Managing Menopause at the Spa

I read an article yesterday about the many ways spa treatments can help women through one of the most difficult time in their life - menopause. Day Spa's and vacation destinations across the country are placing extra focus on the transitional period in a woman's life with hopes of making the the time easier to deal with and a lot more comfortable.

According to the article I read, there are three basic ways spa's are approaching menopause-related treatments. The first, which is advocated by Suzanne Sommers, among others, utilizes natural or bio-identical hormones. These treatments aren't certified by the FDA yet, but they're completely legal and readily available.

The second major form of treatment is the Ayurvedic school. These spa's believe that the changes in a woman's body aren't to be combated, but balanced naturally. Ayurvedic treatments are more focused on the woman's body and more traditional spa options and don't use any drugs.

The third and final common treatment method combines the use of western medicine and traditional spa treatments. This middle-of-the-road approach is supposedly pretty effective and most likely the one I'll opt for.

It's an interesting idea to use relaxation exercises as a way to combat chemical changes happening in your body. As far as I'm concerned . . . if you're dealing with hot flashes every day - I'll deserve a good massage.

Treating Acne Scars

I was just reading this months copy of Luxury Spafinder, and there's a really informative little blurb on acne scars. A woman wrote into the "Ask Susie" column asking if there's a way to reduce the damage of acne scarring to your face. Mauro Romita, M.D from the Ajune medical spa here in New York gave a few answers and a little background on this particular type of scarring.

Apparently, acne scars (especially on the face) tend to only get worse with time. The reason is that as your skin gets slacker, the pits get deeper. It's kind of like when you take a wrinkled piece of paper and pull it taut. When it's taut, the wrinkles don't look so bad, but when you let it go, they look really, really bad.

The solutions that Mauro offers are a little on the expensive side, but if it's really damaging to your self-esteem, the money shouldn't matter. If you've got a fair complexion, laser treatments tend to be pretty successful. If you've got a darker skin tone, the most viable option is a face lift. This does seem a little extreme . . . but at least you'll cut back on wrinkles and the scarring at the same time, right?

The Spa for Lovers

One of the nicest things to do with your significant other is spending the day at a spa that offers treatments and packages for couples. American spas today offer everything from fully pampered day-long adventures to basic, side-by side massages. They make for a great escape and are rejuvenating for even the most strained of relationships. I particularly recommend a couple's jade stone massage. Make an appointment now and thank me later, I promise that it will be one of your fondest memories down the road. If you're looking for something great to do on an anniversary, look no further.

Spa Home Tips - Paraffin Hand Wax

Nothing beats the simple delight of a good paraffin hand wax. Whether it's done at home, the salon, or your favorite spa, your hands are left unbelievably smooth and soft. Here's an easy way to pamper your hands without ever leaving the house! You'll need:

1 block of paraffin wax
a double boiler
an ounce of oil
20 drops of essential oil
a casserole dish greased with oil
some plastic sandwich bags

Melt the wax, the oil, and the essential oil in your double boiler. Once it's melted, pour the mixture into the casserole dish and wait for a skin to develop over the top. Test the temperature to make sure it's not too hot, then wash and dry your hands completely.

Next, cover your hands completely in olive oil and dip each of them repeatedly into the wax. Dipping several times creates multiple layers and achieves the best effect.

Finally, have a friend help you put each hand into a plastic bag. Relax for about thirty minutes, then peel away the hardened wax. Enjoy the new smooth delight of your hands!

Going Green @ the Spa

In a recent study, around 75% of all the spas in the US said that they're applying, green, environmentally sustainable practices. The varying degrees of how much they're doing for the environment (and how they're doing it) varies from spa to spa, but some of the more common practices include:

- Planting organic gardens

- Using ingredients that are grown locally

- Choosing organic products over non-organic

- Green Building and Architecture Practices- Utilizing alternative energy like solar and wind power

Spa Treatments For Men

If you really want to suprise your husband or boyfriend for their next birthday, get them something they would never dream of getting for themselves . . . a trip to the spa. Alright, alright, they might be hesitant about it at first, but if you can get him through the door he might actually enjoy himself.

A lot of spa's now offer man-centric, more masculine treatments to help guys feel less self-conscious and relax. Special facials using oils and ingredients designed for a man's skin and heavy-duty massages reign supreme in this category. There was a spa close to my old apartment in Chicago that even offered a free drink in the waiting room. Nothing say's I love you like a body cleanse and a glass of scotch . . . right?

Spa-ing For Beginners

Remember the first time you went to the spa? I know my experience was great, but if it hadn't been for a few great friends going with me . . . it would have been kind-of, well . . . intimidating. Even the smallest day spa has about a million differnet treatments for every part of your body, and with all the selections it can feel almost impossible to know where to start. Today I decided I'd provide a few ideas about how to get the ball rolling for first-time spa goers.

I think that the absolute basic spa-experience is a good massage. It's relaxing, not too crazy, and just leaves you feeling nice. It's a great place to start and the perfect foundation for a good first day-spa experience.After that I'd consider either a manicure/pedicure, a basic facial treatment, or some sort of a body rub. Really it depends on what you're looking for.

For beauty and complexion - opt for the facial. If you're more interested in looking more lady-like, go for the nails. But if after the massage you're really into the relaxation vibe - the body wrap is the way to go.I don't want to overdo it, so I'll quit there. Indulging in two of these treatments is more than enough indulgence for a newbie. So if you haven't already . . . get out there and spa!

Welcome to the @ease Spa Blog

Hello, and welcome to the @ease Spa Blog! My name is Ofra Lemay, and I'm the founder and owner of @ease spa in Hillsdale, NJ. Every day I have friends, family and customers ask me about what's hot at the spa this season. After awhile I started thinking about a good way to put out spa-related news and information for everybody. It seemed like one of the easiest ways to keep everyone up to date on the goings on at @ease and the spa industry as a whole was to start a Spa Blog of my very own. And so, every day I'll be posting here with links to spa websites, tips on how to get the best deals at your local spa and giving readers the skinny on cool new treatments you might not have heard of yet. So, welcome, stay tuned and I hope you enjoy the blog. If you like what you read or are just looking for a quality place to kick back and be pampered, follow the link on my profile to check out @ease's website!