Top Five Trends in Spas - Stress Busters & Brain Power Boosters

Spas are developing new stress reduction programs to promote an unimpaired state of relaxation. Meditation, guided visual imagery and sleep therapy are showing up on spa menus across the nation. Mind, body and soul programs offer immediate nourishment. Brain power boosters are becoming popular treatments that cater to a vast aging population, as well as those suffering from stress related cognitive impairment.

Stress is responsible for the majority of illnesses and heart attacks. It also increases irritability, destroys concentration, threatens cognitive abilities, disrupts coping skills and ruins emotional wellness. The amount of mental activity generated throughout the day is staggering, all of which, is accentuated with imagery and colored by emotions. Balance is key to maintaining your cool. It requires healthy thoughts, rebooting thinking power and running interference on all of the negatives we are hit with every day.

Don't allow yourself to become unhinged. Relaxation is the key to unwinding frazzled nerves. Healthy brain power kick starts healthy emotions. Healthy emotions are good for the heart. A happy heart creates a sense of fulfillment that spills over onto others. The 'power of one' can change the world, . . . one person at a time.

Top Five Trends in Spas - Alternative Therapy

Spas are taking their cues from a stressed out society by digging deep to offer alternative and spiritually based therapies. These ancient, 'blast from the past' practices have proven track records in stress reduction and in rekindling a positive energy shift.

This sacred comeback includes carefully chosen music and enticing aromas to set the stage for treatments such as, acupuncture, polarity massage, chakra balancing massages, reiki, healing touch, crystal healing, shiatsu, breathing rooms, energy healing, hot stone therapy, etc. Total health and wellness is the focus of this new and very hot trend with relaxation and rejuvenation as the ultimate goal.

Yoga - The Yin and Yang of Beauty

Yoga offers so many benefits it is no wonder it is sweeping the globe. It balances the body's system, improves vitality, relieves stress and tension, brings more oxygen to the body, controls hormone levels, increases sluggish digestion, flushes out toxins, offers a new level of mental alertness, and improves circulation leading to the reduction in wrinkle formation and producing a natural face lift. Long story short . . . yoga offers a healthy, more youthful way of living.

This is the perfect time of year to incorporate 20 minutes of yoga into each day. Why now? November and December are the busiest times of the year when we have the least amount of energy to burn. Unfortunately, the physical math does not work. Winter is considered the 'yin' season, one that is cool, wet, slow, feminine, and quiet. Summer, on the other hand, is the 'yang' season and is the exact opposite with warm, dry, fast, masculine, and 'anything but quiet' energy.

Winter should be dedicated to storing energy. The winter solstice, three or four days before Christmas, are supposed to be the quietest days of the year, but instead we burn the candle at both ends while taking part in 'yang' activities. We are clearly at odds with our nature adding a great deal of stress to our lives. Stress turns itself outward by accelerating the aging process and causing illnesses.

Yoga has the ability to correct the problem, and in doing so, create a more youthful and harmonious balance. It is said, "if you want to change your appearance, you must first change your thoughts, emotions, and habits where stress and aging originate." A stressed out body and mind will project the same in our appearances. Conversely, if we nourish ourselves by adopting a healthy lifestyle, we will age ever so gracefully. So, what are you waiting for? O-m-m-m-m-m . . .

Best Of . . . Anti-Aging - Top Five Things - Part 2

3. PROPER SKIN CARE AND BODY CARE
Select proper skin care for your face and body and reap the healthy benefits of glowing skin. Always wear a good sunscreen. Protect your skin from moisture loss by using a good hydrating cream. Moisture loss causes the surface layers to thicken (duller complexion) and contributes to an older appearance. Find products that offer anti-age actives, such as anti-oxidants (a must), peptides or ingredients to promote regeneration. Change up your skin care products a few times a year for better results. Don't forget to indulge in regular exfoliation treatments. Exfoliation helps keep the surface of the skin in good health, promotes new cell regeneration, and allows for better penetration of your skin care products.

