nutritionista:

1. Stop being all or nothing about working out. Just give yourself 20 minutes to kick some booty and you’re done! If you need to, set a timer and just MOVE for 15-20 solid minutes. It can be enough.
2. Banish sweetened drinks from your vocabulary. I don’t care if it’s “100%” juice or a “healthy”…

(Source: yourhealthista)

411

Garshana Dry Brushing Body Scrub

 Whether you have sensitive skin, dry sun damaged skin, or rough winter skin, this dry brushing technique is perfect for you and your largest organ, your skin! This dry scrub is a mess free way to get the results you want without using a wet scrub. The Garshana scrub is the perfect add on to any massage!

The quick and light strokes exfoliate your skin while it detoxifies and simulates circulation. This 25-minute full body exfoliation is meant to relax your body and liquefy your lymph ducts.

This treatment can be an add-on or experienced in the Yelo Signature Full Body Detox. In the Full Body Detox, the 25-minute Garshana treatment is performed followed by a 65 minute Swedish massage. Warmed Red Flower Cardamom Amber Oil is applied to the body. This oil is deeply relaxing and increase circulation and blood flow.

(Source: yelonyc.com)

5

Toe-Tal Detox

What is Detox?

The process of detoxification is an alternative medicine that rids the body of harmful toxins through a series of herbal, electric, or electromagnetic treatments. Think of detoxification as a pure way to cleanse your body. Purify yourself and feel refreshed afterwards.

One is placed in Yelo Spa’s comfortable zero gravity chair while ones feet is soaked in a warm bath for 30 minutes. The body is purified and cleansed through the pores of ones feet. The water color changes from clear to another color. The color signifies the part of the body that has been detoxified. For first time detox clients, the water is usually black signifying the purification of the liver. Following the foot detox, ones feet are cleaned off with a warm towel. This detox treatment is paired of perfectly with a Reflexology session.

Benefits of Detox:

•  Cleanses the body
• Improves your immune system
•  Helps aid the formation of healthy cells
•  Purifies your blood

(Source: yelonyc.com)

18

AROMATHERAPY 101

It continues to surprise me how many folks are not aware of aromatherapy’s delightful and therapeutic benefits. It’s a regular part of every Mind, Body, Health seminar I teach and every beauty and wellness consultation I conduct.  I must say that for me, taking deep whiffs of my freshly ground cup of organic coffee in the morning is a special form of aromatherapy, as is planting my nose in my rose bushes out back. However, in the world of wellness and beauty—aromatherapy has a special meaning.

Aromatherapy is defined as the art and science of using essential oils (eo’s) to relax, balance, and stimulate the body, mind, and spirit. These aromatic concentrates are generally steam distilled from a variety of flowers, roots, leaves, wood, bark, fruit, berries, seeds, and resins—or cold pressed from the rinds of citrus fruits (think “blood” of the plant). Every oil has its own distinct aroma, and whether inhaled, massaged into the skin in diluted form, or placed in a bath the eo molecules enter into your bloodstream and offer the body hundreds of powerful natural chemical constituents that stimulate an array of physical, emotional, and psychological responses. Inhaling an essential oil affects your mind, mood, and emotions. This process also releases hormones to your organs and body cells. Reactions can be calming, cooling, invigorating, and more. When applied externally, the essential oil molecules affect the body—skin, muscles, joints, and organs—by penetrating the skin, entering the dermal layer, and interacting with blood and lymph vessels, connective tissue, sebaceous and sweat glands, sensory nerves, and hair follicles. The positive effects run the gamut and include: balancing the mind-body physiology, calming the emotions, moisturizing and regenerating the skin, and acting as an anti-inflammatory for body tissues. Essential oils can also promote elimination of waste matter and regeneration of new cells.

Real and Therapeutic Benefits

Yes, essential oils can effect great healing—whether internal or external—whether inhaled or applied to the skin. They can moisturize, tone, and provide astringency for the skin, hair, and nails. They can improve skin appearance and function, soothe aching muscles and cramps, reduce lung and sinus congestion, enhance metabolic and other bodily functions, and purify our environment. They can treat infections, bruises, minor cuts and abrasions, arthritis and headaches. In addition, they can boost confidence, quell anxiety, dispel anger, stimulate and motivate, accelerate learning, engender love, enhance sexual desire—the list goes on.

A quick word of caution here. As an aromatherapist myself, it is important for me to educate on what aromatherapy is and is not. High-quality essential oils are unadulterated and have no synthetic fillers, suspenders, or added mineral oil. Read the ingredient label of any aromatherapy product you wish to purchase, looking for 100 percent pure essential oils, preferably therapeutic grade, and certainly certified organic.

