Monday, September 29, 2008

Fall Beauty - Healthy and Colorful

Autumn is a time when we are more sensitive to nature. Being surrounded by a plethora of colorful leaves, fading flowers, and crisp air fascinates us. At the same time, we try to blend in with the environment by dressing in fall colors, changing hair color, and decorating our houses. The melancholy of passed summer is not overwhelming anymore. Fall is a really good time to take care of dry and tired skin. Summer with outdoor activities in the sun and water definitely has a big impact on our skin. Do not forget the benefits of massages.

During this time of year we should get deeper and more intense massages (Deep Tissue, or Shawnee Mixology Massage) that will strengthen your muscles AND skin. This form of forced muscle relaxations helps with the elasticity of the entire body, and will also make your skin firmer. 60 Minutes of a Swedish massage will have a tremendous effect on your body. You can also extend the effects of the massage at home – by an energetic rub with a bath towel. Better blood circulation is guaranteed.

We need to remember our face – which is exposed to the sun and pollution at all times. Make sure to deliver lots of vitamins through your diet. Face treatments like masks, fruit toners, and moisturizers are also helpful. This time of the year we should start using heavier lotions, creams and moisturizers filled with vitamins to make our skin look lighter, smoother and what is most important – healthier.

Enjoy the colors and nature!

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Sea salt continued….


We mentioned some benefits of sea salt few weeks ago and now it is time to give you some more tips for your home spa. Sea salt is much more beneficial than regular iodized salt because it contains less sodium chloride. Like we mentioned earlier, sea salt is filled with micro and macro-elements (calcium, iron, selenium, silicon, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and many more) that help control our metabolism. Besides, sea salt helps in blood circulation. Peelings and scrubs made with sea salt make the skin smoother and firmer. Overall your skin will look healthier.

Home spa recipes:

Baths: Add about 500 g of sea salt to your bath – depending on the amount you add it will relax or energize your body - Use when tired or overworked.

Peeling: Wear a bath glove and use pure sea salt or mixture of sea salt and oil/lotion. Massage the mixture onto your whole body in circular motion. Do not be too harsh – it may cause skin damage. After this treatment your skin will absorb active ingredients from other products easier and quicker.

Compresses: Apply sea salt on warm and moistened towel. Put towel over your cleaned face. Keep for 2-3 minutes. Compress like this in antibacterial, and calming. It will also help with your acne, or in case if you are tired

Wraps:
*Add 2-4 tablespoons of sea salt to 1 quart of hot water; soak cotton bandages in that water. Wrap your body in those bandages and keep them on for at least 30 minutes under warm cover. It will help your skin to retain moisture, will make it firm, and help with aging and sun damage (do not use it in case of sun burn!)
* On your moistened skin apply sea salt using a brush. Keep that part of your skin under warm cover for about 30 minutes. It is ideal preparation for body wraps, masks, etc. You may use this treatment if you have problems with falling asleep.


Relax, Restore, Rejuvenate!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Music Therapy

One of the various proven prenatal therapies for moms-to-be and their unborn child is a music therapy. Listening to music involves many different parts of the brain. The left side recognizes the rhythm and pitch of the notes; while the right side – tone and melody. Everyone reacts differently to the sounds; the right music can bring peace and let you concentrate on a specific project. In adults, music therapy influences the brain, nervous system, blood pressure, hormone production, pulse, breathing, and mental balance.

For newborns and prenatal babies, contact with music starting at the earliest days of their lives teaches them harmony, feel the rhythm, and increases their sensitivity and flexibility of their nervous system. Japanese neurologists prove that listening to music at the early childhood influences future sensitivity to sounds. It is also proven that music helps to build nerve connections responsible for the development of language, memory, and equilibrium.

Research showed that the first sounds babies hear starting by the 6th week is their mother’s heartbeat. By the 26th week she/he can hear rhythm and melody, so the more sounds babies hear, the more developed their systems may become. Besides, music relaxes and calms the baby. Choosing classical and relaxing tones will make the baby feel happier and fall a sleep easier.
For Moms-to-be music can release the muscle tension, some pain, bring overall relaxation and harmony. Some women may feel overwhelmed by their pregnancy, but music, massage therapy, yoga or any other type of holistic therapy will bring peace and may ease those tense days.

We at Spa Shawnee offer our guests sounds of nature, classical music and calming melodies before, during and after their treatments. Our therapists qualified in prenatal treatments welcome pregnant women. Just let us know while scheduling your appointments, so we can prepare for you and your baby.
Enjoy the sounds of the Poconos!