By Shelby Jones, ISPA

The newly released ISPA 2011 U.S. Spa Industry Study reveals a ton of new information about the different types of treatments offered at the spa. We’ll be digging into the different offerings in the weeks to come, but we wanted to take a minute this week to show you what spas are doing locally for their communities.

The following chart shows just what true do-gooders people in the spa industry really are. Almost all spas (96 percent) are undertaking one or more of the following outreach efforts:

Spas clearly recognize the importance of reaching out to locals. Whether it’s through food drives, makeover nights for nurses or showcasing artwork from local artists the spa is the place to go to help make a difference in your town. The next time you want to get involved consider working with the spa in your neighborhood.

Editor’s Note: As for Spa Week Media Group, giving back has always been part of our DNA. Each season we donate a portion of our proceeds to Cancer and Careers, an organization very dear to our CEO Cheryl Reid’s heart.

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 email her or follow @ISPADoYou on Twitter. If you’re in the spa industry, we encourage you to become a member of ISPA; weekly e-mails with pointers like these are just one small part of the package to help you succeed!

By Kristen Arnett, Green Beauty Team

In hectic cities like New York, spa go-ers are looking for a relief from the stresses of urban life.  In just about every place, not only big cities, people want to feel transported from their daily discomforts to somewhere tranquil.

Many spas are constantly searching for unique and exotic treatments from all over the world such as Bali, Hawaii, Thailand, Iceland, etc. to include in their menus.   The sensory experience of having treatments with birch branches, flowers, honey, mud, stones and other natural elements has become an incredibly popular way of creating the feeling of leaving city, if not the country, for a brief but precious time.

As spas continue to look to Mother Nature and older traditions of various cultures for healing treatments (two trends that are very popular this fall), they inevitably become more “green” in their approach. What’s interesting is to hear each spa’s reason(s) for choosing  to walk the eco path.  Some began as described above, others purely wanted to save on utilities such as water and energy, and some want to separate from the pack by offering holistic services, and others because they had an automatic desire to practice conscious methods.

As a spa-enthusiast, I am a complete pushover for pampering treatments, pools of thermal and fresh waters, and just about every type of massage available.  Since I’ve started paying more attention to the importance of incorporating natural, holistic ingredients in beauty products both personally and professionally, finding spas that share my values has become a priority.

I have this reoccurring fantasy that in some remote place an attentive farmer is carrying a straw basket in a pristine field harvesting herbs, flowers and plants that will be mixed together in a unique batch of an organic skin potion and sent to the very spa I am attending. A dreamy feeling takes over as I imagine that these fresh botanicals will renew me with the purity of air and soil in which they were grown.

Thankfully that fantasy is actually a reality in green spas all around the world. Take for instance the often-ignored state of Wisconsin, mostly known for its dairy products. It’s the home of two beautifully green facilities, the Aspira Spa and Kohler Waters Spa (participating in Spa Week this Fall!).

From the edges of a lake, on what is said to be sacred Native American land, staff from the Aspira Spa collect flowers and tree branches used in their chakra balancing treatments. Over at Kohler, the spa invested a $12,000 to create an underground piping system that would utilize the hot water from their production facility (where they make the kitchen accoutrements we are so used to seeing at Home Depot) to heat the water in their spa facility in order to save over 3.2 million gallons of water annually.

As part of the experience of feeling well-cared for and relaxed, a growing number of consumers want to know the spa they visit incorporates complete well-being from the products they use, to how the therapists approach their practice, to how eco-conscious the facility is.

A few years ago, it was difficult to locate “green” spas, but thankfully with sites like Spa Week, this rapidly growing class of spas is now much easier to find and enjoy.

International makeup artist Kristen Arnett has been immersed in the world of beauty for over 14 years, with roles ranging from product development to high-profile fashion work. As a beauty educator, she appears on television, writes articles, speaks and trains people around the globe. Now Kristen is focusing her talents and personal ethics to educating people everywhere about “Green Beauty,” and how they can choose products that are not only effective as cosmetics, but also beneficial to the skin. Founder and Editor-in-Chief of GreenBeautyTeam.com, Kristen is respected in fashion circles worldwide for her skill at enhancing beauty without the need for harmful chemicals and has been featured in Whole Living Magazine, Kiwi Magazine and on Style.com, to name a few.From the runway to real life, Kristen is looking to make a positive difference in how people of all ages consider their own self-care.

By Shelby Jones, ISPA

Flakey, rough and dull skin is something that none of us want, but many of us have to deal with it when the weather starts to cool down. Not only is it unattractive, but it can be itchy and irritating. In order to rid your skin of flakes it’s time to sand it down. That might sound extreme but exfoliation is comparable to gently (key word) sanding down the dead layers of your skin to remove dryness and flakes. Your skin will look better, makeup will go on smoother and you’ll stop scratching those irritating patches of skin.

