Our ability to be across the country in less than six hours is quite extraordinary. Whether we are visiting relatives or taking a dip in a mud bath in South America – we are traveling more than ever. There are some downsides: TSA’s 3 fluid ounce liquid restrictions, security lines, the strip-searching of unsuspecting elderly women, and jet lag. Switching time zones can really throw off your sleeping routine. The Spa at Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara has  introduced new eco-conscious signature treatments that have just the cure. These treatments include H. Gillerman Organic products. Hope Gillerman is a leading holistic practitioner and aromatic healer.

The four massages are intended to specifically address health problems brought on by a stressful lifestyle, such as jet lag and flu symptoms. Enjoy all these treatments with spa’s oceanfront views that are sure to relax anyone, even after driving in LA traffic.

The spa’s four organic aromatherapy massages include:

Pure Breathing: Helps you ward off cold and flu symptoms with a Sinus Remedy (eucalyptus, orange, petitgrain), which clears breathing passageways, decongests, and relieves swollen glands. The Chest Remedy (spruce, fir, cardamom) reduces aches and pains, allergies and fatigue.

True Relaxation: Induces deep muscle relaxation and eases stress  with a Stress Remedy (lavender, tangerine, sandalwood), which soothes the nerves, while the Muscle Remedy (basil, birch, vetiver) relieves muscle pain and chronic tension.

Natural Rest: Helps you get back into your regular sleep routine. The Travel Remedy (litsea, cedarwood, palmarosa) relieves jet lag and helps the body adjust to seasonal shifts. The Sleep Remedy (bitter orange, clary sage, lavender) helps with sleep quality and insomnia.

Clear Mind: Improves mental focus (so toss out that Smart Water!). The Tension Remedy (peppermint, lavender) relieves headaches and revives mental focus and alertness. Jaw Clenching Remedy (chamomile, vetiver, patchouli) calms mental activity, allowing one to slow down and shift gears to help alleviate tense facial muscles and night grinding.

The eight H. Gillerman Organics exclusive formulas  are made from the highest concentrations of the finest quality, unprocessed, undiluted, unaltered, organic essential oils from around the world. They help in aiding the natural healing process by acting as probiotics and eliminating toxins. The entire H. Gillerman Organics line is produced and use environmentally-friendly packaging.

Take these products home with you after your treatment with their line of retail products. All eight remedies are packaged into two options: 100% essential oils applied to prescribed points on the body throughout the day; or a roll-on body oil blend applied directly to areas of discomfort. Both  can double as personal scents or even can be used as soothing bath oils.

Spa Week and Keri Glassman want to send you to enjoy this luxurious resort – ENTER TO WIN 4 NIGHTS HERE plus spa treatments and more!

By Shelby Jones, Public Relations Manager, ISPA

Millions of us are seeking out the beach to take a break from the summer heat. While it helps cool us down, the ocean also has tons of added benefits you probably never knew about.  No wonder Ariel looked so fab all the time. She knew the benefits salt water and seaweed could provide.

Seaweed is commonly used in facials, body wraps and baths for detoxification and rejuvenation. Treatments that utilize it are generally referred to as algotherapy. The health benefits of seaweed are numerous since it contains all the minerals the human body needs including calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, iodine, iron and zinc. Seaweed also feeds the scalp helping to make your hair more lustrous.

A seaweed wrap is a common type of body wrap offered at many spas. It’s similar to an herbal wrap combined with heat packs and uses sea water and seaweed with a balance of the ocean’s nutrients, minerals, rare trace elements, vitamins and proteins. All of these benefits are soaked up into your blood stream to revitalize your skin and body. During the treatment, a paste made of seaweed or sea algae is applied then the body is covered with sheets and sometimes blankets for 10 to 20 minutes.  During this process toxins are eliminated, minerals are restored and skin elasticity is improved.

Another type of treatment that takes the healing powers of the sea and puts them into action is thalassotherapy. This ancient Greek therapy uses the vitamins, minerals and trace elements found in sea water to reinvigorate your skin and hair. Thalassotherapy can include various types of treatments like individual baths of fresh sea water equipped with powerful underwater jets that create a deep massage. A therapist can also apply manual massage by using hoses.

The use of sea water and sea air can be used to treat allergies and conditions like asthma and cystic fibrosis. Living near the sea, bathing in salt water and breathing in sea air can all be beneficial. The next time you hit the beach try to take advantage of the natural offerings that surround you.

