Like Denise Austin always says, “When you motivate others to be healthy, you can’t help being motivated too.” Mothers are notorious for continually putting their children’s happiness and needs first, often at the expense of their own health and well-being. But it’s a vicious cycle, because leading by example is the absolute best way to instill a mentality of health and well-being in your children. In honor of the Month of Moms, Spa Week has teamed up with nationally recognized fitness expert and author Denise Austin and her daughter, Katie, to help one lucky duo pursue their wellness journey – together! – by entering The Get Fit with Mom Giveaway.

Denise and Katie Austin

HILTON HEAD HEALTH PRIZE PACKAGE:

From now until May 31st, you can enter for a chance to win a 7 night trip for two at the world-renowned Hilton Head Health in South Carolina. This trip will includes award-winning Healthy Lifestyle™ program, complimentary healthy gourmet meals and snacks, health assessments, nutrition consultations, cooking classes, a personal training session, luxurious spa treatments and exclusive access to all fitness and recreation facilities.

DENISE AND KATIE AUSTIN AT-HOME PRIZE PACKAGE:

In order to help maintain a healthy lifestyle, the winner will also receive two Denise Austin’s books, Daily Dozen and Get Energy, four assorted Denise Austin fitness DVDs, including: Pilates, Sculpt and Burn Body Blitz, Quick Burn Cardio and Body Burn, two Classic T-shirts from Denise’s favorite fitness apparel collection Lilac Black, a customized fitness plan designed specifically for the winner by Denise Austin and $100 in Spa & Wellness Gift Cards by Spa Week® to relax body and mind at the winner’s choice of over 5,000 spa and wellness locations nationwide.

“Denise Austin and her daughter, Katie, share a bond for living a fit and healthy lifestyle, and we are thrilled to have them on board for this promotion to help others strive to share this type of healthy relationship with loved ones,” said Cheryl Reid, CEO and Founder of Spa Week Media Group.

HOW TO ENTER:

All you have to do is enter on SpaWeek.com or Spa Week’s Facebook page and tell us: “Who would you share this experience with and why?”

Good Luck!

There’s a raging hot new fitness trend in town, and it is most definitely not underground. Dance Walking: abandoning all sense of shame and grooving down the street like you’re in a music video. What better way to get from point A to point B than fist-pumping it out to Party Rocker or Let’s Get Physical, burning 200 calories instead of 50? Count me in! This is precisely how I maneuvered around Coachella the other weekend, and you can’t imagine my excitement that it now seems to be a relatively acceptable fitness activity on the streets of New York. Stephanie is in too – we’ve been replaying the video all morning, getting exponentially happier every time we watch. We’ll be the girls prancing, pirouetting and dub-stepping down Fifth Avenue to lunch today. And tomorrow. And the next day. WOO!

Thank you Ben Aaron and Nameless Dance Walk Guru Master. You are my heroes.

This is not my room, but it very well could be. I definitely have an “organized chaos” approach when it comes to keeping things neat and tidy. Plus, I save almost everything. Coming from a big family, there was hardly room for enough beds, let alone enough shelves or organizers. Stuff was always everywhere. But the biggest challenge I had growing up wasn’t the clutter, it was holding on to my stuff. My siblings were ways “borrowing” my things. So, I learned how to protect my “important stuff.” Now, as an adult, I find myself holding on to everything. Not in a creepy hoarder-type of way, but I know I definitely hold on to old clothes, broken jewelry and mismatching furniture for too long. Because, hey, I bought it, it’s mine and you never know when you’ll need it, right?

But, every now and then (especially if my room starts to look like the above), I begin to get the anxious feeling that my room is going to swallow me whole; that there’s just too much stuff, too many colors, too much over-stimulation. I want to just get rid of it all. However, sometimes it’s just really overwhelming to try and muster up the motivation to purge my room of unnecessary things… I wish I had someone who could help me methodically and systematically let go of my organized chaos and help me embrace clean, sophisticated design for optimal organization and peace of mind…

… That’s where our design darling, Bobby Berk, comes in. If you’re like me and you’re in a tug-o-war with all the stuff in your home that you’ve acquired over the years then you’re in luck! Bobby is here to challenge you to get your home and your life in tip top shape. Never fear, Bobby is here!

Are you ready for CHALLENGE #12?

Here’s what to do:

De-clutter and simplify your life by removing one item from your home every day for 10 days. From seldom-used kitchen appliances to that dress you will never wear again that’s still hanging in your closet, Bobby challenges you to rid your home of items that are over-stimulating and over-complicating your living experience. (Extra bonus points: de-clutter your home and help others by donating your items to a local charity! Double Extra Points: Take a picture of each item and share it on The Spring Cleaning Challenge event wall on Spa Week’s Facebook Page.)

