Among the many wellness strategies Dutch Hollow Medical Day Spa has to offer, now it features a Weight Management and Healthy Lifestyle Program.

“We can teach you healthy ways to manage your weight,” said owner, medical esthetician and wellness expert Mirka Figueroa, who coordinates with her husband and physician Samuel Figueroa, whom many refer to as “Dr. Sam,” for Dutch Hollows’ clients. “We can help you shed those extra pounds and bring a healthy energy level back into your life.”

The new program includes weekly consultations, daily meal and nutrition suggestions, vitamin B12 and B6 injections each week to increase metabolism and weight loss medication under the supervision of Dr. Figueroa. Dr. Figueroa is a staff physician at Saint Anthony’s Health Center in the anesthesiology department.

Dr. Figueroa does a complete physical consultation with each client before starting any nutritional or exercise changes. Mirka Figueroa weighs clients once a week and records what they consumed and when and how much exercise they did.

She also educates clients about supplements, colon cleansing and European weight-management practices.

“When you help the weight get under control, you feel better and have more energy and are happier,” Figueroa said.

Comments from clients inspired Figueroa to add a weight and lifestyle program to Dutch Hollow’s menu.

“Clients would come for skincare and say ‘My clothes don’t look good, I’m not happy with my body, nothing fits, I’m depressed,’” Figueroa recounted. “I’ve always been interested in nutrition and I have the knowledge and my husband’s background.”

So Figueroa studied and did more research before starting the program a month ago.

Figueroa also encourages weight management clients to have massages to rid their body of toxins while helping ease cellulite and stress.

“With massage, you don’t even realize what benefits you are receiving,” she said. “You feel like a different person and like going home and cooking a healthy meal.”

Figueroa shares healthy recipes, shopping lists, snacks and fresh produce containing less sugar. She also focuses on specialized diets for clients who are diabetic, gluten-free eaters or have other health considerations.

“All diets are approved by Dr. Sam. He tells them about their needs and explains why,” Figueroa said. “He helps them understand fruits and vegetables and what each one does.”

The Figueroas also discuss dairy, alcohol and how foods and beverages interact as well as how to pick a personal trainer whom they also can recommend.

“We teach discipline first,” Mirka Figueroa said. “Then to reward themselves, we give them a (spa) treatment. We want to heighten mental awareness of why and how to adjust your body.”

Figueroa said that the younger generation wants to adjust their lifestyle with organic and natural solutions instead of chemicals.
“People need education,” she said. “It’s not a quick fix anymore. I want long-term happiness for you, which is my happiness. You have to understand that maintenance is the key to life.”

Even if someone has a facelift, Figueroa pointed out that humans still age and without proper care for the body and mind, a facelift would be money wasted.

“You have to know how to rest, take care of your skin and body to be happy,” she said.

Clients can join the program for either one or three months.

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TRAVEL TIME 1 hour 30 minutes by train

WHY? This once nothing-special town has reinvented itself as an upscale oceanfront resort.

MUST DO What makes this Jersey Shore town different from so many others is Pier Village, a massive complex of hotels, stores, restaurants and rental apartments along the ocean. Since its opening in 2005, Pier Village has become the unofficial town center, with an attractive boardwalk that more resembles South Beach than the Shore. Get gussied up at Pier Village’s sleek AquaMedica Salon and Spa, voted best day spa in the state. Start off the evening with a glass of Chardonnay at the upscale wine bar the Wine Loft (32 Laird St.; [732] 222-7770), then enjoy a fancy Manhattan-style dinner (at Manhattan prices) at Sirena Ristorante, a nouveau Italian seafood spot overlooking the ocean (27 Ocean Ave.; [732] 222-1119). For an aprés dinner drink and dancing, the groovy Avenue Nuit, designed by renowned London architect David Collins, is the place to see and be seen–at least on the Jersey Shore (23 Ocean Ave.; [732] 759-6700). Escape the “Village” and dial things down a notch in old-school Long Branch — Tuzzio’s has been around since the mid-’60s; three courses run as little as $9.95 and there’s live music on Fridays and Saturdays (224 Westwood Ave.; [732] 222-9614).