If you want to learn more about different spa treatments visit ISPA’s spa glossary at experienceispa.com.

Shelby Jones is based in Lexington, KY at the ISPA headquarters, Spa Week’s exclusive trade partner. She has worked as ISPA’s Public Relations Manager for five years where she connects with top media outlets to promote ISPA members and the spa lifestyle. To get in touch with Shelby please visit experienceispa.com, email her or follow @ISPADoYou on Twitter.

Many sneeze-stricken souls in sniffly sinus situations are seeking the spa for solace. (Repeat that 5 times fast.) Fighting Allergies is #1 on our list of top 12 treatments for Fall. Why? Because more than 50% of you suffer from allergies (fact!) and allergy relief has not only become more common in spas, it’s also one of the most tangible ways to reap the health benefits of the spa lifestyle.

One of our Orange County spas, CloudMover Day Spa, is offering a Sinus/Allergy Relief Massage combined with their signature HB Facial during the upcoming Fall Spa Week (Read: $50). With your nasal passageways in mind, we asked CloudMover a few questions about this treatment:

Who is a candidate for a Sinus/Allergy Relief treatment?

The clients that benefit the most from this treatment are those who suffer from intense sinus pressure, migraines and stress headaches.

In your own words, what can a client expect during a Sinus/Allergy Relief Massage?

When providing an Allergy Relief Massage we always begin with soft lighting in the treatment room, in case the client suffers from light sensitivity due to migraines. We also keep all scents to a minimum as to not over-stimulate the client.

We then proceed to wrap the client’s lower body in a cocoon-like fashion giving them a sense of comfort and security. Essential oils are combined with an oil-free massage solution to prevent clogging of pores. Eucalyptus oil is recommended to maximize the treatment’s circulation stimulation properties.

Using our essential oil blend, pressure point massage is then gently applied to several areas including BL1 (just above inner eyes), BL2 (inner brows), GB21 (back of neck) and ST2 (below the pupil). These pressure points stimulate the movement of congestion in the sinus cavities alleviating headache pressure and inflammation.

To get the best results we include a scalp and shoulder massage to stimulate lymphatic flow, leaving the client with a feeling of total relief and relaxation.

If we want to supplement a treatment with Allergy Relief when it’s not Spa Week, what do you suggest?

We recommend a 15 – 30 minute service for best results. Cost: $25 for 15 minutes and $45 for 30 minutes.

Are there medical risks associated with this treatment?

Trained providers are required for CloudMover Allergy Relief Massage. When working with pregnant women certain pressure points like the HOKU (point between thumb and forefinger) can affect the pregnancy. CloudMover always uses client intake forms to identify allergies and health conditions that are contraindications.

Do you have any quotes from your allergy-prone clients?

“I felt like my head was in a vice when I came into CloudMover for the service. When I left the room my headache was gone and I could breathe out of my nose again. Even more important, Marisa was well trained and took into consideration for my pregnancy.” –Alana C., Client since 2006

“I don’t know what you do but even with a custom facial massage you relieve the congestion better than any allergy medicine I’ve ever taken.” –Leslie M. Client since 2007

Want to book this treatment for yourself? Let CloudMover uncover your sunny, smiling side during Spa Week for just $50. Booking has begun, and this treatment is in high demand. Sign up for Spa Week and give them a call to book and learn more:
CloudMover Day Spa
7368 Center Avenue
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
714.890.0900

The $50 Spa Week treatment: 60 Min HB Facial with Diamond Peel or Sinus/Allergy Relief Massage

Photo courtesy of http://sinusinfection.provenremedies.info

Massages, facials, body scrubs… you can’t get enough! And that’s great. But did you know you’re barely scraping the spa surface? New technology, reinvented techniques and pop culture all shape the way we spa today. Here, Spa Week officially announces the definitive list of the latest in emerging spa treatment trends, from holistic to glamorous.

Treat yourself to a wellness and beauty adventure this Spa Week®, $50 spa treatments September 13-19 for the West Coast and Chicago, October 11-17 for the rest of the country. The Fall spa directory launches August 16 for the West Coast, September 13 for the rest of the country, 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 will be available for just $50!

1)      Fighting Allergies

Sinus massages, breathe-easy facials and cold & flu bath salts are just a few of the spa services you’ll be seeing this upcoming Spa Week, just in time to soothe your seasonal allergies. Treat your immune system and clear your sinuses in the spa with new treatments using Eucaplyptus, humidifiers and Lymph drainage movements , to name just few of the techniques being used to assist in allergy relief.

