As say good bye to 2011, let’s welcome 2012 with an open heart to do some good to our bodies. Nothing is as good as adding some whole grains to our daily meals. In a new study,  Boston researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) have found that eating five or more servings of white rice per week was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. In contrast, eating two or more servings of brown rice per week was associated with a lower risk of the disease. The researchers estimated that replacing 50 grams of white rice (just 1/3 of a typical daily serving) with the same amount of brown rice would lower risk of type 2 diabetes by 16%. The same replacement with other whole grains, such as whole wheat and barley, was associated with a 36% reduced risk.

The study is the first to specifically examine white rice and brown rice in relation to diabetes risk among Americans, said Qi Sun, who did the research while at HSPH and is now an instructor of medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “Rice consumption in the U.S. has dramatically increased in recent decades. We believe replacing white rice and other refined grains with whole grains, including brown rice, would help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes,” said Sun.

Brown rice is superior to white rice when it comes to fiber content, minerals, vitamins, and phytochemicals, and it often does not generate as large an increase in blood sugar levels after a meal. Milling and polishing brown rice removes most vitamins and minerals. In addition, milling strips away most of its fiber, which helps deter diabetes by slowing the rush of sugar (glucose) into the bloodstream.

We at Southwest Day Spa have the right tools and the right counselors to help you to achieve your Goals in 2012. Call 617.730.5530 and be on your way to a healthier you!

Happy Holidays.

If you want to be successful, you must set goals! Setting goals is the fastest way to reach your destination. Let’s clear up some confusion about goal setting and how it can push you to accomplish what you really want. First, let’s understand Goal Setting and what the difference is between a New Year’s Resolution and a goal.

A resolution is an intention waiting for a plan, it’s a wish list. Unless you make a plan, it will not get accomplished. A goal is deciding what you want and making a plan to achieve it.

Resolutions are passive, while goal setting is active! Both indicate that you want to make a change, which is a good start!

Turning intentions into action; How Do You Set Goals?

1. Decide on a worthwhile goal
2. Create goals that will make you stretch
3. Be as specific as possible
4. Make a commitment
5. Tell people about your goals
6. Prioritize your goals
7. Envision the goal accomplished
8. Set deadlines
9. Measure, measure, and measure
10. Reward yourself for milestones

You may already have heard about S.M.A.R.T. goal setting. S.M.A.R.T. stands for “Specific, Motivational, Action-oriented, Relevant to your situation, and Time-bound”. It’s a useful acronym to help you set your goals.

The first step is to write down your goals. It will be a blue print of your success.

We can’t believe that Christmas is 3 days away! What happened to 2011? The year went by so fast and many of us feel overwhelmed about not having enough time in the day to accomplish the list of things to be do. But if we think about it, we have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Louis Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Theresa, Leonardo Da Vinci and Albert Einstein. How did they do so well, without all the technology help we have today?

Be Good to Yourself
Find creative ways to incorporate a spa lifestyle into your day.  Take the stairs instead of the elevator, go on daily walks, join a yoga or dance class, get a massage.  Establish good habits to reduce stress.

Give Positive Affirmations
Be kind to yourself, stay positive, and give yourself daily affirmations, as the power of positive thinking truly works! Don’t allow negative thinking, as it has a terrible impact on self-confidence and motivation, and it will drain your energy.  If, in your mind, you tell yourself that you can’t do something, you will believe it and you will set yourself up for failure.  Don’t allow that thinking to enter your mind!  Eliminate the word ‘trying’ from your vocabulary and replace it with ‘doing’. Know that you can and will meet your goals! Start off each day by looking in the mirror and saying something positive about yourself.  You may even wish to write affirmations on post-it notes and stick them in various places that you will see throughout the day.

New Year New Beginning
Forgive yourself and others for past indiscretions.  It’s never healthy to hang on to things from the past and it will only serve to hold you back.  Instead, appreciate the valuable lessons from those experiences. Let go and live in the present moment.  We live so much healthier when we have a clear head and heart!