STAY HERE The just-opened Bungalow at Pier Village is billed as the Jersey Shore’s “first authentic boutique luxury-lifestyle hotel.” We don’t know what most of those words mean, and why they’re being used together in a sentence, but the hotel is mod and fab, with a champagne bar. Guests have access to the members-only Le Club, a beach club complete with cabanas, a roof deck bar, lounge and pool (from $339, two-night minimum; [800] 889-4361). On the boardwalk and just north of Pier Village, the 254-room Ocean Place Resort & Spa has a private beach and indoor and outdoor pools (from $169; [800] 411-6493).

HAPPENINGS Opening day of the Monmouth Park Racetrack is May 9, but the Haskell Invitational is the racing and drinking event of the summer (August 2). Oceanfest, the city’s annual Independence Day celebration, takes over the promenade with food, entertainment, arts and crafts and a fireworks display (July 4). September 5 is the Long Branch Jazz & Blues Festival, an all-day event with music and fireworks. Pier Village hosts concerts and outdoor movies throughout the summer.

HOT TIP Just three miles from the beach, Monmouth University’s 156-acre campus has great classic and modern buildings. Check out Woodrow Wilson Hall, a National Historic Landmark, where Wilson ran his campaign in 1916. It was used as Daddy Warbucks’s mansion in the film version of “Annie.”

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Spas are not typically known as being green with the amount of water and energy used in excess to offer ultimate relaxation for guests’, spas are now finding creative ways to “green” themselves that are not only great for the environment, but great for their bottom line as well.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which is a rating system created by the U.S. Green Building Council to help companies design, build, and operate their structures more sustainably.

Certifications are awarded according to points earned for things such as, design, energy efficiency and water conservation. LEED certifications entail different levels of Copper, Silver, Gold and Platinum in which only 118 buildings have received.

Here are a few spa pioneers whom have earned a LEED accolade and are setting a standard that other spas are soon to follow.

The Palazzo Resort-Hotel-Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

Is the country’s largest LEED-certified high-rise building. Set on the Las Vegas strip, this resort opened in 2008 boasting an eco-friendly spa, the Canyon Ranch SpaClub offers an assortment of innovative spa treatments such the 100 minute Neuromuscular Therapy. This treatment is aimed to relieve tension headaches, back pain, TMJ, restricted ranges of movement and other musculoskeletal conditions. The service is conducted by a trained neuromuscular therapist, which includes referrals so you can continue treatments when you return home. All treatments incorporate organic spa products as well.

Other novel features include a 40-foot rock-climbing wall, water efficient showers, and valet bicycle parking.

 

 

Avalon Hotel & Spa, Portland, Oregon

 

Oregon’s first Silver LEED certification was awarded to the Avalon Hotel & Spa last August because of its energy and water conservation, recycling, and ethical purchasing efforts. Other reasons to visit this boutique hotel on the Willamette River are for its wine bar, complimentary breakfast, and 30 treatment rooms with Spa Chakra services.

 

The Lodge and Spa at Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Georgia

The Callaway property sits on 13,000-acre preserve as a dedicated non-profit towards environmental education. The preserve consists of gardens, hiking trails and a butterfly pavilion. Receiving the title as a LEED certified property because it was built with recycled materials and has efficient plumbing, lighting, and air-filtration systems. The 13-treatment room spas uses natural, indigenous products inspired from the gardens that are on the property.

 

Gala Napa Valley Hotel & Spa, American Canyon, California

The Gala Napa Valley Hotel & Spa was the first hotel to receive the country’s Gold LEED lodging certification. Housing 132-rooms with a spa that is inspired by the wine region it calls home, offering locally sourced grape seeds for scrubs treatments and a restaurant that features seasonal, local and organic produce.