4. MEDITATION - No matter what method is chosen there is no doubt that meditation frees your body and mind from stress. Stress is one of the main contributors to free radical activity in our bodies, (degeneration of tissues, mutation of cells, disease). Meditation is a big key to anti-aging because of the biochemical changes that occur in the body as a result. The deep relaxation associated with meditation provides many proven benefits, such as lowering stress hormones (epinephrine), lowering blood pressure, promoting an elevated state of healing, lowering pain thresholds, strengthening the immune system, boosting heart function, lowering cholesterol, keeping the arteries clear, reducing pain, dealing with fatigue, and offering a longer and happier life. EEG studies of the brain show a boost in the intensity of the alpha wave while in a relaxed, receptive state which kicks into gear good mental health and creative concentration. Is it any wonder why meditation is an enormous part of the anti-aging movement? A perfect inner state of peace is beauty personified. A beauty that doesn't diminish with time or age.

5. LAUGHTER
Laughter is considered the best medicine there is. Mark Twain said, "the human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter."A hearty laugh relieves stress-releasing b-endorphins giving the, I feel re-energized, I feel great feeling. Scientifically proven, good laughter can instantly lower blood pressure in hypersensitive people. The Dr. Lee Berk reveals a healthy connection between laughter and wellness and reports the evidence is "mind-blowing." He says that, "laughter brings about a state of eustress, which in psychological terms is the right opposite of distress." Laughter enriches blood vessels with oxygen enhancing the body's blood circulation. Blood circulation gives the skin a glow, boosts your brain function, and enhances a sense of wellness. The one who laughs the longest, laughs last.

Oxygenating Facials

An oxygenating facial is perfect for anyone who is stressed out. Stress comes with one clear-cut guarantee, . . . if you are dealing with stress, your skin and every other tissue in your body will be dealing with it. In a stressed skin the cells are not getting sufficient oxygen and are unable to detoxify themselves, nor are they able to regenerate. The result is what skin care professionals refer to as an asphyxiated skin. In a younger person it will usually show as toxins sitting under the surface of the skin, like blemishes that have not yet made their debut. In a more mature person the skin is usually tired looking, dull, and lacks vitality.

Most of us have some level of stress in our lives and we could all benefit from a facial directed at boosting the oxygen activity in our skin. It is also a great way to start another series of treatments to benefit from the increase in cell activity which will offer a much more pronounced result with the treatments and products that follow. This presents a perfect time to kick off a new anti-aging regimen.

Most oxygenating facials are designed to boost the cellular uptake of oxygen improving cellular function (detoxifying and regenerating), enhance the circulation (the blood provides oxygen to the cells and carries away waste), and promote detoxification, often through specific massage manipulations, or incorporating lymphatic drainage. An oxygenating facial will give your skin clarity and brightness while energizing your cellular activity. A royal stress-buster indeed!

SOTHYS Secrets Global Anti-Age De-stressing Serum

Serum Category: Anti-Age
Sothys Secrets Serum is aptly described as a 'triple-action time fighter' providing exceptional clinical results - a 21% decrease in the depth of wrinkles after 15 days of use and a 26% decrease after 30 days. Skin firmness was improved by 19% after 15 days of use and 25% after 30 days.

The Secrets Serum is only for those who are 38+, looking for a concentrated formula of anti-age actives, and who are beginning to notice age related (hormone-stressed) skin. This light, creamy serum has an interesting mix of powerful peptides along with the fragrance of ylang ylang and marjoram to help the skin destress. Why is that important? A destressed skin is more receptive to other active ingredients. The Secrets Serum contains a cocktail of anti-oxidants to address free radical damage, peptides to promote cellular nutrition and function, and an iris extract to promote regeneration and longevity of dermal proteins giving the skin back some of its firmness. Sothys has incorporated two extracts from the prickly pear into this formula, one to promote natural exfoliation giving radiance to the skin and promote cell renewal, the other to trigger a neutralizing action on stresses or irritations to the skin thereby preventing the free radical activity that would normally result.

This is a very active serum that helps defend the cells against aging. Recommended for use twice a day, however, we would advise that once a day may be enough for delicate skin. A great boost especially for the perimenopausal woman. A perfect pairing for Sothys Secrets Cream. An addictive luxury's accomplice? Indeed.

1.35 oz US (40 ml Canada)