The @ease Spa Blog

Get Ready, Set, to Tackle Turkey Day

Thanksgiving is just two weeks away. You better begin your game plan now. Whether you're visiting family or having the family come to you, Thanksgiving can usually create some anxiety. Get the perfect turkey, the perfect recipes and take a well needed break. Before you dive head first into the holidays, take some time out for yourself with even just a simple massage. Take time to relax and you will have more energy. If you don't take time for yourself your body will eventually just burn out. Just taking a personal day for yourself and spend a day at the spa. Your muscles will relax, tension will be released, your skin will be renewed, and you'll be ready to tackle Turkey Day.

Eyelash Replenishment

A few days ago I posted on eyelash extensions. I also want to tell you about eyelash replenishment. Eyelash extensions can stay intact for over a month. However, touch-ups will keep your luscious lashes looking just as fantastic as the day they were applied. Routinely replenish your lashes and experience hassle-free, natural-looking eyelash extensions. @Ease Spa offers both eyelash extensions and replenishment to maintain that long lash look for months to come.

Bizarre Treatments: Yay or nay?

A few months ago I had posted an item on a bizarre spa treatment that utilizes hundreds of tiny fish to remove dead skin during a pedicure. I wasn't sure what to think of it but as I have been reading more on outlandish spa treatments like these it has become apparent to me that they are not a very good idea. No one is really sure of the effects of treatments like these. When receiving a pedicure or other treatment, sterilization is SO important. When you throw hundreds of fish into the situation it makes for quite a volatile environment. Bacteria is more likely to grow and get into the blood stream when you're dealing with live animals. In an article on forbes.com I came across reactions to spa gimmicks like this and the snake massage, Leslie Baumann, M.D., director of the Cosmetic Medicine and Research Institute at the University of Miami and Bonnie Bonadeo, director of program development and education at the Professional Beauty Association, stated:

"Normal pedicures alone can be harmful if the sink and tools are not sanitized," Baumann says. "The fish are just another element of hygiene to worry about."

Aside from the possible harmful side affects, many of these treatments are no more effective than their mainstream counterparts.

"You don’t need a gimmick to meet your beauty needs," Bonadeo says. "You can use a loofah or pumice stone to remove calluses just as easily as having fish chomping at your skin."

Keep Warm!

We have a little bit of a break this weekend from the extreme cold. But the weatherman tells me that next week the highs are only going to be in the low 40s. So, enjoy this weekend but start planning ways to warm up. I can think of one extremely relaxing and enticing way to get really really warm. A sauna! Not only is it HOT but an infrared sauna offers so many benefits to the body. The UV-free infrared light is necessary for all living things. Without it, life forms become ill, depressed, and Vitamin D deficient. In the sauna, the light utilizes healthy electromagnetic wave lengths that are produced naturally. The heat reaches the cells in your body directly. Thus, increasing circulation, the relief of minor aches and pains, boosts the immune system and cardiovascular systems. Get this! it even burns calories and and fat while detoxifying the body. When you sweat it out you're also losing calories as well as releasing toxins present in your body. The sauna will warm you to the core and leave you feeling refreshed and ready to go back out into the cold.

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With String

Earlier this morning I heard the faint ringing of the Salvation Army donation bells. When I saw the man standing there with his bell and red tin bucket I realized how close the holidays had become. When did it get to be mid- November? I have to get on task and start shopping. It's going to be especially difficult for everyone this year shopping for bargains to save money. I always want to find the perfect thoughtful gift for everyone. Shopping is stressful. It's like a sport or a marathon. The finish line is beautiful but the stress and muscle aches that come from the physical shopping are painful. Take a break from all the running around in the wrong shoes for a Deep Tissue & Sport massage. It will reach deep into those aching muscles and release tension. It will keep your legs and feet going so you can still run all over Manhattan looking for that perfect gift.

A Softer Approach

Need a face refresher but looking for a quicker solution without the chemicals? A Glycolic peel facial (also known as the lunchtime peel) is light and fruit-based. It is a great alternative to heavier and harsher chemical peels. This solution will exfoliate your skin, neutralizing lines, hyper pigmentation and scars. Next, one of our @Ease professionals will apply a potent glycolic peel and add a soothing mask. When the mask is removed, they will next administer a gentle balm which soothes, smooths, heals, and refreshes. On top of all this you will even receive a soft massage. Get the comfortable, gentle treatment of a glycolic facial for a soothing afternoon (or lunchtime).

Make Your New Year's Resolution Today

I don't mean to jump ahead but I'm just trying to get us all prepared. A few days ago I posted about the approaching holiday season. I began to think about how everyone feels after the holidays are over, after all of the excitement, running around, and shopping. Come New Year, you have completely forgotten about any resolution and feel completely lackluster and run-down. But, make your New Year's resolution right now! A New Year, a new you! Just remember how you're going to feel when January 1st rolls in. A trip to the spa for a facial and a massage will lift your spirits and start the new year off positively. Don't allow the end of the holiday season to drag you down. Take it as a chance to start over with a fresh outlook.

Eyelash Extensions: The Safe and Easy Solution

My sister was born with extremely long eye lashes. I always wondered how I could too get the same length without fake stick-on eyelashes that would fall off and embarrass me. Well now that I'm all grown up I have found the very best solution in eye lash extensions and am ready to share it with you.

Get those doe eyes you’ve always dreamed of with Eyelash Extensions. Bat them, flaunt them. Eyelash extensions can more than double the length and abundance of your lashes while appearing completely natural. It is performed by an @Ease expert trained in the proper weaving procedures to ensure the complete comfort and safety of your delicate eyes.

Don’t be embarrassed by short, invisible lashes or cake on layers of mascara anymore. An eyelash extension just once a month will make mascara and fake, stick-on lashes obsolete. Open your eyes each morning to the long, striking lashes you’ve been dreaming of with @Ease Spa’s safe and easy eyelash extensions.

Delicious

With the holidays approaching spas are beginning to think about how they can get in the holiday spirit while you take your decorations out of the attic. By using fragrances and materials that remind us of the holiday season, the spa experience is ever-so-much more comforting. Having smells of childhood wonder and excitement fill the room is bound to get you in the mood. Ingredients like chocolate and candy canes will remind you what it was like to be care-free. It's been a crazy, crisis-filled year. It's time for everybody to relax and enjoy the holiday season and all that comes with it. Family, friends, and delectable sweets. What we all need is a surefire way to de-stress. Can you say spa?

Get Out of the House and Into the Spa

An article in Times Online talks about the depression some feel during the winter months. The best way to beat this depression is exposing yourself to light. But, on a day like today when the clouds are hanging low, a trip to the spa can raise your spirits quickly. The author writes " Of course, even when you're feeling good, spa treatments can cheer you up (arduous research by, well, me demonstrates that the longer the massage, the better). But light treatment is a proven antidote to seasonal affective disorder – a type of depression that sufferers experience during winter months with symptoms such as low moods, cravings for carbohydrates, and the tendency to gain weight and sleep more." A massage can bring you out of the winter blues and get you ready to go back out there. Don't let the winter get you down, get out of the house and into the spa.

Love the One You're With

There are so many special occasions to celebrate during the lifetime of a relationship; how many anniversaries, birthdays, Valentine's Day, and other holidays. Even the every-day occasion just to show someone you care is a good excuse to go to the spa! Go with the person you love and get a massage, relax away the tension and just be together. It isn't enough anymore to have the same dinner every time at the same place and get the same flowers. Fall head-over-heals in love with a sugar scrub with the one you love. Leave together feeling renewed and ready to tackle any bumps in the road. Celebrate a milestone or the mundane at @Ease Spa.

The New Spa

Going to the spa isn't just about pampering yourself. It is no longer seen as a complete luxury. Spas today offer treatments that actually benefit the mind and body. It is not for aesthetic beauty or general relaxation. Today, people are looking for new ways to make their lives more rounded and complete. Rather than just going to work and coming home, many are looking into bettering their health, appearance, and general well- being. The spa is a new way of life and a place to go to relax, get connected with yourself again, and feel cared for. Alternative health, wellness and spirituality practices are much more frequently practiced and becoming more popular in the spa environment. Spa trends from around the world are working their way more and more into local spas. It is a way to travel the world in your mind without leaving your town. Products and scents from around the world help the body and mind feeling whole. For example, the Acai Berry, as I have mentioned in previous posts offers several health benefits that improve quality of life. So, now as times are changing, it is time for us all to think of the spa experience in a new way.

What Your Skin Will Need Come Tomorrow

Happy Halloween! The clock is ticking for those who have not yet gotten a costume. I have just decided what I'm going to be and its past noon! I still need to buy supplies! I'm going to be wearing heavy makeup that's for sure. So, after a night of wearing a lot of costume makeup and "accidentally" falling asleep in it how do you cleanse your pores to prevent a break-out? Get a facial! Halloween can reek havoc on your skin. So November 1st take a trip to your local spa. A facial will clear your pores of impurities to prevent acne, redness, and irritation as well as reduce and minimize fine lines and wrinkles associated with aging skin. So go all-out this Halloween! Be a witch, be a ghoul! Just remember to treat your skin tomorrow.

