Tips to Heal Winter Skin

Ready or not, Valentine's Day is this Monday, and we must cover an essential topic before the weekend begins! You secretly know you have a loved one somewhere making a flower order or signing a sweet card and stuffing the envelope with candy hearts. The last thing you want to do is ruin a special moment with something that could easily be avoided. Right now dry, winter skin is inevitable, but you shouldn't have to worry about wounding someone with your sandpaper hands or leaving nasty white presents everywhere. There are proper techniques for caring for your skin. Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals published an article with a six step guide with at-home treatments for better skin. Click HERE to view the full article. Follow those simple tips and enjoy taking care of yourself.

Rub Away Colds

You have heard "an apple a day, keeps the doctor away" but have ever considered massage therapy as integral in your health as your daily nutrition? A recent study shows confirming reports to the truth on massage and health. The report gave impressive results on how massage therapy improves immune function in the body. This past September, the study titled " A Preliminary Study of the Effects of a Single Session of Swedish Massage on Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal and Immune Function in Normal Individuals" was published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. The experiment evaluated a group consisting of medically and psychiatrically healthy adults, ages 18-45 years old. Each person received a 45 minute Swedish massage session while a control treatment was performed with only light touch. The results are fascinating! From only one therapeutic session this is what people experienced:

• Increase in circulation of lymphocytes (improving immune system)
• Decrease in cortisol (stress hormone)
• Decrease in arginine-vasopressin (hormone stimulating cortisol levels)
• Decrease in mitogen
• Stimulated levels of interleukin (improving immune system, nervous system, and endocrine system)

It is extremely important to take good preventative care of our bodies especially with cold and flu season upon us. Dedicate yourself to keeping your body strong and healthy, and witness the biological effects of massage therapy on your own. For more information, talk to your professional massage therapist.

Source:
Massage Today. "A Session of Massage Keeps The Doctor Away". December 2010.

The Scoop! Update on the Spa Wellness Event: Balance of Mind & Body December 6, 2010

Every once in a while, we all forget about things we know to be true. During the December Wellness Event, Dr. Tina Morgan reminded us of the power of positive thinking and how an attitude of gratitude can transform your life. What you believe; you will be. Choosing to focus on the positivity in situations and circumstances allows one to think, speak, and behave in a more uplifting manner. Your environment will naturally become brighter from the light that you give, and from the difference you make, you will bear good energy and harmonious balance.

Dr. Tina Morgan emphasized the impact of living in gratitude. Gratitude is defined as the feelings of thankfulness and appreciation. Deciding to be thankful for all things, you unintentionally begin to align yourself with what you do have instead of focusing on your glass being half empty. This philosophy produces balance, wholeness, and an overall sense of well-being. So this season, remember to be grateful for all life's blessings - no matter how big or small.

Here's the Scoop! Update on the Spa Wellness Event: Finding Nutritional Balance October 4, 2010

If you couldn't make it last week to our Spa Wellness Event: Finding Nutritional Balance, you definitely missed out! However, we don't want to leave you out of the loop if you were not there. So here is the scoop on what happened!

Certified Nutritional and Wellness Consultant Jessica Idleman from Glow Nutrition gave us a fresh perspective on cooking with greens. She came prepared with crunchy kale chips and yummy zucchini roll-ups for everyone to share. She suggested kale chips as an easy alternative to popcorn or store bought chips. If you're curious (and we know you are!), the simple recipe is just below. And if you really want to impress your friends with a "fancy" appetizer, the zucchini roll-ups are delicious, and they look beautiful! Now the kicker is - don't tell them how fast it is to make them!

Aside from these free, green munchies, Jessica brought a wealth of information about green food. Who knew Chlorophyll not only makes plants green, but it gives our skin that "special glow"?! And who knew juicing apple, kale, lemon and zucchini would make a delicious drink?! Jessica also introduced us to new plants and new terms - all very interesting!

If you want to learn more, no worries! Jessica will be back for another spa event soon. Until then, check out Glow Nutrition by visiting www.glow-nutrition.com or visit Glow Nutrition on Facebook for tips, articles and healthy recipes. Discover new ideas and fresh tips for getting more energy and more glow while on the go.

Kale Chips

1 bunch of Kale (preferably organic), rinsed and dried
Extra Virgin olive oil (about a tablespoon)

Dash of unrefined sea salt (about ½ teaspoon)
Cracked black pepper

Lemon juice (optional)

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Fold kale leaves in half length wise. Hold the vein from the bottom of the leaf and pull it up and out to remove. Tear the remaining leaf into large pieces and lay on a cookie sheet. Drizzle lightly with oil. Add a small (very small) amount of salt and a few large grinds of pepper. Toss with your hands to disperse ingredients evenly among the leaf pieces. Pieces may seem dry but resist the urge to coat with oil and spices. Kale offers a lot of flavor and is easy to over season.

Lay pieces evenly on a cookie sheet (do not heap). Roast for approximately 10-15 minutes or until a few of the leaves begin browning on the tips. Cool slightly and enjoy. Store in aluminum or paper bags, not plastic.

