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WELLNESS CONNECTIONHelpful Tips for Visiting a SpaJanuary 29, 2010 - 6:00AM What should I wear to a spa? While some guests are comfortable going au natural, during their spa experience, others prefer a bit more privacy. When making a spa appointment, inquire if a private changing area is available, if you tend to be modest. However, be aware that some spa visitors are very comfortable in the nude in changing areas, whirlpools or other facilities designated for male or female guests. For the treatment, some individuals prefer to wear their undergarments, while others are comfortable to go without any clothing at all. The bottom line is there is no right or wrong way; you should wear what is most comfortable for you. Spa professionals are trained to drape and cover their clients appropriately, and can also provide the same services while working around underwear or bras. How early should I arrive for a spa treatment? At a minimum, you should arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of a treatment time to ensure there is ample time to check in and to change clothes. It’s also helpful to take a few minutes to relax and transition into a calm spa mindset, rather than rushing in after work or in between errands. Generally, arriving late for a spa appointment will reduce the time of your treatment to keep the next guest on schedule. When making your reservation, be sure to inquire about the other facilities offered. Larger day spas and those attached to a hotel or resort often have other amenities such as steam, sauna, lounges or whirlpools to enjoy before or after a treatment. You may want to plan additional time to take advantage of those amenities and extend your spa experience. When should I make my reservation? What about cancellation policies? While you might have luck walking into a spa for a spontaneous treatment, it is not recommended. Making an appointment ensures you have your time and therapist preferences set in advance. Inquire about the cancellation policy at the time of booking. To be courteous to the spa staff, it is always recommended to provide as much notice as possible should you need to cancel. Can I use my cell phone in a spa? You will find most spas restrict the use of cell phones or other wireless devices. After all, you’re not going to have a very relaxing experience if you are checking emails or if the phone is ringing! In addition to protecting your spa time, this also protects the serenity of the spa for other guests. What if I have a special health concern such as pregnancy, disability or sensitivities? Be sure to inform the spa about your situation when making your treatment appointment. The person taking the reservation will likely be able recommend the best treatment for your needs. They should share the information with the service provider for your appointment. However, it is also a good idea to personally tell your therapist or aesthetician so you can discuss any concerns before starting the service. Am I expected to tip my therapist? Spa gratuities, as with any service, are up to your discretion. While 15% is average, you can provide more or less to reflect your satisfaction with the service provider. You can leave your gratuity at the reception desk when checking out from your experience. What if I have a special request? Your time is valuable, and you should make the most of your spa experience. If you are not asked, be sure to advise your preference for a male or female therapist. If you enjoy the services of one individual, feel free to request him/her by name for a subsequent service. Tell your therapist of any preferences for room temperature, body covering, music or other personalization that would make the experience best for you, including requesting deeper or gentler pressure during the actual treatment. What if I’d like to plan a spa day with my child? Inquire at the time of reservation, as each spa has a different policy. On average, massage is often limited to children age 16 and older with supervision (18 and older, unsupervised). There are also local and state laws regarding age limits that may come into effect. For creating a spa-like experience for younger children, a manicure or pedicure is a great way to start. Rated by 1 person: Map Out the New YearBy Petra Beumer, M.A. and Susi Warmé,OTD, OTR/LJanuary 22, 2010 - 10:50AMIt's the first month of 2010 and time to map out this year's goals. What aspirations do you have for yourself? How can you make this year better than last? Take a moment to reflect on these various areas of your life: career, finances, family and friends, spirituality, romance, health and fitness, fun and self-care and personal development. Learn how you can pick a goal and see results through following these simple steps:1. Get Started. Pick an area of your life that needs change. Do not judge. Assess what needs to happen in order to improve that particular lifestyle domain. Now, come up with one or two small action steps. When identifying an action step, be sure to keep it small, simple and achievable. Also, assess how it will actually fit into your current lifestyle. Be specific and realistic. For example, "I will sign up for a Pilates class by the end of the month" or " I will leave work half an hour early once a week, starting next Wednesday." 2. Identify Support. Who you will recruit for your support system? The person you choose is a key component to sustaining healthy habits. Ask a friend or significant other to help hold you accountable. Or, perhaps try partnering up with a workplace walking buddy, hiring a life coach or personal trainer. Beyond external support, how will you keep yourself accountable? Research indicates tracking progress can help to initiate and sustain habits. Identify the system that works best for you, whether it is tracking via journaling, an online tracking tool or a calendar. Take the time to acknowledge your progress at least once per week to keep motivation levels high! 3. Prepare for Obstacles. Potential barriers always present themselves in life. If you are aware of mental blocks or situations that may interfere with your commitment, you will be better equipped to handle them. Remember to treat your new action step as an appointment by scheduling it into your calendar. Treat it as you would an important business meeting or a doctor's appointment. Keep the commitment to yourself. Whether it is a commitment to working out for 30 minutes twice a week or blocking out "play" time every day for 10 minutes, stick to your commitment. 