The Spa Lifestyle, Spa Deals and Life's Little Luxuries
Congratulations to Krishna Davenport, winner of our Yoga Challenge with Elena Brower.
Krishna won $1,000 worth of our Spa & Wellness Gift Cards! That’s a lot of spa, right?!
“After a very stressful day I turn to meditation and yoga to relax and center myself,” says Krishna. “Winning is another reminder that the holistic changes I’ve made in my life are paying off.”
Indeed! Enjoy your spa time, Krishna.
It’s spring, the sun is out, and Spa Week’s Spa & Wellness Challenge is really shining! With the sunny days ahead of us, we are happy to see people taking time to lather on the sunblock and protect their skin. The Skincare Team is taking proactive steps to great skin with Dr. Michelle Copeland. Dr. Copeland is leading the Skincare Team and she’s challenging her team to give their skin the love it deserves by wearing SPF everyday. Dr. Copeland urges that sun protection is the most important step you can take to improved skin. Skin is your largest organ so get to work!
If you also want to get your skin ready for summer, it’s not too late to sign up! You can also join the Nutrition, Fitness or Yoga teams if those are more in tune with your wellness goals. (We won’t tell Dr. Copeland.)
So far it’s a close race, but there will only be four lucky winners of a $1,000 Spa & Wellness Gift Card by Spa Week, although everyone will win improved health and wellness as a consolation prize!
Maria: “I wear an SPF of at least 15 every day, no longer bake in the sun, and protect my skin by using appropriate skin care products!”
Whitney: “It was so easy to remember to wear SPF when I was on vacation in Mexico. Fingers crossed I can keep up in my daily routine.”
Take a deep breath and relax. We can’t right now, because we’re too excited about Spa Week’s Spa & Wellness Challenge! We are so happy to see people taking the initiative to dedicate a few minutes every day to taking care of themselves. Om my goodness! The Yoga Team is relaxing their way to wellness with famous yogi Elena Brower. Elena is leading the Yoga Team and she’s challenging her team to take care of their mind by meditating for 5 minutes every day. Elena feels that meditation is about “cultivating more alertness and better listening, so you can be a better parent, partner, sibling, friend, employee, and overall person.” Who doesn’t want to be a better version of themselves?
Elena so wants you to take time out for yourself, that she has offered you these gracious words of wisdom…
“When you take 5 minutes out of your day to mediate, you should actively pause, sit, and observe your breathing in order to make some space in your body, heart and mind. Meditation for me is just about cultivating more alertness, better listening, so I can be a better Mama, daughter, sister, partner, woman.
My current practice: I just sit and simply watch my breathing rise and fall. Sometimes I do 5 minutes, as I’m recommending here; sometimes I’ll stay for 11 minutes. If I sense a tightness somewhere in my body, I breathe there. If I sense it in my heart, as doubt or sadness, I breathe there. If I see a thought passing through my mind, I breathe there. I love to breathe right into the center of my brain and make more space – right there in the midpoint of my actual brain – super soothing. Try it. I love to feel what happens in my eyes when I do that. Science has proven it out time and time again: one recent meditation study on cancer patients has shown ‘large and significant improvements in mindfulness, depression, distress and trend for quality of life,’ which speaks volumes.
At the end of each sitting, take just one extra minute — note down any resistance as well as any other observations, in your body, your heart or your mind. This seems to be the best way for me to stay with a practice that has meaning and value for me. It isn’t a prescription, it’s a guideline for you to begin your own process of sorting out what works for you, and making it your priority.” — Elena Brower
If you also want to calm your mind, it’s not too late to sign up! You can also join the Nutrition, Fitness or Skincare teams if those are more in tune with your wellness goals. (We won’t tell Elena.)
So far it’s a close race, but there will only be four lucky winners of a $1,000 Spa & Wellness Gift Card by Spa Week, although everyone will win improved health and wellness as a consolation prize!
