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Spa Therapies
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Lifestyle Relaxation & Health Therapies
s k i n v i t a l i t y b o d y b a l a n c e
A Professional take on SPA Business, Health Therapies, Products & Simple Relaxation 2022*ISSUE*89
C O N T E N T S *89
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Doc: Six Senses Spa
s k i n v i t a l i t y b o d y b a l a n c e
The Longest-Living People in the World 2 Thalgo Mer Des Indes Spa Journey 4 Trend: A More Intellectual Wellness Travel 6 Esse’s South African-Accredited Skincare Courses 8 Moving to Sustain 10 Introducing the TheraVine™ CBD Bath and Body Oil and Chill-Breathe-Destress Massage 12 Topical Vitamin D: A Superhero Solution for Skin, Immunity, and Health 14 The Music Industry’s Wellness Pivot 18 How You Can Be A Part of the Blue Beauty Movement 20 A Guide to Gratitude 22 Making Ageing a Blissful Experience 24 What Is a Gua Sha Facial and Can It Transform Your Skin? 26 Power of Sleep 30 What is Healing? 32 Getting Grounded: How Dirt Makes You Happy 34 Doterra’s AromaTouch 36 Client Love: Six Rules for Building Solid Gold Relationships 38 Skin Changes During Pregnancy 40 Wellness and Happiness 42 Alkalinity: the Concept that Defines Healthy Nutrition 44 Lion's Mane Mushrooms 46 Shinrin-Yoku & Other Lifestyle Changes for Shifting Cortisol Levels 48 Changing The World With Our Bare Hands 50 Five Essential Ways to Stop Your Ageing Clock 52 How to Infuse Energy Work into Your Life and Career 54 How to Train Your Mind for Emotional Resiliency 56
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Spa & wellness experiences, including mental health & happiness, are more integral to one's health than people appreciate. Celebrate Spa & Wellness with us, as we explore the wonderful world of spas, wellness, health, nutrition, spa therapies, relaxation, gratitude, happiness and more .... Les Nouvelles Esthetiques Spa Magazine's mission is to further your growth as a professional. We strive to be your monthly source of inspiration and your driving force to move forward and expand. We believe education is key, with well-balanced content. We’re constantly on the lookout for the latest in skin care and spa trends so you can breathe new life into the services you provide your clients. Our Connection to you is fueled by passion, hence we are available on all digital platforms including digital, mobile and social: Anywhere & Everywhere. Dates to Diarise: Les Nouvelles Esthetiques Spa Conference and Spa Awards 2022 are taking place on the 24 & 25th July 2022, at The Houghton Hotel. Register today on www.lesnouvelleblog.co.za / WhatsApp: 083 267 2773 / www.facebook.com/LesNouvellesSA or Instagram: @nadine.defreitas Enjoy the read !
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques International Publisher I 7, avenue Stephane Mallarme 75017 PARIS Tel: 01 43 80 06 47 Fax: 01 43 80 83 63 www.nouvelles-esthetiques.com I Fondateur : H. Pierantoni I Directeur de la Publications: Jeannine Cannac-Pierantoni I Redactrice en chef: Michéle de Lattre-Pierantoni I International Editions • Argentina • Baltic • Benelux • Brazil • Bulgaria • Canada • China • France • Greece • Hong Kong • Hungary • Israel • Italy • Japan • Mexico • Poland • Portugal • Romania • Singapore • South Africa • Spain • Taiwan • Turkey • Ukraine • USA • Yugoslavia Les Nouvelles Esthétiques South African Edition I Max Cafe P. O. Box 81204, Parkhurst Johannesburg, South Africa 2120 I Tel: +27 83 267 2773 e-mail: info@lesnouvelles.co.za www.lesnouvelles.co.za I Publisher/Creative Director : Anthony de Freitas e-mail: tony@maxcafe.co.za I Managing Editor : Dr. Nadine de Freitas e-mail: nadine@maxcafe .co.za I Editor ial Assistant: Sarene Kloren editor ial @lesnouvelles.co.za I Adver tising Enquir ies: Dr Nadine de Freitas e-mail: info@lesnouvelles.co.za I Subscription Enquiries: Tel: +27 83 267 2773 e-mail: info@lesnouvelles.co.za or visit: www.lesnouvelles.co.za
spa therapies In the US, the average life expectancy is 78 years. But there are a few places in the world—specifically Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Icaria, Greece—where living to be over 100 isn’t uncommon at all. In these regions, known as Blue Zones, the life expectancy isn’t just higher; centenarians are generally also healthy, their minds and bodies still working well. National Geographic journalist Dan Buettner spent years studying each culture, pinpointing the exact reasons why they thrived before publishing his findings in the best selling book, The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest. Buettner found that despite the geographical differences, people living in the Blue Zones all had nine key lifestyle habits in common, which he named the “Power 9.” Here, each pillar is explained, with input from doctors about why it’s so crucially connected to health and longevity. Keep reading for the complete intel, including how to apply the pillars to your own life.
1. Move Naturally Buettner found that in all the Blue Zones communities, movement was a regular part of daily life for the residents. The Longevity Plan author John Day, MD saw this first-hand as well when he spent a year living in remote China. Even in their advanced age, he saw centenarians working in the fields and throughout the village. Of course, in the States, our jobs are a lot more sedentary. But Dr. Day still says we can work this pillar into everyday life. “Unfortunately, our modern lifestyles have been engineered in a way to take movement out of our lives, so it is up to us to get in as much as we can during the day,” he says. “For example, you could take a vow to never use an elevator or escalator again unless the stairs are restricted. Other options include an evening walk or doing everything possible to avoid having to use a car. Even vacations can be scheduled in a way that are physically active, like a vacation centered around skiing, hiking, or cycling.”
The Longest-Living People in the World Have These By Emily Laurence 9 Things in Common 2
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’89
Richard Honaker, MD, who works with Your Doctors Online, echoes this saying, “The more exercise you can fit into your day, the better. Even walking is good for your health.” His recommendation is to aim for a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise three times a week. “This is the bare minimum amount of exercise to do that will benefit your health,” he says.
2. Have a larger purpose Having a clear sense of why you wake up in the morning is connected to living a long, healthy life. “Purpose is related to happiness, and happiness is associated with better health than sadness or indifference,” Dr. Honaker says. Dr. Day adds that the connection between the mind, health, and a sense of purpose is powerful. “Whether your goal is to beat cardiovascular disease or cancer, or even to live a long and healthy life, study after study has found an association of purpose in
life with all kinds of better health outcomes—an effect that stands regardless of (age, sex, education or race,” he says. “You have to have a reason to get out of bed every morning. Something that pushes and motivates you. For without purpose it is next to impossible to maintain the healthy behaviors and lifestyle that is conducive to a long and healthy life.”
week, to be exact—were 20 percent less likely to die of any cause and 25 percent to 30 percent less likely to die of cardiovascular disease than those who were completely sober. The key, of course, is to be mindful.
3. Manage your Stress
A sense of family and community is important in all Blue Zones communities, which Dr. Honaker says has been directly linked to health. “Many studies have shown lower rates of hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and possibly even cancer for people with lots of friends and loving relationships in their lives,” he says.
Chronic stress is terrible for your health, which is why stress management is one of the pillars for living a long, healthy life. “We all have stress. The key is how you perceive your stress,” Dr. Day says. “If you view stress as something that is making you stronger or refining you then it can be a good thing. If you view stress as something destructive then it probably is.” During his time in China, he saw that simple lifestyle habits such as eating nourishing foods, being physically active, getting good sleep, and socializing with family and neighbors all helped negate the stress the townspeople experienced, showing that the pillars are intertwined and connected to each other.
4. Eat until you are 80 percent full In the States, generous, oversized portions of food are valued greatly. But in Blue Zones, Buettner found that people stopped eating when they were mostly full, not when they finished everything on their plate or were too stuffed to eat another bite. He also observed that the biggest meal of the day occurred in late afternoon or early evening, not right close to bedtime. Scientific research has shown that eating late at night is linked to unhealthy weight gain, which isn’t exactly great for lifespan.
5. Stick to a plant-forward diet While we’re on the subject of food, people in Blue Zones tend to eat a diet that’s primarily plant-based, consuming meat only a few times a month on special occasions. “Processed foods and added sugar have never shown to have a health benefit. Cutting them out is 90 percent of a healthy diet right there,” Dr. Day says. “[In China’s longevity village], they picked their own produce and ate it the same day. And since they were essentially cut off from the rest of the world, they didn’t have any access to sugar or processed foods.” He also adds that they ate fish about twice a week, which of course brings to mind the Mediterranean diet, a long-beloved eating plan by doctors and dietitians.
6. Moderate alcohol Consumption Across Blue Zones, Buettner observed that alcohol was consumed, but moderately, at one to two glasses a day, with friends or food. This makes sense, as light to moderate drinking (particularly of wine) has been associated with a longer lifespan. According to a 333,000-person, eight-year analysis, those who enjoyed an occasional drink—seven or less per
7. Find your Community
Dr. Day observed first-hand how belonging affected the health of the people in China’s longevity village. “Our research showed that as long as people stayed in the village and adopted the village lifestyle, they were healthy and aging was slowed,” he says. “However, if they left for employment in one of the big cities in China then their health suffered.”
8. Stay close with Family Similarly, in Blue Zones, families tend to be close, both geographically and emotionally. Younger generations value and help care for older ones. Dr. Day says that healthy aging requires a close network of friends and faamily who share their health goals and values, not something people can do on their own. This may too be related to a sense of belonging. “This may be in part to the healthy lifestyles happy people adopt along with other factors we cannot measure,” Dr. Honaker says.
9. Maintain a fulfilling Social Life People in Blue Zones areas not only have supportive families and communities, they actively participate in them. For some, faith may be the cornerstone of their social life, which Dr. Honaker says can provide both comfort and camaraderie through a shared beliefs system. “As with purpose, study after study suggests that having a faith may increase longevity,” Dr. Days says of this connection, adding that faith often involves frequent social gatherings. Another studies published emphasizes the importance of even casual social relationships when it comes to longevity.
spa therapies In the US, the average life expectancy is 78 years. But there are a few places in the world—specifically Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Icaria, Greece—where living to be over 100 isn’t uncommon at all. In these regions, known as Blue Zones, the life expectancy isn’t just higher; centenarians are generally also healthy, their minds and bodies still working well. National Geographic journalist Dan Buettner spent years studying each culture, pinpointing the exact reasons why they thrived before publishing his findings in the best selling book, The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest. Buettner found that despite the geographical differences, people living in the Blue Zones all had nine key lifestyle habits in common, which he named the “Power 9.” Here, each pillar is explained, with input from doctors about why it’s so crucially connected to health and longevity. Keep reading for the complete intel, including how to apply the pillars to your own life.
1. Move Naturally Buettner found that in all the Blue Zones communities, movement was a regular part of daily life for the residents. The Longevity Plan author John Day, MD saw this first-hand as well when he spent a year living in remote China. Even in their advanced age, he saw centenarians working in the fields and throughout the village. Of course, in the States, our jobs are a lot more sedentary. But Dr. Day still says we can work this pillar into everyday life. “Unfortunately, our modern lifestyles have been engineered in a way to take movement out of our lives, so it is up to us to get in as much as we can during the day,” he says. “For example, you could take a vow to never use an elevator or escalator again unless the stairs are restricted. Other options include an evening walk or doing everything possible to avoid having to use a car. Even vacations can be scheduled in a way that are physically active, like a vacation centered around skiing, hiking, or cycling.”
The Longest-Living People in the World Have These By Emily Laurence 9 Things in Common 2
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’89
Richard Honaker, MD, who works with Your Doctors Online, echoes this saying, “The more exercise you can fit into your day, the better. Even walking is good for your health.” His recommendation is to aim for a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise three times a week. “This is the bare minimum amount of exercise to do that will benefit your health,” he says.
2. Have a larger purpose Having a clear sense of why you wake up in the morning is connected to living a long, healthy life. “Purpose is related to happiness, and happiness is associated with better health than sadness or indifference,” Dr. Honaker says. Dr. Day adds that the connection between the mind, health, and a sense of purpose is powerful. “Whether your goal is to beat cardiovascular disease or cancer, or even to live a long and healthy life, study after study has found an association of purpose in
life with all kinds of better health outcomes—an effect that stands regardless of (age, sex, education or race,” he says. “You have to have a reason to get out of bed every morning. Something that pushes and motivates you. For without purpose it is next to impossible to maintain the healthy behaviors and lifestyle that is conducive to a long and healthy life.”
week, to be exact—were 20 percent less likely to die of any cause and 25 percent to 30 percent less likely to die of cardiovascular disease than those who were completely sober. The key, of course, is to be mindful.
3. Manage your Stress
A sense of family and community is important in all Blue Zones communities, which Dr. Honaker says has been directly linked to health. “Many studies have shown lower rates of hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and possibly even cancer for people with lots of friends and loving relationships in their lives,” he says.
Chronic stress is terrible for your health, which is why stress management is one of the pillars for living a long, healthy life. “We all have stress. The key is how you perceive your stress,” Dr. Day says. “If you view stress as something that is making you stronger or refining you then it can be a good thing. If you view stress as something destructive then it probably is.” During his time in China, he saw that simple lifestyle habits such as eating nourishing foods, being physically active, getting good sleep, and socializing with family and neighbors all helped negate the stress the townspeople experienced, showing that the pillars are intertwined and connected to each other.
4. Eat until you are 80 percent full In the States, generous, oversized portions of food are valued greatly. But in Blue Zones, Buettner found that people stopped eating when they were mostly full, not when they finished everything on their plate or were too stuffed to eat another bite. He also observed that the biggest meal of the day occurred in late afternoon or early evening, not right close to bedtime. Scientific research has shown that eating late at night is linked to unhealthy weight gain, which isn’t exactly great for lifespan.
5. Stick to a plant-forward diet While we’re on the subject of food, people in Blue Zones tend to eat a diet that’s primarily plant-based, consuming meat only a few times a month on special occasions. “Processed foods and added sugar have never shown to have a health benefit. Cutting them out is 90 percent of a healthy diet right there,” Dr. Day says. “[In China’s longevity village], they picked their own produce and ate it the same day. And since they were essentially cut off from the rest of the world, they didn’t have any access to sugar or processed foods.” He also adds that they ate fish about twice a week, which of course brings to mind the Mediterranean diet, a long-beloved eating plan by doctors and dietitians.
6. Moderate alcohol Consumption Across Blue Zones, Buettner observed that alcohol was consumed, but moderately, at one to two glasses a day, with friends or food. This makes sense, as light to moderate drinking (particularly of wine) has been associated with a longer lifespan. According to a 333,000-person, eight-year analysis, those who enjoyed an occasional drink—seven or less per
7. Find your Community
Dr. Day observed first-hand how belonging affected the health of the people in China’s longevity village. “Our research showed that as long as people stayed in the village and adopted the village lifestyle, they were healthy and aging was slowed,” he says. “However, if they left for employment in one of the big cities in China then their health suffered.”
8. Stay close with Family Similarly, in Blue Zones, families tend to be close, both geographically and emotionally. Younger generations value and help care for older ones. Dr. Day says that healthy aging requires a close network of friends and faamily who share their health goals and values, not something people can do on their own. This may too be related to a sense of belonging. “This may be in part to the healthy lifestyles happy people adopt along with other factors we cannot measure,” Dr. Honaker says.
9. Maintain a fulfilling Social Life People in Blue Zones areas not only have supportive families and communities, they actively participate in them. For some, faith may be the cornerstone of their social life, which Dr. Honaker says can provide both comfort and camaraderie through a shared beliefs system. “As with purpose, study after study suggests that having a faith may increase longevity,” Dr. Days says of this connection, adding that faith often involves frequent social gatherings. Another studies published emphasizes the importance of even casual social relationships when it comes to longevity.
spa therapies
Thalgo, La Beaute Marine Thalgo Mer Des Indes Spa Journey Thalgo Spa Journeys are intoxicating spa rituals that are inspired by the 5 oceans of the world. This is why they're called “journeys”, where from stopover to stopover, the fragrances and colours from the Oceans and their Beaches blend together with marine treasures. Wellness and Beauty become one. These rituals take you on a Journey to ignite all of your senses. These journeys include: Thalgo Joyaux Atlantique, inspired by the Atlantic Ocean that focuses on energizing the body. During this ritual inspired by lithotherapy, clients can enjoy the revitalising power of precious Algae enriched with gold and marine stones to restore the body's vital energy. The second journey is Merveille Arctique, which is inspired by the Arctic Oceans Landscapes of immaculate white ice, hot springs and incredible sea life to define this experience inspired by thermotherapy. We then go on a journey to the Pacific islands, like Bora Bora, Island lagoons, and Tahiti, where Crystalline waters and fine sun-warmed sand await the client. The NEW Thalgo Journey is Mer des Indes. This absolutely revitalising new Journey is inspired by the Indian ocean and a holistic treatment method called Ayurveda.
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Ayurveda combines the meanings: life and knowledge, with Ayur meaning “life” and Veda meaning “knowledge”. But what exactly is it? It's known as a traditional medicine from over 5000 years ago which takes both the body and mind into consideration. The aim of Ayurveda is to completely harmonise the body and mind, while ensuring good circulation of vital energy, called prana. According these practices, Each human being is made up of 5 elements (water, fire, earth, air and ether). These elements are paired to form 3 doshas: • Vata is symbolised by the principle of movement (e.g.: circulation, breath) • Pitta is symbolised as being responsible for transformation (e.g.: digestion) • Kapha is symbolised as a container (e.g.: the skeleton) Each individual has a constitution directed by these 3 doshas to varying degrees. Mer des Indes is the 1st harmonising ritual inspired by Ayurveda and based on Marma science to restore mind and body harmony. This is achieved through combining a harmonising marine complex: Indian red algae and essential oils used in Ayurveda. Mer des Indes also gives you overall harmonisation and nourished skin.
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’89
This beautiful, harmonising range will include a wide variety of rebalancing products that will harmonise the body and mind. The Thalgo Mer des Indes Precious Milk Bath awakens the senses and wraps the skin in soft, powdery notes. The range also included a daily cleanser: The Aromatic Shower Oil with essential oils that awaken the senses with soft, aromatic notes. The Ginger Exfoliating Scrub is rich in ginger powder to gently exfoliate the skin and wrap it in soft, aromatic notes. We then move on to the Soothing Massage Oil that contains sesame oil and essential oils used in Ayurveda, to relax the mind and body. Mer des Indes also offers a gentle moisturiser, The Moisturising Silky Balm which moisturises the skin and wraps it in soft, aromatic notes. Lastly, to create that Indian, harmonising aromatic atmosphere, try the Mer des Indes Room Fragrance with essential oils used in Ayurveda. Allow yourself and the client to go on a spiritual journey to the sacred land of India with this new, upcoming Spa Journey: Thalgo Mer des Indes. For more informtion on the upcoming range, or to become a Thalgo stockist contact Tel: 011 880 3850 email: sales@marinespadistributors.co.za or visit: www.thalgo.co.za
spa therapies
Trend: A More Intellectual Wellness Travel Travelers now seek purpose, personal growth and new skill sets, so programming is moving beyond mindfulness to actually feed their thinking minds—from more citizen science programs to immersing people in the creative arts. Our 2022 trend, “Wellness Travel, Seekers Welcome”, argues that with social forces such as the “great resignation,” record retirements and global nomadism, people are now seeking travel experiences that tap into their sense of purpose, their desire to grow creatively and intellectually, and that make a real impact on the planet. Intention is the future of travel, and more travel destinations and companies are answering the call for what could be called a new “intellectual wellness”—whether the surge in citizen science programs or more destinations getting people writing, painting and immersed in all kinds of creative expression. You could say that the first chapter in wellness was mostly “mindless” (the focus was physical fitness and beauty), the second chapter revolved around mindfulness, and a new chapter is emerging of experiences that respect and feed people’s intelligence and their growing quest for knowledge and personal growth. May was Mental Health Month, and while the mental wellness space has focused on stress-reduction and meditation, the wellness that comes from a life of intellectual growth (is there any true wellbeing without it?) has long been the missing piece. The future? Less wellness that requires magical thinking and more that sparks some actual thinking.
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A few ways the trend is playing out in travel: Contributing to Science Lifelong learners who want to make a difference can increasingly participate in citizen-science programs. Visitors to the tropics have long been able to help ocean stewards with coral growing efforts; at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island in the Maldives, guests work with the resort’s marine biologist to help plant the coral nursery, and the Rosewood Bermuda in Bermuda offers family-friendly coral-planting swims. Cruise lines are newly encouraging passengers, particularly on small-ship expedition sailings, to assist the teams of working scientists and researchers they often take along. Cruise lines Aurora Expeditions and Hurtigruten will introduce new scientific programs that allow passengers to contribute to work done by biologists on the ships in Antarctica and beyond. Viking will introduce a pair of new ships with Science Labs aboard each, offering demonstrations as well as hands-on learning activities. Coming to the Galapagos later this year, QuasarExpeditions ‘18guest yacht, Conservation, will engage scientists and passengers in archipelago research, monitoring the impacts of introduced species and tourism. Education, volunteer work and adventure meet in the new eight-day conservation experience at Kalahari Private Reserve in South Africa in which guests participate in fieldwork such as predator monitoring, game counts, vegetation surveys and antipoaching work.
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’89
Cultivating Creativity The wellness travel world wants you to write and paint again, or take up any creative means of expression for the first time, as a path to intellectual growth and introspection. In Japan, the Temple Hotel Zenko-Ji introduces guests to the traditional practice of Shabutsu tracing to improve mental and emotional health and increase gratefulness. The new Bishop’s Lodge, Auberge Resorts Collection in Santa Fe calls its creative offerings—such as calligraphy, an introspective spiritual practice in Zen Buddhism—“healing arts.” It offers foraging walks to gather rocks, leaves and flowers to create mosaics, as well as classes in pastels, painting, storytelling and journaling. Miraval Resorts & Spas recently debuted Celebration of the Arts programming promoting the therapeutic benefits of art-making via pottery, photography and painting classes. A new, more sophisticated intersection between art and wellness is evident in the culture more broadly: For instance, the Met Museum recently launched a podcast, Frame of Mind, that is the highest-level exploration of how art supports wellbeing. As the industry recovers from the crippling pandemic, travel will increasingly offer myriad ways for intentional travelers to fulfill their personal missions and get them thinking, learning, creating and researching. The future of travel is more about making an impact and getting an education. This Trendium is based on “Wellness Travel, Seekers Welcome trends from the 2022 Global Wellness Trends Report.
spa therapies
Earn CPD points through Esse’s South African-Accredited Skincare Courses
South African skincare brand, Esse, provides stockists with extensive training through its online platform, Esse College, and has also launched a world-first Microbiome Course, which trains dermatologists, medical aestheticians, skin therapists, and other interested individuals in the science of the skin microbiome. And now, Esse is excited to announce that these courses have received Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accreditation from the South African Association of Health and Skincare Professionals (SAASHP), empowering attendees with CPD points, which contribute to annual requirements. “For too long, professionals in the skincar industry have followed the traditional practices that have stripped our skin of its natural oils and microbial protection, leaving it exposed to harmful pathogens. This has led to premature ageing and a rise in sensitive skin conditions,” said Trevor Steyn, Esse’s founder and a global pioneer in the importance of the skin microbiome. “The key to addressing this is through education. Esse has invested heavily in training skincare professionals, and is committed to providing the best possible course structure that is both accessible and informative. That’s why we are delighted that Esse College and our Microbiome Course have rightfully received CPD accreditation.” The Esse skincare courses have been CPD-accredited in South Africa, which means that professionals who need CPD points for their annual requirements can apply for one of two Esse courses. While these courses are available worldwide, the CPD points currently only apply to South African citizens.
