Destination Spa Vacations

Love your Skin. May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

Do you love the skin you’re in? Even more importantly, are you taking care of your skin? May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, which brings to light, what have you done for your skin lately? Since I live in Florida, sunscreen is my friend. This was not always the case, so I do have moles, freckles, and gasp! – some wrinkles. They build character, right?!

The Centers for Disease Control reports nearly 60,000 U.S. adults are diagnosed with melanoma annually. There are preventable risk factors for skin cancer including your exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and a history of sunburn. Be sun safe! Destination Spas recommend several ways for you to protect yourself:

• During midday hours, seek shade or better yet, go inside for a spa treatment!
• Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck; wear sunglasses.
• Use sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher and has both UVA and UVB protection. New sun safety guidelines from the FDA go into effect in June. We’ll share those soon.
• For optimal protection, wear at least a shot-glass amount of sunscreen.
• This is obvious, but plenty of people do it - avoid indoor tanning.

A little Vitamin D is OK, but be careful not to overdo it. Debra

The Aromas of the Season: Sweet Smell of Health

The holidays, perhaps more than any other time of year, contain wonderful aromas. Pine, cranberry, pies baking, vanilla – all reminders of holidays past.

In addition to bringing back happy memories, the right scents and products can promote relaxation and healing. Aromatherapy is an ancient healing practice that is about more than just pretty smells. The pros at Canyon Ranch, Lenox describe aromatherapy as a natural, preventive medicine that people seek out to relieve stress or anxiety; soothe stiff, achy muscles; and to relieve congestion.

I learned the key to effective aromatherapy is in the quality and nature of the materials used. Pure essential oils - as opposed to artificial fragrance oils or perfumes – are the essence of a plant material in liquid form. Cheaper, artificial fragrances smell nice but lack the therapeutic benefits of their natural counterparts.

Before you buy oils, know the basics:

• Blend at your own risk. Essential oils are very potent.
• Never ingest essential oils.
• Do not apply undiluted essential oils to the skin.

A particularly beneficial way to enjoy aromatherapy is through massage. Aromatherapy massage treatments are very centering and are offered at all Destination Spas. Mini-treatments at home can also be deeply soothing while burning scented candles.

I also suggest that you take along inhalant essences on long flights to reduce that spaced-out, jet-lagged feeling. And, if like me, you have trouble sleeping, try a relaxing oil in the bath before bed. Debra

Fall Into an Uncomplicated Life

It’s a new season. Time to turn over a new leaf, so to speak, and simplify our lives! “Umm, right,” you might say. If you are like me, you have to-do lists for your to-do lists. So, where can we begin? I turned to Destination Spa professionals for some advice and want to share with you.

Life Coach Cindy Clemens with Red Mountain Spa in Utah urges us to check our drama at the door. “When I make a mistake, there are the circumstances that give rise to the actual error, but then there is all the replaying the circumstances in my head and out loud to friends and family, as well as the beating myself up,” said Clemens. “My new strategy is to focus on the actual facts - what went wrong, how can I make things right, and what will I do in the future to prevent a repeat of the mistake. I just drop it and move on, and no one seems to miss my neurotic obsession with what went wrong.”

The team at Vermont’s Green Mountain at Fox Run urges to give up the “shoulds”. They suggest that a tangle of beliefs and thoughts about what we “should” do or where we “should” be can threaten our ability to find what’s right for us.

What you “should” do, though, is remind yourself to stop old habits. I know, the to-do list for the to-do list analogy! However, when you write things down, you are more likely to stick to them. In addition to putting your goals in writing, tell those closest to you so they can keep things in check and offer encouragement.

Finally, reward yourself! Celebrate the small successes. Have a massage, buy some new shoes, eat your favorite dessert. Above all, keep it simple and uncomplicated! Debra

Tummy Rub

During my last visit to Canyon Ranch, I overheard a conversation about a new product that I couldn't ignore. I'm pregnant so my ears are tuned into anything related to pregnancy, especially when it involves spa as well. I was not familiar with the product, so I eavesdropped as the representative from Mama Mio (LaNay) explained the company and its products. Three years ago, they launched their Mama Mio product line, totally focused on supermamas and now they are in over 700 stores and 100 spas in 8 countries.