Its unique features that made this property LEED certified are its skylights that are shaped like magnifying glasses to help light interiors and real-time display of the hotel’s energy use in the lobby.

 

Nusta Spa, Washington, D.C.

The Nusta Spa is the first Gold LEED certified urban day spa in the country. Known as the pioneer for “spa-greening” in an urban environment it received this certification from its energy and water-saving features and waste reduction strategies. Sourcing only organic products along with its signature skincare line that contains sustainable, organic ingredients.

 

Hotel Terra Jackson Hole, Teton Village, Washington

The Hotel Terra has earned a Silver LEED certification by using an advanced water purification system that purifies wastewater and releases it back into the surrounding land, energy-saving fixtures, nontoxic paints and cleaning supplies. The Chill Spa offers organic and restorative treatments along with cotton robes and reusable water bottles for guests.

 

Other Spa’s that are in the process of gaining LEED certifications are:

Hyatt at Olive 8, Seattle Washington
Elaia Spa

The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, Avon, Colorado
Spa Anjali

Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa, Thompsonville, Michigan
Crystal Spa

Inn by the Sea Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Spa at the Inn by the Sea

Cavallo Point – The Lodge at the Golden Gate, Sausalito, California
Cavallo Point Healing Arts Center & Spa

The Springs Resort and Spa, Pagosa Spring, Colorado
The Springs Spa & Salon

Bardessono, Yountville, California
Spa Therapy Center

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The Hyatt Tamaya Resort and Spa hotel, owned by Santa Ana Pueblo, has upgraded its ballroom, spa and bar and has renovated all of its 327 guest rooms. New flat panel televisions are going in as well.

It might seem counterintuitive to invest so much now when the economy has hit hard destination resorts like Tamaya. But Jerry Westenhaver, general manager of the hotel, said the renovations had been budgeted for some time. Also, when business is down, it’s a logical time to do construction.

“The impact on business would be minimal,” he said. “The ballroom is the engine that drives all things, so taking it down would have little impact.”

It’s also cheaper, Westenhaver added.

“With the economy, you can get a lot more work done for less money,” he said. “It’s called leveraging.”

The Pueblo is committed to keeping the product up, he added.

“It’s our second renovation in eight years,” Westenhaver said. “Most hotels don’t go through that. They are committed to doing this and improving the property, regardless of economic conditions.”

The Rio Lounge is where changes are the most obvious. The bar that stood along the windows overlooking the Sandias and the bosque along the Rio Grande has been moved against a wall. It was blocking the best view in the house, Westenhaver said.

A new onyx panel behind the bar is lit from within, lending a pleasant golden light. Large glass doors now open onto a round terrace that has a casual restaurant and fire pits. The lounge also got all new furniture and carpeting.

The Tamaya Mist spa has new slate floors and walls, new carpeting and doors. A common outdoor area will get additional upgrades early next year with a fire pit and a waterfall, as well as kivas with turquoise accents

“We’re probably the only truly cultural resort in the country,” Westenhaver said. “We don’t want to lose that essence, just freshen it up a bit.”

Flick-Mars of Dallas did the renovation design. Andy Lee General Contractor LLC, based in Albuquerque, did renovation work in the suites. Hart Construction of Albuquerque did the Rio Grande Lounge and the spa work.

Westenhaver has a five-member board from the Pueblo he meets with to make sure designs and any promotions the hotel does are in line with the Pueblo’s cultural heritage.

The hotel is offering a promotion this month in honor of Mother’s Day where “mom” and a guest get free breakfast and a two-for-one manicure or pedicure. It’s also continuing a promotion offering guests half off the room rate on their birthday and a free spa treatment and meal in the Corn Maiden (if their guest buys a meal and a spa treatment). That goes through next April, Westenhaver said.