4. Tap into the Past. Take a look at the past to identify what worked and what didn't work. Identify the skills and strengths that enabled you to make positive changes before and see how you can leverage those same aptitudes to attain your current goals. 5. Keep a Positive Mindset. Whatever goal or action step you choose, remember that change starts in the mind and persistence creates results. Keep a positive attitude and enjoy being in the process of improving your life - one baby step at a time. Rated by 3 people: Kick That Holiday Sugar HabitBy Paulette Lambert, R.D., CDE, Director of NutritionJanuary 14, 2010 - 6:00AM There have been references to sugar addiction for years in the literature. Recent studies have shown that the quick energy high derived from sugar gives you a jolt and a pleasurable feeling that is associated with other drugs. Sugar can make you feel good by making the brain produce natural chemical called opioids, which give the body a feeling of pleasure and the cravings for more. The problem starts just like drug addiction. You increase the intake of sugar (such as what happens during the holiday) experience withdrawal when you try to cut back and then face incredible cravings that are difficult to control so you have more sugar. Humans have been shown to have even more difficulty when deprived of adequate healthy food, such in trying to stringently diet right after the holidays. So how do you stop the sugar cravings? Is there anything one can do to recover from sugar addiction? The following tips can help you recover from overindulging during the holidays or any other time that you are caught in this undesirable state. First and foremost, have no sugar for one full week. This means no dessert or added sugar to your food. It may be painful for the first three to four days but the less stimulation, the fewer cravings. Keep in mind that you should not be concerned about eating too many apples or oranges. Fruit is allowed since the intensity of taste is so much less than refined sugar. By eating two to four pieces per day, you add fiber, much-needed vitamins and antioxidants that make you feel better. Have three meals per day plus one to two snacks. Do not go longer than five hours without food. Hunger is the enemy! Make sure to have protein at each meal and snack. Fish, poultry, nuts, non-fat yogurt, low-fat cheeses and eggs all help ward off hunger and keep glucose level stable, longer (eliminating that crash and burn feeling after a sugar high). Only consume high-fiber carbohydrate foods such as whole grain breads, oatmeal, high-fiber cereals, barley, brown rice or baked yams. High-fiber carbohydrate foods cause less insulin production to keep you full longer. Manage your temptations. Keep sugar out of the house and office; it's just too tempting to have it on hand. After sugar-free week, limit your intake to only one to two times per week, in small amounts. Preferably, you will only have sugar socially, outside of the house with some controls in place. (We tend to "binge" on sugar when we are by ourselves.) Remember, your cravings will decrease with time. The longer sugar is out of your diet, the easier it gets. Rated by 0 people: Conquering FearBy Barbara E. Savin, Clinical Hypnotherapist and Energy Healing SpecialistJanuary 08, 2010 - 5:00PM What many people don’t realize is that fear is a conditioned response, a natural reaction to a frightening or unfamiliar situation. While fear is automatic, there are things you can do to overcome it: 1. Check your expectations. One major contributor of fear is the prevalence of negative expectations. Do you usually find yourself expecting the worst in every situation? Do you worry obsessively about what could go wrong, rather than focusing on your strengths and capabilities? If you make a conscious effort to expect the best, see the positive side of each situation and keep reminding yourself that you can handle more than you think, you'll find yourself with much less fear to deal with. Even if feelings of fear do creep into your consciousness, you'll still be able to keep them in perspective and balance them with an underlying sense of confidence. 2. Discredit your fears. Experts will tell you that the majority of things you fear will never come to pass. While this may be true, it sure doesn't feel that way when fear has a chokehold on you! However, if you look a little more closely at your fears when they arise, you may be able to dismiss a few. For example, if you have a fear of public speaking and your boss wants you to give a presentation at work, you might feel like your life (and perhaps your livelihood) is on the line. You may fear getting fired or worry that your colleagues will lose respect for you if you don't do a good job. Is any of this likely to happen? In most cases, the answer is no. Rather than worrying about what "might" happen if you don't give a solid presentation, you might brainstorm ways to help improve your performance, such as being well prepared, practicing your delivery on friends and family members, writing notes to yourself and so on. 3. Do the very thing you fear. When you remember that fear is simply a feeling, it loses much of its power. It can't harm you (except in truly threatening situations) so you can choose to ignore it and move forward. If you weigh the pros and cons in any situation, you may decide that the possibility of negative consequences is minimal so there's nothing to stop you from ignoring your fear and going for it. Of course, this will be determined by you on a case by case basis. The point isn't to become reckless with your decision-making but rather to empower yourself to know when fear is groundless and easily overcome. Rated by 3 people: |
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Recent PostsJanuary 29, 2010 - 6:00AMHelpful Tips for Visiting a SpaJanuary 22, 2010 - 10:50AMMap Out the New YearBy Petra Beumer, M.A. and Susi Warmé,OTD, OTR/LJanuary 14, 2010 - 6:00AMKick That Holiday Sugar HabitBy Paulette Lambert, R.D., CDE, Director of NutritionArchives |
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