Zucchini Roll-Ups

2 zucchinis
12 ounces goat cheese or organic cream cheese (or equal parts of both)

1 tablespoon dill

2 tablespoons green onion or chives, chopped
3 tablespoons creamy tahini
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 teaspoon unrefined sea salt, or to taste
¼ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste

Fresh lemon juice to taste

Using a vegetable peeler, peel zucchini making long thin strips length wise.

Or cut ends off of zucchini and cut into 2 inch wheels. Use a melon baller or a 1/2 of teaspoon to hollow out center of the zucchini wheel leaving a 1/8 inch floor at the bottom to hold filling.
Combine the cheese and yogurt and the remaining ingredients in a large mixing bowl
and mix well. Add lemon juice and a bit of olive oil to maintain a creamy consistency. Spread approximately 1 tablespoon of this mixture along each piece of zucchini and roll them up.

Thought for the Day

Practice kindness,
Not because it's right or because someone tells you to,
But because it will bring you happiness.

Levin, Daniel. The Zen Book. Hay House, Inc. 2005.

Charlie's Soap

Have you ever pondered about the quality, size, and even the color of your own footprint? I'm not talking about the impression you leave in the snow or sand; I'm talking about the one you leave in this world that affects the quality of life for your children and grand children. It's mind blowing to realize how much trash and waste we produce as a population. I know it may be wishful thinking to consider everyone chipping in a little more to live a green lifestyle. Whether you're a religious recycler or the furthest thing from being green, anyone can benefit from knowing about Charlie's Soap.

Charlie's Soap is a company based in Mayodan, NC that produces environmentally friendly laundry detergent and multi-purpose cleaner that contains only pure washing soda, sodium silicates and a mix of coconut oil surfactants. It is safe for all earth, air and marine life; in fact, it is certified to be used in small streams and lakes - good news if you do your laundry in a lake! After completing the Die Away Test to verify how much of Charlie's Soap actually degrades in soil in 28 days, it surpassed the 80% requirement to be certified biodegradable with a score of over 97%. It's tough on stains, and it cleans and restores fabrics. If you have delicate skin, no fear! Charlie's Soap does not contain lye, phosphates, bleach, brighteners, dyes, softeners, petroleum, fillers or perfumes, and it does not leave a residue on the clothes to irritate sensitive skin. It is a hypo-allergenic solution for people who struggle with allergies. Charlie's Soap is nearly every wonderful thing in one detergent!

I hope you feel inspired to jump (or maybe just dip) into the greener pool with this safe and easy solution to a slightly more eco-friendly life. If you're ready to begin your venture for a greener footprint, you can purchase Charlie's Soap at Zen3 Spa & Bodyworks and at various other locations across the nation.

Check out the website www.charliesoap.com for more information on the research behind Charlie's Soap and the client feedback. If you already use it or are just beginning, post a comment to give us some feedback on how Charlie's Soap is making a difference in your life.

Health & Wellness

Tips for Allergy Season

Coughing, sneezing, congestion, runny nose, watery eyes - sound familiar? Allergy season is upon us again, and everyone, besides those lucky few, is feeling it. If you are looking for a tip to tackle your allergies that is both calming and relieving, we have found it. All you need is 1 pot, plenty of distilled water, eucalyptus or peppermint leaves, and your stove to create your own herbal steam treatment.

Herbal Steam Directions:
-Bring pot of distilled water to a boil. Once water is boiling, remove from heat.
NOTE: It's important to remove the pot of water from the heat to inhale the steam, as to not burn your skin. And please remove it carefully.
-Put either eucalyptus or peppermint leaves in the water. Cover the pot and steep for a few minutes.
-Using a towel, create a tent to cover your head over the steam.
-Remove the lid and allow the steam to fill the tent.
-Inhale the steam through your nose for 10 minutes.

The steam is a great tool to help break up congestion and suppress coughing and sneezing. Adding eucalyptus and peppermint leaves to the steam calms and soothes the senses, as well as, the mind.
Eucalyptus has anti-inflammatory properties that aid against asthma, bronchitis and sinusitis. It helps reduce fever, and it is often used in cough medicines and rubs. Eucalyptus also has head-clearing qualities, and is helpful for relieving the sinus pressure that makes your head feel like it's 50 lbs.
Peppermint leaves are great because they are a natural decongestant. Certain properties in the leaf suppress colds, headaches, and nausea and can calm allergies. Do not use too much if you have a skin sensitivity to peppermint. Try using eucalyptus if the peppermint irritates you.
In-home herbal steam treatments are great if you need a quick relief, but nothing beats having a full steam treatment at the spa! At Zen3 Spa & Bodyworks, we offer a full body herbal steam detox treatment. You have the luxury of lying on a massage table while you inhale the steam and sweat out those terrible toxins. Simultaneously, the massage therapist works on your head, neck and shoulders, and compliments the hot steam with a cooling face treatment that helps relieve congested areas.
If you are interested in the face treatment, a full facial is a more indepth approach with more benefits. Lavare Face & Body at Zen3 offers a Zone Therapy Facial that focuses on all the sinus pressure points. While applying product, the esthetician will massage those points and help release pressure and fluid build up. Talk about refreshing!
If you try any of these treatments, give us some feedback. Leave a comment on this post and tell us what you did! And please remember that you should always seek professional medical help if you have a serious issue. We are only sharing helpful tips not a cure for anything.

To Health & Wellness!

Information gathered from: