Picture a world where job and family stress disappears at the door, where the only goal is bringing you UP, to make you healthier, happier, better looking, and to make you feel absolutely amazing. Step into to the spa.

But really… step INTO it. The wellness lifestyle is brewing with new opportunities, delving far beyond the basic massage and facial. Industry leaders are constantly innovating to deliver extraordinary relaxation, mind-body improvements, and tangible results. When’s the last time you’ve gone to the spa and tried something new? We’ve leveraged our exclusive relationships with hundreds of spa partners to extract privileged industry information to release the most accurate and trustworthy assessment of the direction of spa services to date. We are excited to release to you… Spa Week’s top 10 hottest spa treatment trends for Fall 2011.

Treat yourself to a wellness and beauty adventure this Spa Week® - $50 spa treatments across North America, October 10-16, 2011. The Fall spa directory launches September 12, when you’ll be able to see which spas are offering which services. Try one, try all— Spa Week is the time to indulge and experiment. All these treatments, many of which are usually anywhere between $100 and $500, will be available for just $50 a piece!

1. Shirodhara

4. Acupressure

No pressure to get pricked here. Acupressure employs the concept of acupuncture, (the granddaddy of healing) only rather than needles, it uses physical pressure of hands, elbows and other devices. Practitioners target specific points along the body’s energy pathways, or “meridians,” to encourage healing and balance in the individual.

5. Bottoms Up at The Spa

It’s always happy hour at the spa, but more and more spas are incorporating alcohol into their treatment offerings.

On the cocktail menu:
Champagne and wine-infused treatments can smooth skin tissue, stimulate blood flow and are a powerful ingredient in anti-aging. Beer yeast is rich in elements that increase skin elasticity and improve acne by suppressing sebum. Even Scotch Whiskey is showing up on the spa scene; it’s full of sugars, minerals and vitamin B6, giving it excellent hydrating and anti-inflammatory properties.

6. Shellac Attack

There’s been a lot of hype around UV Manicures, especially the popular Shellac Manicure since it first launched last Spring – the hard lustrous finish! The zero dry-time! The 14-day no chipping/smudging/denting promise! And did you see the Shellac flash mob? A cross between gels and a regular manicure, products like Shellac and Axxium are certainly no fad, as the color selection gets larger and trendier each season.

Why Shellac?
Spa-goers love Shellac Manicures because they get a long lasting, no-mess result, and spas love them just as much because it brings in new clients and revenue, without increasing the service time. Shellac Manicures are a win-win!

Column by Kavita Jhaveri-Patel

The worst way to keep your energy level up? Red Bulls and 5-hour Energy drinks. Caffeine will give you a jolt of energy, sure, but what if that energy could be embedded in you, rather than temporarily thrust upon you?  One of the best way to maintain long-lasting energy is: Turn to dark leafy greens. Greens give you all the vitamins and minerals you need to keep your body in tip top shape. The problem most of us have is that we don’t know how to get them in a quick and tasty way. Well, here is an awesome recipe for high energy using one of Spa Week Daily’s all-time favorite foods on earth: KALE.

We’ve given you our delicious, salty, crispy, satisfying, conversational Kale Chips recipe before (Wicked Chip of the West, meet your match!), now check out Kavita’s culture-inspired version, Curry Kale Chips:

Curry Kale Chips Recipe

- 1 to 2 bunches kale (make sure kale is dry for best results)
- olive oil
- sea salt
- pepper
- cayenne (if you want spicy)
- curry powder

Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees
- Remove the kale from the stalk, creating large pieces
- Place a little olive oil,  sea salt, pepper, curry powder, and cayenne on a baking sheet
- Put the kale on a baking sheet and toss it in the olive oil and spice mixture
- Bake for 10 minutes or until it starts to turn a bit brown
- Keep an eye on it as it can burn quickly
- Turn the kale over and bake with the other side up
- Remove and serve your healthy treat!

Body confidence expert and health and lifestyle speaker Kavita Jhaveri-Patel is a Weight-Loss Coach committed to helping women find their paths to losing weight and keeping it off by taking small steps to lead a healthier, thinner and more energetic life. She has been featured in Time Out New York, Healthy Style NY, and has been mentioned on FoxLive News. Receive her free report 7 Mistakes Most Women Make When Trying to Lose Weight and How to Avoid Them by clicking here.

JUST BREATHE.

I’ll be the first to admit it: This was not an easy challenge. Life is hectic, minds like to race, and I found myself not getting my 5 minutes in until just before bed on most days. I’d try at my desk on some days, but 3 minutes later that “email” sound would awaken me from my moment. I even tried to rally the Spa Week office for a 5-minute breather during a social media meeting – strength in numbers! – but alas, the consensus was: “too much to do.” My yoga classes each Monday are my favorite ways to escape through breath; absolutely no distractions. I used final savasana to concentrate on this challenge, and it was… breathtaking. So, how did you fare? Read on for inspiration from some of your fellow breathers.

Rita R: Started your challenge and probably will do this the rest of my life. I work full time at a job I had always loved . . . Then came a co-worker with such negativity. Her spirit is evil and nothing pleasant comes out of her mouth. She is always mad and complaining about something. If the sun is out, she’s mad. If it’s raining, she’s mad. I have to do this challenge to find any form of inner peace before she gets to me. I want my work environment back and I do believe this small step is helping.