1. The Microbiome Course 8
Who can take it? Dermatologists, medical aestheticians, skin therapists, members of the public.
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’89
When is it? 18 to 22 July or 26 to 30 September. Format of the course: Theory and practical. Physical attendance is required. What is it about? This is a five-day course that provides attendees with a clear understanding of the skin microbiome and its impact on skin health. The course covers key species and their role in ecology, as well as information on probiotics and how they are used to treat skin conditions. Points awarded: 14 CPD points.
2. The Esse College Who can take it? Approved Esse stockists. Format of the course: Online, completed in own time. What is it about? This is an internal programme that gives Esse therapists the confidence to make recommendations on treatments and skincare routines to their clients. This training programme includes various theory modules and components addressing topics such as professional and retail products, ingredient technology, and treatment protocols. There are seven modules to complete, and each module will receive a certificate of completion, earning attendees CPD points, culminating in a graduation. Points awarded: Modules range from 1 to 8 points. A total of 23 CPD points can be received by completing all the modules. For more information about Esse courses, visit www.esseskincare.com. Any interested parties can contact Esse at training@esseskincare.com to register. -
spa therapies No matter what you think about the connections between personal and planetary vitality, at a core level, sustainability in spas just makes sense. For many spas the basic idea that everything is interconnected is already woven into the fabric of their brand through references to “holistic” treatments or statements like “for the betterment of body, mind and spirit.” Many clients seek out spa experiences to settle what feels out of balance or disjointed in their bodies and find that their emotional, psychological and even spiritual “selves” benefit too. But sending guests, relaxed and happy, out into a world with polluted air and water and crowded confusion seems shortsighted somehow, doesn't it? If your spa is really about supporting wholeness and vitality for your guests, it's not a stretch then to find that this mission is only enhanced by environmental and social responsibility as well. There are many simple, cost effective ways to get more up to speed with your business' sustainability program. Let's break it down from three perspectives.
Eco-greening For most of us, the core of greening lies in respecting the environment and bringing conscious care to the ways in which our businesses impact our finite natural resources like energy and water. Paying attention to the impact your business has on the environment is becoming the new status quo. Just like wellbeing isn't something your guests just “do” and check off a list, neither is your environmental responsibility. It's an ongoing pursuit to continually find new ways to improve your carbon and social footprint. If you're not already utilizing energy efficient lighting and low flow plumbing fixtures, start there. While your guests won't always say it to you directly, many of them notice if you're not employing these accessible cost saving strategies and have a hard time believing you're actually committed to anything green. “We no longer print spa menus for guests to take home, as most were ending up in trash or recycling cans,” says Cassandra Brookins, manager at SpaBlue at Del Mar in Del Mar, Calif. “Instead we have menu books available at the front desk for guests to browse and we direct them to our website to look over at home.” At SpaBlue, they have also removed the waterfall feature at their front entrance and replaced it with a plant garden.
Moving to Sustain Greenify Your Spa, Reduce Costs and Help Client & Planet
Unless you're creating a new facility, you might think it's too expensive to utilize green building strategies. In the case of reducing the airborne toxic impact of your spa through VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds found in paints, varnishes and finishes), this is not the case. When giving your spa a face lift with a fresh coat of paint, be sure to ask your paint supplier about eco options and use a non-VOC, water-based product.
Social Responsibility On the heels of eco-greening and at the leading edge of the movement is the idea that all of us are at our best when we are supported by our families, friends, coworkers and communities. Bringing conscious care to creating a workplace experience that nurtures your staff taps into a wellspring of energy that only fuels your spa's mission and brings more value to your guests and local community.
Staff Care 10
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’89
Look at your spa's goal to leave guests relaxed, revitalized and feeling well, and ask yourself if your employees have
the same experience. Do they come to work and start a shift anticipating hours of purposeful, fun work that leaves them satisfied and fulfilled on all levels? Do they share enthusiastically and genuinely with guests and take pride in their healing role? Do they enjoy their coworkers and take time to do things that support the “back of the house” energy and experience? Don't sell your staff short. There are plenty of spas out there with incredible vitality, positive teamwork and passion for profound guest service emanating from their employees. Foster open channels of communication and seek input and ideas from all levels of your staff. Listen and take action on their best ideas. It's not just how much money a therapist earns per treatment that matters to them. It's also the balance of how many treatments they do vs. how many hours they spend at work not doing treatments that really fuels their satisfaction. It takes a creative scheduling policy to go along with your compensation plan to keep your team motivated and positive. At Miraval Resort and Spa in Tucson, Ariz., communication with staff is supported with technology through the use of Hot Schedules, an app that logs and tracks shift swapping, making flexible scheduling less of an administrative burden. They also have a private Facebook page to facilitate discussions and address staff issues immediately, which prevents problems from festering between difficult to schedule staff meetings. “Our staff Facebook page has really helped everyone stay connected on important conversations,” says Miraval director Grant Bruce. “This way we avoid the pitfalls of the rumor mill and telephone game phenomenon that can arise so easily with a staff of talented and passionate people.”
Community Involvement As discussed in “Make the Connection,” spas everywhere are seeing that actively giving back to their communities brings positive dividends to their social and economic “bank accounts” and, depending on the nature of the cause, the ecological one as well. Often the “investment” involved in partnering with a community event is mostly measured in volunteer time, making this a highly cost-effective way to boost team morale, generate positive brand impressions and make a measurable difference in your community all at the same time.
Financial And Business Sustainability Growing a successful business in a world with so many rapid changes is becoming more and more challenging for traditional businesses. However, new approaches to how you can honor the heart and soul of your mission and values while deliberately achieving huge financial success are beginning to emerge. In regards to whatever sustainable initiatives you've been able to accomplish, if there isn't already a better way to do it now there most definitely will be soon. Spread the word about your sustainable spa and avoid greenwashing by sharing openly about your efforts from a place of honesty, transparency and humility. Make sure to measure and report on your accomplishments as specifically as possible. Your customers and other stakeholders respond to seeing the real impact you're making much more than they care about your commitment or intentions. Growing a sustainable brand is not difficult if you keep it simple and take one step at a time. Just like any business pursuit; take action, learn from the results and improve as you go. For innovators, sustainability offers a rich context for being creative and discovering simple ways to cause positive change. However you approach it, your sustainable brand is one of the best assets you can build to support a stable, thriving bottom line in a world of change.
spa therapies No matter what you think about the connections between personal and planetary vitality, at a core level, sustainability in spas just makes sense. For many spas the basic idea that everything is interconnected is already woven into the fabric of their brand through references to “holistic” treatments or statements like “for the betterment of body, mind and spirit.” Many clients seek out spa experiences to settle what feels out of balance or disjointed in their bodies and find that their emotional, psychological and even spiritual “selves” benefit too. But sending guests, relaxed and happy, out into a world with polluted air and water and crowded confusion seems shortsighted somehow, doesn't it? If your spa is really about supporting wholeness and vitality for your guests, it's not a stretch then to find that this mission is only enhanced by environmental and social responsibility as well. There are many simple, cost effective ways to get more up to speed with your business' sustainability program. Let's break it down from three perspectives.
Eco-greening For most of us, the core of greening lies in respecting the environment and bringing conscious care to the ways in which our businesses impact our finite natural resources like energy and water. Paying attention to the impact your business has on the environment is becoming the new status quo. Just like wellbeing isn't something your guests just “do” and check off a list, neither is your environmental responsibility. It's an ongoing pursuit to continually find new ways to improve your carbon and social footprint. If you're not already utilizing energy efficient lighting and low flow plumbing fixtures, start there. While your guests won't always say it to you directly, many of them notice if you're not employing these accessible cost saving strategies and have a hard time believing you're actually committed to anything green. “We no longer print spa menus for guests to take home, as most were ending up in trash or recycling cans,” says Cassandra Brookins, manager at SpaBlue at Del Mar in Del Mar, Calif. “Instead we have menu books available at the front desk for guests to browse and we direct them to our website to look over at home.” At SpaBlue, they have also removed the waterfall feature at their front entrance and replaced it with a plant garden.
Moving to Sustain Greenify Your Spa, Reduce Costs and Help Client & Planet
Unless you're creating a new facility, you might think it's too expensive to utilize green building strategies. In the case of reducing the airborne toxic impact of your spa through VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds found in paints, varnishes and finishes), this is not the case. When giving your spa a face lift with a fresh coat of paint, be sure to ask your paint supplier about eco options and use a non-VOC, water-based product.
Social Responsibility On the heels of eco-greening and at the leading edge of the movement is the idea that all of us are at our best when we are supported by our families, friends, coworkers and communities. Bringing conscious care to creating a workplace experience that nurtures your staff taps into a wellspring of energy that only fuels your spa's mission and brings more value to your guests and local community.
Staff Care 10
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’89
Look at your spa's goal to leave guests relaxed, revitalized and feeling well, and ask yourself if your employees have
the same experience. Do they come to work and start a shift anticipating hours of purposeful, fun work that leaves them satisfied and fulfilled on all levels? Do they share enthusiastically and genuinely with guests and take pride in their healing role? Do they enjoy their coworkers and take time to do things that support the “back of the house” energy and experience? Don't sell your staff short. There are plenty of spas out there with incredible vitality, positive teamwork and passion for profound guest service emanating from their employees. Foster open channels of communication and seek input and ideas from all levels of your staff. Listen and take action on their best ideas. It's not just how much money a therapist earns per treatment that matters to them. It's also the balance of how many treatments they do vs. how many hours they spend at work not doing treatments that really fuels their satisfaction. It takes a creative scheduling policy to go along with your compensation plan to keep your team motivated and positive. At Miraval Resort and Spa in Tucson, Ariz., communication with staff is supported with technology through the use of Hot Schedules, an app that logs and tracks shift swapping, making flexible scheduling less of an administrative burden. They also have a private Facebook page to facilitate discussions and address staff issues immediately, which prevents problems from festering between difficult to schedule staff meetings. “Our staff Facebook page has really helped everyone stay connected on important conversations,” says Miraval director Grant Bruce. “This way we avoid the pitfalls of the rumor mill and telephone game phenomenon that can arise so easily with a staff of talented and passionate people.”
Community Involvement As discussed in “Make the Connection,” spas everywhere are seeing that actively giving back to their communities brings positive dividends to their social and economic “bank accounts” and, depending on the nature of the cause, the ecological one as well. Often the “investment” involved in partnering with a community event is mostly measured in volunteer time, making this a highly cost-effective way to boost team morale, generate positive brand impressions and make a measurable difference in your community all at the same time.
Financial And Business Sustainability Growing a successful business in a world with so many rapid changes is becoming more and more challenging for traditional businesses. However, new approaches to how you can honor the heart and soul of your mission and values while deliberately achieving huge financial success are beginning to emerge. In regards to whatever sustainable initiatives you've been able to accomplish, if there isn't already a better way to do it now there most definitely will be soon. Spread the word about your sustainable spa and avoid greenwashing by sharing openly about your efforts from a place of honesty, transparency and humility. Make sure to measure and report on your accomplishments as specifically as possible. Your customers and other stakeholders respond to seeing the real impact you're making much more than they care about your commitment or intentions. Growing a sustainable brand is not difficult if you keep it simple and take one step at a time. Just like any business pursuit; take action, learn from the results and improve as you go. For innovators, sustainability offers a rich context for being creative and discovering simple ways to cause positive change. However you approach it, your sustainable brand is one of the best assets you can build to support a stable, thriving bottom line in a world of change.
spa therapies
Introducing the TheraVine™ CBD Bath and Body Oil and Chill-Breathe-Destress Massage
There is no denying that our bodies require a decent amount of sleep, good nutrition and a stress-free environment in order for us to function optimally. The reality however is that life’s pace continues to increase and our craving and yearning for time to chill, breathe and destress, is now bigger than ever hence the inspiration to make the latest trending ingredient, Cannabidiol, the hero component of our latest product and treatment innovation. CBD, or cannabidiol, has previously gained popularity for its magnitude of health benefits, from pain alleviation and sleep improvement to helping with mental health conditions. The Cannabis Sativa Plant has two primary species, Hemp and Marijuana. Hemp Seed Oil is extracted from the seeds of the plant, which contains no Cannabidiol, but is loaded with healthy fats, vitamins and anti-oxidants. Cannabidiol is extracted from the leaves or flowers that promotes a general feeling of relaxation and is therefore a naturally occurring compound from the Cannabis Sativa Plant. Unlike THC (which is the major active ingredient in marijuana), CBD is the non-psychoactive portion of the plant and acts on specific glycine receptors that reduce inflammation. Due to this, anyone using CDB, will not experience feelings of euphoria as it contains less than 0.3% THC which only promotes a general feeling of wellbeing and relaxation.
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Although the exact way CBD affects our bodies is still not entirely known, scientists believe CBD encourages the body to produce more of its own endocannabinoids, which may help reduce anxiety, pain and inflammation.
addition of Grapeseed Oil, Wheatgerm Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Tocopherol expertly helps improve the skin’s hydration, reduces irritation, promotes overall skin health and leaves the skin feeling soft to the touch.
Introducing the CBD Bath and Body Oil a pure CBD-infused oil blend formulated to promote relaxation and aid in skin nourishment whilst the refreshing cocktail of citrus essential oils provide for a pleasant sensory experience.
Experience the 60min TheraVine™ Chill-BreatheDestress Massage at a spa.
In order to diversify the product, we’ve chosen to use both CBD and Hemp Seed Oil for maximum benefits. Hemp Seed Oil contains the super Omega 3,6 and 9 and is known to be calming, soothing and provide antiinflammatory benefits while also being super hydrating and nourishing as it strengthens the skin barrier. We proceeded to combine the benefits of CBD and paired it with the benefits of circulation boosting Sweet Orange, the sedative effect of Neroli and the moisturizing benefit of Mandarin to help to relax the body whether you choose to merely apply or submerge in it as part of a bath ritual. What’s more, is that not only is the effect of the CBD and essential oils synergistically powerful, but the
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’89
Surrender to the calming benefits in the ultimate massage experience as you are transported to a state of pure relaxation. Expert therapeutic massage movements paired with the synergistic calming effect of CBD and a refreshing cocktail of citrus essential oils make this a skin nourishing, sensory experience 'out of this world'. Note: This product and treatment is not suitable for pregnant women, clients suffering from Epilepsy or those with allergies to any ingredients listed. TheraVine™ Where Science Meets Natural Beauty For more information contact us. Tel: 021 886 6623, Email: info@theravine.co.za www.theravine.co.za
spa therapies
Topical Vitamin D: A Superhero Solution for Skin, Immunity, and Health By Julie Keller Callaghan - Well Defined While vitamin D has long been known as a powerful ingredient for health and wellbeing, the pandemic has brought it to the forefront due to research that has found a correlation between high levels of vitamin D and a lower the risk of COVID-19 infection. But that’s just one aspect of its many benefits. When applied topically, vitamin D is also helpful in promoting overall health, and it’s known to be a potent ingredient for skin. For all of these reasons and more, it’s in the running for the year’s most coveted—and powerful— ingredient for health, wellbeing, and beauty.
Vitamin D & Immunity Interestingly, vitamin D acts less like a vitamin and more like a hormone in that it impacts almost any cell it comes in contact with, according to Ralph Esposito, a naturopathic physician, acupuncturist, and functional medicine practitioner specializing in integrative urology and endocrinology and medical advisor to Athletic Greens. “With such far-reaching effects and its ability to bind to specific vitamin D receptors (VDR) in the cell, it can influence the effectiveness of our macrophages, a type of immune white blood cell,” he explains. “In order for our macrophages to identify and engulf foreign pathogens, it must first recognize them, swallow them, and then release molecules to kill the foreigner—viruses, bacteria, etc. In order to do all of this, our immune cells absolutely need vitamin D to finish the job and be able to produce these bactericidal and antimicrobial molecules. Without vitamin D, our immune cells can’t build a robust response.” Additionally, Esposito says vitamin D helps keep our immune cells from overreacting and allows them to react appropriately to certain foreigners. “When our body is prepped and ready to release these inflammatory molecules called cytokines to kill a foreigner, vitamin D helps them elicit an appropriate and non-excessive response,” he says. “In short, vitamin D prevents overreactions of our adaptive immune system.” Also, when we talk beneficial vitamin D, we generally mean vitamin D3, which is the primary source of D
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made in the skin and utilized by the body for healthy functions, according to Celeste Hilling, founder and CEO of Skin Authority and a longtime researcher on vitamin D and skincare. She also points out that D3 is more effective at raising blood levels of D in the body for sufficiency.
Vitamin D & Skin While the immunity boosting benefits of vitamin D are impressive, the skincare solutions it provides are equally inspiring. According to Hilling, it has a rather significant impact on skin health. It controls epidermal cell proliferation, which is essential for growth, healing, and barrier function. It creates a protein that protects against free-radical and oxidative damage as well as an antimicrobial protein that promotes wound healing and reduces inflammation. It also regulates the growth cycle of mature hair follicles and strengthens keratin levels. As for its role in beauty, Hilling says vitamin D is truly a game-changer. It keeps skin moist and glowing, reduces photo aging and sun damage, protects from environmental damage, and encourages growth of hair and nails.
Vitamin D Deficiency With such blissful benefits, it’s unfortunate to note that most people (some reports claim up to 70% of the population) are deficient in vitamin D. Hilling says there are number of reasons for this, including hormonal decline, skin pigmentation, seasonality, and less outdoor exposure. “The skin needs D to make D,” she explains. “Vitamin D production initiates in the skin when the skin is exposed to UVB rays. The rays interact with the D present in the skin, causing a chemical reaction that produces vitamin D. Because D is more of a hormone than a vitamin, levels of D in our skin decrease as we age, making it harder to produce D naturally (even when exposed to the sun). As our population lives longer, this becomes more important to address.” Hilling also points out that more than 60% of our population has darker skin types and that pigment in
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’89
skin acts like an SPF, slowing penetration of UVB into the skin and thus slowing vitamin D production. As such, Hispanic, African American, and Middle Eastern populations are among the most D deficient. Another issue? Lack of sun, whether it is shorter exposure to daylight, either seasonally or people simply not spending much time outside. Reduced sun exposure and its natural ability to stimulate vitamin D production also contributes to the issue. While some foods like mushrooms, salmon, sardines, liver, egg yolk, and cod liver oil are very rich in vitamin D, they are not so common in most people’s diets, yet another factor that leads to vitamin D deficiency, according to Esposito. As for ingestible vitamin D? Hilling suggests what she calls a “nutrition sandwich” and encourages her clients eat vitamin D-rich foods, take a daily supplement with at least 600 IUs of vitamin D, and apply it topically for the most benefits. “Because less than 1 percent of what we ingest actually makes its way to the skin, you also want to apply it topically, in the same way that we now understand the power of applying vitamin C topically,” she says. “The real power of topical vitamin D is in its anti-inflammatory properties, which address many persistent skin conditions like acne, eczema, and rosacea. Because it also contains a microprotein that can neutralize pollution effects, it helps with contact dermatitis and skin allergies. Finally, it is key to building skin immunity to defend against environmental damage as it strengthens the skin barrier, repairs, and regenerates cell function.” While incorporating vitamin D-infused products into a skincare routine seems like a no-brainer, Hilling does have a word of caution and a suggestion to do your research. “It is important to note that the type of D, the level of D, the formulation efficacy, and added carriers with D are critically important to creating a vitamin D product that can produce noticeable skin improvement,” she says. “Just adding D to a product does not mean it will produce results.”
spa therapies From the music industry pivoting to “wellness” music to new technologies that capture our biometric data to create personalized, healing soundscapes — music is undergoing a sudden wellness transformation. We all self-medicate through music: We’ve all got our “I’m stressed” or “I need energy” playlists. But most people don’t fully grasp just how much they depend on music to manage their emotions or just how powerful the medical evidence for music therapy is. Studies reveal that not only are humans hardwired for music, but they also agree that no other stimulus positively activates so many regions of the human brain (from the amygdala to the hippocampus)— with unique powers to boost mood and memory. But when you think of formal “music therapy,” it conjures up dowdy, dusty greige offices in some school or medical outbuilding, with patients wearing Soviet-era headphones. Suddenly, something big is happening. Music as an intentional therapy is being radically reinvented. Music is emerging as one of the hottest trends in wellness, and wellness concepts are shaking up the massive music industry. “Wellness music” is being born, and the trend takes so many forms. Funding for medical studies on music’s impact on the brain is really heating up, with researchers using biofeedback, AI and machine learning to identify how music’s structural properties (beat, key, chord progression and timbre) specifically impact biometrics such as heart rate, brain waves and sleep patterns—so they can develop music as precision medicine for everything from pain to PTSD.
The Music Industry’s Wellness Pivot A New Wave of Chill-out, Medit:tive Music to Calm Us By By Beth McGroarty - Global Wellness Summit
18
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’89
The mainstream music industry is going through a wellness transformation: from an explosion of healing playlists on the big streaming sites such as Spotify to new artists and audiences for ambient and “New New Age” music to musicians incorporating all kinds of wellness experiences into their concerts. The newest and biggest meditation apps are fast morphing into wellness music apps, with goliaths such as Calm even planning to become a whole “new kind of label” for artists to launch music for wellbeing.
Fueling the Trend Evidence that music is strong medicine—with more studies un-riddling its unique brain mechanisms ahead Stringent meta-reviews show music’s eye-opening impact on depression, anxiety and pain—and everything from its power to improve social skills in kids with autism to being a stronghold against Alzheimer’s, as memories of music don’t get lost to the disease. A key, recent focus has been more hospitals around the world using music therapy before surgery, as new studies like one from the University of Pennsylvania reveal that music is as powerful as a sedative in reducing patients’ anxiety. More research is now untangling the brain mechanisms involved in listening to music and investigating the right dosages: The British Academy of Sound Therapy just found that 78 minutes daily is optimal for improving mental health. And there’s more research into evidence-based acoustic sound design: what frequencies (measured in hertz), decibels, beats, tones, etc. have the most powerful impact, and for what outcomes.
The potential of music therapy is so immense and untapped that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) just awarded $20 million to fund a Sound Health Initiative that will undertake studies to uncover music’s mechanisms of action in the brain, as well as to identify a host of new interventions, from treating symptoms of pain, PTSD, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, autism and dementia to music’s impact on childhood development. This is a huge step: serious money for serious science to understand music’s serious potential for improving human wellbeing.
“chill playlists” such as “Deep Focus,” “Peaceful Piano” and “Ambient Chill.”