Krishna: “I meditate regularly to keep myself centered. Life has a way of throwing you a curve ball every now and again.”
Steven: “Looking to use yoga to get healthy and ready for the summer!”
Denise: “The beach is my favorite place is meditate and do yoga.”
Suzie: “I pledge to take 5 minutes for myself every day.”
Michelle: “Went on a run yesterday and stopped for 5-10 minutes under the Williamsburg bridge and just breathed, feeling thankful for everything in life, including that beautiful day.”
Meg: “Meditating in bed. Feels pretty great to be honest.”
Niki: “This definitely helps reduce stress!”
Get up off of that thang! Spa Week’s Spa & Wellness Challenge is on the move and we want to give a pat on the back to those of you who are making an effort to move too. The Fitness Team is getting pulled off the couch by Dolvett Quince, The Biggest Loser trainer. Dolvett is leading the Fitness Team and he’s challenging his team to take a step (or many steps in place) toward wellness: exercise during commercials. Dolvett won’t take any excuses, so better just do what he says. As a matter of fact, he’s taped what he wants you to do in a short video message, exclusively for you, our Spa Week Daily readers. After a hard outdoor workout, Dolvett taped the below message on his iPhone. Even though the video is a little grainy, you can hear Dolvett’s wellness philosophy clear as a bell… get your booty off the couch and get healthy!
If you also want to get rid of your couch potato title, it’s not too late to sign up for a dose of Dolvett’s tough love! If fitness isn’t what you need to work on, you can also join the Nutrition, Yoga or Skincare teams (don’t worry, we won’t tell Dolvett).
So far it’s a close race, but there will only be four lucky winners of a $1,000 Spa & Wellness Gift Card by Spa Week, although everyone will win improved health and wellness as a consolation prize!
Caressa: “Doing Bicep Curls and Watching DIY Network!”
Angela: “The before picture… I am doing this for me and my family. We need to get healthy together. Our reward will be good health and another cruise- this time in bikinis!”
Robin: “My photo represents movement in between commercials. I want to drop 20lbs by July 2012.”
Marianne: At the age of 48, having had three children and battling weight issues my whole life, this photo was taken. I lost 40 lbs., began working out 7 days a week (and loving it) and became a regular 5K Runner. I still struggle with toning my cellulite area but continue to strive towards reaching my goal of losing the last 10-15 lbs., running a 10K, half marathon and eventually a full marathon. Watching Dolvett every Tuesday night is a huge inspiration. Wish there was a TV show entitled “The Littlest Loser” – LOL!
Spa Week’s Spa & Wellness Challenge is in full swing and we are so excited about everyone who has signed up, as well as all the encouragement the participants have received. We asked you to pick a team to get healthy and the Nutrition Team is kicking bad habits in the butt by choosing veggies and gaining health. Joy Bauer, TODAY Show Nutritionist, is leading the Nutrition Team and she’s challenging her team to take a simple step toward wellness: eat veggies before dinner. Here is Joy’s philosophy to eat by:
If you also want to get a handle on your diet (while getting rid of your love handles), you should add some Joy to your life! It’s not too late to sign up! If nutrition isn’t what you need to work on, you can also join the Fitness, Yoga or Skincare teams (don’t worry, we won’t tell Joy).
So far it’s a close race, but there will only be four lucky winners of a $1,000 Spa & Wellness Gift Card by Spa Week, although everyone will win improved health and wellness as a consolation prize!
Jazmine: “Still working to tone out and define my muscles. I chose nutrition because food is my biggest weakness, I’d like to gain some control and work on portioning.”
Christina: “This is me after loosing 30lbs for my sisters wedding.”
Alicia: “This is how I think, feel and speak. I live to be healthy and strive to educate others to be healthy.”
Brandy: “I believe that without proper nutrition fitness and health goals simply cannot be perfected. I love modeling what great nutrition means to my family!”