Choosing Essential Oils

To best understand and use essential oils, visit your local full-service spa, health, or whole foods store, and in many instances, yoga studio. My supplier has small bowls of whole coffee beans available to clear the “nose” palate in between smelling the different aromas. Go through the samplers to discover how the different essential oils resonate with you. You’ll instinctively be drawn to your favorites. To begin, choose one that is calming such as lavender, chamomile or lemon balm, and one that is stimulating, such as peppermint, rosemary or grapefruit. For a list of my top 14 favorite oils and their qualities and uses, go to organicspamagazine.com.

Aromatic Practices

Following is only the short list of possible usages:

•  Add essential oils to your skin- and hair-care products to enhance their benefits. I like adding a few drops of rosemary essential oil to my hair shampoo/conditioning treatment (stimulates blood circulation to the scalp). And a drop of geranium to my facial moisturizer to accentuate a healthy glow. Or purchase items that already contain certified organic essential oils.

•  Bathe with essential oils. I’ll add 6 to 8 drops of my desired essential oil(s) into a small amount of organic plant oil. Next, fill the tub and put this prepared oil mix in when the tub is almost full as to experience the essential oil’s full potency.

•  Massage your body, feet, scalp, or any area that needs attention. Mix 6 to 8 drops of your favorite essential into an ounce of organic plant oil, and massage. Be fully present during this process, sending yourself loving energy. (Peppermint oil is great for a belly rub. It helps the digestion and calms an upset stomach.)

•  Take a steam. Although a spa facial steam is simply divine, the homespun version can work. Whether for skin conditions, or respiratory problems—bring a pan of water just to a boil on the stove, move to a stable surface (on a trivet) add from 8 to 12 drops of your essential oil selection. Sit next to this with your head placed comfortably over the pan, and tent a towel over you to create a steam bath. Now take deep, healing breaths.

•  Create your own natural perfume. Add 25 drops of any combination of essential oils to one ounce of perfume alcohol or denatured alcohol. Create a perfume oil by adding to a carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil.

•  Mist your environment. Mix a few drops of essential oil and a teaspoon of alcohol with purified water in an atomizer (shake before each use), or you can use a hydrosol spray or floral water. Hydrosols are the byproduct of the steam or water distillation methods that create essential oils.

•  Use an essential oil diffuser to float oils in your environment. Try peppermint, eucalyptus, and juniper in the bedroom at night if you have a stuffy head, lavender in the evening to calm the overactive mind, or citrus oils in the a.m. to get going, as well as to brighten mood. Other great sleep inducers include chamomile, lavender, marjoram, or Neroli. You can also put a few drops on a tissue or cotton ball and tuck into your pillow.

•  Place a drop or two of oil on a cool light bulb. After you turn the light on, the bulb heats the fragrance and disperses it throughout the room. You can also purchase ceramic diffuser scent rings specifically made for placing on the bulb.

•  Make your own smelling salts by placing 1 tablespoon of rock salt and 10 drops of basil, peppermint, or rosemary essential oil (or a mix of these) in a small container with a tight fitting lid. Uncap and inhale as desired, stimulating present moment awareness, clear thought, and providing an instant pick-me up.

•  I’ll place a few drops of purifying oils on a cotton ball and place in a plastic bag for when I travel, taking out at intervals during flight to take deep breaths into my lungs. Eucalyptus, rosemary, cedarwood, pine, tea tree are all great antibacterial, antimicrobial oils for this usage.

•  Aromatherapy candles are wonderful for meditation, relaxation, and special occasions. Make sure the candle is made with pure essential oils, natural beeswax or organic soy, and a natural, non-lead wick.

General Safety Information           

•  There are specific precautions about using essential oils.  Do not apply undiluted essential oils onto the skin or take any oils internally without consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Also, certain essential oils have contraindications, and trained aromatherapy professionals as well as any reputable retailers will be able to discuss these issues with you. By the way, if wanting to delve in more deeply, there are many excellent websites, DVD’s, books and more, that can help you learn about the more than 700 essential oils in existence.

•  It’s now well proven that artificial fragrance can be quite toxic. Please remember to honor and surround yourself with the purest, most organic aromas possible—including personal care, household, and cleaning products, and the candles, incense, and essential oils that you use.  

Mary Beth Janssen is a highly respected beauty and wellness educator, certified mind-body-health educator for the Chopra Center for Well-Being, and the author of five books. To send her your questions, write to marybeth@organicspamagazine.com.