Culture shift: Exhausted by screens, we’re taking sanctuary in sound
Both ambient and New Age music are finding big new audiences, as more people seek immersion in blissed-out sonic spaces and sound healing rather than power anthems or raps. NPR recently explored how ‘60s/70s New Age music (once cringeinducing for many, with its sounds of birdsong and ethereal synthesizers) is seeing a cool new wave of artists and approaches, such as Los Angeles’ Matthew David and Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith.
With the average person now spending 6.5 hours+ a day in front of screens — bombarded by bad news, endless work, and social media strutting— there’s a distinct shift underway: a retreat from visual/digital culture into music and sound. This flight into music is being led by millennials/Gen Z: A recent global Spotify survey of 15- to 37-yearolds found that one of the five defining traits of this young demographic is that they (56 percent reporting) “use audio as an escape from their screens,” and audio is a “huge part of their everyday lives.” It’s not just the kids: A recent Sonos global survey showed the many ways all people use music to boost their wellbeing: Roughly 75 percent report they listen to music to reduce stress, and that listening to music is key to producing their best work. You see the flight from visual to audio culture—from our exhausted eyes to our newly open ears—in the skyrocketing adoption of podcast-listening: Thirtysix percent of the world’s population has listened to podcasts in the last month. You see it in new music listening centers, like the rise of cool, new “listening bars” that mix community and cocktails with big vinyl listening libraries, so huge in Toyko at places such as Baobob or Paper Moon, and spreading around the world to places such as Bar Shiru in Oakland, California, or Tokyo Record Bar in New York City. You see it in hot real estate trends, including the rise in “listening rooms,” a home space where meditation can be taken with music, and with predictions that these wellness rooms loaded with state-of-the-art audio/AV equipment are “the new home theaters.” Stream your wellbeing: The music industry pivots to wellness From an explosion of healing wellbeing playlists on the big streaming sites to new, big audiences for ambient and “New New Age” music to musical artists incorporating all kinds of wellness into their concerts, the mainstream music industry is experiencing a serious wellness transformation. “Wellness” is becoming a new mode of listening— beyond the artist or genre. Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and other streaming sites are increasingly serving up playlists that focus on mood-changing, stress-reducing, helppeoplesleep, focus-enhancing, meditative, improve-yourworkout music and soundscapes—making wellness music a core homepage channel. There are now endless loops of trance-y and tranquilizing music or channels for specific wellbeing intentions, and they boast millions of subscribers. Spotify is spawning
Brand-new apps such as myndstream (from the founders of the entertainment group that made emotional music for shows such as Game of Thrones and House of Cards) create music to specifically drive daily wellbeing goals, with tracks for focus, meditation, movement, relaxation and sleep, that can be accessed on Spotify and Apple Music.
More artists are incorporating experiences that you would find at a wellness resort into their performances: Artists such as Erykah Badu and bands such as Sigur Ros are having mass sound baths at their concerts, while Jhene Aiko’s recent concerts included guided meditations, sound baths, mantra-chanting and aromatherapy. The music + wellness festival just continues to surge. The behemoth music fests such as Latitude or Glastonbury keep adding more wellness areas/experiences, the latter recently featuring everything from indigenous spiritual elders to workshops on ayahuasca. In the future, we will see more live music meditation and full-blown “audio-wellness” festivals, such as Soft Landings planned by Morning Gloryville Founder, Samantha Moyo.
Forecasting the Future •Given music’s incredible potential as a mental wellness intervention, it’s actually odd how little innovation there has been around designing music/ sound experiences that could actively change our brains. Change has come. Music created (and listened to) as intentional medicine will be a rising trend in 2020 and beyond. •Funding for medical studies on music’s impact on the brain are heating up. Researchers will use biofeedback, AI and machine learning to identify how music’s structural properties abeat, key, chord progression, etc.) impact biometrics such as heart rate, brain waves and sleep patterns—so music can be developed as precision medicine for everything from pain to PTSD. •The wellness music (and music-as-wellness) trend is being driven by people’s exhaustion with screens and visual/digital culture; they’re hightailing it into sound. During the Coronavirus, while video streaming is up 85 percent, music-stre:ming apps have dipped 8 percent. We need to stop compulsively checking the bad news, detach from screens, and listen to more music. In the long months ahead, more people will—and they’ll have many more music-forwellbeing platforms to flee to. This is an excerpt from the “Wellness Music” trend in the Global Wellness Trends Report.
spa therapies From the music industry pivoting to “wellness” music to new technologies that capture our biometric data to create personalized, healing soundscapes — music is undergoing a sudden wellness transformation. We all self-medicate through music: We’ve all got our “I’m stressed” or “I need energy” playlists. But most people don’t fully grasp just how much they depend on music to manage their emotions or just how powerful the medical evidence for music therapy is. Studies reveal that not only are humans hardwired for music, but they also agree that no other stimulus positively activates so many regions of the human brain (from the amygdala to the hippocampus)— with unique powers to boost mood and memory. But when you think of formal “music therapy,” it conjures up dowdy, dusty greige offices in some school or medical outbuilding, with patients wearing Soviet-era headphones. Suddenly, something big is happening. Music as an intentional therapy is being radically reinvented. Music is emerging as one of the hottest trends in wellness, and wellness concepts are shaking up the massive music industry. “Wellness music” is being born, and the trend takes so many forms. Funding for medical studies on music’s impact on the brain is really heating up, with researchers using biofeedback, AI and machine learning to identify how music’s structural properties (beat, key, chord progression and timbre) specifically impact biometrics such as heart rate, brain waves and sleep patterns—so they can develop music as precision medicine for everything from pain to PTSD.
The Music Industry’s Wellness Pivot A New Wave of Chill-out, Medit:tive Music to Calm Us By By Beth McGroarty - Global Wellness Summit
18
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’89
The mainstream music industry is going through a wellness transformation: from an explosion of healing playlists on the big streaming sites such as Spotify to new artists and audiences for ambient and “New New Age” music to musicians incorporating all kinds of wellness experiences into their concerts. The newest and biggest meditation apps are fast morphing into wellness music apps, with goliaths such as Calm even planning to become a whole “new kind of label” for artists to launch music for wellbeing.
Fueling the Trend Evidence that music is strong medicine—with more studies un-riddling its unique brain mechanisms ahead Stringent meta-reviews show music’s eye-opening impact on depression, anxiety and pain—and everything from its power to improve social skills in kids with autism to being a stronghold against Alzheimer’s, as memories of music don’t get lost to the disease. A key, recent focus has been more hospitals around the world using music therapy before surgery, as new studies like one from the University of Pennsylvania reveal that music is as powerful as a sedative in reducing patients’ anxiety. More research is now untangling the brain mechanisms involved in listening to music and investigating the right dosages: The British Academy of Sound Therapy just found that 78 minutes daily is optimal for improving mental health. And there’s more research into evidence-based acoustic sound design: what frequencies (measured in hertz), decibels, beats, tones, etc. have the most powerful impact, and for what outcomes.
The potential of music therapy is so immense and untapped that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) just awarded $20 million to fund a Sound Health Initiative that will undertake studies to uncover music’s mechanisms of action in the brain, as well as to identify a host of new interventions, from treating symptoms of pain, PTSD, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, autism and dementia to music’s impact on childhood development. This is a huge step: serious money for serious science to understand music’s serious potential for improving human wellbeing.
“chill playlists” such as “Deep Focus,” “Peaceful Piano” and “Ambient Chill.”
Culture shift: Exhausted by screens, we’re taking sanctuary in sound
Both ambient and New Age music are finding big new audiences, as more people seek immersion in blissed-out sonic spaces and sound healing rather than power anthems or raps. NPR recently explored how ‘60s/70s New Age music (once cringeinducing for many, with its sounds of birdsong and ethereal synthesizers) is seeing a cool new wave of artists and approaches, such as Los Angeles’ Matthew David and Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith.
With the average person now spending 6.5 hours+ a day in front of screens — bombarded by bad news, endless work, and social media strutting— there’s a distinct shift underway: a retreat from visual/digital culture into music and sound. This flight into music is being led by millennials/Gen Z: A recent global Spotify survey of 15- to 37-yearolds found that one of the five defining traits of this young demographic is that they (56 percent reporting) “use audio as an escape from their screens,” and audio is a “huge part of their everyday lives.” It’s not just the kids: A recent Sonos global survey showed the many ways all people use music to boost their wellbeing: Roughly 75 percent report they listen to music to reduce stress, and that listening to music is key to producing their best work. You see the flight from visual to audio culture—from our exhausted eyes to our newly open ears—in the skyrocketing adoption of podcast-listening: Thirtysix percent of the world’s population has listened to podcasts in the last month. You see it in new music listening centers, like the rise of cool, new “listening bars” that mix community and cocktails with big vinyl listening libraries, so huge in Toyko at places such as Baobob or Paper Moon, and spreading around the world to places such as Bar Shiru in Oakland, California, or Tokyo Record Bar in New York City. You see it in hot real estate trends, including the rise in “listening rooms,” a home space where meditation can be taken with music, and with predictions that these wellness rooms loaded with state-of-the-art audio/AV equipment are “the new home theaters.” Stream your wellbeing: The music industry pivots to wellness From an explosion of healing wellbeing playlists on the big streaming sites to new, big audiences for ambient and “New New Age” music to musical artists incorporating all kinds of wellness into their concerts, the mainstream music industry is experiencing a serious wellness transformation. “Wellness” is becoming a new mode of listening— beyond the artist or genre. Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and other streaming sites are increasingly serving up playlists that focus on mood-changing, stress-reducing, helppeoplesleep, focus-enhancing, meditative, improve-yourworkout music and soundscapes—making wellness music a core homepage channel. There are now endless loops of trance-y and tranquilizing music or channels for specific wellbeing intentions, and they boast millions of subscribers. Spotify is spawning
Brand-new apps such as myndstream (from the founders of the entertainment group that made emotional music for shows such as Game of Thrones and House of Cards) create music to specifically drive daily wellbeing goals, with tracks for focus, meditation, movement, relaxation and sleep, that can be accessed on Spotify and Apple Music.
More artists are incorporating experiences that you would find at a wellness resort into their performances: Artists such as Erykah Badu and bands such as Sigur Ros are having mass sound baths at their concerts, while Jhene Aiko’s recent concerts included guided meditations, sound baths, mantra-chanting and aromatherapy. The music + wellness festival just continues to surge. The behemoth music fests such as Latitude or Glastonbury keep adding more wellness areas/experiences, the latter recently featuring everything from indigenous spiritual elders to workshops on ayahuasca. In the future, we will see more live music meditation and full-blown “audio-wellness” festivals, such as Soft Landings planned by Morning Gloryville Founder, Samantha Moyo.
Forecasting the Future •Given music’s incredible potential as a mental wellness intervention, it’s actually odd how little innovation there has been around designing music/ sound experiences that could actively change our brains. Change has come. Music created (and listened to) as intentional medicine will be a rising trend in 2020 and beyond. •Funding for medical studies on music’s impact on the brain are heating up. Researchers will use biofeedback, AI and machine learning to identify how music’s structural properties abeat, key, chord progression, etc.) impact biometrics such as heart rate, brain waves and sleep patterns—so music can be developed as precision medicine for everything from pain to PTSD. •The wellness music (and music-as-wellness) trend is being driven by people’s exhaustion with screens and visual/digital culture; they’re hightailing it into sound. During the Coronavirus, while video streaming is up 85 percent, music-stre:ming apps have dipped 8 percent. We need to stop compulsively checking the bad news, detach from screens, and listen to more music. In the long months ahead, more people will—and they’ll have many more music-forwellbeing platforms to flee to. This is an excerpt from the “Wellness Music” trend in the Global Wellness Trends Report.
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How You Can Be A Part of the Blue Beauty Movement By Jeannie Jarnot - Founder: Beauty Heros You may be familiar with the green beauty movement that was pioneered by small, independent brands as it steadily emerged over the past three decades. Green beauty is generally defined as beauty and personal-care products that are plant-based, organicfocused, and ethically sourced. The products also eliminate processes and ingredients that are generally accepted as harmful to the environment and our health. A few of the green beauty brands you might recognize are May Lindstrom, Kahina Giving Beauty, and Laurel Skin, which have grown in awareness, and have stayed true to their green beauty roots, turning out small batch, artisan green beauty treasures. Over the past few years, green beauty has gone more mainstream and become mass produced with the rise of brands you are more likely to recognize. But have you heard of Blue Beauty? The Blue Beauty concept came to me just over three years ago. I was at an industry conference where the keynote speaker was a leading trend analyst across all industries. One of the trends he shared was that businesses were going to have to “go blue,” which meant that they were going to be held accountable by consumers to surpass being green and sustainable and forge new ways to use their businesses to make a positive impact on the environment, not just minimize their impact on it. He went so far as to say that if you hadn’t already become a green company, regardless of what industry you were in, you had missed the boat. As I sat in the audience, my mind was thinking about the many brands I work with at Beauty Heroes, which had already been “going blue.” Many had initiatives to give back to environmental causes as a part of their business model or had an educational component of their company that instructed customers on how to live lighter on the planet or were working on projects that would go beyond just sustaining their own supply chain but also invest in it, leaving it better off for the environment.
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My mind also went to a specific initiative I was working on at the time with Honua Skincare, a blue beauty brand from Hawaii that works to repopulate indigenous species of plants on the islands. At the time, we were working on a community beach cleanup in partnership with Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii to educate our customers on the need to adopt reef-safe sunscreen and decrease their plastic consumption. I also thought about brands like Kahina Giving Beauty, whose entire mission is to empower women through organic farming in Morocco; and Laurel Skin, who sources 90 percent of its ingredients within 100 miles of its Northern California studio from small farmers stewarding land responsibly and conserving it from industrial farming; or Osmia, a Colorado-based brand that plants a tree with every order. These brands are what I call “Blue Beauty” brands from the get-go; their entire origin is blue. This revelation inspired me to start Project Blue Beauty, a platform within Beauty Heroes that celebrates the ways beauty and personal-care brands are making a positive impact on the environment through innovation, activism, and education. Over the past three years, I’ve evolved the movement to involve consumers. Anybody and everybody who uses beauty and personal-care products can support this movement. In fact, for the movement to grow, consumers must be a part of the conversation, as we are the ones that drive innovation and adoption. We make the impact by choosing who to support. Here are some specific ways you can take small actions that will support Blue Beauty brands. • Support companies that give a portion of sales back to environmental causes. • Be an early adopter of products that help you live lighter, such as zero- waste or less-waste-creating products. • Seek out biodegradable, compostable, or upcycled packaging.
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• Get a Terracycle box for your beauty products at home so all components can be fully recycled. • Tell your friends about your favorite Blue Beauty brands so they can suppor t them, too. • Use fewer products, but make sure those you use are of better quality. • Seek out companies that are certified plastic negative or certified carbon neutral. These are just a few of the ways that you can be a part of the Blue Beauty Movement and make an impact with your everyday choices, remembering that our path to a better planet is the sum of our collective efforts. We’re all in this together, and we’ve got a long way to go. About Jeannie Jarnot Jeannie, a longtime spa director and beauty expert, is on a mission to deliver beauty you can trust, one hero product at a time. After uncovering the prevalence of toxic ingredients in the spa industry— and how they might have contributed to her own infertility—Jeannie began her quest to make healthy beauty the rule rather than the exception. The complexity of navigating cosmetic ingredients only fueled her passion to make it simple to discover safe, effective, and luxurious skincare. Today, as the founder of Beauty Heroes, Jeannie brings a lifetime of beauty, wellness, and ritual to her company and her customers, delivering healthy beauty through the thrill of discovery. Feeling called to have a deeper conversation about beauty and wellness for people and the planet, Jeannie pioneered Project Blue Beauty, a platform to connect conscious consumers with beauty brands that are going from green to blue, shining a spotlight on brands that are not just minimizing their environmental footprint, but also actually leaving the planet better than they found it.
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A Guide to Gratitude Uncertain times test our spirit in many ways. Feeling grateful might be a challenge when you’re missing the activities, opportunities, or people you love. But maybe that’s when the feeling of gratitude is what you need most.
from a Native American tribe: To pray for something is to be grateful for it before it comes to you. “There’s plenty in this world that isn’t so good, and those things are easy to find. This helps you to see what is positive.”
“When you’re going through a difficult time, it may be hard to practice gratitude,” says Stephanie Ludwig, PhD, MA, MDiv, director of spiritual wellness at Canyon Ranch. “You want to be honest with how you’re feeling, though. Otherwise, some of these practices may feel a little forced. Start by being clear about how you feel. Gratitude is not about changing yourself, but caring about what is happening in your heart. It starts with embracing whatever is real.”
This can actually be good for your health, too: One study found that people who identified things they felt grateful for, compared to those who focused on problems in their lives, were more likely to exercise regularly, feel better physically, and were more optimistic overall.
Here’s Ludwig’s advice on how to integrate more gratitude into your life and why it’s so helpful to us spiritually, emotionally, and physically:
1. Keep An Eye Out For Things To Be Grateful For “It’s easy to start looking at the glass as half-empty instead of half-full, so it helps to look for things to be thankful for before they even happen,” explains Ludwig. There is a way of defining prayer that comes
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2. Keep A Gratitude Journal “Simply write down three things you’re grateful for, big or small, every day or even periodically — that’s a spiritual practice right there,” says Ludwig. Anything could make you feel thankful — a phone call from a friend, a beautiful day, your dog. Jotting these things down encourages a positive outlook and may help you accomplish more: In one study, researchers found that people who kept a list of things they felt thankful for over a two-month period were likelier to have reached an important personal goal.
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3. Spread The Thankfulness Around It’s especially important to express gratitude often to your loved ones — and to yourself. “In your relationship or marriage, each of you could share something that you’re grateful for about the other person,” Ludwig explains. “And you can be grateful for yourself, for the uniqueness and the qualities that you carry — so take a few moments to pat yourself on the back.” Then, continue to express it to those around you. “When you express your gratitude outward, you’re giving other people a gift.” This, in turn, enriches your spiritual health by helping you be mindful and reflect in the moment. Ludwig adds, “It’s also contagious; and so it not only inoculates you against negativity, but protects others around you as well. Spiritually, gratitude is of the greatest benefit because it aligns our perceptions with the nature of reality — it’s wonder, it’s beauty, it’s super abundance. If you really look into the matter deeply, to focus on gratitude is to contemplate the Divine.”
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Making Ageing a Blissful Experience By Deepak Chopra MD What if you could make ageing, the bane of human existence, a blissful process instead of a painful one? This question is almost never asked, certainly not by researchers into ageing. No matter what new scientific track holds promise—and there are dozens of them—one assumption is never challenged, the assumption that ageing is a negative process, like getting sick. The two go together, since the elderly are subject to conditions like cancer or heart disease far more than the young, and eventually most people die from a final illness. To turn ageing from a negative to a positive process seems impossible in the current medical context. But pause for a moment and place to one side all your beliefs about what ageing is. For centuries in the Vedic tradition of India, ageing has been viewed as a mistake, and the mistake isn’t made at the level of genes, cells, tissues, or organs. The mistake is made at the control center of life, which is consciousness. In effect, aging is a shared illusion that everyone falls for, and once you are taken in, you have no choice but to age, simply because everyone else is. To break free of the illusion, we can start with a single sentence in the annals of Yoga: “Time is the consumer, and we are its food.” That’s a startling image, no doubt, but it is also the best starting point. The ravages of time diminish mind and body, which is why ageing is so feared. But an escape route opens up when you see that tie isn’t the enemy. The enemy is mind-made. In our minds we make ourselves the prisoner of time instead of choosing to be timeless. At this moment you are living out your personal story, which begins at birth and will end at death. You view your body somewhere on its own trajectory from youthful vitality to aged decrepitude. At the psychological level you are motivated by beliefs, wishes, hopes, dreams, fears, and desires. All of these processes needed time to come into being. By basing your identity on time, you are trapped in mind-made constructs. Even the world “out there” is projected by the mind, since the world, viewed from the human level, is a construct of experiences. Time is consuming you because time consumes
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everything that is time-based. Even the cosmos is the food of time. Yet making time the basis of your ego, your bodily functions, your constant thinking and desiring, isn’t inevitable. The timeless is near at hand; in fact, it is closer to you than time itself. This is the most critical insight in Yoga, Vedanta, Buddhism, and every other tradition based on consciousness. To put it in a nutshell, existence and consciousness are one. As long as anything has existed, consciousness has been there, too. I won’t take up space by pointing out why physicists are beginning to see that consciousness indeed is a permanent fixture of the universe, like gravity or relativity. This understanding came about because no theory could explain where consciousness came from. It is impossible to locate the point in time when atoms and molecules learned to think. Creating mind out of matter is a dead end. It began to seem that there is no way forward except to agree with the notion that consciousness exists at the very basis of creation. The Indian tradition took a bigger leap, saying that if the timeless is nearer than time, and if consciousness is fundamental in the universe, we have a choice. We can choose an identity based on time or an identity based on the timeless. In terms of everyday life, what does that mean? Here are the main considerations if you choose to be timeless. •You stop aligning yourself with mind-made constructs. • You consciously dismantle your ego-based story. • You reject the dualism of life and death. • You view your body as a living process that takes place in consciousness. All notions of the body as a machine waring down over time are thrown out. • You embrace existence as the flow of creative intelligence. • Aligned with creative intelligence, your baseline experience is bliss. Taken altogether, these steps open the path to practical immortality. Existence is immortal; therefore, so is consciousness. Since nothing is closer to you than existence, you have access to the source of creation. Nothing that time ravages is worth hanging
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on to. Indeed, reality doesn’t unfold in a series of straight lines going from A to B, following the law of cause and effect. Reality is more like a multi-faceted diamond, and what you are here to experience are the facets that consciousness reveals. The names we give to various facets—love, compassion joy, creativity, empathy, insight, transcendent spiritual experience, beauty, truth—form the ground plan of an ideal life. To experience any facet is blissful. But glimpses of bliss aren’t the same as being in possession of the whole diamond. The whole diamond is pure awareness. This is the source from which creative intelligence emerges. Everything that time has created or destroyed is really the coming and going of experience, and all experience eventually leads back to the source. This is the founding principle of Yoga, Vedanta, Buddhism, and all the other consciousness-based wisdom traditions. Like a hamster running in place in its cage because it thinks it is getting somewhere, a life trapped in the cage of time is a loop. We can call it a feedback loop because the more you keep consuming time, time keeps consuming you. Right now everyone is a consumer, using up time, wasting time, worrying that there is never enough time, racing to meet deadlines, and trying to keep aging, illness, and death at bay, which takes time. The loop goes nowhere; it just generates more of the same mindmade illusions. I realize that being stuck in time is a choice no one thinks they actually made. Instead, the way the world works, including how your body works, seems like a given. No one would consciously choose pain, suffering, illness, aging, and death. But these are byproducts of passively accepting a time-bound existence. To escape the whole setup should be your goal if you want to make aging a blissful experience. The secret is to abandon ageing altogether, which means abandoning time. Do this, and you discover the bliss that is accessed in the timeless.
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What Is a Gua Sha Facial and Can It Transform Your Skin?