Eat Right
Pay attention to the ingredients in your food.  Make sure you eat a well-balanced diet and drink at least eight 8 ounce glasses of water daily. Eliminate processed foods and sugars as much as possible, while increasing your intake of fresh fruits, vegetables, rice, and legumes.  Remember that moderation is key and it is far better to eat several small meals each day, rather than a few large meals.  Talk to a health coach and let them help you!

Monthly Visits to the Spa
Practice a healthy lifestyle by taking care of body, mind, and spirit.  The spa offers a variety of wellness programs and treatments that will help you to take a holistic approach.  Visit us and see which programs will support your specific goals.  The spa experts can help you de-stress, rejuvenate and relax!  This is your time to look and feel great inside and out!

Have Fun
Take some time out of each day to do something fun.  Spend time out in nature, find a hobby, or join a local interest group.  A big component of leading a healthy lifestyle is maintaining a balance in all areas of life.  If you work very hard, then you need to play just as hard. Get out and enjoy life!

Have an Attitude of Gratitude
Last, but certainly not least in living a healthy lifestyle, is to have gratitude.  We live much happier when we don’t take things for granted and enjoy what life has to offer.  This increases vitality and is significant in keeping away heart issues, depression, fatigue, and a myriad of other ailments.  Be thankful for what you have and what you have achieved.  See the blessings in any given situation. A small change in perspective can create great change in life.

Living a healthy lifestyle can be a major change for some, however it’s very achievable.  Change brings progress and growth.  Be sure to go back over your plan regularly to see where you are in meeting your goals, and make adjustments as needed.  Keeping the aforementioned in consideration, one can easily get on the fast track to better health.  Stick with your plan and, by the end of the year, you will see a brand new you!

Healthy Skin in Your 20s, 30s, 40s and Beyond

Every decade brings on new challenges to staying young and beautiful. Our skin, with each passing year requires different things in order to fight aging. Follow some of these tips to keep your skin looking radiant throughout various stages of your life:

Skin in your 20′s: Your skin tends to be more stable than in your teens, usually oiliness and spots will disappear. You really do not see any visible facial lines yet, but if you look closely you will notice your expression marks will start forming. Some men and women will continue to see some acne depending on hormonal changes and cravings.At this time, it is important to have a diet full of antioxidants like lutein, gogi berry, mangosteen, tomatoes and blueberries to support sun protection and skin elasticity. Drink lots of water and avoid smoking.

Skin in your 30′s: During your 30s, you’ll begin to see potential overexposure to smoke, alcohol, pollution and UV light that occurred in your teens and 20′s. You’ll start to notice visible fine lines around the eyes and mouth and your cellular repair process begins to slow, which leads to weakened collagen. Skin may look duller and darker and may take longer to recover from late nights or stress. Spend time learning about what is good for your body. Choose foods that enhance your metabolism and energy, and provide beautifying properties from within. Supplement with antioxidants like pomegranate, grape seed, green tea and alpha lipoic acid, which provide protection from free radical damage (the rusting effect of our cells). Increase your intake of vitamin A, E and C for healthy looking skin and body.

Skin in your 40′s: Wrinkles and spider veins will become more apparent during this stage of our lives if we did not protect our skin in earlier decades. Discoloration, uneven skin texture, dryness and dullness are more apparent. Avoid yo-yo dieting, which can contribute to dullness and create havoc on your hormones. Try portion control instead and always have a well-balanced breakfast. Individuals who eat breakfast tend to weigh less than those who skip it all together.