31

Mini Glow Facial

The other day, I tried the 30 minute Mini Glow Facial. This facial is perfect for the fast paced New Yorker that is in need of a quick fix treatment. The room was dimly lit, the scent of Essence of Vali Aromatherapy filled my nostrils, and calm ocean waves were playing in the background. The facial included a skin analysis followed by a mild pineapple peel. It was relaxing and the perfect treatment after work. The organic product line Yelo Spa uses, Eminence, is absolutley amazing and smelled so delicious. After my facial, I got a shoulder and neck rub which was the perfect way to end my facial.

2

Reflexology and Relaxation:

The other day I received a wonderful 50-minute reflexology foot treatment by one of Yelo’s massage therapists. This was so much more than just a foot massage. Being the curious person that I am, I asked my massage therapist about everything that she was doing. After she covered me with an extremely soft cashmere blanket, I was reclined in the zero gravity chair. This comfy chair brought down my heart rate and put me into an instant state of relaxation. I was very comfortable and relaxed as she kneaded all the stress away. It was amazing how she could tell what parts of my body were tender and sore all by touching certain areas on my feet.

Here’s what Yelo Reflexology is all about:

Reflexology restores balance and promotes a general sense of wellness through the application of gentle but deep pressure to specific reflex areas on the feet, hands and ears. These reflex points correspond to all of the major organs, glands and nerve endings in the body.

An ancient holistic art and science, Reflexology revitalizes the body and helps accelerate natural healing abilities. Opening up energy pathways, calming the nervous system and improving circulation, a reflexology treatment helps the body to achieve a state of deep relaxation.

The feet and hands are considered to be a complete map of the body. They contain points which enable the therapist to access a multitude of aches, pains and conditions. For general relaxation, the hands are particularly useful to target tension headaches and muscular pain affecting the upper body, such as shoulder and neck tension resulting from strenuous computer work over a long period of time. For acute pain, such as intense back pain or migraine headaches, the ears are the zones to target.

17

Reflexology for Horrible Bosses’s Jason Sudeikis

Jason Sudeikis’s feet hurt—from running around in my dreams last night! Sorry about that. It’s actually because the SNL star has been promoting his new comedy Horrible Bosses nonstop. He recently sat down for an interview with New York magazine’s Scott Brown, and the two got reflexology treatments—intense foot massages in which the giver really puts their back into it. The treatment left the two yelping in agony, which made for interesting conversation. Sudeikis later impersonated Brown’s ouch face on Conan, and the writer’s girlfriend said it was dead on. (Guess that’s why Sudeikis gets paid the Hollywood bucks.)

We don’t expect Sudeikis or Brown to be back in the reflexologist’s chair again anytime soon, but the fact is that many men are getting spa treatments (sans happy ending). Men currently nearly one third of the world’s spa-goers, according to the International Spa Association. And they have for the last nine years. This consistency may be due in part to massage, the top treatment for men and women, which has always been popular with athletes and men who pretend to be athletes.

But the fellas are expanding their treatment repertoire: Ryan Seacrest and David Beckham have their eyebrows plucked by Beverly Hills groomer Anastasia Soare, whose clientele is 20 percent men. (That’s up from 5 percent in 2005.) Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino had his brows waxed on an episode of Jersey Shore. Italo Zucchelli, Calvin Klein’s menswear designer, loves facials not only for the clear skin, but for the forced relaxation. English soccer star Wayne Rooney waxed his chest before the World Cup (and it may have been a costly mistake). X Factor’s Simon Cowell reportedly had his knuckles waxed.

In addition to those very specific examples, you know every celebrity male has had a manicure for a role, a press conference, or a magazine photo shoot. And last year, the AARP reported that more older men were getting pedicures, sometimes at dudes-only spa nights with BBQ and beer menus—like there’s never a time when a man wouldn’t want to eat wings. Some of the pedicures have tough-guy names like the “sports pedicure” and the “executive pedicure.” (Can I get an executive pedicure? I’m in a business…)

11

Celebrity Massage: Britney Spears tries her hand at being a massage therapist

Celebrity Massage: Britney Spears tries her hand at being a massage therapist. AP
Britney Spears is getting in touch with her softer side as she tries her hand at being a massage therapist.

While Britney said a month ago that her secret to happiness included massaging her favorite hobby (music) she’s since been said to learning how to become a celebrity massage therapist.

According to the Daily Star, a source close to Spears said that sh’e taking it up as a new hobby and has always been interested in alternative therapies.
See Britney’s hot new bikini body here - “Looking better than it has in years!”