Facial Gua Sha is technically nothing new, but it's having a major moment in the beauty world. And while it feels just as lovely as it sounds, the benefits actually extend way past relaxation and lessened tension - it's linked to clearer skin, fewer wrinkles and a more sculpted youthful appearance.
What is Facial Gua Sha? Pronounced gwa sha, it's a facial treatment that involves scraping a flat jade or rose quartz stone over the skin in upward strokes to relax stiff muscles and promote tissue drainage. But unlike a traditional Gua Sha massage, it won't leave bruise-like marks on your face as it's done with a much lighter hand. Oh, and you can do it yourself at home.
What are the benefits of Gua Sha? It moves lymphatic fluids and breaks down tension in muscles. That means improved blood flow and less puffiness. Per NYC-based aesthetician and owner of Inderma Studio, Nichelle Temple, you'll see “noticeable results while preventing and treating the signs of premature aging - namely in the appearance of wrinkles, dark eye circles and puffiness, and sagging and dull-looking skin.” The increase in circulation is said to up hydration for that
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coveted youthful glow, and it even helps the skin to naturally purge blemish-causing dirt and oils.
How do you use a Gua Sha tool? You should start at the neck and work your way up to the forehead. This way, you're creating a clear path for the fluids in your face to drain. Follow these steps to perk up your complexion: 1. Prep your skin with a facial mist and oil. 2. Start at the neck and work your way up to the forehead. 3. Use upward and outward strokes on the neck, jawline, chin and mouth area. 4. Sweep across the cheeks, press gently under the eyes and across the eyebrows. 5. End with upward strokes on the forehead to the hairline
How do you choose the correct Gua Sha tool? The teardrop-shaped Gua Sha tool is often touted as the best one to start with, as it's easy to grip in your hand and has a large surface area for the cheek and neck. If you want to focus on the jaw bone, the square Gua Sha features double prongs that help specifically target that area. For smaller, more delicate parts of the face (like the under-eye
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By Brianna Lapolla
or the area around the lips), look for a tool that has a very precise and petite edge, like this jade version from Hayo'u. For a tool that mimics an actual massage, look for one with a scalloped edge, like this rose quartz one. “The side is designed to mimic my knuckles, and the goal is to re-create [the] facial massage I do in my clinic with the gua sha,” explains aesthetician Angela Caglia.
How often should you do a Gua Sha facial? You'll notice the best results if you do it every day, but since even taking our multivitamins every day is hard enough, experts say two to three times per week will do. And the time of day you add Gua Sha to your routine matters, too. “In the morning, it's about treating puffiness and energizing the skin, while at night you work more on relaxing the muscles and releasing tight connective tissue,” Katie Brindle, the founder of the Hayo'u Method told Porter.
What kind of results will you see on your skin? Less puffy eyes and sharper cheekbones are two immediate results (cheers to instant gratification), but doing it three-ish times a week might yield an improvement in acne, dryness and wrinkles.
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Power of Sleep By Shelly Ibach, President and CEO of Sleep Number; Sleep Editor-at-Large, Thrive Global Now is the time to make quality sleep your priority. This exciting new decade we’ve entered is full of possibilities, and sleep is at the root of all of them; it’s the key to thriving and realizing our goals. Science has shown unequivocally that it’s vital to our wellbeing. Getting the right kind of zzz’s can help prevent illness, ease pain, increase productivity, and make us kinder — and happier. In short, quality sleep is life changing. Now, with astounding breakthroughs in technology, everyone can achieve it. At Sleep Number, we hold ourselves accountable for delivering meaningful benefits to consumers that move society forward. We are forging the future of sleep by utilizing data to inform innovation, research, and the science of sleep. We are dedicated to our mission of improving lives by individualizing sleep experiences. We are making quality sleep effortless and achievable to improve everyone’s health and wellness. Digital health must be simple, meaningful, and accurate. Innovators like us need to do our part in defining the future and taking on big health challenges like sleep deprivation. According to the C.D.C. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), one in three adults don’t get adequate sleep. And the problem goes deeper. Sleep disorders are so pervasive in the United States that they constitute a public health epidemic. A study conducted by the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that one in four Americans develop insomnia each year. In particular, people say that they aren’t comfortable at night, so their shut-eye is disrupted. And many people still don’t understand that quality sleep involves much more than the number of hours spent in bed. It’s important to get not only the right amount, but the right quality of sleep. The good news: Sleep is finally at the forefront of the well-being conversation. Now more than ever, people want to understand how they can achieve higher quality sleep, and they value the important role sleep plays in their health and productivity. Technology is giving people access to digital tools that provide valuable information about their well-
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being. In fact, new CES research shows that 59% of millennials are interested in sleep technology. While it is great to see this adoption of technology, all the data can be overwhelming and confusing, especially if it isn’t accurate. There’s no shortage of data available related to wellness, however, often much of it doesn’t result in meaningful improvements. In other words, data for the sake of data doesn’t do anything to improve health: It isn’t always productive. So, what is the solution? One crucial and formerly overlooked key to quality sleep is simple, yet far from simplistic. It’s your bed. What you sleep on matters. At Sleep Number, we have been pioneers in sleep monitoring sensor technology and on the cutting edge of the digital health era. The revolutionary 360 smart bed effortlessly adjusts throughout the night; it senses each sleepers movement and automatically adjusts to keep both sleepers comfortable for the highest quality of sleep. Additionally, SleepIQ technology, the operating system of the 360 smart bed, provides personalized insights to improve sleep over time, as well as a nightly measure of quality sleep — your SleepIQ score as well as your average heart and breathing rates. There is nothing for the sleeper to wear or do — you simply go to bed. It all started back in 2012 when we met the founders of a Silicon Valley startup, the world leaders in sleep monitoring and biometric hands-free technology that was being used in neonatal units. We recognized the potential of connected technology and how this technology would work with the adjustable firmness of our beds. My instincts told me that investing in this proprietary technology would add tremendous value to people’s well-being — it would be the smart bed. We acquired the start-up, transformed our company, and today, we are a purpose-driven company with 360 smart beds that deliver lifechanging sleep. Recent research we conducted has shown that people who routinely use the features of their 360 smart beds, including foot-warming and their SleepIQ insights, improve their quality sleep by nearly 100
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more hours each year. Studies have shown that an additional 15 minutes of quality sleep makes a considerable difference to your overall he)lth. We also announced a groundbreaking collaboration with Mayo Clinic to advance sleep science. Sleep deprivation has been linked to many diseases and health conditions including heart disease, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and depression. We will be combining Mayo Clinic’s clinical expertise and research with our own extensive consumer sleep knowledge and technology. As a crusader for sleep, I believe this is crucial because we need evidencebased solutions to advance the science and the clinical practice of sleep medicine. We’re establishing The Sleep Number Research Fund in Sleep Science with an emph)sis on Cardiovascular Medicine, and the Sleep Number Research & Development Fund to Further Sleep Science. Our goal is that the collaboration will amplify our ability to impact society’s overall sleep and wellness. These are indeed exciting times. I’ve been thinking about how, five years ago, my friend Arianna Huffington — the founder and CEO of Thrive and, of course, a pioneer in so many ways — issued a wakeup call with her seminal book, The Sleep Revolution. It helped set in motion a sea change, making sleep a key element of the global conversation about wellbeing. Now the Digital Sleep Revolution is upon us, and in the future we expect SleepIQ technology to play a significant, preventative role by detecting potential health conditions, like breathing difficulties, sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome. I foresee a future where your bed will become your health hub. It starts with great sleep, which leads to a he)lthy mind, body, and soul. I am counting on you all to make sleep a top priority. Whatever you sleep on and whatever your own bedtime routine is, it should be individualized for you — on your own terms. Sleep will support you in every way, and as a firm believer of quality sleep, I want to help you achieve it — so you can lead a healthier, happier life. Sleep well, dream big!
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What is Healing? With the new normal of social claustrophobia and anxiety and a need to ‘boost your immune system’, many people will be looking for healing. Many people come on Yoga and Detox retreats hoping for miraculous healing. And indeed many are looking for the quickest, most effective and cheapest approach with the least amount of personal demands. As a consequence, there is a dilution of some of our deepest original philosophies of life and of the life of the mind. Yoga and Ayurveda are such systems of thought which are in so many ways about taking responsibility for our own minds and not expecting salvation from the outside. The salvation must come from within. Meditation is the management of the mind. It seeks to gently over time refine the mind. This can only happen over time through the wisdom of experience. If we can understand the mind as an entity which is capable of being observed through awareness and shaped through practice we will be able to discard what is unnecessary for our forward movement. It is the attachment to thoughts that bring about an unwanted experience. In this way we can understand that ‘healing’ is not our greatest need but rather a learning of how to digest our thoughts and emotions and how to direct them towards greater peace and prosperity. “Ahara”, meaning food in Ayurveda is understood far more broadly as being anything that you ingest with your six senses. The mind in Ayurveda is considered a sense organ just like the eyes, ears, nose, mouth and skin. And just as anything you eat needs to be digested into easily assimilated nutrients, delivered to your tissues and cells and the waste eliminated, so too must the ‘food’ taken in with your mind (your thoughts and emotions) be digested, assimilated and eliminated. And, just as our physical diet must contain suitable foods for our body to digest, assimilate and heal, so must our mental diet.
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If we repeatedly pollute the mental atmosphere with ‘wrong’ thinking, then is it any wonder that healing becomes necessary? The journey towards true and authentic healing and ultimately wholeness is a multifaceted journey. On the one hand, the body is able to recover from just about any ailment once a light is shone on the problem and the correct steps have been taken to heal. And, on the other hand, once we shine a light on what it is exactly that we are both feeling and thinking, we will be able to see not only the effects on our physical body, but we will be able to see the effects on our day to day reality. We will be able to see how we are the architects of our own life and how others are the architects of theirs and how we interact with one another based on these unseen aspects of ourselves. It is we ourselves who create various disorders in our bodies, emotional, psychological, mental and spiritual selves. And this is important because without prescribing a too austere life where no fun is to be had at all, we need to look at our whole life. Where we might be ‘consuming’ unhealthy ‘foods’. What are our day to day practices? What films are we watching, what conversations are we engaging in? Do we have toxic thoughts? A good start is a cleanse so that your body can itself remove physical disturbances created by incorrect eating and then as the body becomes more whole, one can become more in tune with the awareness within. It is impossible to separate our mind from our body be that emotional or psychological so when we heal one aspect, we begin to heal the other aspects. The deeper disturbances created by incorrect thoughts and feelings can then be observed and rerouted. We are constantly creating or re-enforcing neural pathways through our thinking and feelings and we have become unaware of the patterns that are playing out in our lives. The moment we are aware of our patterns, is the moment that we can create new neural pathways and therefore begin
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By Annie Wyatt - Cape Town Retreats the journey of bringing new and more conscious experiences into our lives. It is our lifestyle which we constantly pay attention to that ultimately heals. Therefore, an overall system that incorporates exercise such as yoga and Pilates, breathing practices, relaxation, mental cultivation to include meditation, a healthy environment and positive relationships, is the ideal way for change to happen. We may not need to heal so much through difficult times, but perhaps we can, through the practise of a healthy lifestyle, develop spiritual strength to remain calm, centred and alert, bringing the deeper insights into our waking life. This is where a Deep Cleansing Juice Detox Retreat would come very much in handy as this is where the transformation begins. About Annie Wyatt, the founder of Cape Town Retreats and runs holistic Yoga and detoxification retreats in South Africa near Cape Town. Annie has over 20 years experience with cleansing practices both through diet and various yogic cleansing techniques. After experimenting personally with fasting, detoxification and working with food as medicine she shares what she has learned. She is passionate about her work and is particularly interested in the area of self development though caring for oneself and others. She believes strongly that when we care for ourselves, our lifestyle automatically improves. Annie teaches Traditional Indian Yoga, a synthesis of Ashtanga Yoga and Hatha Yoga, based on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras (Ashtanga) and Hatha Yoga Pradipika. She studied in India at Yoga Vidya Gurukul under Rishi Dharmajyoti. Annie teaches yoga to develop consciousness and to make the mind body soul connection.
Contact Details: www.capetownretreats.co.za Tel:+27 84 297 5736 email: annie@capetownretreats.co.za
spa therapies and no grounding. Due to their physically demanding jobs, they’d all complained of chronic pain and physical and emotional stress. After receiving grounding therapy, all participants reported a decrease in pain, stress, depression, and fatigue.
swimming in murky waters, grounding naturally is a very safe and enjoyable activity. Using a grounding device poses a small risk of electrical shock if used incorrectly.
Many of these studies are small and rely on anecdotal evidence, although many also include measurable blood markers. More research is needed overall,but the results look very promising. And there’s really no downside to connecting with Mother Earth.
Mental health therapies often include grounding techniques to calm distressing thoughts. Here are some hands-on approaches to emotional grounding by engaging your senses.
Bottom line: Research suggests grounding may improve symptoms of… •chronic fatigue •anxiety and depression •sleep disorders •chronic pain •cardiovascular health
3 Common Types Of Grounding Choose your own adventure when it comes to connecting with the Earth. Here are some popular approaches to consider. Outdoor Savasana
Getting Grounded: How Dirt Makes You Happy Hippies are known for being happy and chill, and for running around barefoot. Emerging research suggests they’re onto something, too. Turns out, kicking off your shoes and literally connecting with Mother Earth has health benefits, such as boosting immunity, regulating sleep, and reducing stress. Grounding, also known as earthing, is when humans make an electrical connection to the earth’s energies. The simplest form involves walking barefoot in the grass, dirt, or sand. Some people take a more technical approach using grounding matts and other devices. More on that in a second. As radical as it seems, grounding is simple science. Humans are bioelectrical beings that carry a positive charge, which can build up in our bodies. Earth has a negative charge. When we m2ake contact through grounding, we discharge our excess energy, producing a healing effect at the cellular level.
Grounding is essential as it may: •reduce inflammation •reduce cortisol •increase energy •increase healing speed •decrease pain •restore balance to the body
It’s Science. There isn’t a huge vault of studies on grounding (yet), but the research that exists shows a measurable improvement in blood chemistry, pain, immune response, and inflammation after short periods of skin-to-earth connection. One research review suggests the earth is a living matrix with a central connection to all living cells. This matrix is held together by electrical conductivity, which acts as an immune system defense (sort of like antioxidants). The body restores its natural defenses by connecting to the matrix through grounding. In another smaller study exploring how grounding
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affects heart health, 10 healthy volunteers had grounding patches placed on their hands and feet. Blood measurements were taken before and after grounding to detect changes in red blood cell fluidity. The conclusion showed a major decrease in blood cell clumping after grounding, which indicates the practice is beneficial to heart health. Grounding has also been studied for its pain-relieving abilities. One study used grounding patches and mats to understand how grounding affects postexercise muscle damage. Researchers measured creatine kinase, white blood cell counts, and pain levels, before and after grounding. The resulting blood analysis demonstrated that grounding reduced muscle damage and pain, indicating it had an influence on the body’s ability to heal. Another more recent study further examined the pain relief and mood boosting properties of grounding. This study looked at 16 massage therapists who rotated between periods of grounding
When was the last time you laid on the ground? If the last time was in childhood, it’s time to get back to your roots. Get that skin-to-earth connection by laying in a wide space like a picnic area at a park or in the sand at the beach. Or, next time you’re doing yoga, try going outside and including a little savasana on the earth rather than on your mat. Earth walker Walking barefoot is the easiest way to have a skinto-earth connection and wake up your senses. Savor the feeling of soft grass tickling your feet. Find a patch of dry, sun-warmed dirt and enjoy the sensation. If you’re near a beach, dig your toes in the sand. Keep in mind, If you aren’t used to walking barefoot, your feet may be tender. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for stray rocks Embrace your inner mermaid If you’re more of a beach babe, this one’s for you. Swimming in oceans, lakes, or rivers are perfect ways to ground yourself. Feel the cool water, soft sand, and even slimy rocks or smooth river stones to feel more connected to the Earth.
Equipment for Rainy Days While rain wouldn’t phase a die-hard hippie, most of us save our earth child urges for good weather. When the ground is muddy, there are indoor alternatives to consider like grounding mats, sheets, blankets, bands, patches, and even cozy socks that are designed to allow you to ground from the cozy comfort of your couch or office.
Safety First Aside from the general risk of stubbing your toe or
Physical Techniques to get Centered
Dish it out. Convert the never-ending task of dishwashing into a grounding exercise and finally answer the age-old question: is water wet? Focus on the temperature of the water. Do all parts of your hand feel the same degree of warmth? Notice the contrast of the cold rinse water. Think of all the ways water purifies and heals the body and soul. Touch. Hold and touch items near you and challenge yourself to think deeply about their texture, weight, and temperature. Take a pencil and roll it between pinched fingertips. Tap into your inner thesaurus and find words to describe the sensations, being very specific. Breathe, beathe, breathe. For an instant dose of calm, bring your attention to your breath, noticing your regular breathing pattern. Then inhale deeply, filling your belly and lungs. Hold for a few seconds, then let it out.
Mental Grounding Techniques Try these mental grounding exercises to ease distressing thoughts and feelings. Memories. Look at a picture or piece of artwork. Close your eyes and try to remember as much detail as you can about it. Math. You’re never too old to practice your times table. Recalling basic math facts is a simple way to ease anxious thoughts and exercise your brain. Bonus points if you’re bad at math due to the need for even slower concentration. Other ways to use math include counting down from 100 or choosing a number and thinking of 5 ways to make that number. For example 12 + 7 = 19, 24 – 5 = 19 Laugh. A fit of giggles, a full-on belly laugh, or just a chuckle are all great mood boosters. Read some dad jokes, watch a baby-eating-a-lemon video, or whatever makes you smile. Find joy in the little things. What’s your mantra? In action movies there’s often a character who summarizes their life in a succinct way, like… “My name is Katniss Everdeen. I live in District12.” It’s a storytelling strategy to ground that character from the anxiety of their situation. You can do it for yourself when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Self-soothing Techniques Feeling overwhelmed? Try these exercises if you’re in need of comfort. Who do you love? Imagine someone positive in your life or even someone you admire. Picture their face and hear their voice telling you that although this moment is challenging, you will get through it. Love yourself. What would you say to a friend who was feeling the same way you are now? Try
saying the same phrases, like “you?re strong,” “you can get through this,” and “I believe in you.” Say it like you mean it! Pet your pet. There’s a reason why we have emotional therapy dogs! Animals don’t judge you for being sad or moody. Give them a cuddle, a belly rub or just a knowing pat on the head. They got you. Your happy place. Use all of your senses to visualize the feeling of being in your faavorite place. Maybe a childhood fort, your kitchen, or a foreign city you love to visit. Imagine the colors, sounds, and sensations. Bring it to life in your mind. Listen to music. Put on your favorite song, but pretend you’re listening to it for the first time. Focus on the melody and lyrics. Does the song give you chills or create any other physical sensations? Pay attention to the parts that stand out most to you. Feel the music move you. Let emotions come up and out, don’t stuff them in. Mindful meals. Many of us are in the habit of eating while staring at our phones or other screen. To start, put down your phone, your to-do list, and your busy thoughts, and simply focus on your food. Step-by-step: Feel how the earth is there to meet you at each step, notice how your foot feels on the ground and how it peels up off of it. Notice the rhythm of your steps, maybe even count how many you take.
Other tips to improve your practice Grounding yourself through centering is subtle therapy. Unlike a prescription med, it takes time and consistency. However, the results are organic and empowering with no side effects, so don’t give up after the first try. Keep those self-empowering mantras close Get the most out of your grounding therapy by: Sticking with it. Practice makes perfect. Even when you feel like it’s not working, keep at it. With consistency, you’ll find yourself centered with an arsenal of grounding tools at your disposal. Try it first thing in the morning. If you wait until you’re in meltdown mode, it will be harder to take back control of your mind and emotions. Avoid being critical. When using visualization or observation techniques, go general and concentrate on the basics of your surroundings, not how they make you feel. Check yourself. Before grounding, rate your distress on a scale of 1 to 10. Do the same after grounding. Noticing results will encourage you to keep at it. You can also use this method to figure out which techniques work best for you. Eyes wide open. Keep your eyes open for many of these exercises, as it’s easier to stay connected to the present moment if you’re engaged with your environment.
In Conclusion It’s kind of amazing that simply walking the earth barefoot can have so many health benefits. In years past, our ancestors did this out of necessity. These days we have to make a concentrated effort (thanks, shoes). So Kick off those shoes, take a deep breath, and repeat: “I have the power!”
spa therapies and no grounding. Due to their physically demanding jobs, they’d all complained of chronic pain and physical and emotional stress. After receiving grounding therapy, all participants reported a decrease in pain, stress, depression, and fatigue.
swimming in murky waters, grounding naturally is a very safe and enjoyable activity. Using a grounding device poses a small risk of electrical shock if used incorrectly.
Many of these studies are small and rely on anecdotal evidence, although many also include measurable blood markers. More research is needed overall,but the results look very promising. And there’s really no downside to connecting with Mother Earth.
Mental health therapies often include grounding techniques to calm distressing thoughts. Here are some hands-on approaches to emotional grounding by engaging your senses.
Bottom line: Research suggests grounding may improve symptoms of… •chronic fatigue •anxiety and depression •sleep disorders •chronic pain •cardiovascular health
3 Common Types Of Grounding Choose your own adventure when it comes to connecting with the Earth. Here are some popular approaches to consider. Outdoor Savasana
Getting Grounded: How Dirt Makes You Happy Hippies are known for being happy and chill, and for running around barefoot. Emerging research suggests they’re onto something, too. Turns out, kicking off your shoes and literally connecting with Mother Earth has health benefits, such as boosting immunity, regulating sleep, and reducing stress. Grounding, also known as earthing, is when humans make an electrical connection to the earth’s energies. The simplest form involves walking barefoot in the grass, dirt, or sand. Some people take a more technical approach using grounding matts and other devices. More on that in a second. As radical as it seems, grounding is simple science. Humans are bioelectrical beings that carry a positive charge, which can build up in our bodies. Earth has a negative charge. When we m2ake contact through grounding, we discharge our excess energy, producing a healing effect at the cellular level.
Grounding is essential as it may: •reduce inflammation •reduce cortisol •increase energy •increase healing speed •decrease pain •restore balance to the body
It’s Science. There isn’t a huge vault of studies on grounding (yet), but the research that exists shows a measurable improvement in blood chemistry, pain, immune response, and inflammation after short periods of skin-to-earth connection. One research review suggests the earth is a living matrix with a central connection to all living cells. This matrix is held together by electrical conductivity, which acts as an immune system defense (sort of like antioxidants). The body restores its natural defenses by connecting to the matrix through grounding. In another smaller study exploring how grounding
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Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’89
affects heart health, 10 healthy volunteers had grounding patches placed on their hands and feet. Blood measurements were taken before and after grounding to detect changes in red blood cell fluidity. The conclusion showed a major decrease in blood cell clumping after grounding, which indicates the practice is beneficial to heart health. Grounding has also been studied for its pain-relieving abilities. One study used grounding patches and mats to understand how grounding affects postexercise muscle damage. Researchers measured creatine kinase, white blood cell counts, and pain levels, before and after grounding. The resulting blood analysis demonstrated that grounding reduced muscle damage and pain, indicating it had an influence on the body’s ability to heal. Another more recent study further examined the pain relief and mood boosting properties of grounding. This study looked at 16 massage therapists who rotated between periods of grounding
When was the last time you laid on the ground? If the last time was in childhood, it’s time to get back to your roots. Get that skin-to-earth connection by laying in a wide space like a picnic area at a park or in the sand at the beach. Or, next time you’re doing yoga, try going outside and including a little savasana on the earth rather than on your mat. Earth walker Walking barefoot is the easiest way to have a skinto-earth connection and wake up your senses. Savor the feeling of soft grass tickling your feet. Find a patch of dry, sun-warmed dirt and enjoy the sensation. If you’re near a beach, dig your toes in the sand. Keep in mind, If you aren’t used to walking barefoot, your feet may be tender. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for stray rocks Embrace your inner mermaid If you’re more of a beach babe, this one’s for you. Swimming in oceans, lakes, or rivers are perfect ways to ground yourself. Feel the cool water, soft sand, and even slimy rocks or smooth river stones to feel more connected to the Earth.