The economy has taken its toll on the resort, he added, as well-heeled travelers watch their 401(k)s drop. Then there’s what he calls the “AIG effect.” Hyatt has had millions in cancellations as corporations pull back from travel and business meetings that might be deemed too luxurious. The Tamaya has felt that too, he said.

Westenhaver said the Tamaya is focusing on regional marketing in nearby states as well as New Mexico. It’s also using technology more aggressively. About 60 percent of its ads will be placed online and in markets like Dallas, Denver and Houston.

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Spa introduces new product line

J Scott Berry wants to bring a little bit of New York City to Leesburg.

Berry, owner of J Scotts Day Spa in Downtown Leesburg, is introducing a new makeup line by Repechage, a New York City-based company.

The spa has already been offering the 29-year-old company’s acne product for a year now with great success he said.

But the makeup is something entirely different the spa is now offering. It’s a mineral, organic blend, Berry said.

“It’s now topping every professional product on the market,” he said.

Up until now the problem with mineral and organic blend makeup products is they don’t give women the coverage they desire, Berry said.

“Women want makeup to give them coverage and makeup that’s easy to use,” Berry said. “Most mineral makeups out there don’t do that.”

Repechage concocted a liquid mineral makeup that gives coverage, doesn’t clog pours and is good for the skin, he said. The new makeup line also does not accentuate the fine lines that come with aging, as most mineral makeups do, he said.

J Scotts Day Spa is holding a huge promotion during May to celebrate Mothers Day and the spa’s four-year anniversary, Berry said.

Spa estheticians will give complementary makeup applications all month. Women who buy a four-layer facial — which includes three layers of seaweed, two massages and fourth layer mineral mask — will also receive a free complementary makeup application.

“We’re running all kinds of specials on facials,” Berry said. “It’s really my salute to women’s month.

For more information about J Scott’s Day Spa call 787-7722.

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Spas have long been considered a haven where the very wealthy go to pamper themselves.

But since the economic downturn, they’ve morphed into something more — a place where overly stressed jitterbugs worried about job stability can go for a few moments of unadulterated relaxation.

That’s what Laurie Mancuso, owner of Bellus Tu Day Spa in Kings Mountain, said she has been seeing for months. Instead of more expensive treatments, folks are opting to fit on-the-go facials and quickie rubdowns into their schedules.

“People are so stressed out that they’re not sleeping, and they want to know what they can do without taking Tylenol PM,” said Mancuso, a former nurse and licensed aesthetician.

It’s a national trend. A recent article in The New York Times said that weekly traffic to the “stress-management” category of Spafinder.com has doubled since the summer.

“It’s not just a luxury anymore. It’s not just for rich people, it’s for everybody,” said Kevin Jones, a massage therapist at Bellus Tu. “More and more people are coming in and their biggest complaint is stress. But during a massage, they can lay there and relax for an hour while the stress of everyday life just melts away.”

The economy is a constant topic of conversation at Spa South Salon in Gastonia, owner Jack Ward said. Ward said that all of their spa services have done fairly well, even in this economy. He said that’s because people are using spas as an escape from all of the doom and gloom they’re hearing about.

“You can get a $25 manicure and have someone massage your arms much easier than you can more expensive services like new clothes and new cars, those things we used to do to reward ourselves,” Ward said.

While any spa treatment can be relaxing, Ward said, he recommends a massage to work out the tension in the neck, back and shoulders for a person under extreme stress. Mancuso said she always recommends regular facials, especially for women, who tend to show their stress in the form of acne and bags under their eyes.

And treatments go beyond the actual 30 to 60 minutes regular folks are spending at spas. Ward touted the longer-term benefits massage treatments can have in encouraging general relaxation.

Jones added that it’s important to educate clients on inexpensive things they can do at home to stay relaxed after their visit — sleeping with pillows under their knees to help alleviate lower back pain, performing quick stretches as they enter doorways, placing ice cold green tea bags or sliced cucumbers on their eyes and carrying simple tote bags instead of heavy, oversized purses.