“Britney wanted to focus her attentions on a new hobby and that’s massage,” The Star quotes the source as saying. “She has always been interested in herbal and alternative medicines. Now she has undergone a herbal detox and had a three-hour class about what oils work on various skin conditions.”

Perhaps that’s what the 28-year-old songstress meant when she told Splash News last month that she’s “learning to take better care” of herself.

“I’m taking my time these days and not letting myself get under any pressure other than to just feel happy about myself,” she said. Adding, “And to work on my music.”

3

Massage Therapy While Pregnant

As any expectant mother knows, pregnancy brings with it a wide range of physical and emotional changes—and often plenty of discomfort, particularly in the lower back and hips. For many women, prenatal massage offers a naturally relaxing way to alleviate the aches and pains that can result from increased weight, shifting posture and fluctuating hormone levels.

A form of therapeutic bodywork intended to meet the unique needs of pregnant women, prenatal massage promotes better function of muscles and joints, aids circulation, improves overall body tone, and helps decrease mental and physical fatigue. The chemical-free benefits of regular massage can even carry over into labor and delivery, helping mothers relax and breathe more easily through contractions.

After your baby is born, postnatal massage therapy can help reduce anxiety and relieve muscle strain and soreness.

What to expect:

Before your first massage, the therapist will conduct a detailed intake questionnaire to find out how your pregnancy is going, when you last saw your doctor and where you’re experiencing the most discomfort. The recommended frequency of massage depends on your specific issues, but typically one session a month or more is recommended beginning in your second trimester and continuing until you deliver.

Your massage therapist may also suggest exercise, acupuncture and other complementary techniques to help you address particular concerns.

Massage sessions may be scheduled for 30, 60 or 90 minutes. Depending on your size and how far you are in your pregnancy, you may lay on your back and/or your side, propped with pillows. Commonly used techniques include a soothing combination of light to medium pressure, mild stretching, and possibly some deep tissue massage. During and after your treatment, you can expect to feel the release of muscle tension, more energy and heightened awareness. Some women also feel their bodies move more easily and enjoy increased range of motion and flexibility.

Try it—you’ll like it:

Massage therapy supplements regular prenatal care from your physician, who should always be consulted before beginning treatment. Be sure to find massage therapists specially trained in prenatal massage. And as an extra bonus, many massage therapists can help you get your baby off to a relaxed start by demonstrating infant massage techniques.

2

I was very hesitant the day one of my girlfriends suggested I try reflexology for my back pain. After a little back and forth, I figured since no doctor has been able to help in 3 years I might as well try it. No harm right? I wasn’t expecting to actually feel better or see any results, but was happy to assuage my friend.

I was pleasantly surprised when I walked into the office. Okay, I was expecting the décor to be 21st Century hippie with lots of waterfalls, incense burning and new age music playing. Boy was I wrong. The atmosphere was relaxing and professional; decorated like my cardiologist’s office, lots of charts and journals everywhere. This set my mind at ease… for a little while at least. Having done no research on reflexology I didn’t know what to expect.

I was called into the specialist’s office and told to take off my shoes. The specialist then gave me a little background on the history of reflexology and what to expect. Reflexology is the act of applying pressure to the feet and hands without oil or lotion. There goes my dream of getting a little foot massage during lunch. After a brief history I was told that the session would last about 30 minutes and to lie down on the table on my back. I expected to tell the specialist why I was there but he said he would find out soon enough. And then the examination began by his studying the tops and bottoms of my feet. He did so without any touching.

After careful inspection, he applied gentle pressure to specific parts of my foot while pointing out the corresponding organ on a very colorful “foot map” on the wall. Although this is not anywhere close to a foot massage, the application of pressure is not uncomfortable. Then he touched a specific point, looked me straight in the eye and said, “wow your back must give you a lot of pain.”

Maybe I’m jaded but I didn’t think anyone could find out I had back trouble by touching my feet. And I was wrong. He spent a few minutes working on that spot and I could feel my back relax. Amazing. How could this be possible? How am I feeling more pain relief from applying pressure to my foot than I did with my prescription pain medication and muscle relaxers, I guess the specialist has dealt with skepticism before because he laughed and said, “I take it you came in here expecting nothing at all.” At least I wasn’t the only skeptical patient he ever had.

After the half hour was up I felt completely relaxed. Not only did my back feel better than it had in months but I felt less stressed out in general. This is not a miracle cure as my back regressed the next day, but I am definitely going back for more reflexology. After this experience, I’m more open to other alternative treatments.