Equipment for Rainy Days While rain wouldn’t phase a die-hard hippie, most of us save our earth child urges for good weather. When the ground is muddy, there are indoor alternatives to consider like grounding mats, sheets, blankets, bands, patches, and even cozy socks that are designed to allow you to ground from the cozy comfort of your couch or office.
Safety First Aside from the general risk of stubbing your toe or
Physical Techniques to get Centered
Dish it out. Convert the never-ending task of dishwashing into a grounding exercise and finally answer the age-old question: is water wet? Focus on the temperature of the water. Do all parts of your hand feel the same degree of warmth? Notice the contrast of the cold rinse water. Think of all the ways water purifies and heals the body and soul. Touch. Hold and touch items near you and challenge yourself to think deeply about their texture, weight, and temperature. Take a pencil and roll it between pinched fingertips. Tap into your inner thesaurus and find words to describe the sensations, being very specific. Breathe, beathe, breathe. For an instant dose of calm, bring your attention to your breath, noticing your regular breathing pattern. Then inhale deeply, filling your belly and lungs. Hold for a few seconds, then let it out.
Mental Grounding Techniques Try these mental grounding exercises to ease distressing thoughts and feelings. Memories. Look at a picture or piece of artwork. Close your eyes and try to remember as much detail as you can about it. Math. You’re never too old to practice your times table. Recalling basic math facts is a simple way to ease anxious thoughts and exercise your brain. Bonus points if you’re bad at math due to the need for even slower concentration. Other ways to use math include counting down from 100 or choosing a number and thinking of 5 ways to make that number. For example 12 + 7 = 19, 24 – 5 = 19 Laugh. A fit of giggles, a full-on belly laugh, or just a chuckle are all great mood boosters. Read some dad jokes, watch a baby-eating-a-lemon video, or whatever makes you smile. Find joy in the little things. What’s your mantra? In action movies there’s often a character who summarizes their life in a succinct way, like… “My name is Katniss Everdeen. I live in District12.” It’s a storytelling strategy to ground that character from the anxiety of their situation. You can do it for yourself when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Self-soothing Techniques Feeling overwhelmed? Try these exercises if you’re in need of comfort. Who do you love? Imagine someone positive in your life or even someone you admire. Picture their face and hear their voice telling you that although this moment is challenging, you will get through it. Love yourself. What would you say to a friend who was feeling the same way you are now? Try
saying the same phrases, like “you?re strong,” “you can get through this,” and “I believe in you.” Say it like you mean it! Pet your pet. There’s a reason why we have emotional therapy dogs! Animals don’t judge you for being sad or moody. Give them a cuddle, a belly rub or just a knowing pat on the head. They got you. Your happy place. Use all of your senses to visualize the feeling of being in your faavorite place. Maybe a childhood fort, your kitchen, or a foreign city you love to visit. Imagine the colors, sounds, and sensations. Bring it to life in your mind. Listen to music. Put on your favorite song, but pretend you’re listening to it for the first time. Focus on the melody and lyrics. Does the song give you chills or create any other physical sensations? Pay attention to the parts that stand out most to you. Feel the music move you. Let emotions come up and out, don’t stuff them in. Mindful meals. Many of us are in the habit of eating while staring at our phones or other screen. To start, put down your phone, your to-do list, and your busy thoughts, and simply focus on your food. Step-by-step: Feel how the earth is there to meet you at each step, notice how your foot feels on the ground and how it peels up off of it. Notice the rhythm of your steps, maybe even count how many you take.
Other tips to improve your practice Grounding yourself through centering is subtle therapy. Unlike a prescription med, it takes time and consistency. However, the results are organic and empowering with no side effects, so don’t give up after the first try. Keep those self-empowering mantras close Get the most out of your grounding therapy by: Sticking with it. Practice makes perfect. Even when you feel like it’s not working, keep at it. With consistency, you’ll find yourself centered with an arsenal of grounding tools at your disposal. Try it first thing in the morning. If you wait until you’re in meltdown mode, it will be harder to take back control of your mind and emotions. Avoid being critical. When using visualization or observation techniques, go general and concentrate on the basics of your surroundings, not how they make you feel. Check yourself. Before grounding, rate your distress on a scale of 1 to 10. Do the same after grounding. Noticing results will encourage you to keep at it. You can also use this method to figure out which techniques work best for you. Eyes wide open. Keep your eyes open for many of these exercises, as it’s easier to stay connected to the present moment if you’re engaged with your environment.
In Conclusion It’s kind of amazing that simply walking the earth barefoot can have so many health benefits. In years past, our ancestors did this out of necessity. These days we have to make a concentrated effort (thanks, shoes). So Kick off those shoes, take a deep breath, and repeat: “I have the power!”
sponsored advertorial between your nose and your brain's emotional control center: the limbic system. This is due to the amazing olfactory bulb, a neural structure in the forebrain that sends input to the amygdala. In short, information from your nose goes directly to the limbic system, which controls mood, memory, and emotions. Your body also contains far more receptors associated with smell (over 1,000) than it does for any other sense. Due to this, you are capable of discerning countless aromas-many of which you may not even be able to describe-with amazing sensitivity and accuracy. Human biology has made the olfactory system the most subtle, yet effective, means to induce specific and distinct responses. This is one of the reason why essential oils can be so powerful in influencing well-being.
AromaTouch Technique® Movements Physical touch is as important to the AromaTouch Technique as the aroma itself because of its ability to soothe the body and bring people together. While the main purpose of the technique is to apply the oils and provide the recipient with an essential oil experience, the AromaTouch Technique is also about connecting with another person on an emotional level. The connections developed form feelings of trust and help the recipient relax. The AromaTouch Technique is all about creating an emotional connection and the science behind that connection is as validated as it is compelling. Tactile communication is our first form of communication. We begin receiving tactile signals in the womb, and then touch plays a critical role in parent-child relationships. It is, in essence, the first sense we acquire and it is astonishingly effective. In recent studies, researchers have shown that emotional communication is very effective through touch, nearly as effective as words and facial cues. Not only is touch able to communicate the tone of emotion, but it may also allow for precise differentiation between types of emotion. With voice and facial cues, we can identify just one or two positive signals that are not confused with each other. Research has exhibited that touch can communicate multiple emotions-love, gratitude, sympathy, fear, anger - with astounding exactness. This effect isn't just limited to loved ones; another study found that touch communicates emotion nearly as effectively when it occurs between strangers. While our understanding of the mechanisms involved with touch and emotional messaging is still limited, we do know that it can be more effective than verbal communication in strengthening existing bonds and developing new ones. Along with the emotional component, gentle touch can also influence physiological responses in ways other communication simply cannot. Unlike massage, which involves powerful hand movements that are focused on specific outcomes (breakdown of muscular adhesions, stimulating the central nervous system, aiding recovery, etc.), the gentleness of an AromaTouch Technique has a much different spectrum of benefits. Tender touch almost instantaneously activates the release of oxytocin (often referred to as the “love” or “hug” hormone), decreases heart rate and blood pressure, and has a beneficial influence on multiple other stress-sensitive systems. Furthermore, the person initiating the contact generally experiences the same response as the person on the receiving end. Unlike a massage, the benefits of giving an AromaTouch Technique to someone can be just as powerful as receiving one.
The AromaTouch Technique® by doTERRA The AromaTouch Technique® is the application of essential oil to the back and feet. This technique combines the unique benefits of human touch with the power of essential oils to create an overall wellness experience. The essential oils used in the AromaTouch Technique were chosen for their individual and combined aromatic properties. “The AromaTouch Technique was developed to maximize the benefits of essential oils. Its powerful benefits can be effectively delivered equally well by both the novice essential oil enthusiast and the professional health practitioner.” - Dr. David K. Hill
The AromaTouch Protocol®
The AromaTouch Technique®
The essential oils used in the AromaTouch Technique are doTERRA Balance®, Lavender, Tea Tree (Melaleuca), doTERRA On Guard®, AromaTouch®, Deep Blue®, Wild Orange, and Peppermint. As Dr. Hill developed the AromaTouch Technique, he tried many different combinations of essential oils to create positive benefits and the perfect aromatic profile. These eight oils, as they are layered onto the body, are able to meet both of these important requirements.
Your body contains approximately 1,000 different genes that encode for odour receptors. Aroma is an important component of the AromaTouch Technique because it instantaneously prompts powerful emotional responses. As research has exhibited, activating your olfactory system can direct your mind to specific memories, relax you, and help create a close connection with whomever you are sharing the experience.
• AromaTouch • Deep Blue • On Guard • Tea Tree
• Balance • Lavender • Peppermint • Wild Orange
Have you ever wondered how walking through an orange grove can immediately induce powerful memories of your childhood? Or how the faint aroma of cinnamon can remind you of mom's Sundaymorning cinnamon rolls-even 30 years later? It's basic human biology. There is a direct connection
The AromaTouch® Essential Oil Blend As an important blend in the doTERRA AromaTouch Technique, the AromaTouch essential oil blend combines a unique group of oils to provide relaxing and comforting effects for the whole body. With the essentials oils of Peppermint, Cypress, Basil, Grapefruit, Marjoram, and Lavender, this blend is the ultimate oil for massages as it can help lessen tension and provide a soothing sensation that will aid in the effectivity of any massage experience. The clean, fresh, and minty fragrance of AromaTouch oil gives an additional aromatic boost to all AromaTouch massages. When purchasing essential oils, it is important to find oils that are both pure and potent. Oils that are pure and potent are more effective and can assist better with individual needs. Unfortunately, many oils for purchase today are neither pure nor potent so altering the natural effectivity of an essential oil. When you purchase oils from doTERRA, you can have peace of mind knowing that the oils you receive are both pure and potent. To ensure such quality oils, doTERRA takes great care in growing and harvesting essential oil plants to produce the strongest potency. Once the plants have been distilled, their essential oils are then tested through the CPTG ® protocol for purity and potency, among other important qualities. If the oils pass these rigorous tests, the oils are sold as individual oils, in essential oil blends, or in essential oil products so that people all over the world can experience the profound and life-changing ef fects of high-quality essential oils. The AromaTouch Esential Blend or AromaTouch Kit can only be bought through a registered DoTerra Consultant.
Lezanne Shone Contact Details: Tel: 072 333 2464 Email: shonelezanne@gmail.com or visit: www.mydoterra.com/lezanne Facebook: www.facebook.com/LezanneShone Intagram: @shonelezanne
sponsored advertorial between your nose and your brain's emotional control center: the limbic system. This is due to the amazing olfactory bulb, a neural structure in the forebrain that sends input to the amygdala. In short, information from your nose goes directly to the limbic system, which controls mood, memory, and emotions. Your body also contains far more receptors associated with smell (over 1,000) than it does for any other sense. Due to this, you are capable of discerning countless aromas-many of which you may not even be able to describe-with amazing sensitivity and accuracy. Human biology has made the olfactory system the most subtle, yet effective, means to induce specific and distinct responses. This is one of the reason why essential oils can be so powerful in influencing well-being.
AromaTouch Technique® Movements Physical touch is as important to the AromaTouch Technique as the aroma itself because of its ability to soothe the body and bring people together. While the main purpose of the technique is to apply the oils and provide the recipient with an essential oil experience, the AromaTouch Technique is also about connecting with another person on an emotional level. The connections developed form feelings of trust and help the recipient relax. The AromaTouch Technique is all about creating an emotional connection and the science behind that connection is as validated as it is compelling. Tactile communication is our first form of communication. We begin receiving tactile signals in the womb, and then touch plays a critical role in parent-child relationships. It is, in essence, the first sense we acquire and it is astonishingly effective. In recent studies, researchers have shown that emotional communication is very effective through touch, nearly as effective as words and facial cues. Not only is touch able to communicate the tone of emotion, but it may also allow for precise differentiation between types of emotion. With voice and facial cues, we can identify just one or two positive signals that are not confused with each other. Research has exhibited that touch can communicate multiple emotions-love, gratitude, sympathy, fear, anger - with astounding exactness. This effect isn't just limited to loved ones; another study found that touch communicates emotion nearly as effectively when it occurs between strangers. While our understanding of the mechanisms involved with touch and emotional messaging is still limited, we do know that it can be more effective than verbal communication in strengthening existing bonds and developing new ones. Along with the emotional component, gentle touch can also influence physiological responses in ways other communication simply cannot. Unlike massage, which involves powerful hand movements that are focused on specific outcomes (breakdown of muscular adhesions, stimulating the central nervous system, aiding recovery, etc.), the gentleness of an AromaTouch Technique has a much different spectrum of benefits. Tender touch almost instantaneously activates the release of oxytocin (often referred to as the “love” or “hug” hormone), decreases heart rate and blood pressure, and has a beneficial influence on multiple other stress-sensitive systems. Furthermore, the person initiating the contact generally experiences the same response as the person on the receiving end. Unlike a massage, the benefits of giving an AromaTouch Technique to someone can be just as powerful as receiving one.
The AromaTouch Technique® by doTERRA The AromaTouch Technique® is the application of essential oil to the back and feet. This technique combines the unique benefits of human touch with the power of essential oils to create an overall wellness experience. The essential oils used in the AromaTouch Technique were chosen for their individual and combined aromatic properties. “The AromaTouch Technique was developed to maximize the benefits of essential oils. Its powerful benefits can be effectively delivered equally well by both the novice essential oil enthusiast and the professional health practitioner.” - Dr. David K. Hill
The AromaTouch Protocol®
The AromaTouch Technique®
The essential oils used in the AromaTouch Technique are doTERRA Balance®, Lavender, Tea Tree (Melaleuca), doTERRA On Guard®, AromaTouch®, Deep Blue®, Wild Orange, and Peppermint. As Dr. Hill developed the AromaTouch Technique, he tried many different combinations of essential oils to create positive benefits and the perfect aromatic profile. These eight oils, as they are layered onto the body, are able to meet both of these important requirements.
Your body contains approximately 1,000 different genes that encode for odour receptors. Aroma is an important component of the AromaTouch Technique because it instantaneously prompts powerful emotional responses. As research has exhibited, activating your olfactory system can direct your mind to specific memories, relax you, and help create a close connection with whomever you are sharing the experience.
• AromaTouch • Deep Blue • On Guard • Tea Tree
• Balance • Lavender • Peppermint • Wild Orange
Have you ever wondered how walking through an orange grove can immediately induce powerful memories of your childhood? Or how the faint aroma of cinnamon can remind you of mom's Sundaymorning cinnamon rolls-even 30 years later? It's basic human biology. There is a direct connection
The AromaTouch® Essential Oil Blend As an important blend in the doTERRA AromaTouch Technique, the AromaTouch essential oil blend combines a unique group of oils to provide relaxing and comforting effects for the whole body. With the essentials oils of Peppermint, Cypress, Basil, Grapefruit, Marjoram, and Lavender, this blend is the ultimate oil for massages as it can help lessen tension and provide a soothing sensation that will aid in the effectivity of any massage experience. The clean, fresh, and minty fragrance of AromaTouch oil gives an additional aromatic boost to all AromaTouch massages. When purchasing essential oils, it is important to find oils that are both pure and potent. Oils that are pure and potent are more effective and can assist better with individual needs. Unfortunately, many oils for purchase today are neither pure nor potent so altering the natural effectivity of an essential oil. When you purchase oils from doTERRA, you can have peace of mind knowing that the oils you receive are both pure and potent. To ensure such quality oils, doTERRA takes great care in growing and harvesting essential oil plants to produce the strongest potency. Once the plants have been distilled, their essential oils are then tested through the CPTG ® protocol for purity and potency, among other important qualities. If the oils pass these rigorous tests, the oils are sold as individual oils, in essential oil blends, or in essential oil products so that people all over the world can experience the profound and life-changing ef fects of high-quality essential oils. The AromaTouch Esential Blend or AromaTouch Kit can only be bought through a registered DoTerra Consultant.
Lezanne Shone Contact Details: Tel: 072 333 2464 Email: shonelezanne@gmail.com or visit: www.mydoterra.com/lezanne Facebook: www.facebook.com/LezanneShone Intagram: @shonelezanne
spa business [Doc: Nicole Warne] These days, whether they're auditing your tax return, fixing your roof or leasing you a gleaming new Mercedes, everyone claims to be in the relationship business. And, they're right: Every business is dependent upon the critical relationship between buyer and seller. What's the key to this relationship? In a word, love. Service industries in particular rely on the human elements of communication and empathy to thrive, but these days virtually every business should consider itself to be in the service industry. Unless you're truly contending with something that's oneof-a-kind, whatever you're selling is most likely a commodity. What wins the sale, not to mention the return business? How you make clients feel before, during and after the transaction. Yes, price counts, as do quality, access, convenience and location. But all of these factors are secondary to creating and sustaining client-love as the heart of your relationship business. And, as skin care professionals love must be at the very center of every level of your practice, as you breathe the same air, touch the warm skin of clients, and look deeply into their eyes as part of every treatment-and every retail sale! Do you feel the love? Whether you're a newbie having start-up anxiety-which is to be expected-or an experienced pro having a moment of mid-life doubt-also normal-ask yourself: Why did you get into the business? While professional skin care is a lucrative business, money is not the ultimate answer. Successful skin therapists are in it for something less tangible, but no less real, giving credence to the first of six Golden Rules.
Client Love: Six Rules for Building Solid Gold Relationships By Annet King - Dermalogica (as seen in Skin Inc.)
1. Love People To succeed in the skin care industry, you must genuinely love people. Struggling to smile as you answer a client's question or take a client order? If so, it may be time to take a good, hard look at why you chose this profession and how much you want to love what you do. You must find an innate, inherent reward in service, rather than feeling that it's demeaning in any way. I believe that this is an attitude that is either part of you or it's not. Truly, care professionals and service industries are not for everyone. If you feel resentful at the mere idea of putting someone else's needs, wants and whims before your own, you will be most successful in a profession that does not require intimate interaction with people. Also, as skin care professionals, keep this in mind: most clients are women. Do you click easily with other women? This instant rapport is essential if you want to love your job. Is a likable personality natural or learned? It can be both, but by the time you have your license, your personality is most likely already well-established. With this in mind, each individual has skills that require constant effort in order to stay in love with her job and to keep clients in love with their experience. Make a conscious effort to work on your likability factor!
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2. The Client is the Rock Star Your business is not about you; it's about your client. Treat every client as though she is your favorite celebrity, hero, friend, neighbour or beloved granny. Give your client undivided attention. Conversation has been always recognized as an art, but these days, electronics have replaced some essential aspects of our face-to-face communication. As part of your personal and professional development, as well as team exercise, work at improving core verbal and nonverbal skills, such as making and keeping eye contact, reading and subtly mirroring client facial and body cues, and learning to relate to clients from generations and cultures other than your own. Every client has something wonderful about her that is just waiting to be discovered. Find it and love it, and her business will be yours for life.
3. Relationship-building is a Skill Social skills are a form of currency and can be the tipping-point in building clientele. Many potential clients will bail and seek out another provider if they get poor service on the phone. As the saying goes, “You had me at 'Hello.'” Remember how hard you worked and studied to master your treatments, techniques and learn about the structure of the skin? Developing and nurturing relationships with your clients also is a skill, with both technical and intuitive aspects. Like any form of expertise, you must dive in. Start by being fully present and paying undivided attention. Make mental notes when you are with a client. And, when she leaves, make actual notes! Write down her preferences, likes, dislikes and passions. And no, it's not cyber stalking to find out more about a client by checking her out on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or LinkedIn. Keeping this data fresh will allow you to compliment her genuinely, interact in authentic and meaningful ways, and make recommendations that she will appreciate. Make yourself an invaluable resource, like a concierge at an eight-star hotel-and share tips that matter to your clients like giving her a gift card to that great new coffee spot when she's a java lover.
4. Tune Out Distractions As part of listening and paying attention to your clients, place your calls and texts on hold when you are on the floor. Be mindfully in the moment when in the presence of clients and shoppers-who may be future clients. Really listen, because it's by listening that you learn to anticipate the subtlest needs or emotions of the client-water, food, warmth, attention, affirmation and so on. Focus on every detail and respond in meaningful ways. Remember: Your specialty is to create a safe haven for her built on trust, touch and by listening.
5. Keep the Love Alive When you're in the people business, the thrill can never be gone. It's your job to keep the relationship thriving-and a source of joy for you both. Long after
the honeymoon, continue to nurture the marriage with surprise and delight. Remember, random acts of kindness go a long way. Consider an extra addon treatment, a card or an essential oil for her pillow.
6. Say Thank You Always make a point of thanking clients-even the first-time browsing shopper. In particular, make a very specific effort to express appreciation to someone who has demonstrated loyalty. Make appropriate physical contact-a hug if that's your style, but most definitely deep, real eye contact. Not just a casual “thanks” as they walk out the door. Use her name. Take her hand. Mean it-she will feel it. Your human-centric business is utterly unique. As the world becomes more impersonal, your uniquely nurturing profession matters more than ever. Small business, like those that employ skin care professionals, may be far better-suited to creating lasting relationships. How do you define success? Money and power are only part of the equationcreating, feeling and returning love in the form of client loyalty make success as a skin care professional bigger and better than ever before.
About Annet King: Director of Global Education Annet King is the Director of Global Education for The International Dermal Institute (IDI) and Dermalogica, in her role she oversees and develops all IDI and Dermalogica curriculum, educational tools and online learning initiatives. She also works closely with global marketing and R&D to develop Dermalogica’s professional product innovations, exclusive techniques and treatments. For over 16 years, Annet has traveled internationally as a speaker and master educator for IDI and Dermalogica, training international educators as well as business owners and skin therapists. King is one of the brand’s voices and is a frequent contributor to magazines, websites, TV and radio programs.
spa business [Doc: Nicole Warne] These days, whether they're auditing your tax return, fixing your roof or leasing you a gleaming new Mercedes, everyone claims to be in the relationship business. And, they're right: Every business is dependent upon the critical relationship between buyer and seller. What's the key to this relationship? In a word, love. Service industries in particular rely on the human elements of communication and empathy to thrive, but these days virtually every business should consider itself to be in the service industry. Unless you're truly contending with something that's oneof-a-kind, whatever you're selling is most likely a commodity. What wins the sale, not to mention the return business? How you make clients feel before, during and after the transaction. Yes, price counts, as do quality, access, convenience and location. But all of these factors are secondary to creating and sustaining client-love as the heart of your relationship business. And, as skin care professionals love must be at the very center of every level of your practice, as you breathe the same air, touch the warm skin of clients, and look deeply into their eyes as part of every treatment-and every retail sale! Do you feel the love? Whether you're a newbie having start-up anxiety-which is to be expected-or an experienced pro having a moment of mid-life doubt-also normal-ask yourself: Why did you get into the business? While professional skin care is a lucrative business, money is not the ultimate answer. Successful skin therapists are in it for something less tangible, but no less real, giving credence to the first of six Golden Rules.
