Last week I got a chance to visit Exhale Mindbodyspa (did you see them on NBC last week?) and try out two of their Spa Week treatments: a Smart Peel and Core Fusion/Yoga (most locations are also offering a Pure Manicure and Pure Pedicure Experience, too!). My skin has never looked better and my buns haven’t felt that worked in a long time — talk about a mind-body combo!
At the Upper East Side location – my first stop was meeting Shannon, one of Exhale’s top estheticians. She lead me to the luxurious “locker room” where I snuggled into a fuzzy robe and comfy sandals. Then, I made my way to the relaxation room- a dimly lit seating area with soothing tunes and comfy couches. When it was time for my peel, my worries about the stigma behind the scary word “peel” were put to rest as Shannon walked me through every step of the process – from the cleansing, hot towels, to the chocolate-scented peel and a nice shoulder rub – the appointment was truly stress-melting and informative.
After a quick change into my yoga clothes – I met with Madison and Stefanie to learn about the mindbody classes being offered for Spa Week. For just $50 you have the choice between two 5-packs of classes: core fusion, a Pilates-bar-cardio-strength class aimed at lengthening and toning or muscle-stretching and firming yoga. I tried both! Both women are extremely knowledgeable, friendly and helpful – being a little intimidated by the term “Core Fusion” – Madison helped me, hands-on with the moves and positions. Plus, it was really great to hear that I wasn’t the only one getting the VIP treatment – the girls told me that Exhale makes it a practice give all of their clients personalized attention during mindbody classes. So comforting!
After breaking a sweat (in a modified session, no less) Stefanie introduced me to some classic yoga poses with a cardio twist – downward dog with leg-lifts to get for heart pumping and rapid-fire jumps and planks really burned some cals. The best part about these classes is that each comes in a 5-pack and you have SIX (6!) Months to feel the burn!
Book your appointment at one of Exhale’s 12 locations all across the country by going to SpaWeek.com
I knew it was going to be good when I received this direct message from Fred DeVito last weekend:
SIX hours? Fred, who is part of the founding team of exhale and Core Fusion, had spent 3 hours giving and 3 hours receiving Thai Massage Therapy the Saturday of this tweet. As I learned during our session last Friday, something unique about this treatment is that it is also highly beneficial for the person giving the treatment, serving as a form of exercise.
True Thai Therapy doesn’t take place under a towel on a massage bed; it’s done on a padded surface on the floor in yoga clothes, so anything is possible. Rather than just digging in deep with their hands, Thai Massage requires the use of the therapist’s elbows, knees, feet, balance, and inner core strength. Many of the techniques are actually yoga poses–there were a few times during the treatment I had to open my eyes just to see what which of Fred’s body parts were doing what! His heels dug into my arms while his hands worked my lower back (sort of like a 4-handed massage) and then he’d seemingly be balanced on his head with his elbows massaging my calves, while simultaneously wedging a pillow under my backside and bending my body into a glowing C-shaped beacon of relaxation–or something like that.
As opposed to traditional table massage, Thai Massage (formerly called Body Enlightenment at exhale) mobilizes your joints and stretches your entire body. It’s great for athletes who need both deep tissue attention and proper full body stretching. It is more rigorous and energizing than your average rubdown, and after a stressful week served as an invigorating rebirth of my mind and body.
While I rested silently on the mat when the treatment was over I’m pretty sure I was supposed to turn off my thoughts, but I couldn’t help but think about how many exciting elements of this treatment I wanted to blog about! Try Thai Massage for yourself and let us know what you think.
Apologies: Live-streaming of this treatment has been postponed until further notice.
Internet Week is officially here in NYC!
A week to celebrate the city’s thriving Internet industry and community.
Back-to-back panels and parties embracing social media, technology and a love for connecting and creating online.
But we have one question:
How do you #SIGNOFF?
Editor and blogger Anne Fritz religiously turns off her phone every night at 11 PM sharp. Social media strategist Zachary Adam Cohen hardly goes a minute without tweeting… or a day without Bikram Yoga. “Digital something” Damien Basile tweets proudly about leaving his phone at home when he goes for a run outside.
It doesn’t take much.
So this Internet Week, Spa Week is hosting an Internet Week Retreat with exhale to encourage widespread #SIGNOFF for the folks who need it most–for the online influencers, innovators, and those who have shaped the Internet into what it is today. A little thank you via massage, meditation, acupuncture and inspirational speakers… and a little reminder to live life in more than 140 characters.
Join in the #SIGNOFF movement!
Tweet your best Internet Escape tips using #SIGNOFF and @SPAWEEK
But don’t worry… we’re not straying TOO far from The Internet. Tune in right here June 10th from 4 – 7:30 PM for our LIVE Internet Retreat inspirational speaker series on how to live better offline for a healthier, happier and more productive you. Here’s the lineup of speakers:
Update: We were not able to live-stream due to a shift in speaker location within the venue, but we’re videotaping everyone and will post their talks soon!
4:20 – Welcome + Opening Exercises with Spa Week and Exhale Michelle Joni Lapidos (@michellejoni) Social Media Director at Spa Week + editor of Spa Week Daily (@SPAWEEK) Catherine Hess, Holistic Health Counselor and Senior Teacher for exhale (@exhaleNYC)
Topic: Taking time to EXHALE in the Great Technology Race
4:40 – Zachary Adam Cohen (@zacharycohen) Social Media Consultant, Blogger, Local Foods Advocate, Yogi
Topic: Tweet. Eat. Yoga. Repeat. Learn Zach’s most successful moves—online and on the yoga mat.
5:00 – Keri Glassman (@keriglassman) Author of The O2 Diet, owner of Nutritious Life, Women’s Health Magazine & CBS Early Show contributor.
Topic: How to Be Healthy, Thin And Beautiful (and not just in your avatar)
5:20 – Oz Sultan (@ozsultan) Social Media Specialist at Irisnation, world’s largest private agency.
Topic: Ayurveda and Unani: Growing up with Ancient Cold Remedies in a 2.0 World
5:40 – Andrea Syrtash (@andreasyrtash) Dating and relationship expert, author of ‘He’s Just Not Your Type (And That’s a Good Thing)’
Topic: Your love life—Online and Off.
6:00 – Brett Petersel (@brett) Business Development and Events at Mashable
Topic: Mashable Unplugged! #SIGNOFF advice from the most plugged in of them all.
6:20 – Julia Roy (@juliaroy) Senior Manager of New Media, Coach Inc., Digital Influencer
Topic: The Rules of Disengagement, by Julia Roy
6:40 – Damien Basile (@db) Communications Strategist and Entrepreneur, Simplifier
Topic: Running without a phone in your hand, and other brilliant ways to separate Work and Life
7:00 – PJ Gach (@bettybuzz) Senior Style & Beauty Editor at Betty Confidential
Topic: Offline Excellence, as told by a member of the team that won Min’s 2010 Best of the WebEditorial Excellence Award
And for all the techies– when our next bi-annual Spa Week event comes around with luxurious $50 spa treatments for all (September 13-19 on the West Coast and Chicago, October 11-17 for the rest of the country), feel free to throw a #SIGNON party in the middle of it. We won’t be mad.
So this Internet Week, 
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