Golden Door

But did you know that Golden Door also has its own skincare line? You can enjoy the same products used at the world-class Golden Door Spa from the comfort of your home. And we have news…Golden Door has just introduced a premiere sunscreen into the mix!

Sun Essential Antioxidant Moisturizer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 25 is lightweight and moisturizing. Here are some of its other benefits:

• You can use this one product for both face and body!
• This product protects from both UVA and UVB rays
• This antioxidant-rich sunscreen includes ingredients like Vitamin C and Grape Seed Extract to brighten skin and repair past damage
• It is also infused with amino acids to slow the signs of aging

Sounds like a winner to us! Golden Door just really knows what they’re doing…you can purchase any of the products from The Golden Door Skin Care Collection here!

What we don’t always realize however is the stress that certain summer activities put on our bodies. Think about it – you spend nine months of the year watching TV on the couch and baking cookies…then come Memorial Day, you burst out of hibernation and get active outside for the first time in a long while. Your body just isn’t used to it!

That’s why Michele Merhib, founder of Elements Therapeutic Massage is a big proponent of at-home massage techniques. Learning these will allow you to get the knots out frequently and keep your body in tip-top condition all summer long, even when you can’t get to an actual spa.

Here, straight from Michele herself, are some perfect DIY massage techniques that will allow you to find some relief from summer activities: 

Summer Activity: TRAVELING – The body undergoes a high degree of physical stress while traveling. Whether it be sitting for long periods of time (like on a long flight), sleeping in different beds, or using different pillows, your body can be left in knots after you return from vacation.

• Tension Area:  Shoulders/Neck
• DIY: Reach across with your right hand, resting the palm on top of the left shoulder (with fingers on your back) and with the knuckle of your thumb pressing against neck muscles. Slowly rotate your head and neck, pressing neck muscles against thumb knuckle. Keeping hand in same place, press into your back muscle (between your shoulder blade and spine) with fingertips and rotate your left shoulder blade.

Summer Activity: GOLF – This is one sport that typically involves a lot of walking…a quick mid-game foot massage on the course can go a long way towards keeping you relaxed (bonus: you’ll have all the materials you need with you on the course already!)

• Tension Area:  Feet
• DIY: With your shoes off, start with a golf ball on the ground while seated on the golf cart or standing. Roll your foot forward and backward slowly; apply enough pressure to feel a pulling but not enough that you are in too much pain; then roll your foot side to side. Next place your heel on the ball to make circular motions; finally cross your leg over the left ankle and take the ball and roll it up and down the arch of your foot; repeat with the left foot.

Summer Activity: SPENDING ALL DAY IN THE SUN – Squinting outside in the hot sun all day can lead to dehydration and headaches (and exhaustion…who else always needs a long nap after a day outdoors?!).

• Tension Area:  Head
• DIY: Start by placing your thumbs on your cheekbones close to your ears, and use your fingertips to gently apply pressure and rub the temples (the soft spot between the corner of your eye and your ear).Using very firm pressure and a tiny circular motion, gradually move your fingers up along your hairline until they meet in the middle of your forehead, massaging your entire forehead and scalp as you inch along. And make sure to remember to drink water!

Summer Activity: GARDENING – Shoveling dirt, pulling weeds or squatting requires the use of muscles that you might not be used to using (but the rewards of looking at beautiful shrubbery all summer make for a worthy trade-off).

• Tension Area:  Lower Back
• DIY: Place a tennis ball between your lower back and the wall. Find the right spot for the ball, and rock your body in a tiny motion—up and down or left and right to work out knots and tightness in your back.

“Massages used to be seen as an expensive splurge, but now more and more people are beginning to recognize the value of massage in maintaining their overall health and wellness,” says Michele. And she’s right – massage has been proven to lower stress levels, which has a whole host of health benefits. So once you’ve exhausted all these at-home massage techniques, we’d say you’ve earned yourself a real spa visit!

Earlier this week, Health Magazine reported on AQUA Spin – the newest (potential) fitness craze to make a splash in NYC. Just about one month old, Aqua is NYC’s first studio of its kind. And as it turns out, we’re a little behind the ball on this one – Aqua Cycling has been a fad in Europe since the 90’s!

The studio was designed to have more of a spa-feel than a gym-feel…an immediate plus. Who likes the bright, sticky atmosphere at the gym? The spa on the other hand…ahhh…

All you need to bring with you is a sporty swimsuit, as Aqua offers jelly water shoe rentals for just $2. Like other similar spin sessions, Aqua Spin classes are 45 minutes each. The bikes have three preset levels to choose from for resistance.

Benefits of Aqua Spin:

• It’s a mood boosting cardio workout
• It’s impact free on your joints
• It promotes flexibility and recovery
• One workout can burn up to 800 calories!
• It won’t make you sore

At $40 per class, these benefits don’t come cheap…but if you’re already a SoulCycle devotee and shelling out $34 a class in NYC, the price is probably worth it to try something new.

Convinced that this is the workout for you? Visit Aqua’s website to sign up (and make it quick – max capacity per class is just 15 people)!

You know we’re all about quirky holidays here at Spa Week. Memorial Day is pretty mainstream, but did you know that May also happens to be National Salad Month? Perhaps not so coincidentally, these two holidays are perfect to be celebrated in tandem.

Disclaimer: we <3 summer! It is our favorite season and we couldn’t be more excited that it will be kicking off this weekend. However, there is one major downside to barbecue season, and we’re sort of dreading it – the overabundance of food and dessert makes it easier than ever to pack on the pounds.

With party after party to attend, each boasting different desserts, red meat and sugary cocktails that we just must try… well, you see where we’re going with this. Whoever made barbecue and bikini season one in the same was just cruel.

This year though, recognizing National Salad Month has brought to our attention a solution to this problem. We know exactly what you need to bring to any Memorial Day Barbecue you’re attending this weekend. A light, yet still elegant and delicious – salad! It’s so simple. And as for the surrounding fatty foods…just pick. Here are some great recipes to choose from:

Replace that rich, fatty seven layer dip with this gorgeous Seven Layer Salad. Make your own dressing utilizing low-fat versions of typically heavy ingredients like mayo and cheese. Tip from Eating Well – the salad will stay fresh under the dressing and the flavor is even better when kept overnight (full recipe from EatingWell.com)!

This recipe from none other than Sam’s Club for Summer Corn Salad has got our mouth’s watering. All of the fresh ingredients – corn, cucumber, grape tomatoes – and bright colors make it the perfect dish to kick off summer (full recipe from SamsClub.com).

Toss fresh vegetables with grilled country bread for an absolutely delectable side dish with a healthy crunch – Grilled Bread Salad! We have no doubt your friends will be satisfied and this plate will steal the side dish show  (full recipe from myrecipes.com).

Union Square is one of NYC’s most popular spots – home to a beautiful fresh farmer’s market, quaint park, great shopping, restaurants, and just one block away – the official Spa Week HQ! And that’s not all – this summer, Union Square will offer an abundance of free health and wellness activities for the public.

Beginning on June 13th is the nine-week series called Summer in the Park. Thanks to an organization known as the Union Square Partnership, every Thursday from 7am to 6pm Union Square will be abuzz with fun, free activities for the community. These include early morning boot camp, dance classes, yoga sessions and a running club, among others.

There are also plenty of activities for kids to choose from, including storytime, a bubble show and kids yoga – which start at 10am.

We love this idea and the way it will promote not only community togetherness but the health and well-being of those who live, work and play in NYC. You can be sure that you’ll see some Spa Weeker’s out on the square this summer!