Sooth your Holiday Stresses

This holiday season don't just settle for giving and getting boring traditional gifts like fruit cakes and knick-knacks. During the stressful holiday season and this stressful economy everyone deserves a little relaxation and a gift that really shows that you care. Many spas will begin to offer packages to either give to someone else or give to yourself this holiday season. @Ease spa will have many special offers to choose from that will definitely both get you in the holiday spirit and calm your nerves. We've been cooking up some ideas like an excellent package that may or may not include a chocolate wrap! Just imagine your entire body wrapped in luscious, warm chocolate. Show yourself or someone you love that you care with a gift that helps heal the mind and body. Say no to strange holiday themed candle holders! Say yes to a soothing experience that will last!

Self Esteem with Steam at the Spa

Bringing a loved one to the spa is always a great bonding experience. In this day and age, young girls are faced with many challenges dealing with their image coming from the media. Spas help promote self-esteem in young girls and women. By learning to enhance your own natural beauty you can avoid feeling pressured by impossible standards of beauty. Going to the spa will give you confidence in the beauty of your own skin and body. You can learn more about products that word well for you as well as relieve tension. Have a non-extreme makeover event where you and your friends can receive advice on hair styling, skincare, makeup and stress management to increase your self-confidence. Even younger girls should take a trip to the spa for a non-extreme makeover. It can help build beautifully healthy girls.

Greener Pastures

Going green in all aspects will not only help save the environment but help save your wallet as well. Supporting organic will set an example and will spread and expand and will drive down the cost of products. We need to raise our standards or what we put in and onto our bodies. Now, more than ever, we're all trying act like a tree and go green. We try to buy better and live better and the same should go for our spas. Many spas are in fact, evolving to be more environmentally friendly. Not only will this help the earth but it will also help their business because now, most everyone prefers the green option. From using environmentally friendly beauty products to serving local produce, spas are catering to those who live the green lifestyle. We all need to ensure that protecting our environment is not just a passing fad by making all of our places of work and play move in the green direction.

Winter Skin Protection

Nobody wants flaky skin in the autumn and winter months. Don't compete with the snow flakes with your winter itch. Cold weather can really damage your skin if you let it get out of hand. When skin is deprived of moisture it becomes dry and causes itchiness. A great way to keep your skin protected is by moisturizing your skin daily. Use cream moisturizers rather than lotions. Cleanse your skin, but don't overdo it. Too much cleansing removes skin's natural moisturizers. Also, by avoiding extreme cold or being sure so protect your skin from it you can avoid chapped lips and dry skin. An occasional trip to the spa can help give your skin that extra boost and lasting protection. Give your spa a call to speak with a consultant to learn about the best treatment for your skin.

On Licensing

For spas, finding the right staff who are licensed and have experience is serious business. Here, at the @-ease spa we are proud to be known as one of the best of NJ massage parlors. All of our masseurs are fully licensed and certified experts with years of training and experience behind them. Our aim is to offer the unparalleled NJ spa massage experience. Our rigorous hiring standards make certain that your personal masseuse will meet these high-expectations. When you choose a spa be sure to check that all of the massage staff are licensed and trained to know the correct practices. If a massage is done by an untrained, unlicensed person there is a chance of injury. Plus, practicing without a license is a felony and can hold up to four years of jail time. So, be sure to choose a spa with licensed professionals. Don't trust just anyone with your body. Trust the professionals.

Spa Poem

I have found a little gem on the world wide web. I love reading poetry so I was excited to find one dedicated to the spa! I have discovered a poem which attempts to encapsulate the essence of the spa experience. When you read it it's like you're at the spa or at least wish you were! E.T. Waldron has recreated the relaxing sensations of being in a spa and articulated it here:

The Spa

gentle whirlpool action in the hot tub
has lulled me into an amorphous state
I wait for you,I become entranced
everything is so merged, soft lights,
soft music, night sounds, muted
inhaling foliage fragrance ambrosial
the water is like silk caressing me
caught in complaisant condition
all seems to transcend earthly ties
spiraling up into the heavens like
an ethereal eddy ever evolving aloft
where dreams are what they seem
and reality is too real to contemplate
choosing to close eyes so i don''t see
i want to discover what it is, to just be
to just be~~