LaNay started with the history and background of the company which was founded by three beauty experts who have a wealth of experience and are all mothers (7 children between them). When one of the founders became pregnant, they started researching how to keep tummies free from strech marks and concluded that the answer lies in topical application of Omega 3, 6, and 9. That became the basis for Tummy Rub Oil and all of the subsequent products. Mama Mio maintains a strict NO NASTIES POLICY. Every prodcut is free of parabens, petrolatum, sodium laureth, xenoestrogen, phtalates, colourant and synthetic fragrance and is safe to use during all stages of pregnancy.

In addition to selling the Mama Mio products in the boutique, Canyon Ranch has several maternity services available for the Moms-to-be featuring the Mama Mio products (see list below). Unfortunately, I didn't have enough time to enjoy any of the services so I bought the Tummy Rub and have been using it throughout my pregnancy. I'm at 8 months right now and have no visible signs of stretch marks. I'll let you all know what the final verdict is.

FREE YOUR MIND (50 minutes)

We pull out all the stops to ease you of the stresses associated with pregnancy. A cooling Mama Mio eye compress combined with calming pulse-point Gravida therapy initiates the relaxation. Gentle face and head massage then releases cranial and jaw tension. Your treatment concludes with a deep, relaxing neck and shoulder massage. You’ll feel so much better!

MELLOW MAMA MATERNITY MASSAGE (50 minutes)

A complete body massage using specific techniques to increase circulation, alleviate tired muscles and reduce water retention. Retreat into a wonderful treatment that gives mama a chance to truly relax and dream of baby.

MOMMY-TO-BE FACIAL (50 minutes)

From the June Jacobs Skincare line, a delightfully pampering facial designed just for Mommies-to-Be. Subtle, safe fruit essences and calming ingredients care for your skin in all the ways expectant mommies need. This treatment includes cleansing, gentle exfoliation, steam, light extractions (if needed), toning, and a wonderful calming gel mask customized just for moms. Guaranteed to leave you feeling recharged and ready for your new addition!

YUMMY TUMMY (50 minutes)

This treatment begins with an application of Gravida Pulse Point Oil and gentle skin brushing to increase circulation, gently exfoliate and improve skin tone. Then a concentrated serum and deep treatment mask will be applied to soothe and moisturize the abdomen. Enjoy a relaxing lower leg and foot massage as the Intensive Tummy Stretch-Ease Serum and mask take effect.

THE SMOOTHIE (80 minutes)

Rejuvenate your skin and clear your mind in preparation for your pending arrival. Mama Mio Smoothie will exfoliate your skin oh-so-gently (but effectively), then you’ll enjoy a moisturizing massage to hydrate and elasticize your skin. A luxurious scalp massage will sweep away stress, leaving you with skin to rival your baby’s bottom. Mothers-to-be and new moms need nurturing, too. Let us care for you with one of these safe, comforting services designed with this unique life passage in mind.

4TH TRIMESTER HEALING HOUR (50 minutes) - for new mothers within four months of delivery

Up to four months after delivery, your body still behaves as though it is pregnant. The 4th Trimester Healing Hour is a relaxing top-to-toe massage designed to help realign and restore your body as it naturally adapts and returns to being one person again. This is your healing hour, and you’ve earned it. The perfect gift from your loved ones – or even from yourself.

TUMMY TONE-UP (50 minutes) - post-pregnancy)

In pregnancy your tummy extends to impressive proportions and can lack skin tone when it shrinks back down. Accelerate the recovery process and zap that crepey skin fast with this advanced "facial" for your tummy. The treatment includes intensive exfoliation and a gentle fruit acid peel followed by a triple application of three special creams to kick-start your transformation, followed by application of a luxurious firming and contouring mask – rich in laminaria and guarana – to the whole torso. The result? A tighter, smoother tum.

Pregnancy is a great time to pamper yourself in all ways. All Destination Spas and most other spas offer services for expectant mothers, so take advantage of this very special reason to spa. While I haven't enjoyed massages as much as I normally do, I have been getting regular pedicures and making sure to use the Tummy Rub everyday.