“Most people can’t afford to come here every day,” Jones said.

Still, an occasional trip to the spa can be worth the therapeutic benefits of a treatment and the unbiased ear of a therapist, particularly during troubled times.

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Voted “Best Spa in Pittsburgh” by Citysearch. Spa Uptown has recently undergone positive changes that we would love to share with you. We want you to make our spa your urban retreat, where you can relax, rejuvinate and renew your spirit.

Geri Mataya, President Spa Uptown

Letter to our Clients:
I would like to extend a Thank You to all of the wonderful guests we encounter on a daily basis.

Spa Uptown has recently undergone positive changes that we would love to share with you. We want you to make our spa your urban retreat, where you can relax, rejuvinate and renew your spirit.

We understand the financial restraints our economy has put on many families and we know that it is more important than ever to feel good in a down economy. We want you to continue treating yourself and we want to help…During the coming months, we will be offering e-mail specials and incentives for your favorite services. We hope they will make a difference in your lives. Be sure you give us your e-mail, if you are not already signed up….. Don’t miss out on these opportunities to continue to pamper yourself. 

We hope together we can get through these slump times to a bright new future. Thank you again for your patronage.

Geri

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Flemington Spa Invites Women To Workshop Series

 A series of workshops for women will be presented at Tranquil Touch Day Spa most Mondays and Tuesdays in May.

It is meant to help women ease fears, calm inner and outer chaos, tap inner resources, receive support without judgment and form a circle of support in the community.

The schedule is:

• Monday, May 4, 7-9 p.m. — Peg Dahme, financial planner will educate and empower you to take control of your money. She will answer questions, too.
• Tuesday May 5, 7-9 p.m. — Mary Stabile promises to help you tap into the healing of your own inner soul and celebrate your possibilities.
• Monday, May 11, 7-8 p.m. — Armand Egidi MSW, LCSW, will help uncover your “inner knowing.” Ask him how he can help you. From 8 to 9 p.m., Kristin Tomlinson, yoga instructor and massage therapist and will discuss how yoga and meditation can help busy women stay centered. She will offer a guided mediation.
• Tuesday, May 12, 7-9 p.m. — Jenny Fisher, author of The Feminine Side of Leadership, will offer practical ways to deal with difficult issues in the workplace by applying both strength and heart to your personal leadership style.
• Monday, May 18, 7-9 p.m. — Kim Bragg, CPA of Bragg & Karnoff, will explain the new tax laws.
• Tuesday, May 19, 7-9 p.m. — Life coach Gail Patterson will tell “how to be certain in uncertain times,” helping you tap into the depths of your inner wisdom and strength.
• Tuesday, May 26, 7 p.m. — All participants and speakers are invited to a final celebration. Light appetizers will be served.

Although there is no charge for the programs, a $5 donation is asked. The participants will decide upon a charity to receive the money.

Seating is limited, so call 788-5573 for reservations.

The spa is on Route 31 and New York Avenue.

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Hot stone massage. Chocolate body scrub. Seaweed thalassotherapy wrap. All sound lusciously decadent and expensive.

Even the $10.9 billion spa industry admits prices are inching up, with some massages reaching $250 at the chicest of resorts. But you don’t have to pay full price. Just like the airlines and hotels, spas operate using yield management, meaning that when things are slow and the economy nosedives, prices drop. You can benefit if you learn when and what to book. Here are tips.

Weather your savings. If your destination has a particularly hot summer (Arizona) or cold winter (Maine), off-season specials may be only a thermometer away. Even five-star resorts have an off-season and a busy season. In the off-season, hotels use room discounts to attract guests, then toss in spa discounts to sweeten the deal.

Timing counts. Every spa has off-peak hours of operation: when it first opens, around noon and late in the day. Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be slow days. Check if services cost less at some days or times.

