Nurture Yourself

Live with passion. Focus on the part of your life that is good, and don’t dwell on what’s not perfect.

· Read a special thought. Select a favorite quote or verse that means something to you, write it on a card and read it every day. Live it.

·    Wake up to music. The first thing your ears hear in the morning should be soothing to your mind and soul. Then flex your muscles through stretches; moving will clear your mind.

· listen to positive influences. Immerse yourself in motivating tapes or your favorite meditative music. Use this opportunity to reflect.

·    Put on a soothing mask. Exfoliate your skin and treat yourself to a mask that addresses your skin concerns.

·    Soak in a tub. Treat the water with essential oils and surround the tub with candles. You will feel soothed by the magic of candlelight.

·    Drink up. Enjoy a glass of water, fresh juice or wine from a stemmed glass.

SKIN FACT

Skin covers an average of 19 square feet of area and weighs around seven pounds.

Global wellness

Interest in spa in a multitude of ways is no longer an American boom ... it’s a global boom with an evolution taking place the world over in different ways. While many may think of the “new spa” as being American, it really isn’t. The traditions of Asia alone are rich—from ayurveda emanating the world over from India; to the herbalism and feng shui of China; from Ba­linese Lulur to Indonesian Jamu; shiatsu from Japan; and Thai massage to Hawai­ian Lomi Lomi. It en­compasses a tradition and history of natu­ral healing medicine and wellness treat­ment concepts. The wealth and history of spa and full body treat­ment traditions spans the globe. Develop your whole-body wellness by trying treatments devel­oped the world over.

Wellness defined

Did you know that a buzzword that gained momentum during the ‘90s didn’t even exist in the dictionary in 1989? “Wellness” is the foundation of the recent past, the fertile ground of the present and the promise of a great future for the spa industry. Plus, it is now a bona fide noun, ac­cording to Webster’s Dictionary. Before the 1990s, good health, simply put, was the ab­sence of disease. Now it is recognized that good health requires a vital balance—the coming together of body, mind and spirit. To attain this harmony, an interconnectedness of diet, lifestyle, exercise, relaxation and rejuvenation must exist. Fortunately, the spa industry is here to help. Talk with your skin care professional about products and services that can nurture wellness in your life. Through a focus on wellness, modern healing modalities can foster the creation, maintenance and resto­ration of balance for you.


SIMMER DOWN

Consider adding anger management to your long-term goals for whole-body wellness. It’s a fact that society is angrier than ever and having a harder time controlling it. Even though occasional outbursts might feel good, it only intensifies an already tense moment and can build up in­side causing more anger down the road. To gain control, get the facts before you get mad. Make sure you’ve got all the information. Don’t think the worse about a situa­tion and make assumptions. By taking the time to get the truth, you can keep from exploding and doing or saying something you might regret. Once you have all the facts, make an informed decision about your anger. Ask your­self if getting mad is the right reaction. What are you going to gain by being angry? If you are in a heated ar­gument, try to remain calm. Anger can make you lose control and keep you from thinking clearly. By remaining calm while discussing your argument, you can gain credibility. Then, when someone chal­lenges you with a strongly held belief, it may be necessary to concede sometimes. While you don’t have to admit you are wrong, you don’t have to insist you are absolutely right, either.

Looking to minimize the appearance of fine lines ?

Laser resurfacing can be performed on the entire face or in specific regions.  The procedure uses a beam of laser energy to remove areas of damaged or wrinkled skin, layer by layer. It also is effective in treating facial scars or areas of uneven pig­mentation.   Men and women of all ages can benefit from the treatment, but the ideal client has healthy, fair, non-oily skin. Laser resurfacing is a relatively new procedure; however, in some cases this surgical method produces less bruising and post-operative discomfort than typically is seen with other resurfacing methods. Complications are infrequent and usually minor. Risks associated with laser resurfacing include burns, or other injuries from the heat of the laser energy; scar­ring; and obvious lightening or darkening of the treated skin. Choosing a qualified plastic surgeon with special training in laser surgery can reduce risks. Ask your skin care professional for more information or a referral.

Antibacterial use

In their fight to protect themselves from sickness and disease, consumers should continue to use antibacterial personal care products in the home with confidence, according to the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association (CTFA) and the Soap and Detergent Association (SDA). The recommendation is in response to questions caused by confusing reports that dissuade consumers from using these defenses against disease-causing germs, fearing they cause bacterial resistance. Antibacterial per­sonal care and cleaning products, depending on their formulation and application, kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause skin infec­tions, intestinal illnesses or other commonly transmitted diseases. These include poten­tially fatal illnesses caused by bacteria such as salmonella and Ecoli.