Client Love: Six Rules for Building Solid Gold Relationships By Annet King - Dermalogica (as seen in Skin Inc.)
1. Love People To succeed in the skin care industry, you must genuinely love people. Struggling to smile as you answer a client's question or take a client order? If so, it may be time to take a good, hard look at why you chose this profession and how much you want to love what you do. You must find an innate, inherent reward in service, rather than feeling that it's demeaning in any way. I believe that this is an attitude that is either part of you or it's not. Truly, care professionals and service industries are not for everyone. If you feel resentful at the mere idea of putting someone else's needs, wants and whims before your own, you will be most successful in a profession that does not require intimate interaction with people. Also, as skin care professionals, keep this in mind: most clients are women. Do you click easily with other women? This instant rapport is essential if you want to love your job. Is a likable personality natural or learned? It can be both, but by the time you have your license, your personality is most likely already well-established. With this in mind, each individual has skills that require constant effort in order to stay in love with her job and to keep clients in love with their experience. Make a conscious effort to work on your likability factor!
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2. The Client is the Rock Star Your business is not about you; it's about your client. Treat every client as though she is your favorite celebrity, hero, friend, neighbour or beloved granny. Give your client undivided attention. Conversation has been always recognized as an art, but these days, electronics have replaced some essential aspects of our face-to-face communication. As part of your personal and professional development, as well as team exercise, work at improving core verbal and nonverbal skills, such as making and keeping eye contact, reading and subtly mirroring client facial and body cues, and learning to relate to clients from generations and cultures other than your own. Every client has something wonderful about her that is just waiting to be discovered. Find it and love it, and her business will be yours for life.
3. Relationship-building is a Skill Social skills are a form of currency and can be the tipping-point in building clientele. Many potential clients will bail and seek out another provider if they get poor service on the phone. As the saying goes, “You had me at 'Hello.'” Remember how hard you worked and studied to master your treatments, techniques and learn about the structure of the skin? Developing and nurturing relationships with your clients also is a skill, with both technical and intuitive aspects. Like any form of expertise, you must dive in. Start by being fully present and paying undivided attention. Make mental notes when you are with a client. And, when she leaves, make actual notes! Write down her preferences, likes, dislikes and passions. And no, it's not cyber stalking to find out more about a client by checking her out on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or LinkedIn. Keeping this data fresh will allow you to compliment her genuinely, interact in authentic and meaningful ways, and make recommendations that she will appreciate. Make yourself an invaluable resource, like a concierge at an eight-star hotel-and share tips that matter to your clients like giving her a gift card to that great new coffee spot when she's a java lover.
4. Tune Out Distractions As part of listening and paying attention to your clients, place your calls and texts on hold when you are on the floor. Be mindfully in the moment when in the presence of clients and shoppers-who may be future clients. Really listen, because it's by listening that you learn to anticipate the subtlest needs or emotions of the client-water, food, warmth, attention, affirmation and so on. Focus on every detail and respond in meaningful ways. Remember: Your specialty is to create a safe haven for her built on trust, touch and by listening.
5. Keep the Love Alive When you're in the people business, the thrill can never be gone. It's your job to keep the relationship thriving-and a source of joy for you both. Long after
the honeymoon, continue to nurture the marriage with surprise and delight. Remember, random acts of kindness go a long way. Consider an extra addon treatment, a card or an essential oil for her pillow.
6. Say Thank You Always make a point of thanking clients-even the first-time browsing shopper. In particular, make a very specific effort to express appreciation to someone who has demonstrated loyalty. Make appropriate physical contact-a hug if that's your style, but most definitely deep, real eye contact. Not just a casual “thanks” as they walk out the door. Use her name. Take her hand. Mean it-she will feel it. Your human-centric business is utterly unique. As the world becomes more impersonal, your uniquely nurturing profession matters more than ever. Small business, like those that employ skin care professionals, may be far better-suited to creating lasting relationships. How do you define success? Money and power are only part of the equationcreating, feeling and returning love in the form of client loyalty make success as a skin care professional bigger and better than ever before.
About Annet King: Director of Global Education Annet King is the Director of Global Education for The International Dermal Institute (IDI) and Dermalogica, in her role she oversees and develops all IDI and Dermalogica curriculum, educational tools and online learning initiatives. She also works closely with global marketing and R&D to develop Dermalogica’s professional product innovations, exclusive techniques and treatments. For over 16 years, Annet has traveled internationally as a speaker and master educator for IDI and Dermalogica, training international educators as well as business owners and skin therapists. King is one of the brand’s voices and is a frequent contributor to magazines, websites, TV and radio programs.
spa therapies
Skin Changes During Pregnancy By Nadine de Freitas - - Managing Editor, Les Nouvelles Esthetiques SA
Each pregnancy is unique and skin changes vary from a sudden new glow on your face to pinkish, reddish streaks on your stomach to a Linea Nigra. Below is a list of skin changes that are common during pregnancy. Stretch Marks: Stretch marks are one of the most talked about skin changes that can occur. Almost 90% of pregnant women will experience stretch marks. Mask of Pregnancy: Also referred to as melasma and chlosma. These areas of hyperpigmentation, most commonly appear on your forehead and cheeks. Pregnancy Glow: When you are pregnant your body produces 50% more blood, resulting in more blood circulation through your body. This increase in blood circulation causes your face to be brighter. Pimple Breakouts and Acne: Acne may become more irritated during pregnancy. The extra hormones cause increase sebaceaous activity, which can cause breakouts. Varicose Veins: Varicose veins are bulky bluish veins that usually appear on the legs during pregnancy. This happens because your body is compensating for the extra blood flow. Spider Veins: Spider veins, also known as spider nevi, are minute reddish tiny blood vessels that branch outward. These spider veins are also caused by the increase in blood circulation and usually appear on the face, neck, upper chest and arms. Linea Nigra: The dark line that runs from your navel to your pubic bone. This is a line that may have always been there, but you may have not noticed it before because it was a light colour. During pregnancy this
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line darkens caused by the imbalance in hormones. It usually appears around the 4th or 5th month o pregnancy.
Stretch Marks (Striae gravidarum) Skin is remarkably flexible and can stretch substantially if given sufficient time. However, a rapidly growing foetus often means the abdominal skin is stretched further and faster than it can comfortably manage. The overtaxed fibres of the dermis tear at the points experiencing the greatest stress, resulting in fine lines appearing on the body, called stretch marks. When the skin is over-stretched, it produces too much collagen, which can form the "scars". In essence, stretch marks represent a dermal scar in which the connective tissue (i.e. collagen and elastin) within the dermis is disrupted. Around half of all pregnant women will develop stretch marks usually in the third trimester, as the abdominal skin is forced to accommodate the growing uterus. Some pregnant women also develop stretch marks on the breasts, hips, buttocks and thighs. Depending on the skin type, fresh stretch marks can be pink, purple, brown or red. Over time, the stretch marks lose their bright colouring and become silvery, shimmering lines. Prevention of stretch marks: Research is contradictory. Most studies maintain that creams and lotions can't prevent stretch marks, but some trials have found significant successes with certain creams.
Welcome Mama Mio A product line focused on pregnancy skin changes and effective solutions. It is a brand with real heritage,
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’89
created by women who really understand women. Whatever their need in every single stage of their life. Young & carefree. Pregnant- glowing & growing. New mamas reclaiming their bodies. Mama Mio was founded by three beauty experts in London whom between them have 45 years experience in the skincare industry. The products are packed with the best ingredients science and nature have to offer at the highest levels recommended. Additionally Mama Mio maintains a strict no nasties policy - products are safe to use at any time from pregnancy stage to pensionable age. It is Paraben Free, Petrolatum Free, Sodium Laurel Sulphate Free, Xenoestrogen and Phtalates Free, Colourant and Synthetic Fragrance Free.
Mama Mio and Stretch Marks The products for stretch marks divide into two sections - protection (mainly used in pregnancy) and repair (both for stretch marks and surgical scars). However, we will only be looking at protection in this article. Tummy Rub Oil The first product made in the Mama Mio range and has taken 15 years to perfect, so it carries a particular care and affection. It is a gorgeous blend of only four premium oils, rich in omega 3, 6 and 9, which Mama Mio discovered are absolutely key to protecting your skin throughout the nine month s-t-r-e-t-c-h, as these omega-rich ingredients help prevent stretch marks by increasing skin elasticity.The oils absorbs quickly... it is a completely un-oily! But if you prefer Tummy Rub is also available in a butter Mama Mio Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Butter. It is thick, rich and packed with skin-drenching nutrients - omega 3, 6 and 9, with the addition of Shea Butter.
spa therapies
Wellness and Happiness By Dr. Andrew Weil
Question: With its vast amount of medical research, impressive medical technology, and strong health education, why is the US not “healthier?” Andrew Weil: The United States spends more per capita on healthcare than any other country in the world, by a long shot. We are now spending upwards of 16% on GDP and it could go as high as 20%. It is completely unsustainable. At the same time we have poorer health outcomes than any other country, any way you look at it: in terms of infant mortality, longevity, rates of chronic disease, and so forth. The big question is: Why are we not healthier if we are spending too much money on our health? My feeling is that the root cause of our problem is that this vast enterprise, which is what we call healthcare, is actually a disease management system that is not working very well. We are spending all this money to manage existing disease, most of which is lifestyle related and therefore preventable. We have to ask ourselves, why we can't do a better job with prevention and health promotion. The answer - simply is that they don't pay and, until we can figure out how to make them pay, we are not going to change this system. The other reason why our medicine and health care is so expensive is because we are completely reliant on technology to solve all of our problems. That includes pharmaceutical drugs. And technology is very expensive. Our health professionals are not trained in low cost, low tech ways of managing common ailments. Question: What is the future of wellness and what role can the spa industry have in shaping it?
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Andrew Weil: Our healthcare of the future has to be based on wellness and health promotion. I think the spa industry can be very central in this new kind of healthcare because wellness, health promotion, and healthy living have always been central in spas. I would think that the spa industry could be a good source of inspiration for designing a new kind of healthcare. Question: Do you feel we are moving in the right direction? Andrew Weil: I'm afraid we are not moving in the right direction at the moment. The problem is that, as dysfunctional as our healthcare promotion is, it is generating rivers of money that are flowing into very few pockets. Those are the pockets of the pharmaceutical industry, the manufacturers of medical devices, and the big insurers. Those vested interests have total control over our legislators. It doesn't matter whether they are democrats or republicans, and for that reason I don't think we can expect change from the government. Those vested interests don't want anything to change. I think the only hope is through education, raising awareness, and a grassroots movement that changes the political balance of power. Again, I think spas could help promote that grassroots movement by educating people about the importance of wellness, health promotion, and prevention. Question: Do you think happiness is important to our health? Is it related to self esteem? Andrew Weil: I'm not sure happiness is the goal of life. I think we should be open to the possibility
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’89
of happiness but, it seems to me, it's much better to work towards contentment. Contentment is an inner feeling of things being fulfilled that are relatively independent of external circumstances. Most people imagine they'll be happy if they get something they don't have and I don't think that's the best way to think. I think when you're healthy, a part of health is a feeling of wellbeing, and I don't know if that's the same as happiness. I think a sense of wellbeing is definitely an important quality of health. Question: What message should the spa community endorse to help people realize their full health potential? Andrew Weil: I think the spa community really should be working to educate people about the principles of healthy lifestyle. And they should be working on getting the people that it touches to be agents of change in our society. I think people that come through spas should leave knowing more than they went in about how to take care of themselves, how to lead healthy lives, and how to inspire others to do so. Dr. Andrew Weil, Best Selling Author, Speaker and Integrative Medicine and Thought Leader, U.S. at interviews at the Global Wellness Summit.
spa therapies
Alkalinity: the Concept that Defines Healthy Nutrition Poor digestion? Lack of energy? Cardiovascular problems? Maybe it all boils down to poor diet and bad eating habits because one of the concepts that defines good nutrition is alkalinity. Already at the beginning of the 20th century, the scientist Dr Otto Warburg, winner of the Nobel Prize for medicine and physiology (1931), said that where there is acidity or acidosis, there is poor cellular oxygenation and where there is little oxygen there is acidity. This investigation served him later to postulate his theory on the origin of cancer. “Viruses and bacteria need an acidic environment to live. Hence, it is key to maintaining good health that our internal environment is slightly alkaline. When we consume these alkaline-generating foods, we have good digestion, renew our energy, acquire mental clarity and improve our cardiovascular health“, explains María Romeralo, expert nutritionist at SHA Wellness Clinic. Having a healthy organism is synonymous with having an alkaline organism. Alkalinity is measured by the pH of the blood, which ranges from 0 to 14. If the pH of the body is below 7, it is considered acidic, and above that, alkaline. “The hum'n body needs a slightly alkaline medium to live in health. Alkalinity is a measure of internal fluids. Different fluids in the body have different pHs, and the pH of
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the blood is vital to be between 7.35 and 7.45,” explains their expert nutritionist.
Nutrition and Alkaline Foods Some foods and habits help our body become more acidic and others help maintain alkalinity. As the SHA Wellness Clinic expert explains, the basis of alkalising nutrition would be that “based on balanced foods such as whole grains, legumes, seasonal fruit and vegetables, algae, fermented foods (miso, sauerkraut, tamari, pickles, tempeh), seeds and nuts or olive oil“. And which foods would add the most acidity to our bodies? Some examples include soft drinks, coffee, alcohol, refined sugar, fried foods, white flour, packaged fruit juices, jam, chocolate, red meat, etc. But it is essential to make the whole process of food intake natural and healthy, correctly chewing food. It will not only help us eat less, but also process the food we eat better because it is in the mouth where digestion begins. Finally, it remains to be seen what drink we accompany our alkalising meals with. And María Romeralo has a clear bet: “to drink quality water“. Water should be the indisputable drink of choice before or after our meals. Quality water makes a powerful contribution to alkalising the organism, helping to achieve a healthier immune system.
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’89
By SHA Wellness Clinic
The Benefits Of An Alkalised Body: Physical & Mental Health Viruses and bacteria need an acidic environment to live in. So why make it easy for them? The list of pathologies and discomforts caused by acidosis in the body is much longer than you might think. It affects fields as diverse as emotions (sadness, depression, irritability), digestion (heartburn, gastritis, ulcers), respiration (frequent colds, sinusitis, coughs), skin (acidic sweat, dryness, acne, eczema), bone system (osteoporosis, fractures) or circulatory system (hypotension, hypertension, anaemia, bleeding). The general measure should be a pH level below 7, acidosis; above, alkalinity. In this way we will quickly avoid some of the most recurrent symptoms of acidosis: tiredness, pain, inflamm;tion, heaviness, poor digestion, mental confusion, lowered defences, infections, cavities and, in the longer term, diseases such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular problems, obesity or diabetes, among others. “Balance is the answer. We must have a diet with a predominance of alkaline foods,” summarises the SHA nutritionist. A rigorous alkalising plan, such as the one proposed by SHA Wellness Clinic, allows you to reset your body and regain vitality and energy, laying the found;tions for a long and healthy life.
spa therapies What would you think about eating a mushroom that looks a little like the scruff of a lion? Not totally convinced about lion's mane mushroom? What if I told you that it's associated with major brain repair, potential cancer-fighting power and is undergoing research on dozens of other health benefits? Lion's mane mushroom is a nootropic food very popular in traditional Chinese medicine. A large body of research has focused around this brainboosting mushroom in the last few years, and the results are nothing shor t of astounding. One study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry lists the benefits by stating lion's mane mushroom is “antibiotic, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, anti-fatigue, antihypertensive, antihyperlipodemic, anti-senescence [anti-aging], cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and neuroprotective, and improves anxiety, cognitive function, and depression.”
What Is Lion's Mane Mushroom? Known in Latin as Hericium erinaceus, lion's mane is native to North America, Europe and Asia, although it's not cultivated widely in areas outside of Asia. It's sometimes referred to as Hedgehog Mushroom, Yamabushitake or Houtou, and it belongs to the tooth fungus, or hydnoid fungi, group. Lion's mane mushrooms have long, dangling spines that are usually greater than a centimeter in length. Unlike most mushroom species, which have spines that project from a branch, the spines of Hericium erinaceus project outward, giving it that unique look of a lion's mane. These mushrooms grow on both living and dead broadleaf trees and are common in the late summer and fall months.
2. May Help Protect Against Cancer Lion's mane may also be significant in helping treat cancer, according to a host of research. In varying degrees, compounds from or supplementation with lion's mane mushroom has been found to potentially slow the progression or reverse the spread of: Leukemia, Gastric (stomach) cancer, Lung cancer, Cervical cancer, Liver cancer, Colon cancer or Breast cancer.
Some sources state that it was reserved for royalty at different times in the past.
Benefits
Lion's Mane Mushroom:
1. Enhances Brain Function and Benefits the Nervous System
The Potential Brain-Boosting, Cancer-Fighting Powerhouse By Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CN
One method by which lion's mane affects brain function is by enhancing “neurite outgrowth” in the brain and related organs, according to research published in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms. Neurite outgrowth refers to the growth of axons and dendrites from neurons. That's a big deal in brain health research. By increasing this growth, it could potentially be possible to slow or reverse cell degeneration in the brain the main characteristic of diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
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Lion's mane seems to have the ability to enhance immune system function in a manner also related to the polysaccharide content in the fungus, according to research performed on mice. 9. Might Be Useful for Managing Diabetes
Lion's mane mushroom might also help you in preventing heart disease. In vitro and animal research has found that extracts of lion's mane can prevent the increase of LDL cholesterol (sometimes referred to as “bad” cholesterol), increase HDL, or “good,” cholesterol and lower triglycerides in the bloodstream, an early indicator of heart disease. An extract of lion's mane mushroom may be able to prevent blood clots and help reduce the risk of stroke, according to a study from the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Tohoku University in Japan.
A 2013 animal study showed marked improvement in blood glucose levels, insulin sensitivity and various other diabetes symptoms. Possibly because of the antioxidant activity of lion's mane, administering it to animals also seems to relieve pain caused by diabetic neuropathy.
Nutrition Research suggests that lion's mane is a source of at least 32 bioactive compounds. Although it's hard to pinpoint the vitamin and mineral content of lion's mane, it's believed to be a rich source of potassium, zinc, iron and selenium.
4. Might Improve Digestive Health Due in part to its powerful anti-inflammatory properties, lion's mane mushroom might improve the function of your stomach and digestive system. In multiple studies, lion's mane mushroom has been shown to protect from or shrink gastric ulcers. Lion's mane may also significantly improve symptoms of two major inflammatory disorders of the digestive system, gastritis and inflammatory bowel disease, as shown in lab studies and research on mice.
A 2015 study out of Japan found that lion's mane mushroom was able to reduce inflammation in fatty tissue. This is important because fatty tissue inflammation is a factor in the formation of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that increase your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Lion's mane also has antibacterial effects against h. Pylori, often considered “the most successful pathogen in human history.” Many people never have symptoms of carrying the bacteria, but for some people it causes severe gastric conditions, like ulcers in the stomach and/or intestines. 6. Acts as a Powerful Antioxidant
Maybe the most thoroughly researched feature of lion's mane mushroom is its impact on brain cells and related functions. This incredible fungus may have revolutionary impact on neurodegenerative diseases.
8. Improves Immune Function
3. Supports Heart and Circulatory System Health
5. Reduces Inflammation Research shows that lion's mane possesses antiinflammatory, antioxidant and immunostimulating properties in cells, animals and humans. It has been used for thousands of years as a medicinal mushroom, especially among traditional Chinese medicine practitioners.
Consuming lion's mane mushroom may also be a natural way to help treat depression and anxiety.
The molecules in lion's mane mushroom have antioxidant abilities and help prevent and relieve the oxidative stress caused by poor nutrition and exposure to chemicals in the environment. These antioxidants may also: Help prevent osteoporosis, protect against alcohol-induced liver damage, as shown in research on mice, slow the aging of skin, as displayed in a study on rats 7. Improves Mental Health and Overall WellBeing A lion's mane mushroom supplement may also help you feel better by improving sleep and reducing the effects of mental health issues. It might have the ability to adjust circadian rhythms back to normal, which is particularly significant for people who are at risk for dementia.
One reason lion's mane has been researched for a wide variety of purposes is because of the polysaccharides it contains. Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrate structures, like glucose. Lion's mane mushroom contains beta-glucan polysaccharides, which are known scientifically to have correlations with various health benefits, like heart health and immune responses.
Risks and Side Effects Lion's mane mushroom is a generally safe food item. Multiple animal studies have found it to be non-toxic at different dosages, even over extended periods of time. If you experience any symptoms, such as burning/itching skin, inability to breathe properly or swollen lips, consult your doctor immediately.
Final Thoughts •Lion's mane mushroom is an edible fungus grown in Asia, Europe and North America. • It has been used for millennia as a medicinal food in traditional Chinese medicine and other ancient medicinal practices. • Due to the presence of unique polysaccharides and other nutrients, lion's mane mushroom has a large number of health benefits. • The two most well-known benefits of consuming lion's mane are the potential ability to prevent or protect the spread of neurodegenerative disease and cancer. • Lion's mane mushroom may also help improve heart health, protect from inflammatory digestive issues, reduce inflammation, relieve oxidative stress, improve mental health, boost immunity and prevent diabetes. • Lion's mane is not available in most Western grocery locations, but you can grow your own or take it in supplement form.
spa therapies What would you think about eating a mushroom that looks a little like the scruff of a lion? Not totally convinced about lion's mane mushroom? What if I told you that it's associated with major brain repair, potential cancer-fighting power and is undergoing research on dozens of other health benefits? Lion's mane mushroom is a nootropic food very popular in traditional Chinese medicine. A large body of research has focused around this brainboosting mushroom in the last few years, and the results are nothing shor t of astounding. One study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry lists the benefits by stating lion's mane mushroom is “antibiotic, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, anti-fatigue, antihypertensive, antihyperlipodemic, anti-senescence [anti-aging], cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and neuroprotective, and improves anxiety, cognitive function, and depression.”
What Is Lion's Mane Mushroom? Known in Latin as Hericium erinaceus, lion's mane is native to North America, Europe and Asia, although it's not cultivated widely in areas outside of Asia. It's sometimes referred to as Hedgehog Mushroom, Yamabushitake or Houtou, and it belongs to the tooth fungus, or hydnoid fungi, group. Lion's mane mushrooms have long, dangling spines that are usually greater than a centimeter in length. Unlike most mushroom species, which have spines that project from a branch, the spines of Hericium erinaceus project outward, giving it that unique look of a lion's mane. These mushrooms grow on both living and dead broadleaf trees and are common in the late summer and fall months.
