Tips for Getting the Best Spa Experience

Anyone can schedule a massage or make an appointment to get a toenail touch-up. Coming away from every spa trip relaxed and ready to face the world requires a little preparation. Here are a few tips to help you master the pampering process.

* 1. Leave the kiddies at home. Most spas are considered an adult environment and do not permit children to tag along for spa services. When developing your spa budget, consider the cost of a babysitter. Some spas, such as Cloud 9 and Spa Royale, offer mini-services for kids. Contact each spa for age limits and the services they have available for kids.

* 2. Silence your cell phone. Just as you would at the movies or in church, don’t forget to turn off your cell phone; no one wants their massage-turned-nap interrupted by the outside world by your BlackBerry. Better yet, many spas recommend leaving the cell phone at home.

* 3. Arrive early. Getting into relaxation mode early can be important for every spa-goer, particularly first-timers. Showing up to your appointment ten minutes ahead of time gives you a chance to meet your therapist or spa technician, fill out paper work and get comfortable in a new environment. Being late, however, will often result in cancellation, although you’ll still be charged for the appointment. Check with each spa for its late arrival policies.

* 4. Give graciously. Many people are unsure of how to tip for most services, including after a massage or facial. Generally, spas recommend tipping 15-20 percent and can include the tip in your bill if requested. If your spa experience wasn’t everything you hoped for, note your personal preferences to the technician or therapist the next time you make a visit.

* 5. Wear comfortable, loose clothing. When getting ready for your spa time, dress in the spirit of the day: comfortably. Most spas will have you undress for a facial or massage and you’ll spend the rest of your time in a luxuriously fluffy robe. For facials, show up clean-faced or the spa can take off your makeup. If it’s your first time, make your appointment up to a week in advance of a big event to prepare for any unexpected skin reactions.

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At Peace Floatation Spa: Where ‘East Meets West’ in Floating Therapy At Peace Floatation Spa – with their television debut on Home and Lifestyle Television – is quickly gaining attention with their European-styled and famous Floatation therapy. Floatation Therapy consists of floating in 12-inches of body-tempered water, made incredibly dense with 800 pounds of toxin-extracting Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate). “The goal is to float away stress, aches, pains and toxins; giving the body a rejuvenated and deepened state of relaxation,” says At Peace Spa owner and former Texas Ranger first baseman, Pete O’Brien.

Research has proven that stress and inflammation can wreak havoc on our bodies and is often the preliminary symptom to many illnesses. The zero-gravity environment provides relief to all of the body’s intersystems, such as skeletal, muscular, circulatory, neurological and more. It’s such a deep relaxation because there are no pressure points. “In fact,” continues O’Brien, “it has been reported that a one-hour floatation experience is equivalent to four hours of restorative sleep, and similar to a 3-day fast for detoxification.”

The spa opened in the summer of 2008 as the only place in North Texas to experience floatation therapy. Its spa-like and tranquil environment enhances the mind/body relationship for individual healing, wellness and enhances overall performance. Everyone floats for different reasons: Some for chronic pain or stress management (arthritis, inflammation, fibromyalgia, etc.), others for speeding the recovery process due to surgery or injury, increasing visualization/creativity, meditation, jet lag, insomnia, reducing stress hormones, detoxification (especially when added to a massage), stimulating brain waves and so much more.

The introductory special is hard to pass up. Three one-hour floatation sessions for $120 to first time clients. A package including one hour of floatation followed by a one hour massage is also priced at a great value of $125. These make excellent choices for gift giving because it is such a new and rejuvenating experience, anyone would love it. A variety of membership packages are available that include free massages, friends/family passes and more.

At Peace Floatation Spa, The Fountains at Riverwalk, 1304 Glade Road, Suite #300, Colleyville, Texas 76034.

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Looking to put a little spring back into your step? As if times weren’t hard enough, that hour everyone lost last weekend because of daylight saving time has truly taken its toll on all of us. So why not feel reborn again this spring with a trip to The Spa at New York-New York?