Kathy V. It’s helping me get through planning my daughter’s wedding…… Just breathe

Desiree L. For four days now for 5 mins a day I just breathe and I love it!! My body releases all the tension and I feel light and free. I forget how heavy my seven mnth twin belly is and breathe.

I’ve been doing my 5 mins of breathing and I still love it… Its actually getting me ready for labor and delivery in October. Those of u who haven’t started come on give it a try!!! Do it in the shower or before bed anytime is great!! In the beginning its a challenge but now its a routine.

Lisa Gay G. About a month ago, I started my chakra meditations again, listening to the sounds of Tibetan bowls as I do. Now when I’m done, I take an extra 5 minutes with no outside sounds at all. It’s amazing!

By Healing Lifestyles

Swing those hips, watch the colors go ’round and ’round and the shed them pounds! Nearly every one of us had a hula hoop as a child. Right? Well, hula hooping is back and is all the rage! But this time around it’s not just for kiddies and First Ladies, hooping and even hoop yoga classes are cropping up across the country because of the intense full-body workout these inexpensive play pass times can provide.

Why hooping?

According to avid hoopsters, hooping tones your back, abdomen, arms and legs, and when taught in a structured class can also provide flexibility and of course balance benefits.

Even more of a bonus, according to the owners of Hoopnotica, while hooping has similar calorie-burning benefits as a boot camp class (420 calories an hour according to the American Council on Exercise) , they point out that hooping is fun and relaxing (with no drill sergeant!). You just need to have a little bit of coordination!

Ready to give it a try?

Here is an exercise from Hooping.org contributor Abby Schwartz:

• Grab a hoop and get started.
• First move, stand with legs apart in a wide stance, knees bent and feet turned out, so you really feel it in your thighs. Waist hoop with arms out at your sides for two 8-counts.
• Then, while still hooping, bring one leg in closer to the other so you are standing with your feet a little more than shoulder width apart. Come up on the balls of your feet and while continuing to waist hoop for two 8-counts, shift your weight back and forth, left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot, always on the balls of your feet. It looks a little like ballet steps.
• After that move, take a step to the side so your feet are once again flat on the ground, knees bent, feet turned out (same position you started in) and hoop at the waist for two more 8-counts. Continue doing this sequence of three for up to 10 minutes. You can speed it up and reduce it to a single 8-count per position or keep the original pace the whole time.

Welcome to the LAST Stop on the Wet Hot American Makeup Tour: Long Island, NY ! We’ve been touring for 5 days, made 5 stops,  and introduced you to 5 A-list makeup artists with their best summer makeup tips, and 5 featured beauty items, and next week there will be 5 winners.  On this final stop the Tour, ENTER TO WIN a customized makeup session in LI with makeup artist Anne DeMarco, who has worked in fashion houses including Chanel, Christian Dior, St. John, and Donna Karan. You’ll also get a makeup and skincare prize package including ALL products featured on The Tour this week. (Click HERE for the original post about the Wet Hot American Makeup Tour.)

Anne DeMarco – Long Island Makeup Artist
Anne Reveals the Secret to Transitioning Summer to Fall Makeup: Bronzer! Summer time makeup is a tricky proposition. One thing to always remember is that the makeup is only going to look as good as the skin underneath, so Anne says the warmer months are a great opportunity to work on improving the condition of your skin, if it needs it.

Eyes: Remember, you don’t have oil glands underneath your eyes, so we definitely want to replenish that.” Anne says that finding an eye cream with SPF in it is like finding a diamond in the rough and suggests SKINSYNC’s Pro-A Age Defying Eye Treatment SPF 15.

Face:After moisturizing the next step for a summer face is primer. “Primer is like underwear for the skin. You put on your bra and panties, so you have to put on your primer,” Anne explains, adding that as important as this step is during the warm months, it’s a great habit to get into for the colder months. “Primer is always important. It’s going to leave your skin prepped for the makeup and give the makeup much better staying power – a true must have year round.” Anne says that her clients want to be as close to makeup-free as possible during the dog days of summer but the one thing they can never get enough of is illuminator.

Secret Weapon: If I was stuck on a desert island, I would need to have illluminator,” she says. “You put it on your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose and what it does is lift your skin for an ageless, glamorous complexion. I – and all of my clients use it day and night. If I’m going to the grocery store, I put that on. It’s the number one most requested kind of product among my celebrity clientele and I love YOUR NAME’s Illuminator. It’s a silicone-based product so it gives a gorgeous glow without being oily – perfect for the dog days of summer!” Soon we’ll be transitioning to fall makeup and the worst mistake Anne sees people make is neglecting bronzer as the heat fades, “Our faces lose their tan earlier than the rest of the body and to not wear bronzer when the rest of your body is tanned is not a good look.”

Featured product (part of the prize package for all winners): SKINSYNC’s Pro-A Age Defying Eye Treatment SPF 15 and YOUR NAME® Illuminator

ENTER TO WIN NOW!

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