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:

Thought for the Day

Breathe.
Your breath is the greatest tool you have
to help you know exactly where you
are. The quicker your breath, the more
agitated you are: the deeper you breath,
the more relaxed you are. Therefore, to
relax in any moment, take six long, deep
breaths in and out.

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

The Elixir of Life

It's hard to believe that summer break is over. Now everyone is yanking themselves out of the vacation mode and back to school. Parents have spent August scrambling to collect everything on the back-to-school list; while college kids have worked hard all summer only to hand their savings over for tuition, expensive text books and a U-Haul truck. Needless to say, it's a stressful time with move-in dates, tuition deadlines, cost of supplies, and not to mention, the mere newness of everything involved in beginning another school year.

Although schedules are hectic, it's important to take time to stop doing so much. In order to maintain good health, our bodies need to find balance in the midst of chaos. Set aside time to get a massage or meditate in a peaceful place. Aromatics are very helpful for relaxation. Put a few drops of essential oil in your bath water at home. However, not every essential oil is meant for a relaxing bath, so you must do your "homework" before you choose which aroma to soak in.

There are various aromatics available to help ease the mind and soothe the body of stress and anxiety; one in particular is called Melissa Officinalis. It is better known as sweet balm or lemon balm. This bushy perennial is of the mint family and smells like lemons. Contrary to the energizing lemongrass aroma, lemon balm calms the mind and body, as well as unburdens the soul. For years it has been known as the uplifting and calming cure for "melancholia". Lemon balm has properties that are tonic and antispasmodic which are helpful in treating colds, allergies, diarrhoea, hypertension, menstrual problems, migraine and stress headaches, nausea, and palpitations. Years ago the Swiss physician Paracelsus deemed it as the "elixir of life". I'm sure you can see why.

If you are curious about learning more about this, stop by Zen3 Spa and Bodyworks and check out our lemon balm plant! And while you are there, take time to unwind with a 60 minute massage. Trust me. It will make a difference in your busy life.

Positive Thought for the Day

Night is dark,
and day is light ~
we don't expect one to become
the other. Accept the natural
differences that exist in life.

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

Acne, Cancer and Tomatoes

Trying to figure out what to do with the abundance of fresh tomatoes from your
garden? Make fresh tomato soup and fight cancer and acne at the same time.
Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a phytochemical and antioxidant. Lycopene gives
tomatoes and certain other fruits and vegetables their color. Phytochemicals
have shown to be protective against cardiovascular disease, various cancers, and
acne. Because lycopene is a potent antioxidant and seems to inhibit growth of
cancer cells, it is logical that a higher intake of this fruit may indeed be
associated with reduced incidences of cancer. Several studies suggest that
eating vegetables rich in lycopene, such as tomatoes or tomato-based products,
may reduce the risk of getting breast, cervical, gastrointestinal, colorectal,
lung and prostate cancer.

Lycopene may help reduce the damage to the skin caused by ultraviolet light
during and after sun exposure and combat acne breakouts. In his
book, The Clear Skin Diet, Dr. Alan Logan suggests regular consumption of tomato
juice and V8 promotes clear skin and helps keep acne at bay.

Tomatoes are the most concentrated food source of lycopene, although apricots,
guava, watermelon, papaya, and pink grapefruit are also significant sources. So,
take that bowl of tomatoes sitting on your countertop and blend together an
antiacne and cancer fighting puree.

Glow Gazpacho
2-3 medium sized tomatoes, peeled and seeded
1/2 of a medium sized cucumber
1/4 cup red onion or 3 green onions or 1 peeled shallot (sub ¼ cup of any variety
onion)
1 clove of crushed garlic
1 mild to medium heat pepper such as red bell or jalapeno, seed removed
(optional)
Handful of basil or mint (optional)
Handful of parsley (optional)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon of sherry, basalmic, umi, or apple cider vinegar.
1 teaspoon of agave nectar, honey, maple syrup, or white wine
Lemon or lime to taste
Salt and pepper to taste.