Earlier this week, I reviewed one of the more intimate spas on the Strip and one of its blissful treatments, the Escape Stress Body Escape. For those who are dying to go back (or who still haven’t been), The Spa at New York-New York just announced four new spring treatments available for a limited time, now through April 30. Each treatment includes a free cherry blossom-scented candle guests can take home with them to try and help them escape when they can’t make it back out to the spa. After all, we all need to tighten our purse strings a bit in this economy, right?

For those desperate to get rid of those kinks in their back (and we know you have them!), the Cherry Blossom Massage is just what the doctor ordered. Indulge in your own customized massage with combined elements of Swedish relaxation and therapeutic deep tissue. The refreshing scent of cherry blossoms will accentuate the treatment. The Cherry Blossom Massage is available as a 25-minute service for $70, a 50-minute service for $125 and a 75-minute service for $185.

Or, if you’d rather help rejuvenate your skin this spring, be sure to check out the Cherry Blossom Body Treatment. The 50-minute service ($110) includes a full-body exfoliation with a Cherry Blossom scrub that’s designed to leave your skin feeling soft and smooth, followed by an application of Cherry Blossom lotion for a refreshed, hydrated feeling.

Hydrotherapy Soak at The Spa at New York-New YorkThere’s also the 50-minute Cherry Blossom Soak & Glow ($85) which lets guests relax in a luxurious Cherry Blossom-scented bath while experiencing a mini-facial. Your skin will be ready to glow by the time this heavenly treatment comes to an end! Although I haven’t tried the treatment personally, this one sounds too good to pass up!

Finally, for those who are literally looking to put some spring back into their step, the 50-minute Cherry Blossom Pedicure ($80) lets you enjoy all the classic elements of a pedicure paired with a Cherry Blossom foot and leg exfoliation, followed by a foot and leg massage using a yummy-smelling Cherry Blossom lotion. It’s just what your tired tootsies will be aching for after a long day of walking up and down the Vegas Strip–not to mention the treatment gives you an excuse to check out The Spa at New York-New York’s beautiful manicure/pedicure room.

No matter which spring treatment you end up choosing, remember to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment to enjoy The Spa at New York-New York’s private sauna and steam room. There is also a whirlpool in the men’s lounge and two private hydrotherapy soaks in the women’s lounge, which female guests can use even if they don’t book the Cherry Blossom Soak & Glow for an additional fee ($45 for 30 minutes).

The Spa at New York-New York is open daily from 6:30 a.m. until 7 p.m., with services beginning at 8 a.m. It is located on the third floor of the hotel near the Empire Elevator. Call 702-740-6955 for reservations or simply visit The Spa at New York-New York’s online reservation page.

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It’s pretty much a fact of life, “when you look good, you feel good,” and in today’s youth-conscious society most people want to look their best.
Cosmetic surgery has been helping people turn back time for decades, and in the battle against the clock it has a new ally in med spas.

Med spas offer noninvasive skin treatments that can be the bridge between tired-looking skin and surgery.

Claremont resident Lorraine Ricciardi had sun spots on her face, neck and chest. They didn’t bother her enough to have surgery, but was open to other options.

“I grew up in California and spent a lot of time in the sun,” said Ricciardi, a 50-year-old knock-out. “It’s not that I was unhappy, but I knew my skin could improve.”

Ricciardi, who owns the Claremont boutique, Too Blonde, noticed that a med spa had opened not far from her business and decided to check it out.

She discovered that gia Laser Aesthetic Center, founded by vascular surgeon Dr. Jeffery W. Kronson, offered various nonsurgical laser skin treatments.

Kronson, who’s been a staunch advocate of noninvasive enhancement procedures for years, opened the center because he wanted to offer an alternative to going under the knife.

“I’m all for surgery when it’s needed,” he said. “But there are people who are having face-lifts way too young – years, decades, before they needed them.”

Ricciardi was nervous, but decided to have laser skin treatments. She soon learned those fears were unfounded.

“It feels like little rubber bands lightly flicking you,” she said. “At first your face looks red, a little sunburned. After about two weeks my skin looked so much better. I don’t have to wear near as much make-up as I used to. I’m getting lots of compliments, people are always saying, `you look so good. What are you doing to your skin?”‘

Laser technology has an abundance of positives for clients such as being less expensive and noninvasive with no scaring or much recuperation time.

