Live Better: Dashama’s Challenge #2

January 10, 2013 | By

As a part of January’s big “Better You” Giveaway, we are challenging our readers to put our five ideals for improved well-being into action. To help you “Live Better” we’ve enlisted our resident Joyology expert, Dashama, for some valuable advice.

This month, we’re sharing ten of her best happiness tips with you to help make 2013 your best year ever – and challenge you to incorporate them into your daily lifestyle! Have you practiced breathing techniques to help you “Live Better?” Check out Dashama’s last tip here.

Tip #2: Music

What we listen to can change the vibration of our being. When I need to shift my energy or wish to improve my mood, I turn on Pandora to the Wah! Channel, Donnal Delory, Deva Premal, Krishna Das or Snatam Kaur. If those are not your preference, you may wish to start with some Native American flutes or sounds of nature. Zen music makes a big difference for my life, but so does upbeat dance music. Sometimes when I need higher energy I turn on Morgan Page, Thievery Corporation or Bombay beats. The other vibe that really inspires me is the U2 channel, Celine Dion or something Dubstep or Marley which can evoke the sensation of vacation and take me away to paradise emotionally.

Anything that makes you feel good will work for you – utilize music as a great way to center yourself, find calm or get inspired!

Check Spa Week Daily for a new happiness tip from Dashama every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday throughout the month of January! You’ll also find some tips from other experts on how to eat, look, feel and sleep better this month – so stay tuned!

From now until January 31st, enter to win one of five great prizes in the Better You Giveaway!

Filed Under: Good + Happy, Health & Wellness Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Hey Jude, Spa Style

February 24, 2012 | By

Na, na, na, na-na-na, SPA! If there’s one way to take a sad song and make it better… that would be listening to it during a long, luxurious spa treatment. (Preferably one that you only paid $50 for.)

If you know a thing or two about me, you know that my alter-ego is a Beatles hippie child, by blood. Why do you think I was named Michelle? And my middle name, Joni? After John Lennon, of course! A little Google search lead me to this beautiful, massage-worthy version of Hey Jude, THE PERFECT marriage of my facial-fiending, spa-lebrity self and my deeply rooted love, love, love for the Fab Four.

Sit back, relax, press play and don’t make it bad… the weekend is here! Tell us: Would you request a Beatles spa soundtrack in your next spa treatment?

Filed Under: Media POP, Spa-ish Tagged With: , , ,

Sound Therapy: The Hall + Oates Emergency Hotline

February 22, 2012 | By

We’ve all experienced it. You’re waiting in line at Starbucks, you’re getting your nails done, you’re walking your dog, minding your business, and SUDDENLY… you have this uncontrollable craving to hear a Hall + Oates song. Maneater, Kiss on My List, Rich Girl, Say It Isn’t So!!! What do you mean this hasn’t happened to you?? Don’t be silly, of COURSE it has. At that very moment, you need a Hall + Oates song in your life more than a deep tissue massage, your iPhone and oxygen itself. A trusty hairdresser once shared a little rock-n-roll secret with me to solve this sweeping epidemic. As of this morning, her note hangs on my fridge:

Are you dialing?

Filed Under: Media POP Tagged With: , , , , ,

Music Monday: Just Breathe

August 15, 2011 | By


In honor of Elena Brower’s Spa Week Daily Challenge and National Relaxation Day, we asked our Twitter and Facebook friends, “What’s your favorite song for relaxing/breathing deeply?” Without further ado, here is the “Just Breathe” playlist. Even Elena joined in the fun, tweeting, “@ElenaBrower: @SPAWEEK – check out this playlist on @yogitunes – http://ow.ly/63TkZ – the last few songs are VERY chill. And the first few: flow/amazing.” We added as many as we could find and came up with this soothing, worry-erasing playlist. We hope you listen take a few moments for yourself and get inspired to Breathe Consioucly for 5 minutes a day. Enjoy!


Get a playlist! Standalone player Get Ringtones

Here the songs our Facebook and Twitter friends suggested:

Jacqueline E. Pachelbel “New Age”
Estella N. and Janice C. Enya
Mari H. Pearl Jam “Just Breathe”
Nicole G. and Deborah N. “Amazing Grace”
Jackie T. Adele
Lydia P. Barbra Streisand “Memory”
Noreen Y. David Young “Bliss” and George Skaroulis “Sanctuary”
Patricia E. Any soundscapes music!
@AgingBackwards: @SPAWEEK Call me #oldschool, but I still LUV @SteveWinwood sigh…(bats eyelashes) lol #relaxation
@ISpaDoYou: @SPAWEEK #relaxation song ideas: We recommend anything from @soundstruebit.ly/pk2TNE
@pengonly: @SPAWEEK try @2Cellos they do wonders with @muse
@Bittertwitr22: @SPAWEEK etta james
@BeautyUnbiased: Glen Hansard ‘once’ album “@SPAWEEK: Happy National #RelaxationDay! TELL US: What’s your favorite song for relaxing/breathing deeply?”
@LiljenSpa: @SPAWEEK Yiruma is a fab piano Player.. Meditation Spa Collection is also relaxing music.. :-)
@nailkid2: @SPAWEEK Kool & The Gang ” Summer Madness”

Filed Under: Media POP, Music Monday, Spa Week Daily Challenge Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Katy Perry: Fairy Spa Mother

June 24, 2011 | By

After her concert in Atlanta on June 8,  Katy Perry flicked her magic wand and fluttered her Fairy Spa Mother wings and made the bill disappear for all 21 of her dancers and crew members at the gorgeous Remede Spa at the St. Regis Hotel. So jealous! We can do the Macarena and The Running Man… Can we be your dancers too, Katy?

According to US WEEKLY, the group, who “took over the entire spa, indulged in customized facials, which cost $255 for 90 minutes, and include everything from cleansing, exfoliation, and extractions to warm paraffin foot wraps, foot and scalp rubs, and eye and lip treatments. Also on the agenda: Relaxing aromatherapy massages at $240 a pop for 90 minutes.”



Too bad she didn’t wait until Fall Spa Week (that’s when the prices practically disappear on their own, like magic!); she could have saved a candy-colored boat load.

Katy is pretty tied to the spa lifestyle these days; especially after she signed on to promote OPI’s line of Shatter nail polish. You know, the polish that crackles. Read all about shatter and DIY mani-pedis here . Plus tap into the mind of Michelle and learn all about other polish alternatives, like Shellac. And seriously, Katy… If you need back-up dancers, we’re just a DM away @SPAWEEK.

Filed Under: Media POP, Spa Treatments, Spas Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,