Ask and ye shall receive. If you’re a walk-in client, ask about daily specials. Say you’ll come early or are willing to use the newest employee. Many spas offer discounted services to fill unbooked time. Occasionally, day spas slash prices for any first-visit treatment, such as a manicure or facial, in the hope you’ll become a repeat customer.

Or, e-mail spas ahead of time and ask about discounts for business travelers. Julie Gallaher of ThingsYouShould Do.com suggests, “Write something like, ‘I’m going to be in your town next month, but I’m on a budget, so I’m looking for something affordable.’ ”

Also, check for special-occasion discounts. For example, Glen Ivy Hot Springs (www.glenivy.com) in southern California offers free spa admission on guests’ birthdays.

Less is more. Services that require extensive training (Thai massage, Shiatsu, cranio-facial, etc.) cost more. So will a spa’s signature treatments because of the more expensive products used. Among the most overpriced spa services, manicures and pedicures as much as triple what a typical nail salon charges.

Bundle up. Bundling several treatments on one day can reduce the cost 10 percent to 20 percent over à la carte services. If you don’t want a particular service in the package, some spas will substitute.

Cast your net wide. Look off-property or outside resort areas where the facilities are often equal in quality but far less in cost. Within a mile of Honolulu’s Waikiki is Aloha Lomilomi (www.aloha lomilomi.com), which specializes in the Hawaiian lomilomi massage with extra discounts for those older than 65. Ask your hotel concierge if any neighborhood spa offers discounts to hotel guests, advises Mary Hall, author of the Recessionista Blog.

Frequency pays. If you’re in a location for a couple of weeks or visit frequently, you may be able to buy a series of treatments – say, six for the price of five – to be used within a specified time. Some spas offer a frequent-user card. The Spa at Inverness (www.invernessspa.com) in Denver offers a Relaxation Rewards card. After 11 visits that rack up $95 or more each in services, you receive a free treatment of choice.

Show your loyalty. Most spas offer loyalty programs for local or repeat customers. The Relache spa at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine (817-778-1800; www.gaylord hotels.com/gaylord-texan) offers the Preferred Customer program. Participants get 20 percent off all services on Mondays through Thursdays. To make the PC list, share your e-mail address so the spa can send you information.

Maximize a mini. Consider express treatments such as a mini-facial or 30-minute massage. A shorter facial and half-hour spent in the relaxation area may just give you the boost you need. Plus, with most full-service spas, visitors who book a treatment are free to use the entire facility – saunas, steam rooms, swimming pool, relaxation lounge – for the day.

Surf the Internet.  For other spa savings options, search with city name and “spa discount.”

Go back to school. Cosmetology or massage-therapy schools charge a fraction of their spa counterparts. Most offer a student salon or clinic where treatments are performed under the supervision of instructors. Search for schools of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (www.careersinbeauty.org) or the American Massage Therapy Association (www.amtamassage.org).

In Dallas, the Salon Professional Academy (214-222-2436) offers facials for $22. Manicures start at $11.

Shop Costco. Another great deal dug up by Consumer Reports’ Shop Smart magazine: Discount warehouse Costco sells two $50  gift certificates for $79.99 (a 20 percent savings). Use the certificates for treatments (even discounted ones) at any spa in the  network.  Make sure you have a local spa that accepts them ands use them right away.

Join the club. Consider a national or regional massage chain. The chains are prone to staffing turnover, and it may take a few visits to find the ideal masseuse, but savings can be significant. For example, Massage Envy has more than 500 storefront clinics nationwide and employs only certified therapists. Members get one massage for $49 to $59 per month (depending on location) with any extras $39 to $49 each.

Hiatus Spa and Retreat in Dallas (214-352-4111; www.hiatusspa.com) offers a similar membership program. Customers pay $59 a month for a 12-month platinum membership or $69 for a six-month gold membership, which gets them one core service such as massage, facial or wrap each month plus unlimited core services priced at the monthly fee. Memberships may be shared by four people in the same household.

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