2. May Help Protect Against Cancer Lion's mane may also be significant in helping treat cancer, according to a host of research. In varying degrees, compounds from or supplementation with lion's mane mushroom has been found to potentially slow the progression or reverse the spread of: Leukemia, Gastric (stomach) cancer, Lung cancer, Cervical cancer, Liver cancer, Colon cancer or Breast cancer.
Some sources state that it was reserved for royalty at different times in the past.
Benefits
Lion's Mane Mushroom:
1. Enhances Brain Function and Benefits the Nervous System
The Potential Brain-Boosting, Cancer-Fighting Powerhouse By Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CN
One method by which lion's mane affects brain function is by enhancing “neurite outgrowth” in the brain and related organs, according to research published in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms. Neurite outgrowth refers to the growth of axons and dendrites from neurons. That's a big deal in brain health research. By increasing this growth, it could potentially be possible to slow or reverse cell degeneration in the brain the main characteristic of diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
46
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’89
Lion's mane seems to have the ability to enhance immune system function in a manner also related to the polysaccharide content in the fungus, according to research performed on mice. 9. Might Be Useful for Managing Diabetes
Lion's mane mushroom might also help you in preventing heart disease. In vitro and animal research has found that extracts of lion's mane can prevent the increase of LDL cholesterol (sometimes referred to as “bad” cholesterol), increase HDL, or “good,” cholesterol and lower triglycerides in the bloodstream, an early indicator of heart disease. An extract of lion's mane mushroom may be able to prevent blood clots and help reduce the risk of stroke, according to a study from the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Tohoku University in Japan.
A 2013 animal study showed marked improvement in blood glucose levels, insulin sensitivity and various other diabetes symptoms. Possibly because of the antioxidant activity of lion's mane, administering it to animals also seems to relieve pain caused by diabetic neuropathy.
Nutrition Research suggests that lion's mane is a source of at least 32 bioactive compounds. Although it's hard to pinpoint the vitamin and mineral content of lion's mane, it's believed to be a rich source of potassium, zinc, iron and selenium.
4. Might Improve Digestive Health Due in part to its powerful anti-inflammatory properties, lion's mane mushroom might improve the function of your stomach and digestive system. In multiple studies, lion's mane mushroom has been shown to protect from or shrink gastric ulcers. Lion's mane may also significantly improve symptoms of two major inflammatory disorders of the digestive system, gastritis and inflammatory bowel disease, as shown in lab studies and research on mice.
A 2015 study out of Japan found that lion's mane mushroom was able to reduce inflammation in fatty tissue. This is important because fatty tissue inflammation is a factor in the formation of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that increase your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Lion's mane also has antibacterial effects against h. Pylori, often considered “the most successful pathogen in human history.” Many people never have symptoms of carrying the bacteria, but for some people it causes severe gastric conditions, like ulcers in the stomach and/or intestines. 6. Acts as a Powerful Antioxidant
Maybe the most thoroughly researched feature of lion's mane mushroom is its impact on brain cells and related functions. This incredible fungus may have revolutionary impact on neurodegenerative diseases.
8. Improves Immune Function
3. Supports Heart and Circulatory System Health
5. Reduces Inflammation Research shows that lion's mane possesses antiinflammatory, antioxidant and immunostimulating properties in cells, animals and humans. It has been used for thousands of years as a medicinal mushroom, especially among traditional Chinese medicine practitioners.
Consuming lion's mane mushroom may also be a natural way to help treat depression and anxiety.
The molecules in lion's mane mushroom have antioxidant abilities and help prevent and relieve the oxidative stress caused by poor nutrition and exposure to chemicals in the environment. These antioxidants may also: Help prevent osteoporosis, protect against alcohol-induced liver damage, as shown in research on mice, slow the aging of skin, as displayed in a study on rats 7. Improves Mental Health and Overall WellBeing A lion's mane mushroom supplement may also help you feel better by improving sleep and reducing the effects of mental health issues. It might have the ability to adjust circadian rhythms back to normal, which is particularly significant for people who are at risk for dementia.
One reason lion's mane has been researched for a wide variety of purposes is because of the polysaccharides it contains. Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrate structures, like glucose. Lion's mane mushroom contains beta-glucan polysaccharides, which are known scientifically to have correlations with various health benefits, like heart health and immune responses.
Risks and Side Effects Lion's mane mushroom is a generally safe food item. Multiple animal studies have found it to be non-toxic at different dosages, even over extended periods of time. If you experience any symptoms, such as burning/itching skin, inability to breathe properly or swollen lips, consult your doctor immediately.
Final Thoughts •Lion's mane mushroom is an edible fungus grown in Asia, Europe and North America. • It has been used for millennia as a medicinal food in traditional Chinese medicine and other ancient medicinal practices. • Due to the presence of unique polysaccharides and other nutrients, lion's mane mushroom has a large number of health benefits. • The two most well-known benefits of consuming lion's mane are the potential ability to prevent or protect the spread of neurodegenerative disease and cancer. • Lion's mane mushroom may also help improve heart health, protect from inflammatory digestive issues, reduce inflammation, relieve oxidative stress, improve mental health, boost immunity and prevent diabetes. • Lion's mane is not available in most Western grocery locations, but you can grow your own or take it in supplement form.
spa therapies
Shinrin-Yoku & Other Lifestyle Changes for Shifting Cortisol Levels A certain level of stress is inevitable in today’s society, and the experiences that shape the stress response may also influence sleep patterns, food intake, blood sugar imbalances, and cardiovascular disease—and vice versa—leading to chronic ill health. At times of high anxiety, this bidirectional relationship can feel like an endless loop, as stress can both predispose patients to and precipitate hormonal imbalances. During this whole-body process, mediated by hormones and the immune system, cortisol can act as a biomarker. Cortisol has a normal diurnal pattern throughout the day, normally peaking in the morning hours and bottoming out at night. In studies, deviations from this pattern are associated with signs and symptoms of adrenal dysfunction.When treating hormone imbalances, a functional medicine tenet says to “start with the adrenals.” In functional medicine, evaluation of stress and application of stress management strategies can assist with downstream hormone production, transport, and processing, as well as offer low-harm, low cost, highbenefit interventions that may counter the stress response—like shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), enhanced nutrition, and physical activity.
Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) The biophilia hypothesis, the idea that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with the natural environment, was introduced and popularized in 1984 by biologist Edward O. Wilson. He defines biophilia as a consequence of evolution, whereby human beings subconsciously seek connection with other forms of life. Support for this theory comes, in part, from research demonstrating increased psychological well-being upon exposure to natural features and environments. Research from Japan points to a number of positive health benefits for both psychological and physiological health associated with the practice of shinrin-yoku, also known as forest bathing. Shinrinyoku is a traditional Japanese practice of immersing oneself in nature by mindfully using all five senses, and during the 1980s, it surfaced in Japan as a
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pivotal part of preventive health care and healing. Forest environments may reduce blood pressure and heart rate, reduce stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, increase activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, and reduce sympathetic activity. Over the last 20 years, there has been a growing interest in greenspace and its ability to mediate the deleterious impacts of acute and chronic stress, particularly the physiologic biomarkers of stress such as cortisol. A 2021 review published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health suggests that greenspace interventions may have the potential for a profound impact on reducing stress as measured by cortisol and thereby reduce the physiologic stress burden across the lifespan. All four field studies on forest bathing, specifically, measured cortisol level change in two main participant conditions—a forest group where forest bathing took place in a designated forested area and an urban group where participants were in a city center. Studying the impact of walking on cortisol levels in urban and rural settings, Kobayashi et al found a significant interaction effect between environmental setting and walking; walking in a forest environment decreased mean cortisol concentration from 9.70 to 8.37 nmol/L, whereas walking in an urban environment barely changed mean cortisol concentration, from 10.28 to 10.01 nmol/L.14,15 By contrast, participants in the study by Lee et al were passively seated in the exposure conditions, which resulted in a positive effect of forest viewing stimuli. Cortisol levels were significantly lower in the forest bathing group compared to the urban viewing group (p < 0.05) at baseline and just before the stimuli (p < 0.01).
Enhanced Nutrition & Physical Activity Cortisol also plays an important role in human nutrition, and vice versa. While cortisol itself has an appetite-stimulating effect, extremes in nutrition intake (such as overeating or not eating enough) may impact cortisol production and secretion. Studies suggest an upregulation of cortisol with a Western-
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’89
pattern diet that includes increased amounts of refined carbohydrates and saturated fats and decreased amounts of fiber. A 2021 cross-sectional study examining the association between hair cortisol concentration (HCC, an indicator of long-term stress) and diet among 597 preschoolers found that higher HCCs were associated with less frequent consumption of fruits and berries and more frequent consumption of sugary beverages. In addition to nutrition, physical activity and exercise have long been shown to have beneficial effects on stress reactivity; it may also boost levels of musclemaintaining hormones that decline with age. In a 2021 study of acute and delayed hormonal and blood cell responses to a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session, after three weeks, cortisol, white blood cell count, and lymphocyte responses were decreased by an average of 42%, respectively. The findings indicate that short-term HIIT may blunt exercise-induced immune responses and induce rapid adaptations of the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal axis. For patients who are unable to perform vigorous exercise, regular walking may improve hormone levels and potentially improve strength and quality of life.
Clinical Applications Individualized interventions like forest bathing, enhanced nutrition that highlights the antiinflammatory aspect of a diet, and increased physical activity may help restore hormonal balance. Stress is a key mediator of a variety of poor health outcomes. Functional medicine clinicians are trained on the application of the “PTSD” mnemonic, which is used in the assessment of hormone dysfunction. It helps determine if the dysfunction is related to h o r m o n e p ro d u c t i o n , h o r m o n e t ra n s p o r t , signaling sensitivity, or to an issue with detoxification. This functional medicine approach helps identify points of leverage where physicians can apply individualized interventions to help restore hormonal balance.
spa therapies When you brush past someone in a crowded restaurant or accidentally nudge a person in a hallway or on an elevator, you say "I'm sorry" or "Pardon me" because, in Western culture, their private space has been violated. The fact that this split second of harmless, casual social physical contact is considered a transgression significant enough to require an apology- no matter how perfunctoryreveals that something truly is wrong with life in the big city. I am a skin therapist, and for me, the past 30 years have been jampacked with learning, and I believe that the most important professional quality for any skin care professional should be a commitment to gathering knowledge. Throughout my education, I have been fortunate enough to learn about a myriad of products, techniques and technologies. During this lifetime of learning, one thing never has been clearer than it is now: Skin care is all about touch and human hands.
Cocooning Undeniably, these are uncertain, alienated times during which it would make sense to seek solace and comfort in humanity. Instead, you retreat into your own isolated, insular world where social touching virtually is eliminated- what pop culture commentator Faith Popcorn called "cocooning" in the early 1990s. Today, teachers shrink from touching their students, fearful even of applying sunscreen to their faces before a field trip. Co-workers hesitate to offer a gentle hug or pat on the shoulder to a colleague, dreading the threat of sexual harassment charges. What is left of life on Earth? I am convinced that finding the way back to our humanity won't happen with politics or with law. It will happen through the alchemy of human skin touching skin.
Satisfying Skin Hunger I am not referring to sexual touching, which often is used as a shortcut to satisfying what I call "skin hunger." Although sex has its delights, it is not the entire story of the skin, and sexual touching is not what you crave most deeply as a sentient creature.
Changing The World With Our Bare Hands
By Jane Wurwand - Dermalogica
Sexuality has become twisted precisely because humans are starved for a nonsexual connection. Because you can't touch casually and in a purely friendly manner, all of it becomes sexualized. This is a problem when humans yearn to touch people for whom they have no flicker of sexual interest, but would like to hug and squeeze anyway-the spouse of a good friend, children, a kind neighbour or that sweet grandmother who sells organic tomatoes at the farmer's market. Because you cannot touch these people in a socially accepted manner, you feel that your desire to connect must be somehow naughty, dirty or tainted. For decades, research has indicated that touchdeprived infants - as well as the young offspring of all mammals - experience mental, physical and social
50
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’89
retardation, even if they receive adequate nourishment in other areas. The lack of physical contact is an acknowledged factor in hastening the deaths of elderly people who reside in hospitals and nursing homes. Some people confuse skin hunger with sexual desire. Others attempt to satisfy it with food, drugs and drink, entertainment and insatiable consumerismshopping and spending, hours of anesthetizing television-watching and numbing workaholism. In my opinion, the American obesity epidemic has as much to do with the loss of socially acceptable casual physical touching between family members, peers and friends as it does with wolfing down pounds of the newly supersized M&M's while surfing the Internet. All of these phenomena spring from losing touch, both literally and figuratively, with the wisdom and rhythm of the body.
Touch is Truthful The skin is hungry, and people will find a way to feed it any way they can. Think about it-you ask friends to "keep in touch," and you promise to "touch base." You talk about feeling "warm fuzzies," as well as "stroking" someone's ego. You say that someone "rubs you the wrong way." A challenging situation is called "sticky" or "high-pressure," forcing you to "get a grip." You describe conflict as "friction." Someone may be called "smooth" or "slick" or, in the extreme, "slimy." A person on the opposite end of the spectrum may be "dry" or "rough around the edges." High praise for something may involve referring to it as "hot" or "cool." These tactile conversational references are plentiful in the English language and are moored in an unspoken understanding that touch always is straightforward. One cultural half-truth is that women want to cuddle in bed, while men simply want to hit the target, so to speak. These roles and expectations find at least some reality in the fact that they are reinforced culturally. But when it comes to a need for nonsexual touching, check out the big, burly bearhugs, high-fives, joyful chestbumping and appreciative bottom-patting that take place between National Football League or National Basketball Association players after scoring points. During these moments, where touch is safe and permitted even among macho guys, they're being about as cuddly as sweaty, adrenaline-buzzed 250-pound men possibly can get!
Touch and Oxytocin Phyllis Davis talks about this concept in relation to the release of oxytocin through touch in her book, The Power of Touch (Hay House, 1999). Oxytocin, which is a body chemical that is secreted by the posterior pituitary gland in the brain, sometimes informally is referred to as "the hormone of love" or "the cuddle hormone." Current studies at the University of California, San Francisco link the presence of this chemical in mammals with pair-bonding, nest-building and pup-retrieval-which includes remembering to pick up the kids after soccer practice - in many varieties of animals, including humans.
Your Role in Liberating Touch Professional skin care must play a crucial role in the liberation of human touch. Take a close look at this profession. Why do clients come to you-because they want their skin to look younger? Yes, most definitely. Because they want to correct topical problems, suc h as acne outbreaks or hyperpigmentation? Of course. These are the most literal and circumstantial reasons for the existence of the skin care profession. But there is another reason: skin hunger. I have had the following experience many times and am positive that you, as a skin care professional, have had similar ones, as well. A client-usually a woman - walks into your spa and asks if she can have a treatment. You check the schedule and see that your day is full. You apologize about not being able to fit her in today and offer to reschedule her for tomorrow or the next day. The woman chews her lip and asks if there is an opening for a massage. There isn't. How about a manicure and pedicure? You explain that there is a huge wedding party here today, and everyone on the team is booked. She reads the menu over and over, asking about each service - even the obscure ones that nobody ever requests. She doesn't want to leave and seems desperate because she is: desperate to be touched in a nurturing, nonthreatening way. The tide is turning, and more and more people are realizing that skin care, energy work and body work are not treats, indulgences or pampering, but truly are tools for survival in these touch-phobic times. As a skin therapist, you must step up to your role as a cultural healer. It is not too grand a mission. You can do it. In fact, you must do it because you are among some of the last people on Earth who are trusted to touch others without facing criminal charges. As the front line in the cultural revolution to make touch safe again, never underestimate your own hands. More than any peptide, enzyme or piece of high-tech hardware, your two hands are wonderworkers. Even in the most secular sense, the "laying on of hands" is a deeply healing experience. The effects go beyond the release of oxytocin to something more mysterious and, ultimately, more important than mere chemistry.
The Cultural Revolution Unlike most of the industrial world, straining so as not to innocently bump into or graze the sleeve of a stranger in passing, skin therapists do not have to apologize for touching another person's skin with their bare hands. In fact, you are paid to touch them. Some drowse blissfully under your touch. Some giggle with nervousness, perhaps because they are not touched often. Occasionally, some weep with cathartic relief and release. And they all thank you. Jane Wurwand is an innovative business visionary who opens doors for global women’s economic empowerment and professional development. She is the co-founder and co-owner of Dermalogica and The International Dermal Institute.
spa therapies When you brush past someone in a crowded restaurant or accidentally nudge a person in a hallway or on an elevator, you say "I'm sorry" or "Pardon me" because, in Western culture, their private space has been violated. The fact that this split second of harmless, casual social physical contact is considered a transgression significant enough to require an apology- no matter how perfunctoryreveals that something truly is wrong with life in the big city. I am a skin therapist, and for me, the past 30 years have been jampacked with learning, and I believe that the most important professional quality for any skin care professional should be a commitment to gathering knowledge. Throughout my education, I have been fortunate enough to learn about a myriad of products, techniques and technologies. During this lifetime of learning, one thing never has been clearer than it is now: Skin care is all about touch and human hands.
Cocooning Undeniably, these are uncertain, alienated times during which it would make sense to seek solace and comfort in humanity. Instead, you retreat into your own isolated, insular world where social touching virtually is eliminated- what pop culture commentator Faith Popcorn called "cocooning" in the early 1990s. Today, teachers shrink from touching their students, fearful even of applying sunscreen to their faces before a field trip. Co-workers hesitate to offer a gentle hug or pat on the shoulder to a colleague, dreading the threat of sexual harassment charges. What is left of life on Earth? I am convinced that finding the way back to our humanity won't happen with politics or with law. It will happen through the alchemy of human skin touching skin.
Satisfying Skin Hunger I am not referring to sexual touching, which often is used as a shortcut to satisfying what I call "skin hunger." Although sex has its delights, it is not the entire story of the skin, and sexual touching is not what you crave most deeply as a sentient creature.
Changing The World With Our Bare Hands
By Jane Wurwand - Dermalogica
Sexuality has become twisted precisely because humans are starved for a nonsexual connection. Because you can't touch casually and in a purely friendly manner, all of it becomes sexualized. This is a problem when humans yearn to touch people for whom they have no flicker of sexual interest, but would like to hug and squeeze anyway-the spouse of a good friend, children, a kind neighbour or that sweet grandmother who sells organic tomatoes at the farmer's market. Because you cannot touch these people in a socially accepted manner, you feel that your desire to connect must be somehow naughty, dirty or tainted. For decades, research has indicated that touchdeprived infants - as well as the young offspring of all mammals - experience mental, physical and social
50
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’89
retardation, even if they receive adequate nourishment in other areas. The lack of physical contact is an acknowledged factor in hastening the deaths of elderly people who reside in hospitals and nursing homes. Some people confuse skin hunger with sexual desire. Others attempt to satisfy it with food, drugs and drink, entertainment and insatiable consumerismshopping and spending, hours of anesthetizing television-watching and numbing workaholism. In my opinion, the American obesity epidemic has as much to do with the loss of socially acceptable casual physical touching between family members, peers and friends as it does with wolfing down pounds of the newly supersized M&M's while surfing the Internet. All of these phenomena spring from losing touch, both literally and figuratively, with the wisdom and rhythm of the body.
Touch is Truthful The skin is hungry, and people will find a way to feed it any way they can. Think about it-you ask friends to "keep in touch," and you promise to "touch base." You talk about feeling "warm fuzzies," as well as "stroking" someone's ego. You say that someone "rubs you the wrong way." A challenging situation is called "sticky" or "high-pressure," forcing you to "get a grip." You describe conflict as "friction." Someone may be called "smooth" or "slick" or, in the extreme, "slimy." A person on the opposite end of the spectrum may be "dry" or "rough around the edges." High praise for something may involve referring to it as "hot" or "cool." These tactile conversational references are plentiful in the English language and are moored in an unspoken understanding that touch always is straightforward. One cultural half-truth is that women want to cuddle in bed, while men simply want to hit the target, so to speak. These roles and expectations find at least some reality in the fact that they are reinforced culturally. But when it comes to a need for nonsexual touching, check out the big, burly bearhugs, high-fives, joyful chestbumping and appreciative bottom-patting that take place between National Football League or National Basketball Association players after scoring points. During these moments, where touch is safe and permitted even among macho guys, they're being about as cuddly as sweaty, adrenaline-buzzed 250-pound men possibly can get!
Touch and Oxytocin Phyllis Davis talks about this concept in relation to the release of oxytocin through touch in her book, The Power of Touch (Hay House, 1999). Oxytocin, which is a body chemical that is secreted by the posterior pituitary gland in the brain, sometimes informally is referred to as "the hormone of love" or "the cuddle hormone." Current studies at the University of California, San Francisco link the presence of this chemical in mammals with pair-bonding, nest-building and pup-retrieval-which includes remembering to pick up the kids after soccer practice - in many varieties of animals, including humans.
Your Role in Liberating Touch Professional skin care must play a crucial role in the liberation of human touch. Take a close look at this profession. Why do clients come to you-because they want their skin to look younger? Yes, most definitely. Because they want to correct topical problems, suc h as acne outbreaks or hyperpigmentation? Of course. These are the most literal and circumstantial reasons for the existence of the skin care profession. But there is another reason: skin hunger. I have had the following experience many times and am positive that you, as a skin care professional, have had similar ones, as well. A client-usually a woman - walks into your spa and asks if she can have a treatment. You check the schedule and see that your day is full. You apologize about not being able to fit her in today and offer to reschedule her for tomorrow or the next day. The woman chews her lip and asks if there is an opening for a massage. There isn't. How about a manicure and pedicure? You explain that there is a huge wedding party here today, and everyone on the team is booked. She reads the menu over and over, asking about each service - even the obscure ones that nobody ever requests. She doesn't want to leave and seems desperate because she is: desperate to be touched in a nurturing, nonthreatening way. The tide is turning, and more and more people are realizing that skin care, energy work and body work are not treats, indulgences or pampering, but truly are tools for survival in these touch-phobic times. As a skin therapist, you must step up to your role as a cultural healer. It is not too grand a mission. You can do it. In fact, you must do it because you are among some of the last people on Earth who are trusted to touch others without facing criminal charges. As the front line in the cultural revolution to make touch safe again, never underestimate your own hands. More than any peptide, enzyme or piece of high-tech hardware, your two hands are wonderworkers. Even in the most secular sense, the "laying on of hands" is a deeply healing experience. The effects go beyond the release of oxytocin to something more mysterious and, ultimately, more important than mere chemistry.