Dr. Subhas Gupta, the chief of plastic surgery at Loma Linda University Medical Center, believes in utilizing the technology of noninvasive treatments and jokes that he loses about 20 percent of his patients to such procedures.

“We have very clear parameters to evaluate an aging face that guides us to surgery,” Gupta said. “Everybody gets wrinkles, it’s all gravity and sun. Maybe you can avoid them if you hung upside down in the dark.”

He explained that wrinkles are mainly either paralytic – the kind that come and go like smile lines or crows feet – or static – the ones that are there all the time.

Plastic surgeons determine the severity of wrinkles by a scale of one to four created by Dr. Richard Glagau. Wrinkles should be at least 1.5 mm deep for any surgical procedure.

There are also varying degrees of face-lifts and through an evaluation it can be decided what can be improved, how much it will improve and how long recovery will take.

“About 25 percent of my patients walk in, have the procedure, walk out and go to work the next day,” he said. “About 50 percent take about a seven-day recovery time and 25 percent, mostly those over 65 take about two-to-three weeks to recover.”

The most important issue to Gupta is that all patients make an informed decision.

“Patients have to know their every option,” he said. “They need to have them presented clearly so they understand all the options, alternatives and risks.”

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MOUNT DORA – The historic Lakeside Inn is providing its guests with many new services, including bridal-party accommodations, yoga, health-conscious meals, diet coaching and spa treatments such as massages, facials and makeup artistry.

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Alternative Cancer Spa Treatments Show Promise

For most of us a cancer diagnosis conjures up images of sterile white hallways, doctors’ long faces, bouts of constant pain, and hours of uninterrupted bed rest. In the past “alternative” treatments for something as large and daunting as cancer were akin to voodoo practices, as varied and unpredictably bogus as going to a palm reader in a strip mall. Now a new practice of healing the cancer patient—not just the tumors—is gaining popularity, although it has been around for almost 25 years.

Bryomixol is an integrative treatment of cancer through a natural product line that is oftentimes used in conjunction with traditional Western methods in order to ensure the stability and well-being of the patient. Developed in Germany decades ago, the formula behind what is now Bryomixol has been used extensively throughout Germany as a natural preventative tool for cancer and other maladies.

The formula was transformed into Bryomixol in South America by Dr. Cesar E. Bertacchini, the current owner and president of the company that finds and manufactures the non-toxic substances that are distributed to his patients. Bertacchini has been treating patients in El Salvador for over twenty years with great success in quelling pain, boosting self-esteem, and calming nerves.

Dr. Fernando Basail, a board certified doctor practicing in the United States, left his full-time medical roots to join Dr. Bertacchini’s cause in El Salvador in order to help members of his own family fight cancer. Although the program takes place outside the United States, all of the equipment and techniques are completely modernized. The treatment is considered holistic but it does not abandon the safety procedures and structure found in conventional medicine.

The herbs and formulas mixed with mineral content are not to be confused with popular over-the-counter supplements. The Bryomixol treatment uses non-toxic and all-natural substances from all over the world in order to help the immune system fight off cancer cells. When cancer settles in your body it disables Natural Killer (NK) cells which are responsible for the fight from your immune system. The blend of natural components is put into the body to reactivate NK cells by re-stimulating the immune system. Essentially, Bryomixol is teaching the body to fight against the cancer by waking up its sleeping soldiers.

The program—as the staff calls it—is more than concentrated herbs. The most important part of the program is to learn about the patient as a whole. Healing with Bryomixol also takes place outside the hospital. Staff members and 24-hour assistants (if necessary) encourage trips to the ocean and outdoor activities like hiking the nearby volcano or merely just sitting outside to absorb the electromagnetic activity of the earth and taking in the serenity of the scenery.

Stressing the individuality of the treatment, the doctors consult with each patient to figure out the best course of action. Dr. Basail stresses that each person’s treatment is different because every person’s cancer is different. Affliction not only affects the body, but the mind and the soul as well. If the doctors are able to pin down just what the patient’s fears and emotions are at any stage of the disease, they are able to better exact the best path to walk them down.