Skin in your 50′s and 60′s: Pigmentation and sagging skin are usually the biggest problems during this stage of our lives. Unless you have exercised regularly, you will see the effects in loss of tone and muscle. Also cellular regeneration and circulation will slow causing flaky patches, dullness, goose pimples and fragile skin spots. Diet and exercise is very important to keep skin and muscles healthy. Increasing your protein and essential fatty acids like omega 3′s are crucial in keeping bones and joints healthy. Adding supplements with antioxidants, essential fatty acids, phyto-nutrients, protein and minerals are very important to the health of your collagen (muscles, connective tissue, joints, skin, hair and nails).

Through All Decades: Remember, that no matter your age, you are never to young or old to treat your skin to the care it deserves. Make sure that you are getting regular facials and addressing specific areas of concern, such as eyes and lips, through supplemental services. Speak to your aesthetician about any questions or concerns you have regarding your skin and keeping it looking its best.

• Is your goal Specific?
• Is your goal Measurable?
• Is your goal Attainable?
• Is your goal Realistic?
• Is your goal Time-bound?

5 Post-Spa Treatment Tips

We all love a trip to the spa! There is nothing more relaxing, DE-stressing… but many people miss some important post treatment essentials to maximize the results!  Here are 5 post treatment tips for you to practice and keep in mind.

1. Rehydrate: During spa treatments, you often lose some water, release toxins and drain lymph nodes.  In order to ‘flush’ away those toxins and replace lost water, drink a lot of fluids, namely H2O, for 24 hours post-treatment.
2. Avoid Rigorous Activity: After a spa treatment, you are very relaxed.  In order to adjust out of your deep relaxation and to avoid tensing up, stay relaxed and avoid overly strenuous, rigorous or exciting activities
3. Avoid Alcohol: As mentioned above, many treatments will release toxins into your system and cause you to lose some water.  No drinking alcohol for 24 hours to avoid further dehydration and intensified toxicity in your system.
4. Eat Lightly: Eat a light meal or snack after your treatment to replenish.
5. Resist the Shower: Although it might sound a little unhygienic, showering or washing your face immediately after a treatment isn’t recommended.  If you had treatments that used essential oils, creams and/or botanical, this will allow your skin to benefit and soak up the minerals and anti-oxidants longer.

No matter what, it is best to check with your therapist to know the best post treatment protocol for your specific treatment.

Christmas is approaching , check out  the Holidays Packages and treat yourself to some Me time without breaking the bank:)

For your enjoyment:

“Thanksgiving Prayer

We return thanks to our mother, the earth, which sustains us.

We return thanks to the rivers and streams, which supply us with water.

We return thanks to all herbs, which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases.

We return thanks to the moon and stars, which have given to us their light when the sun was gone.

We return thanks to the sun, that has looked upon the earth with a beneficent eye.

Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit, in Whom is embodied all goodness, and Who directs all things for the good of Her children.”

- Iroquois Prayer, adapted

Stress is a feeling anyone in this world can relate to. There are a myriad of reasons for being under stress, along with the kinds of stress that most of us cannot differentiate between. It all boils down to the same results – fatigue, depression, headaches, worrying, feeling washed out, being cranky and feeling desperate to escape from all the pressure. This lack of energy hinders creativity and takes away any willingness a person has to be productive in day to day life.

Luckily, there are places where one can go to get rid of negative stress which plagues their body and hampers their productivity. The best place to rejuvenate yourself and to wash away your tiredness is a complete spa retreat.

Spas present the best opportunities for you to de-stress yourself without taking any drastic measures, like spontaneous vacations, impulsively quitting work and deserting responsibilities which are all consequences of badly managed negative stress. Admittedly stress at times is actually good for you, when it is positive and provides motivation to work under deadlines. However this kind of stress, which is known as eustress can accumulate inside your body at times, and makes the transition to bad stress, which you need to get out of your system before you get burned out.

The trick is to find some balance in your life, which would require alternating periods of work and periods in which you can relax and dedicate some of your time to your overall wellness.   

Many spas offer treatments which are based around essential oils, which are a natural way of comforting yourself, methods which have been carried on throughout history. Essential oils were thought to have magical healing powers in the old days, and even today, the benefits of using these oils for healing purposes are widely recommended.