The Cultural Revolution Unlike most of the industrial world, straining so as not to innocently bump into or graze the sleeve of a stranger in passing, skin therapists do not have to apologize for touching another person's skin with their bare hands. In fact, you are paid to touch them. Some drowse blissfully under your touch. Some giggle with nervousness, perhaps because they are not touched often. Occasionally, some weep with cathartic relief and release. And they all thank you. Jane Wurwand is an innovative business visionary who opens doors for global women’s economic empowerment and professional development. She is the co-founder and co-owner of Dermalogica and The International Dermal Institute.
spa therapies
Five Essential Ways to Stop Your Ageing Clock You’ve probably noticed that there are boatloads of products that bill themselves as “anti-aging” therapies. Clearly, the marketers have tapped into a deep human desire to escape the ravages of physical aging. What I care about, and what I try to educate all my patients about, are the every-day habits and behaviours that can slow down aging at the most basic cellular level. They don’t cost much, or in most cases, anything, and they can, and should, last a lifetime. It’s true that absolute lifespan, for instance whether your grandmother lived to 80 or 95, is very much influenced by genetics. But healthspan – how long you live well, is very much up to you. Here’s my most essential lifestyle strategies, my healthspan rules of the road to slow, or even stop, the aging clock, and increase the health in your years: 1. Respect Sleep. Your body has its own renewal system. We call it sleep, and the more you learn to respect it, by giving it 7-8 hours to do its thing every night, the slower your aging clock will tick, both physically and mentally. With the proper amount of sleep, the body is able to cycle in and out of the two most restorative phases of the night, deep sleep, and REM sleep, when we dream. During these two phases, our minds process the experiences of the day, locking only the important stuff into readily accessible memory. At a physical level, the body cleans out the cellular debris that accumulates during the day when the mind is working at full throttle. Of course, all this is happening below the level of conscious awareness. But when you wake up after too little sleep, or lousy sleep of the tossing and turning variety, and you feel sluggish, sleepy, grumpy, that’s what’s going on “under the hood.” And poor sleep habits, over the long haul, put you at higher risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s – and that’s one of the many reasons I am adamant that my patients take sleep very, very seriously. 2. Don’t just sit there, Get Moving! Sure, you probably know physical activity is good for you, but we don’t always appreciate that moving your body is about the most effective anti-aging therapy going. Why? It boils down to metabolism, how efficiently our bodies use the energy we consume in the food eat. Nothing ages the body more comprehensively than high blood sugar and extra weight around the midsection. There’s a reason doctors often call diabetes “accelerated aging.” When we move the body our muscles are burning the glucose fuel that circulates in the bloodstream. The more we use (or ‘burn’) the less gets stored as fat, and the more efficiently we make use of the hormone insulin which delivers the glucose to the cells. End result: a leaner, cleaner metabolism and less fat build-up. The mistake that a lot of health-conscious people make is thinking that only a 10 km run or long distance swim counts as exercise. It’ s just not so. In fact, working out
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to near-exhaustion every day, or even every other day, can be positively counter-productive. It can over-stress your immune system leaving you feeling washed-out. But if health and boosting your healthspan is your first priority, it’s a much better idea to build small doses of movement into your day: walking instead of driving; stairs instead of elevators; and taking regular minibreaks away from the desk to do some stretches or yoga poses, or some quick strength boosters, like pushups or planks. With that as your base, feel free to add a couple of breaking-a-sweat work-out into the weekly mix, as you see fit. It all counts and it all adds up, and all that movement helps keep muscles supple and joints lubricated, which in turn makes moving through life much easier now and for years down the road. The old conventional wisdom was that our metabolism declined steadily after age 30, but the latest research has shown that the body’s energy-burning furnace doesn’t cool down until we hit our sixties. That means, all the “slowing down with age” that people think is inevitable in their middle years isn’t! It’s the result of conscious choices we make every day, especially about how we move and how we eat – two very pleasurable activities, which when done right, will also go a long way towards to maintaining the best parts of youth. 3. Eating your Way Young. Bound up with metabolic health is inflammation. In fact, researchers see inflammation, the chronic over-activation of the immune system, as so central to the aging process, especially “bad” aging, they coined the term, “inflammaging.” Inflammation is at the root of most of the chronic diseases that too often are the bane of our middle and senior years: heart disease, diabetes, dementia, even cancer. And the best way to slow down that inflammaging, besides moving more, is to eat more skillfully. If you know me at all, you know I can’t say enough good things about a diet that’s long on nonstarchy veggies (greens especially), healthy fats preferably organic meat and wild fish and plant sources like nuts and legumes. But just as important as the health-supportive nutrients these foods deliver to the system are their inflammation-fighting properties. The fiber-rich veggies especially feed the bacteria in your gut, the microbiome, which in turns help build up the lining of the gut wall. That means that toxins don’t escape into the bloodstream, triggering inflammation throughout the system. Not only that, the well-fed microbiome acts in concert with the human gut nervous system to recognize non-toxic visitors passing through the gut, like gluten or dairy, which otherwise might trigger an immune system inflammatory over-reaction. 4. Tune in to Your Mind. An unsettled mind can age you as reliably as an outof-sorts body. As with most things in the health universe, mind and body are deeply connected. If you’re chronically stressed out, the levels of your primary energy hormone, cortisol, will be stuck on “high,”
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’89
By Dr. Frank Lipman pushing up the production of insulin, promoting fat storage, messing with your sleep and just generally making you feel old before your time.My tried-andvery-true remedy for a stressed out head is to carve out some time every day to escape the demands and pressures of the day and simply quiet the mind. Research has shown that these mind-body breaks can actually slow the aging of the brain, by lowering blood pressure and lengthening your telomeres (the ends of your chromosomes which regulate cellular aging). A regular sitting meditation practice is great. Find a quiet place, tune into a smooth, regular breathing pattern and follow the breath for as long as practicable or comfortable. Ten or fifteen minutes a day is enough to calm down the stress hormones. But with practice, you may find that a 30 or even 45-minute sit can take you beyond relaxation to a deeper, life-affirming kind of contemplation. Another way to meditate with out meditating in the traditional sense is to spend time doing a super-soothing activity like knitting or playing a musical instrument, or simply being in nature. Those meditative activities are exactly what your sympathetic nervous system ordered. 5. Tap into Autophagy Hacks. It turns out that one important way that healthy habits keep you young and support a better healthspan is by promoting autophagy, that is, upgrading the garbage collection system in your cells, getting rid of old and damaged cells and stripping them for parts to make new robust ones. In practice, they all stress the cells of the body in mild, healthy ways, sort of like doing pushups for your metabolism. The fancy terms for this is “hormesis.” How to turbocharge the process? Here’s a handy, start-doing-now list of autophagy “hacks,” to put you on the road to a better healthspan: • Cold comfort — No need to avail yourself of expensive hi-tech cryo-therapy sessions. Simply get in the habit of alternating warm and cold water in the shower (or finishing off a warm shower with a rousing cold blast). Or take a short outside walk deliberately underdressed. The cold will rev up the metabolism. • Spice up the system – Spices like turmeric, garlic and ginger boost autophagy, ditto polyphenol-rich foods like berries, nuts, beans, artichokes, green tea, coffee and dark chocolate. • Time restricted eating – Spacing out your meals, as little as ten hours or even16 hours between meals, is another booster, stimulating your metabolism. • Low-carb eating — is yet another healthy dietary stressor. A keto diet is the most aggressive form, weaning the body away from burning glucose to burning fat. • High Intensity Internal Training – HIIT-type exercise, be it running, cycling, swimming, hill walking or what have you, pushes the body harder, and the heart rate higher, for a relatively shorter time. And yes, it does promote autophagy, but don’t overdo it. For most people, two sessions a week, 20-30 minutes a week, is a sensible maximum.
spa therapies
Energy is in everything: people, plants, animals, food, rooms, furniture, tools, products, etc. When you strip all of these things down to their microscopic components, all that is left are waves of energy. Energy is invisible to the naked eye, but we know that when we plug in a lamp and turn the light on, energy is causing the light to shine. We usually just think of energy as this invisible magic that allows us to make coffee in the morning and turn on our blow dryers, but there is much more to energy. Imagine the feeling you get when walking into a hospital versus a yoga studio. That feeling is based on the energy in everything in your environment. When you are conscious of how energy works you can think of yourself as a wall outlet possessing the power for others to plug into and light up.
Start a Personal Practice The most powerful way to infuse positive energy into your life (including your treatment room or spa) is to start a morning energy-producing practice using the four M's: Meditate, Move, Manifest and Mantra. “The scientific benefits of meditation are indisputable.” Meditate Meditating simply means focusing on the present moment, feeling your breath circulating in and out. The scientific benefits of meditation are indisputable, but as someone who practices on a daily basis I can assure you that meditating for even five minutes in the morning will make you happier, calmer and more appreciative and aware of what you have. Meditating daily makes you a stronger outlet. If the thought of sitting still and focusing on your breath for even five minutes is daunting, you can begin with the assistance of guided meditations on YouTube or use apps like Headspace and Calm.
How to Infuse Energy Work into Your Life and Career
By Ashleieigh Sacks
Move Exercising results in obvious and again scientifically proven physical health benefits. What we may not understand yet is that exercising also moves stuck energy out, making room for positive energy to flow. The stuck energy I am referring to is the stress, negativity and trauma that you accumulate every day and over a lifetime. My movement of choice is yoga and I practice from home mostly using a free app called Down Dog that allows you to choose your level and duration of practice (from 5 minutes to 90). I also like to follow a few yoga YouTubers, some of my favorites are: The Journey Junkie and Boho Beautiful. I started with Yoga with Adriene's 30 days of yoga that is suitable for all ages and strength levels. The optimal form of movement is the kind that you will do every
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Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’89
day whether it be walking, running, dancing, yoga, pilates, etc. Manifest Where focus goes energy flows. When your morning is focused on meditating and moving, you have elevated your vibratory field making you a powerful outlet full of energy ready to be plugged into. However, before giving your energy to others, use that golden energy for yourself to manifest. Close your eyes and visualize your goals and dreams (including your day ahead) as if watching yourself on a movie screen. Mantra Creating a personal mantra (i.e. a word, thought or statement used to aid in concentration in meditation) for when challenges and obstacles arise (e.g an angry driver or stressed out client) is a powerful tool. Repeating a mantra when you are presented with these situations will bring your awareness back to your morning state of being and protect your energy field from being infiltrated. Getting upset or angry (although these emotions are normal human behavior) will only affect your energy field. Send positive energy to those in need and maintain your high vibration for those suffering to tap into. An example of a personal mantra is “I am the light.”
Reiki Healing REI - meaning high power, spiritual consciousness and KI - meaning universal life force energy is an ancient healing art that has been around for thousands of years with origins in India and the East dating back to the time periods before Christ and Buddha. How Does Reiki Work? Reiki heals by directing energy through ones body to free restrictions, blocks and negative energy that have been clogged and lowered by negative thoughts, feelings, bad choices and habits. A reiki healing releases lower vibrational energy and allows for the flow of healthy, vibrant energy resulting in feelings of happiness and well-being. Reiki can also be used to send positive energy to a room, your products, tools, etc. My first experience with reiki was quite miraculous and a defining moment in my career. After about 10 minutes of lying on the practitioner's table, with my eyes closed, not understanding what was actually happening, I started crying. There was no emotion or control behind my tears, no specific thought or reasoning. During our after-treatment discussion, I learned how blocked my energy flow was, stuck from the trauma of my twin sister's struggle with Anorexia and other mental health illnesses for over 25 years.
Once I was able to unblock that energy, I felt light and inspired. I became reiki certified in order to perform reiki healing on myself. As I healed, I couldn't deny the benefits and felt called to help others. My career developed new life and purpose and I started channeling reiki energy into my services and products.
Beauty is Energy Body Dysmorphic Disorder (a mental illness characterized by a persistent preoccupation with at least one perceived defect or flaw in a person's physical appearance) effects an estimated 2.4% of Americans (around 7 million people). People suffering from BDD can focus on any part of the body, but the most common areas are the skin, hair. According to mentalhealthamerica.net some warning signs of someone with BDD are: • Spending excessive time in front of the mirror or purposely avoiding mirrors • Expressing hatred, disgust or general dissatisfaction with either their general physical appearance • Expressing a strong desire to get cosmetic surgery or other cosmetic procedures • Spending more money than the average person on grooming or makeup products • Seeking reassurance about their physical appearance • Making comparisons to others Sound like anyone you know? Beauty is not the enemy, beauty is spirituality on the outside, a form of self-love and huge source of light energy (imagine yourself as a beautiful flower). However without releasing the stuck energy within, beauty can also be dark and lead to BDD and other mental health issues. Our industry NEEDS energy healing! Spas offering services like reiki or other energy healing treatments will add value to existing clients but also attract new clients; people who think that beauty is for the self-absorbed, people who don't “care” about beauty, moms or dads who believe they are being selfish by getting a facial and/or people who feel they are unattractive and not worthy. Change the mindset surrounding our amazing industry from superficial to spiritual. Every human is beautiful, it is our job to make them feel it. Be the light. Ashley Sachs Ashley Sachs is a Beauty Healer, Writer, Licensed Esthetician and Certified in Reiki Level 2 located in Chester County, PA . In order to balance beauty's magic and curse, Ashley combines energy healing in her custom blended makeup, eyelash extension and microcurrent services.
spa therapies
Energy is in everything: people, plants, animals, food, rooms, furniture, tools, products, etc. When you strip all of these things down to their microscopic components, all that is left are waves of energy. Energy is invisible to the naked eye, but we know that when we plug in a lamp and turn the light on, energy is causing the light to shine. We usually just think of energy as this invisible magic that allows us to make coffee in the morning and turn on our blow dryers, but there is much more to energy. Imagine the feeling you get when walking into a hospital versus a yoga studio. That feeling is based on the energy in everything in your environment. When you are conscious of how energy works you can think of yourself as a wall outlet possessing the power for others to plug into and light up.
Start a Personal Practice The most powerful way to infuse positive energy into your life (including your treatment room or spa) is to start a morning energy-producing practice using the four M's: Meditate, Move, Manifest and Mantra. “The scientific benefits of meditation are indisputable.” Meditate Meditating simply means focusing on the present moment, feeling your breath circulating in and out. The scientific benefits of meditation are indisputable, but as someone who practices on a daily basis I can assure you that meditating for even five minutes in the morning will make you happier, calmer and more appreciative and aware of what you have. Meditating daily makes you a stronger outlet. If the thought of sitting still and focusing on your breath for even five minutes is daunting, you can begin with the assistance of guided meditations on YouTube or use apps like Headspace and Calm.
How to Infuse Energy Work into Your Life and Career
By Ashleieigh Sacks
Move Exercising results in obvious and again scientifically proven physical health benefits. What we may not understand yet is that exercising also moves stuck energy out, making room for positive energy to flow. The stuck energy I am referring to is the stress, negativity and trauma that you accumulate every day and over a lifetime. My movement of choice is yoga and I practice from home mostly using a free app called Down Dog that allows you to choose your level and duration of practice (from 5 minutes to 90). I also like to follow a few yoga YouTubers, some of my favorites are: The Journey Junkie and Boho Beautiful. I started with Yoga with Adriene's 30 days of yoga that is suitable for all ages and strength levels. The optimal form of movement is the kind that you will do every
54
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’89
day whether it be walking, running, dancing, yoga, pilates, etc. Manifest Where focus goes energy flows. When your morning is focused on meditating and moving, you have elevated your vibratory field making you a powerful outlet full of energy ready to be plugged into. However, before giving your energy to others, use that golden energy for yourself to manifest. Close your eyes and visualize your goals and dreams (including your day ahead) as if watching yourself on a movie screen. Mantra Creating a personal mantra (i.e. a word, thought or statement used to aid in concentration in meditation) for when challenges and obstacles arise (e.g an angry driver or stressed out client) is a powerful tool. Repeating a mantra when you are presented with these situations will bring your awareness back to your morning state of being and protect your energy field from being infiltrated. Getting upset or angry (although these emotions are normal human behavior) will only affect your energy field. Send positive energy to those in need and maintain your high vibration for those suffering to tap into. An example of a personal mantra is “I am the light.”
Reiki Healing REI - meaning high power, spiritual consciousness and KI - meaning universal life force energy is an ancient healing art that has been around for thousands of years with origins in India and the East dating back to the time periods before Christ and Buddha. How Does Reiki Work? Reiki heals by directing energy through ones body to free restrictions, blocks and negative energy that have been clogged and lowered by negative thoughts, feelings, bad choices and habits. A reiki healing releases lower vibrational energy and allows for the flow of healthy, vibrant energy resulting in feelings of happiness and well-being. Reiki can also be used to send positive energy to a room, your products, tools, etc. My first experience with reiki was quite miraculous and a defining moment in my career. After about 10 minutes of lying on the practitioner's table, with my eyes closed, not understanding what was actually happening, I started crying. There was no emotion or control behind my tears, no specific thought or reasoning. During our after-treatment discussion, I learned how blocked my energy flow was, stuck from the trauma of my twin sister's struggle with Anorexia and other mental health illnesses for over 25 years.
Once I was able to unblock that energy, I felt light and inspired. I became reiki certified in order to perform reiki healing on myself. As I healed, I couldn't deny the benefits and felt called to help others. My career developed new life and purpose and I started channeling reiki energy into my services and products.
Beauty is Energy Body Dysmorphic Disorder (a mental illness characterized by a persistent preoccupation with at least one perceived defect or flaw in a person's physical appearance) effects an estimated 2.4% of Americans (around 7 million people). People suffering from BDD can focus on any part of the body, but the most common areas are the skin, hair. According to mentalhealthamerica.net some warning signs of someone with BDD are: • Spending excessive time in front of the mirror or purposely avoiding mirrors • Expressing hatred, disgust or general dissatisfaction with either their general physical appearance • Expressing a strong desire to get cosmetic surgery or other cosmetic procedures • Spending more money than the average person on grooming or makeup products • Seeking reassurance about their physical appearance • Making comparisons to others Sound like anyone you know? Beauty is not the enemy, beauty is spirituality on the outside, a form of self-love and huge source of light energy (imagine yourself as a beautiful flower). However without releasing the stuck energy within, beauty can also be dark and lead to BDD and other mental health issues. Our industry NEEDS energy healing! Spas offering services like reiki or other energy healing treatments will add value to existing clients but also attract new clients; people who think that beauty is for the self-absorbed, people who don't “care” about beauty, moms or dads who believe they are being selfish by getting a facial and/or people who feel they are unattractive and not worthy. Change the mindset surrounding our amazing industry from superficial to spiritual. Every human is beautiful, it is our job to make them feel it. Be the light. Ashley Sachs Ashley Sachs is a Beauty Healer, Writer, Licensed Esthetician and Certified in Reiki Level 2 located in Chester County, PA . In order to balance beauty's magic and curse, Ashley combines energy healing in her custom blended makeup, eyelash extension and microcurrent services.
spa lifestyle
How to Train Your Mind for Emotional Resiliency By Shayna Meyer, Founder and Creator of The Enjoyment Method Use the mental strategies of top athletes to support emotional strength. I admit it, my favorite thing to watch on TV since I was a little girl is the Olympics. Additionally, it did not matter what sport it is. Yes, I am a sucker for ice skating and gymnastics, but I'm also just as amazed by basketball, hockey, water polo, track and field, and every other event. I remember laying in my parents' bed while my mom folded laundry nearby, watching the 1984 Olympics. Mary Lou Retton was going for the gold medal, and I remember being in complete awe of her talent. I thought to myself, I want to be that good at something one day. At that time, my dad was one of the world's top professional rodeo cowboys, and I had been exposed to, for the entirety of my life, what it takes to be a professional athlete. At the age of four, I had already comprehended the amount of both physical and mental effort it would take for any athlete, in any sport, to be the best. As the years went on, and I began a serious quest to become a professional dancer, I learned just how many mental and physical sacrifices it would take for me to achieve this goal. Of course, there were bleeding toes and almost constantly sore muscles, but there was also the loneliness of being away from my family at such a young age (14) and the mental strain of so much responsibility. It took all I had-both mentally and physically-to achieve my dancing goals. What I have learned growing up in a family of professional athletes is that there is no way to separate the mind from the body. If a person wants to succeed at anything physical, it will take the strength of the mind, as well, and vice versa. In the state of our current world, it seems we are almost constantly dealing with extreme emotional situations. May I suggest, if we want to be prepared for all we will encounter emotionally that we begin looking at ourselves as athletes? There are several ways in which we can begin training ourselves to be emotional athletes. Glennon Doyle
says it best, “We can do hard things.” This is such a simple, yet profound statement. I believe one of the reasons for emotional weakness is due to people's inability to put themselves in challenging situations and stick to it. We have a fear of pain, so we shy away from it. However, just like diamonds, we gain our strength under time and pressure. The quicker we can put ourselves in a challenging situation and follow through with it, the quicker we can gain mental and physical fortitude. This leads to self-worth and confidence. I am not referring to putting yourself in a financial or relational hard spot, rather I am talking about truly challenging yourself to do something you thought you never could. Many people have a hard time just sitting alone with themselves. When was the last time you went out to eat or on a vacation all alone? To truly just be with yourself without anyone else to distract you. What do you think you could learn about yourself by doing something you never thought you could do? Have you committed to working out five days per week but settled for three? Our confidence and self-worth are built and lost in the honoring, or not, of the commitments we make. If it is important to have emotional strength, we must possess both self-worth and self-confidence. Seek out challenging opportunities and conquer them for no reason other than to build emotional strength. Unlike a medieval soldier going off to war, when it comes to emotional strength, I view this more as a disrobing of armour. As we go about our lives and people hurt us through both small and large wounds, one by one, we add pieces to our armour. At some point, this armour feels suffocating, and we are either easily triggered or so confined we can't feel anything at all. Two extremely effective tactics I have used to help my clients heal trauma wounds and remove the emotional armor from the body are breathwork and cold plunges. Both methods, when done on a consistent basis, can be effective in excavating past
traumas and helping the body move through them and heal. Wim Hof, an athlete known for his extreme ability to withstand freezing temperatures, is an incredible resource, and I encourage everyone to add these practices into their weekly routines. If you are like me, the daily cold shower will also satisfy the “we can do hard things” mantra. However, the zest for life that rushes through my veins when I am done, makes it all worthwhile. As we train ourselves for emotional strength and fortitude, there may be nothing more important than getting to know ourselves on the very deepest of levels. Take time to sit in the stillness of the morning or night with a clear head and remember the stories that hurt you. Let them hurt again, and ask yourself, why does this hurt? What is it that moves me? As you go about your day and you notice things starting to irritate you, just step back from it and, again, ask yourself, why? The healing is the remembering. When we connect the dots of our past, we can build the bridge to our brightest future. As emotional athletes, we must create a life of healthy rituals that build self-confidence and help us understand ourselves at the deepest of levels, so we can walk through our lives as present and emotionally available beings. When we fervently work towards these concepts on a daily basis, we craft a life where we are able to stand tall in our boots, aligned and confident in exactly who we are and with quiet resolve. This is how we become emotional Olympians. About: Shayna Meyer, Founder and Creator of The Enjoyment Method, guides women to deep-rooted peace and enjoyment in their lives. Shayna utilizes a variety of tools and tactics including breathwork, herbal cleanses, a collection of meditations, effective education against various vices, and cutting-edge thought processes to create a safe space where women can find true and lasting levels of enjoyment in all the fibers of their lives through healing. Her own healing journey took an extended peior to find restoration and reach a state of daily, predictable enjoyment.