Why:

Bobby says a clean and organized home can do wonders for your overall health and well-being. You will feel empowered by freeing yourself of bulky design elements like too-big vases and lamps or cluttered and under-used storage bins that are just taking up space. Liberate yourself from bad design and clutter and turn your home into a sanctuary of inviting relaxation that you can be proud of and will look forward to coming home to.

When:

Friday, May 4 to Sunday, May 13

Who says:

About Design and Organizational Expert Bobby Berk: This Texas native started his career at powerhouses Restoration Hardware and Portico Bed & Bath. He is known for his mid-century style and playful use of acrylic, stainless steel, and wood. You’ve probably seen his designs on HGTV, Bravo, Extreme Home Makeover; the list goes on and on. Best of all, Bobby has truly bridged the gap between the ridiculously high priced yet innovative designs you oh-so desire and the lame cheap-o pieces you find at super stores with zero wow factor. He just oozes style and creativity and we can’t wait for him to share his lifestyle tips and tricks with you during his challenge. He has Bobby Berk Home store locations in New York, Miami and Atlanta (and an online website/showroom you could spend hours perusing). And how could you not trust the expertise of someone who made something so beautiful and fresh as this orange throne?!

What’s in it for me?

Besides feeling more empowered, optimistic and confident every single day, just by RSVPing to Bobby’s challenge event on Facebook and sharing your success stories or struggles, you’ll be automatically entered to win a $50 Spa & Wellness Gift Card by Spa Week.

By Jamie G. Dougherty

I know I’ve been talkin’ a lot about cleaning your body and your mind. And though that is all fine and great to get you feeling oh-so-spring- clean, there is always that one place, the last vestige of unhealthy food that people forget about…the pantry!
Pantries are truly the final frontier of “hazardous for your health” foods because pantry food must be shelf stable. This means food items are pumped full of chemicals, hydrogenated oils and preservatives to make them last longer. We know cookies, crackers, cake mix and sugared cereals are obvious throw-outs, but what about the not-so-noticeable pantry foods?

Here are my top 3, clean for spring, pantry purges. Toss these three out of your pretty little pantry and you will be good to go!

Jamie’s top 3 pantry purges:

Cooking Oils, Fats & Sprays

OUT – Aerosol oils (PAM) and vegetable shortenings. Dump the corn, peanut, vegetable, soybean, canola & safflower oils, margarine, vegan buttery spread and Crisco.
IN – High quality extra virgin olive oil, extra virgin coconut oil, sesame oil, flaxseed & hemp oils, ghee/clarified butter, organic butter.

Broth

OUT – Bouillon cubes, powder or canned stock. Full of sugar, low quality salt, MSG, and genetically modified ingredients.
IN – Homemade or organic boxed stock (Pacific Naturals Vegetable Stock is very good).

Salad Dressing and Sauces

OUT – Bottled dressings, marinades, sugary BBQ sauce, ketchup, soy sauce.
IN – Fruit sweetened ketchup and BBQ sauce, tamari/shoyu, and homemade dressings. Use good oils, balsamic/red wine vinegar, ginger/sesame oil/tamari, tahini with lemon.

Want more tasty info on how to get deliciously clean this spring? Join me for my EAT, DRINK, DANCE + DETOX call on May 9th to get all the goods you need to feel light, energized and seriously lovin’ your spring body.

Jamie G. Dougherty, founder of JamieLiving.com, empowers busy women to break through body and food barriers to see their life and body bloom! She is also the creator of the Delicious Detox Program: 10 Days to a more Divine and Delicious YOU! If you feel hungry, stuck and unsatisfied with your food and your body be sure to visit Jamie’s website to get her FREE 5-Step Guide to Fabulous. Seriously ladies, get ready for Jamie to rock your world!

Have you ever thought to yourself while sitting at home watching television, “this would be better in a sauna?” How about when you’re waiting at the airport, and your flight is an hour delayed? Hanging out with friends barbecuing on a chilly day… better in a sauna.

Massage chairs, DIY body scrubs, candles by the bathtub; there are thousands of ways to bring the spa lifestyle and its benefits home. But what about an invigorating Far Infrared sauna… that rolls up into a backpack? Infrared rays penetrate deep into the skin and open up blood vessels to send more nutrients through your body and comes with a backpack world of benefits: A healthy detox, to speed up the healing of sprains and strains, to improve skin texture and tone, to make you more flexible, to speed up your metabolism and more. My friend Michelle tried it at the Mind Body Spirit Expo a few weeks ago and loved it.

“Portable sauna” is not yet a household term, however it might very soon be. ”Yes, life IS better in a pop-out-inflatable-plug-in-portable-fold-up-into-a-backpack sauna,” Michelle said. “I was relaxed, I was at ease, I was sitting in soothing blanket of heat. Hands free!”

Do you have an injury to heal or want to complement your summer detox? There are many portable sauna varieties ranging from around $120 and up – check out some of your options here.

Would you give this hot spa accessory a try?