Baby it's Cold Outside

If you haven't noticed... it is extremely cold outside! I don't even want to leave my building and all I can fathom eating is hot hot soup. The cold weather always comes as such a shock every time. I always forget just what cold really feels like until it happens and it can sometimes feel unbearable! I think to myself... How will I ever wear enough clothing to keep me from freezing this winter? It isn't even winter yet! But I'm not going to worry because I know I have a variety of spa treatments that will thaw my frozen body, sooth my tension, and keep me warm. Treatments like the moor mud cocoon or the vichy shower will envelope your body and warm you while offering amazing benefits for your skin. Not only will you get thawed out but your skin will stay moisturized in the dry autumn air.

Bringing the Exotic Home

No need to go to far-away places for an exotic spa experience. The job of the local spa is to bring the new, exciting, and exotic to you. I found on InsiderPages a review which highlights this exact point. Lily V. states "You have to try this! my husband and I usually get couple massages when we go on vacation to somewhere exotic, but we finally decided in a local spa. I've had mud wraps done before but the one at @ease spa was the BEST thus far. I believe this will become a regular spot for us to have a local get away =)" It's true! Why wait? Why spend more than you have to and travel when you can go to the spa right in your own town? You'll save money, be closer to home, and still get that exotic spa experience you crave.

Weather the Elements with Trend Setting Treatments

Did you know that desired spa treatments change with the seasons and even fashion trends? In an article I found in Eas Valley Living, they describe the changing trends in spa treatments. Spa-goers favoring treatments with ingredients "plucked from nature" because of a hightened awareness in protecting the environment with organic ingredients. Products like sea salt, sea weed, and mud, are very popular right now. Not only are people opting to avoid chemicals but they are also -- during the fall and winter months compelled to find spa treatments "that bring in a lot of moisture back into their skin to prepare it for the harsh, cold and very drying weather. Spa devotees look for treatments that use herb-infused, emollient oils and creams to keep their skin supple and to maintain its elasticity." By treating the skin ans scalp people can avoid the itchy and embarrassing effects of the harsh weather.

Take Care During Tough Times

A weak economy may have temporarily slowed the demand for any extravagances like expensive clothing, spa services, dining, etc. However, the spa industry continues to grow. Maybe it's because people need to relax more than ever. Did you know Moor Mud Wraps are beneficial to insomniacs and those under high stress? By having treatments like these you can support your own well-being and help you get through the day. Things are pretty stressful right now and getting a massage or a facial can relax you. Small pleasures in life like these are often justifiable. Rather than spending money on material possessions, they're investing in their own well-being. The relaxation received from a massage lasts much longer is be worth much more. People feel they get more from the money. It feels more rewarding to receive a massage than buy a new dress sometimes.

The Gift of Giving

With the holidays quickly approaching we are all going to be quickly scrambling for gift ideas. On PR Web, a press release newswire, I found an interesting survey on the giving of spa gift certificates. The most interesting finding to me was that women spa gift-givers are now "most likely to buy spa gift cards/certificates for a man, specifically, their husband or significant other, trumping friends, their mother, or other relative". Also, "Despite the explosion of offerings on a typical spa menu, the age-old gift of massage ranks tops for both male and female spa gift-givers (the gift of massage overwhelmingly ranks as the #1 gift given by men.) This is followed for both by facials and multi-treatment packages, while the most affordable gift (the manicure/pedicure) ranks last for both men and women." It seems to me that the giving of a massage shows the significant other that you care about their well-being. So, wouldn't the spa gift certificate be most commonly given on Valentine's Day? Nope, guess again. "Spas report that Christmas/Hannukah ranks #1 for spa-gifting--but there are strong showings for Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, birthdays, and bridal-related days". So, show that special someone you care with a gift that really shows it.

Election Trends: Don't date yourself.

I found an interesting article in the Las Vegas Review Journal in light of tonight's final debate about the trends becoming associated with Sen. Palin. Everyone knows her rimless glasses, French-twists, and up-dos. She has flawless skin with a youthful glow. But do her puffy bangs age her? Even though she probably gets regular facials and other treatments to keep her glowing, spas and salons are not getting many requests for her look. However, her glasses have become a big hit and are predicted to become "a full-blown trend if the Republican ticket wins the presidential election in November."
The article also highlights the fact that it is exciting to see a woman on the presidential ticket and women are excited. I will leave you with this:

"[Spa owner] would rather see Palin in a shorter cut with sharp edges. She does, however, find her highlights "phenomenal."