When video-streaming is not an option, the next best thing is what we call a Tweetment: The play-by-play of a spa treatment via @SPAWEEK‘s Twitter.

The 3-step Slimming Spa Sampler at Studio 57 Skin & Body Care Spa offers tremendous value. A variety of oils and Italian secrets work to slim and trim you, and a pair of hands using Lymphatic Drainage Massage techniques work do the same. Nestled on the 7th floor of 57 West 57th Street in NYC, I was greeted by a woman so precious and welcoming I could only imagine she had hot homemade chicken noodle soup waiting for me in the treatment room. She didn’t, but the experience felt as comfortable and was as deliciously enjoyable as though she had.

FACT: I felt slightly slimmer and firmer afterwards. It takes 6 treatments to see the difference at its full potential, but I am happy to share that even just one time can give you a glimmer of results.  Try it this week, because they’re still accepting Spa Week appointments! Contact info below.

If you missed it live, live vicariously through the Tweetment here. If you never made it to Studio 54 back in the days of disco, here’s at least a candid look inside of Studio 57:

Studio 57 Skin & Body Care Spa
57 West 57th Street, Suite 710
New York, NY 10019
212.758.6383

Spa Week Treatments:
60 Min De-Stress Aromatherapy Massage
60 Min Multivitamin Oxygenating Facial with Hands and Feet Treatment
60 Min Slimming Spa Sampler

Variety and pressure point perfection swept me away this morning during my Fusion Massage at Spa Merge, the newest spa on the block, stationed in the elegant Hilton Worldwide Hotel on 57th Street in New York City. If I hadn’t been streaming the whole thing live on UStream, there’s no doubt I would have slipped into beautifully golden slumbers.

The place is brand spankin’ new; you feel pristine the second you walk in the door. The spa opened a few weeks ago to provide treatments that focus on merging science and nature, thus the spa’s name. If you normally have difficult skin, Spa Merge has a full range of treatments that will cater especially to your skin type. The Spa Director Margaret Lora walked us through the concept of opening a spa that caters to a person who loves natural products and a strong belief in the power of science.

Spa Merge’s exclusive treatments are $50 during Spa Week, including the 45 Min Fusion Massage, the 45 Minute Spa Merge Facial and the Tub and Rub, a 15 Min Hydro Tub with 35 Min Shea Butter Wrap. To get you in the massage mood, I recorded the whole live-streaming. It’s really long… so if you just want a taste of the techniques, do a little fast forwarding to cut to the good parts. Oh wait, it was all good. And here’s Margaret Lora telling us about the spa (this one’s just a few minutes long… you can handle it). They still have a few appointments left for Spa Week! Call up Spa Merge and make your date with the midtown gates of heaven. 102-108 West 57th Street New York, NY 10019 646.484.4104

Once upon a time, caviar—just like signet rings and purple velvet cloaks—was reserved only for royalty.

Just as Spa Week® (as a company) is determined to remove stigma of the spa being reserved for ridiculous housewives and movie stars, caviar has made its way to the masses, packed into California rolls and enjoyed by everyone.

Fittingly, caviar has made its way to the masses in the form of a rejuvenating facial for $50 during Spa Week. Yesterday to kick off Spa Week Spring 2010, I got the royal treatment, a Caviar Facial, at Dyanna Spa in New York City. The 60 minute treatment included a thorough steaming and pore extraction, an invigorating Russian massage (she’s from Moscow), a firming medical peel, and then a formula made of 100% caviar. There were little black caviar bits on the esthetician’s hands— it was the real deal. Caviar is packed with vitamins and nutrients that seep into your pores to promote anti-aging. The treatment was followed by a caviar mask, which was left on for 15 minutes as I received a caviar hand and foot treatment with heated mitts and booties. The massage or the silky softness afterwards—I’m not sure which was more enjoyable.

Something unusual happened at the end: rather than removing the mask with water or a damp cloth, she pressed the mask into my skin to stay and continue to work. I was instructed to not wash my face for 3 hours.