ISPA defines exfoliation as a skin treatment where the upper layer of dead skin cells is sloughed off. A variety of techniques can be used to remove it including: loofah rub, salt scrub, body glow, brush and tone, etc. Almost all spa product lines include a scrub, serum, mask and event devices to help you achieve soft exfoliated skin.

One treatment that takes it a step further at the spa is microdermabrasion. This treatment is a non-surgical procedure that abrades skin. It is less intense then its sister treatment, dermabrasion which is a surgical treatment that requires anesthetic. The main difference between these treatments is the depth of the removal of skin layers. During a microdermabrasion treatment a diamond-tipped wand is used to slough off the top layer of skin and stimulate cell growth. Some spas might also use a bristle-tipped wand to perform the treatment.

Check out Spa Week’s $50 Directory for spas offering $50 microdermabrasion October 10-16.

Recovery time for microdermabrasion is minimal; some people can go back to work the same day. According to ISPA’s research the treatment is offered in 91 percent of medical spas in the U.S. It can aid in diminishing fine lines, hyperpigmentation and acne scars. Another benefit of the treatment is that skin care products will be more easily absorbed and make-up will go on more smoothly.

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 email her or follow @ISPADoYou on Twitter. If you’re in the spa industry, we encourage you to become a member of ISPA; weekly e-mails with pointers like these are just one small part of the package to help you succeed!

By Shelby Jones, ISPA

With Breast Cancer Awareness Month right around the corner in October, many spas are helping to raise awareness and funds that benefit breast cancer research. (Read last night’s post on actionable ways YOU can help for BCA Month.) Known for their focus on healing and wellness, it’s no surprise that spas and spa product companies are offering special treatments, raising money and volunteering time for the cause.  Many spas around the country have therapists trained in oncology massage which adapts traditional massage techniques to safely provide relaxation and pain relief for cancer patients.

This type of massage focuses on helping the body heal. It can aid in reducing the symptoms of nausea, diarrhea, constipation, lack of appetite, insomnia and pain. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 230,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2011 alone. According to ISPA’s research, seventy percent of spa-goers are women, and almost everyone knows someone who has been affected by the disease.

The No. 1 reason people worldwide go to the spa is to reduce stress. Coping with cancer can put a tremendous amount of stress on patients and their loved ones. The spa industry provides a nurturing and relaxing environment for healing the mind, body and spirit.

Call your local spa and inquire about therapists who are trained in oncology massage. You can help the cause by visiting a spa that donates a portion of their proceeds to breast cancer research. Many spas will have special products in their retail areas from companies who donate proceeds to breast cancer awareness organizations in October.

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 email her or follow @ISPADoYou on Twitter. If you’re in the spa industry, we encourage you to become a member of ISPA; weekly e-mails with pointers like these are just one small part of the package to help you succeed!

By Shelby Jones, ISPA

We all know the benefits of exercise, but when you combine that with meditation, stretching and a balanced diet you’re living what we call… a healthy spa lifestyle. September is National Yoga Month (as a pre-cursor to Spa Week Oct 10-16, of course) and spas around the country are offering classes to help you de-stress and clear out your mind. Stress is the No. 1 reason people go to the spa worldwide, and yoga is frequently a part of stress-reduction programs. If you need a reason to start stretching it might help to know that yoga helps improve muscle tone, flexibility and mobility, reduces stress and anxiety, and induces a sense of well-being.

According to ISPA’s research, yoga is the most popular mind, body and spirit treatment offered by spas; in fact, one in two resort/hotel spas offer these types of treatments. ISPA’s Medical Advisor, Dr. Brent Bauer, the director of the Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program at the Mayo Clinic recommends yoga and meditation for reducing stress. Dr. Bauer says, “When you slow your breathing through meditation, your autonomic nervous system (which plays a role in our ‘fight or flight’ response and also allows us to rest) slows down and you get a great relaxation response.”

Now that you know what yoga can do for you it’s time to find the type of yoga (there are several) for your lifestyle. Some of the more popular types of yoga include:

Ashtanga

This type of yoga was developed by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009), and involves synchronizing the breath through a series of postures. It’s also sometimes called power yoga and can be physically intense.

Bikram

This form of yoga is also known as hot yoga. Popularized in the 1970’s by Bikram Choudhury, it includes a set of 26 postures performed in a room heated to 105°. The heat allows for deeper stretching and injury prevention.

Hatha

A branch of yoga introduced in 15^th century India. This is the most basic form of yoga and focuses on slow breathing and meditation. This is a great class to try if you are a beginner.

Iyengar

Developed in India by B.K.S. Iyengar, this type of yoga focuses on body alignment. Poses are held for a longer period of time to concentrate on proper placement.

Vinyasa

Literally translated this form of yoga means breath-synchronized movement. Your movements are matched to your breathing patterns. This is a more intense class, so seasoned yogis will want to check it out.

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 email her or follow @ISPADoYou on Twitter. If you’re in the spa industry, we encourage you to become a member of ISPA; weekly e-mails with pointers like these are just one small part of the package to help you succeed!