Fill a medium sized sauce pan two-thirds full with water and bring to a boil.
Drop whole tomatoes in water for 30 seconds and then remove with a pair of
tongs. Plunge into ice bath. Skins should slip right off. Cut into quarters and
remove seeds. Quartered tomatoes go into a food processor or blender with
remaining ingredients except the oil. Do not peel cucumber. While machine is
running, stream in oil. Add more vinegar, agave, lemon, and salt and pepper to
taste. Rest for 20 minutes. Chill for 15-20 minutes before serving. Garnish with
infused olive oil, feta, avocado, or basil.

Recipe from Jessica Idleman:
http://glow-nutrition.com/

Lycopene info from:
http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/DietandNutrition/lycopene

The Clear Skin Diet by Alan C. Logan, ND, FRSH & Valori Treloar, MD, CNS, FAAD
http://www.vitamins-supplements.org/phytochemicals/lycopene.php


"Heal the Body, Soothe the Mind, and Nurture the Spirit".

Thought for the Day

Work without working, and play without playing.
Do without doing, and be without being.
To live an effortless life, simply be yourself.

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

Lemongrass - The Perfect Summer Aromatic

Are you looking for a way to cool off and feel good this summer? Believe it or not, the sweet-scented lemongrass has natural components that help cool and deodorize the body. You may recognize its refreshing, lemony smell in many citrus soaps, perfumes and cleaning agents. Lemongrass can also be found in many spa products such as scrubs, body butters and massage oils. If you need a little spa care at home after an exhausting day, choose a lemongrass product for its unique, energizing fragrance to help refresh your body and senses, as well as reduce painful headaches. Or you may apply it before your day begins to repel insects. Furthermore, through its anti-bacterial qualities, lemongrass is also helpful with skin complaints, sore throats, and respiratory problems. It can help alleviate athlete's foot, as well as deodorize stinky feet.

If you are curious about finding a great lemongrass product for your home this summer, Aromafloria is a great place to shop. At Zen3 Spa & Bodyworks, we use Aromafloria for the professional care of our clients, and we have found the results to be very pleasing.

Stay cool and smell great this summer!

Bibliography:
McGilvery, Carole. Reed, Jimi. Mehta, Mira. Massage, Aromatherapy & Yoga. Lorenz Books. New York, New York. 2001

Positive Thought for the Day

Make everything your meditation.
Why only sit for an hour or two a day?
Instead, let the day become a moving meditation,
and make every moment wholly conscious.

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

Quick Tip to Reduce Stress

Whether you are a business owner, mother, or student, we all unfortunately slip into an automatic response during stressful, busy times - it's called Bad Breathing! Practicing the correct breathing technique can greatly improve balance and well-being in the mind and body, as well as reduce the body's negative responses to stress.

You may wonder "What is the correct way to breathe?" It's simple. Breathe from the abdomen not the chest. Allow your diaphragm to suck the air into your lungs and push it back out of the body. Your abdomen should expand with every inhale and release on the exhale. By allowing your diaphragm to do the work properly, your body responds more positively to the balance of oxygen flow into the body and carbon dioxide flow out of the body. Upsetting this rhythm can lead to feelings of fatigue, headache, or panic. Click HERE for more information on breathing and stress and how it relates to your health.

If you're not use to breathing properly, you will have to make a conscious effort to practice until it becomes normal. Try to make it a habit to practice breathing exercises everyday, and take note of your overall well-being during this time. Click HERE for an easy breathing exercise you can do at work, home, or anywhere.

Positive Thought for the Day

Perfection
isn't found in everything going right,
but rather in accepting the beauty of what's happening
moment to moment.

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

Sending Balance Into Your Home

To all our loyal clients and future clients,

We are thrilled to be launching our very first blog, and we dedicate it 100% to you. Our purpose is to communicate to you a wide array of tools, tips, and knowledge found deep in the spa world. Our goal has always been to maintain an atmosphere where you can find balance through meaningful change in order to enhance your emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being. We can only hope this blog will be a cyberspace reflection of our spa, and as a result, it would help you find balance at home. There is so much to look forward to, so I encourage you to bookmark this page and check it regularly for new posts. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter for information on all our blog updates.

Sincerely,

Zen3 Staff

"Heal the Body, Soothe the Mind, and Nurture the Spirit."