Personal time is important for the specialists because they have all had someone close to them affected by cancer. Every day of the usual ten, the doctor sits with the patient for two and a half hours of treatments, instead of most doctors’ usual pattern of jumping from patient to patient as participating in a relay race.

The feel-better approach to medicine uses psychiatric consults as well as comfortable spa environments in order to calm the patient and get to the root of their emotional pain as well as physical pain. Similar to Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines, a treatment of all three components: mind, body, and soul is integral to its success. With close to an 80 percent success rate for patients being cancer-free for at least five years, Dr. Basail considers that incredible because most of the patients treated turn to Bryomixol because they have exhausted all other options.

Dr. Basail says that five countries in South America have already approved the process—which is comparable our Federal Drug Administration (FDA)—and Bryomixol is close to getting FDA approval in the United States. Although a treatment center in the United States may make people feel more at ease and be better financially, the El Salvador clinic seems to give people the feel of a vacation rather than a medical trip.

By “treating the patient not the tumor” Bryomixol prides itself on its personal treatment and respect. One patient, a young woman working as a nurse in America, recently went through breast cancer treatment and brought her husband and kids along with her to South America. After the “opportunity fell in my lap,” she continued to say the treatment center became another home throughout the ten-day program, “I met some of my best friends there. I’ve become part of their family and I call them my second family. The professionalism I experienced [in El Salvador] compared to what you get in the States doesn’t compare. I didn’t once feel like a number.”

It is important to remember that Bryomixol is an integrative process meaning that it can be used alongside the traditional radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery but it can also stand alone because of its miraculous way of using the body’s own immune system to heal itself.

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Champagne and caviar — take me away.

The sad state of the economy (bailouts! Ponzi schemes!!) might be precluding any big-ticket purchases right now (put that Bentley on ice for the time being), but luxurious spa treatments can be (make that SHOULD be) necessary indulgences — especially in these trying times. Many Chicago spas are upping their game with deluxe treatments, adding everything from champagne and caviar to 24-karat gold and gemstones to facials, massages and body services. Note to self: This is not your ordinary mani-pedi.

The opulent Spa at Trump in the Trump International Hotel & Tower features pleasurable treatments in plush surroundings (the property even has 53 spa guestrooms in case you’re too relaxed to go home after your “me time”). Here you’ll find a treasure trove of signature gemstone treatments. Choose from the following 90-minute massages: “Purifying Diamonds,” “Balancing Emeralds,” “Revitalizing Rubies” or “Calming Sapphires.” All therapies use gem-infused oils combined with rare floral and herbal essences and cost $300. You can also try the “Black Pearl Facial,” which uses crushed black pearls and oyster shell extracts to hydrate, firm and tone the skin (60 minutes, $185).

Diamond Microderm Facials

At the charming Cleise Brazilian Day Spa in Lincoln Park, two new facials have been added to the lineup of uber pampering treatments. The 75-minute “24K Golden Touch Facial” ($150) involves the application of 24-karat gold leaf to the skin (gold is said to lift, firm and tighten the epidermis). The hour-long “Caviar Facial” ($125) utilizes sea proteins to stimulate cell production and regenerate elasticity.

Wicker Park’s unique Ruby Room is a stylish sanctuary, offering numerous healing therapies, yoga classes, salon services and inventive spa treatments. (There are also B&B-style guestrooms available here.) For a rejuvenating experience, try the “Crystalssage” massage ($100-$150), which focuses on treating a tired body and spirit with “organic essential oils, signature energy cleansing rituals and powerful crystals from the world’s most sacred places.”

The Four Seasons Chicago Spa and Fitness Club is certainly no slouch in the decadence department. The services here use several high-end products, such as caviar and pearl proteins in its “Perles de Caviar” facial ($140-$190), champagne in a paraffin wrap for hands and feet (which includes a caviar canape and a glass of bubbly to enjoy during the service, $60-$90) and rose petals in a posh soak and wrap ($60-$90).

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Recessionistas listen up — the economic challenges are not an excuse to let your stress build up while the care of your skin, nail and mental health goes down. There are plenty of deals to go around at spas with 17-year spa and wellness industry experience  Mindy Terry has done the digging so that you can savor the relaxation.

“People need the spa experience now more than ever and the slow economic times present great opportunities for spa lovers,” said Terry. “As consumers become increasingly discerning about how to spend their discretionary dollars, businesses are looking for ways to enhance the value of the spa experience, while rewarding and incentivizing their loyal customers. It’s a great time to score a deal on relaxation!”

With current projects spanning the globe from Egypt to Washington, D.C., Terry’s globetrotting lessons will help you stretch your dollar at the spa:

– Capitalize on Slow Times — look for the best deals between Monday and Thursday when business levels are lowest.

– Buy Local — your small day spas and nail salons are great for manicures and pedicures, and while you probably won’t lounge around in a robe and slippers while sipping tea, you’ll still leave with great looking nails.

– Massaging Massage Costs — there are cost-effective ways to find the perfect rub. With locations throughout the United States, Massage Envy offers a membership program where you can receive a massage every month, build them up or even transfer them. No frills here, but if you are worried about your checkbook, it is a great alternative.

– Bundles of Joy — many day spas offer price breaks on treatment “bundles.” For example, buy 10 massages, get one free, or buy three services or more in a day and receive 10-15 percent off.

– Education on Wheels — when staying in urban hotels, Terry likes to hop in a cab and ask the driver where to find the best spas. She has been pleasantly surprised with the recommendations, particularly those found in New York, Chicago, Barbados and Lima, Peru. And, for those resort and hotel travelers who don’t mind missing out on a comprehensive spa experience with large wet areas, access to fitness, meditation spaces, etc., they will save a dime or two by checking out local day spas where they can have a great experience for up to 25 percent less.

– Ommm Online — spa Web sites and e-mail blasts offer last-minute deals on products and services as well as monthly specials, so be sure to sign up. Blogs, e-letters and webinars also provide great tips and techniques for coping with stress and dealing with the pressures of daily life.

You may also want to opt for creating a spa-like living environment at home. Sure, it’s not as glamorous and you have to do the work, though it’s convenient and free …

– Raid the Pantry — Terry has the perfect recipe for creating your own scrub. Take some sugar in the raw and mix it with honey (honey helps moisturize and calm the skin). After reaching a consistency that you like, put a couple drops of essential oil in the mix (Terry loves orange). Microwave for five seconds and take it into the shower with you. Use your hands to slather it all over and rinse. Don’t worry; the shower’s steam will help the honey become less sticky.

– Take a Breather — when you feel stress or anxiety coming on, disconnect from the world for a few minutes with this exercise: Close your eyes and take in a long, deep, belly breath. As you inhale, visualize fresh oxygen flowing through your nose and filling your lungs. Then use your diaphragm to push out the air and, while doing so, imagine all stress, tension and impurities being forced out. Try this ten times and you’ll be enveloped in calm.

– Yoga on the Cheap — yoga cards provide excellent tips for those who want to do it themselves. Check out “OM Yoga Flash Cards” by Cyndi Lee or “The Yoga Deck: 50 Poses and Meditations for Body, Mind & Spirit” by Olivia Miller.

– BlackBerry Massage — take a break from the electronics and give yourself a quick hand massage to increase circulation and lessen fatigue. You will be surprised at how much tension the palms of your hands hold and how much better you feel after this quick rub.

– Cuticle Coaching — nice nails don’t always require money. While in the shower, push back your cuticles while the skin is softer because of the water and heat. Keep a nail file in your purse for shaping while commuting on the train or sitting in traffic (though, don’t attempt while driving!) In addition, always have a clear polish on hand to keep nails looking clean and well-groomed.

– Living the Spa Lifestyle Every Day — mix Epsom salts with a couple drops of your favorite essential oil for a great and inexpensive way to enjoy a therapeutic relaxing bath. Need to lift your spirits? Focus on your favorite piece of art or photograph while practicing deep breathing techniques. Have extra facial moisturizers lying around with only a few drops left? Don’t throw them out, instead use as a quick hand treatment.

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