.
You may want to take a look at the Spa Etiquette area of the Spavelous. As a first timer it will help you with what to expect. Scrubs are used to exfoliate dead dry skin, while private areas will always be covered during a massage or treatment with a sheet or bath towel, it is always up to the guest how much they would like to disrobe. As with all scrubs, what goes on must be taken off.
Most spas will have you shower the scrub product off, either in a shower or on a viche shower table. Therefore, if you desire to keep any clothing on I suggest you wear a 2 piece bathing suit. Wet underwear can be very uncomfortable.
Some spas may also provided you with disposable underwear. The choice of what to wear is always yours.
Birmingham Welcome to Spa City
Birmingham: Welcome to Spa City.
Downtown Birmingham is the place to go next week for some true pampering, as the city celebrates the second annual "salon and spa" days,
Sept. 18-20, by offering haircuts and mini-facials for only $40 at participating salons."Birmingham is a great place to pick up on the latest trends in hair and skincare. This special value pricing is a terrific way to sample our fabulous salons and spas."With more than 30 salons and spas in the downtown area alone, Birmingham is a prime destination for those seeking beauty services or just to pamper themselves.Patrons are strongly encouraged to make an appointment in advance of the event.
Participating Birmingham salons and spas are:
· Antonino, (248) 258-5990.
· Avalon Salon & Spa, (248) 258-4966.
· Baci Salon & Spa, (248) 341-9000.
· Carol Lewis Day Spa, (248) 642-1570.
· Farrell Reis Hairdressers, (248) 646-1066.
· Figo, (248) 723-7990.
· Le Mirage Salon De Beaute, (248) 646-8383.
· Margot's Euro Day Spa, (248) 642-1064.
· Mary Glancz European Facials and Cosmetics, (248) 642-6787.
· Platinum The Salon (248) 594-9988.
· Red The Salon, (248) 203-1313.
· Revitalize Day Spa, (248) 530-4772.
· Sunsair Medical Aesthetic, (248) 341-3428.
· Thomas D. & Company, (248) 644-2257.
· Virtuoso, (248) 203-6888.
Full Article
Spavelous Spa Finder
Downtown Birmingham is the place to go next week for some true pampering, as the city celebrates the second annual "salon and spa" days,
Sept. 18-20, by offering haircuts and mini-facials for only $40 at participating salons."Birmingham is a great place to pick up on the latest trends in hair and skincare. This special value pricing is a terrific way to sample our fabulous salons and spas."With more than 30 salons and spas in the downtown area alone, Birmingham is a prime destination for those seeking beauty services or just to pamper themselves.Patrons are strongly encouraged to make an appointment in advance of the event.
Participating Birmingham salons and spas are:
· Antonino, (248) 258-5990.
· Avalon Salon & Spa, (248) 258-4966.
· Baci Salon & Spa, (248) 341-9000.
· Carol Lewis Day Spa, (248) 642-1570.
· Farrell Reis Hairdressers, (248) 646-1066.
· Figo, (248) 723-7990.
· Le Mirage Salon De Beaute, (248) 646-8383.
· Margot's Euro Day Spa, (248) 642-1064.
· Mary Glancz European Facials and Cosmetics, (248) 642-6787.
· Platinum The Salon (248) 594-9988.
· Red The Salon, (248) 203-1313.
· Revitalize Day Spa, (248) 530-4772.
· Sunsair Medical Aesthetic, (248) 341-3428.
· Thomas D. & Company, (248) 644-2257.
· Virtuoso, (248) 203-6888.
Full Article
Spavelous Spa Finder
Spouses of Deployed Treated to Spa Day
When married with children, any business trip taken by a spouse makes life more complicated and a vacation much-needed for the parent staying home — especially if that business trip is a tour of duty in Iraq.
This past Saturday, the spouses of deployed soldiers involved in the Hearts Apart program facilitated by Hanscom Air Force Base’s Airman and Family Readiness Center received vacation-like spa treatments at 1-on-1 Self Indulgence Spa in Concord.
“It’s just a way to get them out of the houses. There are other spouses who are with deployed soldiers. They know they are not alone,”
The program is available to families living both on and off the Hanscom base. It also extends its reach to other branches of services.
Anyone with a deployed spouse or loved one, said Gonsalzes, needs some form of assistance at one time or another.
“Fortunately, we have a pretty good support team,” he said, which helps members through emotionally difficult times.
According to Hanscom Chief of Media Relations Rhonda Siciliano, “The families here really benefit from the services they provide.”
Among other events, said Gonsalzes, Hearts Apart brings adults and children to the library and bowling alley, and organizes holiday parties and picnics.
This was the first year the group organized a mini-spa day.
The afternoon was a collaboration of the spa, the Rotary Club of Concord and Hanscom.
Over the course of the afternoon, nine women were treated to massages, pedicures, skin care treatments and a sauna inside the walls of the tranquil, serene spa.
“It’s like another world [inside the spa],” said Grace. “You step in there and you are transported. … I think they had a great time.”
Not only did the pampered women leave glowing, said spa owner Cindy McCullough, but the employees also reaped the benefits of the afternoon.
McCullough listened as women told her their stories of raising children on their own while their husbands are overseas. She also heard from a woman who had been deployed and has since returned, only to have her husband deployed.
‘We always enjoy doing spa parties,” said McCullough. “But this had so much more meaning.”
This past Saturday, the spouses of deployed soldiers involved in the Hearts Apart program facilitated by Hanscom Air Force Base’s Airman and Family Readiness Center received vacation-like spa treatments at 1-on-1 Self Indulgence Spa in Concord.
“It’s just a way to get them out of the houses. There are other spouses who are with deployed soldiers. They know they are not alone,”
The program is available to families living both on and off the Hanscom base. It also extends its reach to other branches of services.
Anyone with a deployed spouse or loved one, said Gonsalzes, needs some form of assistance at one time or another.
“Fortunately, we have a pretty good support team,” he said, which helps members through emotionally difficult times.
According to Hanscom Chief of Media Relations Rhonda Siciliano, “The families here really benefit from the services they provide.”
Among other events, said Gonsalzes, Hearts Apart brings adults and children to the library and bowling alley, and organizes holiday parties and picnics.
This was the first year the group organized a mini-spa day.
The afternoon was a collaboration of the spa, the Rotary Club of Concord and Hanscom.
Over the course of the afternoon, nine women were treated to massages, pedicures, skin care treatments and a sauna inside the walls of the tranquil, serene spa.
“It’s like another world [inside the spa],” said Grace. “You step in there and you are transported. … I think they had a great time.”
Not only did the pampered women leave glowing, said spa owner Cindy McCullough, but the employees also reaped the benefits of the afternoon.
McCullough listened as women told her their stories of raising children on their own while their husbands are overseas. She also heard from a woman who had been deployed and has since returned, only to have her husband deployed.
‘We always enjoy doing spa parties,” said McCullough. “But this had so much more meaning.”
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