Let’s face it. We live in a high stress world. The daily demands of family and career leave us feeling as if we have little time to keep for ourselves. Additionally, people – especially women – instinctively tend to neglect themselves while catering to the needs of those around them. It is not news that stress and self-neglect manifest themselves physically in many ways. Nurturing one’s self is an intentional process that, once learned, helps us control the stress in our lives rather than allowing stress to control us. Stress begins on an unconscious level, as a worry or a nagging thought that builds-up until physical symptoms begin to show. Read More

Light: It’s a part of our day-to-day survival. We depend on light, in both its natural and man-made forms, to help us navigate through life as we know it. Everything we see is a variance of light, as it is light that carries information from our eyes to our brain, creating and translating images of the world in which we live. Throughout history, a number of findings prove that color and light have been used for centuries to facilitate healing and well-being. In skin care, phototherapy has been used to treat such skin disorders as psoriasis, eczema, and acne. Read More

Ayurveda is the traditional holistic medical system that originated in India some 3000 to 5000 years ago. Derived from Sanskrit roots, ‘ayus’ (life) and ‘ved’ (knowledge) means “Knowledge of Life.” Ayurveda is based on the belief that the natural state of the body is one of balance between the mind, body, and soul. The fundamental belief of Ayurveda is that the power to heal lies within the individual. Based on the principle that disease is the natural end result of living out of harmony with our environment, Ayurveda views symptoms of disease as the body’s normal way of communicating disharmony. Read More

Equilibrium We grapple daily to stay on top of elements that threaten our health and well-being. The need for equilibrium is dire. The concept of a medi-spa is not mysterious in the least. Neither is it new. Indeed, it’s such a natural union of spa and corrective, aesthetic medicine that one wonders why the idea hasn’t hit center stage earlier. In these times, it’s easy to forget that a holistic approach to medicine and well-being has been a long time coming. For quite a while, medical practice has been, for want of a better word, largely conservative, with “alternative” approaches sidelined to the secondary. Read More

Vibrational healing or medicine is a term used to describe the modalities that influence the energy fields and centers of a person in order to bring about healing. Combined with aesthetics, the practice of advanced skin care, powerfully effective treatments designed to promote inner and outer (and therefore longer lasting) healing are very possible. The modalities of vibrational healing use a number of vehicles, including the five senses, flower essences, and vibrational frequencies. Light therapy, homeopathy, and flower essence remedies are examples. The principle of activity in all of these is that everything, even down to cells has a vibrational pattern that equals healthiness. Read More

We live in a society that obsesses over the concept of staying young. However, spa clientele actually seek to do something about it, while most of society is simply obsessing over the concept of youthfulness. This educated, informed segment of the population constantly searches for new ways to improve themselves and to remain youthful in health and appearance. As spa professionals, we must consistently strive to offer services that meet the demands of our clients. Ironically, incorporating into the spa environment a practice that is centuries old creates a pathway for our clients to follow towards the fountain of youth. Read More

For many of us the start of a new year can serve as a wake-up call to shape up. Stretching the day to fit a busy holiday schedule can interfere with good sleep habits and irritate nerves. It only takes a few weeks of binge eating and drinking to induce us to turn our attention to diet, exercise, and other self-improvement resolutions. So, at this time of year especially, people want to know about detoxifying treatments for the mind and body. Ask 10 providers what detoxification is and you’ll probably receive 10 different answers. Read More