Spas offer aromatherapy which is based on the healing powers of the scent emanating from these oils which include essential oil massage and fragrant based facial techniques.

Each essential oil has its own respective use, and spa technicians are qualified to blend these to create mixtures which they believe have complementary affects. Some types of essential oils include oils made from chamomile, frankincense, sandalwood, coffee , Lavender and patchouli.

Many health spas try to create therapies that are based around the healing powers of essential oils. These help in curing depression, insomnia, anger, anxiety, headaches, asthma and migraines. Many also use essential oils as mood enhancers, as research shows us that the sense of smell has an effect on our moods.

Essential oils are liberally used by a lot of beauty enhancement techniques. Some oils help skin cells regenerate at a higher pace, which results in smooth and glowing skin. They can help remove pockmarks and acne, and are sensitive to specific skin types. There is basically a type of oil for each variation of skin based on age, color and type which help skin look healthy and fresh.

Essential oils can be used for inhalation, steam inhalation, bath scenting and Aromatherapy massage.

Inhaling oils is done by dabbing three or four drops of it onto tissue or a piece of cloth, then breathing in the smell. You can also use oils for steam inhalation, like many put menthol in hot water to inhale when they have sinuses or a cold. Recommended oils for inhalation are lavender, which is known as the ‘angel of healing and purification’ since it has many attributed healing powers, such as bronchitis and asthma to name a select few. Another essential oil recommended for inhalation is Eucalyptus oil, which eases many respiratory problems along with easing arthritic and muscle pain.

Each month, Two lucky winners will win a complimentary Shellac Manicure just for signing up  for Our Spa Newsletter. Today we have a winner!

Congratulations to Sophia,
She has won a complimentary Shellac Manicure! Say “Goodbye” to smudged nails and “Hello” to 2 weeks of high gloss shine with no chipping or dulling. Your Manicure woes are over!
Enjoy Your Complimentary Shellac Manicure!

This season include your health and wellness among the things that you celebrate! With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I’m sure there are several things that you are thankful for – and your skin should be no exception!

Amidst all the holiday preparations, proper skin care often takes a back seat. Your skin is assaulted with heavy makeup and all of the holiday cocktail concoctions that you consume during this time of year. Between all the comfort food and sweet treats that you feast on during the holidays, your skin can suffer from dehydration, effectively dulling the holiday shine from your skin.

With the summer behind us, we can finally enjoy the fall… Pomegranates, plums, and pumpkins symbolize the rich seasonal colors and scents of fall. Not only are these seasonal fruits and vegetables delicious to eat and fun to grow, they can also be an effectual way to nurture yourself by getting spa treatments incorporating these elements.

Visit the spa and experience a Hot Lava shell Massage – the shells come from the pacific and they are heated with special oils . It is a luxurious, relaxing treatment that it will melt away your stress.  Or try reflexology with aromatherapy  oil and lotions accented with holiday scents to get you in a festive mood this holiday season.  It’s a perfect transitory breakthrough treatment to welcome the changing weather.

You can also opt for a seaweed body wrap. It starts off with a spicy, fragrant herbal scrub. Then your body is wrapped in a cozy cocoon with a Seaweed Mask enriched with Sea minerals to detoxify, firm,  and revitalize your body.

Embrace the fall season by getting the Tranquility Package featuring a Pumpkin massage cream, or combine it with the Pumpkin Body Scrub to remove your body of all the dead cells. It will be a Harvest Delight.

Some people think that a pedicure is for summer time only, but that is not true. Just because you may not be wearing sandals all the time does not mean you should neglect your toes and feet!  Try the Spa’s newest addition: Wellness Pedicure, with an evaluation of your foot condition, and recommendation of  special products to make any foot condition be gone by next summer.

We look forward to helping you look your very best this Holiday Season!