2)      Bikini Glamour

Vajazzling made its sparkly splash last Spa Week, when bedazzling your bikini became the hot new standard in girly glamour. Other treatments are quickly emerging in its footsteps to pamper your private parts: Bikini/Bum Facials are being offered to give the same attention down there as a esthetician would to your face: toner, extractions and masks included. Also, post-Brazilian waxing rituals such as Airbrush painting and Vattooing are now the latest in vaginal adornment.

3)      Sleeping and Dreaming

Insomniac? A good night’s slumber with proper REM cycles can be just as rejuvenating as a spa treatment, so one of the hottest trends emerging in the industry is a dream-worthy mix of the two to promote better sleeping patterns. Scents such as Rosewood, Palmarosa and Vanilla are used to guide you off to never-never land while massage techniques make for a complete relaxation experience.

4)      Lash Extensions

Eyelash length, thickness, volume and darkness have gone way up on the beauty priority lists of women now more than ever. While new drugstore and professional lash volumizers continue to crowd the lash-enhancing market, the Fall Spa Week event is poised to give women more professional lash-extending options than ever before.

5)      Instant Inch Loss

Remember that magical, completely safe instant weight-loss pill you always dreamed of? We’re not saying it’s been invented (sorry), but the spa is becoming a go-to place to get instant, (almost) magic-like results in addition to providing long term benefits. Colon Hydrotherapy is becoming more popular as a quick, easy cleanse, and hot new med-spa services like the 7E Treatment and Ionithermie give immediate results by targeting muscles with waveform technology.

6)      Reiki and Energy Work

Turn your trip to the spa into a journey for the soul. Reiki, energy work and holistic healing deliver health benefits ranging from injury recovery to spiritual growth. By engaging the flow of your “life force energy,” practitioners are turning spa-goers into active believers. Look for treatments with an energy component this coming Spa Week, and may the force be with you.

7)      Acupuncture

This ancient holistic healing technique is no newbie to the spa scene, but the granddaddy of healing is suddenly making a resurgence. The World Health Organization advocates the use of acupuncture to treat over 40 conditions, from anxiety and other stress syndromes to musculoskeletal pain and injury, and the Fall Spa Week event will encourage more spa-goers to forget their fears of needles and reap the benefits of this treatment—for their face, body and both.

8)      Botox on-the-go

Pick up dry cleaning, get Botox, grab lunch… what? Yes, the age-defying treatment has become so mainstream that spas are now offering it hassle-free, and even appointment-free. Add the $50 Spa Week price tag, and suddenly “to-tox-or-not-to tox?” is one of the easiest decisions to make.

9)      Hot AND Cold Stone Massages

Spa Week’s favorite sweetheart treatment has always been the Hot Stone Massage, but the newest twist is cooler than past seasons. Instead of using all hot stones, this treatment includes the application of cold stones as well, adding multi-dimensional stimulation. Alternating the hot and cool stones helps every cell in the body receive more oxygen and nutrients and encourages a more effective removal of toxins.

10)   Champissage

Also known as Indian head massage, Champissage has been practiced for more than 1000 years in India and has now been interpreted as a custom ritual at many spas. Traditionally, it began as a system of family grooming, with mothers massaging their daughters’ hair with oils to encourage long, lustrous locks. Over time, it began to incorporate massage of the face neck and shoulders, specifically yours this upcoming Spa Week.

11)   Everything Seaweed

You’d like to be… under the sea? Why? Just go to the spa. Seawater and seaweed have similar mineral contents with approximately the same percentage as the human body. Because of this, seaweed wraps help detoxify the body, eliminate excess fluids, increase blood circulation and regulate hormonal levels. More treatments than ever are incorporating Seaweed this Spa Week. Go for a dive.

12)   Simply… Oxygen

Human beings’ star life-sustaining molecule is getting more and more play inside the spa. One of the new treatments is Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber Therapy, which dissolves oxygen in the blood plasma and all body cells, tissues and fluids at up to 10 times normal concentration—high enough to sustain life with no blood at all. Oxygenating facials are also increasing in popularity, as oxygen continues to secure its reputation as the #1 skincare essential.

Experiment with these treatments and experience the true spa lifestyle for just $50 a piece during Spa Week. Make sure you’re signed up!