I saw immediate results upon leaving the spa: a reduction of redness and an increased firmness to my skin. Today, I see a notable glow and continue to see an enhancement in texture, as if the caviar is still swimming around in my pores, rejuvenating turning back the hands of time. You know… to that time when caviar was reserved only for royalty…

Try it yourself this Spa Week for just $50 (normally $85)!
Dyanna Body Nail Salon – Spa
40 East 21st Street
New York, NY 10010
212.995.2355‎

You can watch the entire thing in great detail (caviar fun facts included!) in these live-recorded video clips from inside the spa.

For all the live coverage this week, keep up with my crazy SPA WEEK SCHEDULE. Next up… slimming body wrap with Endermologie at noon!

It’s been used around the world from the ancient Greeks to Victorian England for its healing properties and it’s also one of our biggest trends for Spring Spa Week. What is this superhero ingredient you might ask?

Seaweed!

Today, most popularly known as the green stuff wrapped around our sushi, seaweed is one of the most highly regarded ingredients by doctors and beauty experts alike. As Linda Page, N.D. Ph.D. points out, “Sea plants can transform your health. There are many reasons why I recommend sea vegetables as part of my healing programs — weight loss, cellulite control, detoxification, beautiful hair and skin, and more.”

Known for its anti-oxidant rich healing powers, this anti-ager helps improve your skin’s overall appearance. “Seaweed has the ability to detox the body removing heavy metals, radioactive chemicals, toxins and free radicals” says Satnarine, skincare expert from Epiphany Day Spa. Used as a body wrap, the ingredient tones skin tissue and improves circulation to reduce cellulite. It acts as a catalyst to remove excess water from the body and help maintain your healthy weight loss program.

Used topically with a facial, the mineral salts in seaweed also help your skin hold its moisture, while improving texture and overall appearance. It is also the richest source of minerals and is one of the few products that can penetrate the pores and infuse minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and iodine into the cells.

The ingredient is ideal for all skin types-even sensitive skin benefits from its smoothing properties which also help to neutralize any imbalances. The result: firmer, rejuvenated, and nourished skin.

As Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher put it, “The sea cures all evils.” He knows his stuff, so if seaweed was good enough for Plato, it’s good enough for me.

Here are a sampling of ways to snag seaweed’s beauty benefits for yourself during Spa Week. See the full Spa Directory for all your options.

Manhattan
Susan Ciminelli Day Spa & Salon

• 60 Min Seaweed Body Wrap

Long Island
Epiphany Day Spa

• 60 Min Seaweed Facial with Herbal Exfoliants and Mask for All Skin Types

• 60 Min Seaweed Body Wrap for Cellulite Reduction and Weight Loss

Brooklyn
Art of Natural Beauty Center

• Seaweed Slimming Body Wrap

O Spa

• 60 Min Seaweed Deep Pore Cleansing Facial

• Orange Skye Body & Beauty Bar

• 55 Min Seaweed Facial with Sea Extracts and Essential Oils

Staten Island
Skin Solutions Laser Spa

• 60 Min Seaweed Detoxifying Mud Wrap with Mini Facial

Dallas
The Woodhouse Day Spa- Plano

• 50 Min Seaweed Cellulite Wrap

• The Salon and Spa at Saks Fifth Avenue

• 45 Min Soothing Seaweed Facial

Los Angeles
BEBA Beauty Skin and Body Day Spa

• 50 Min Cellulite Treatment: Detoxifying Seaweed Body Wrap

Arlington, Virginia
Cassianna Spa

• 55 Min Repechage Seaweed Facial

Washington, DC
Nusta Spa

• 80 Min Nusta Spa Signature Pedicure with Seaweed Mask and Paraffin Dip

Martha’s Vineyard
The MV Diet Detox Spa

• 75 Min Natural Cleansing Seaweed Body Wrap

Need a little more information on why you should book your seaweed appointment? Check out our “Seaweed Queen” video, behind the scenes of a Repechage Seaweed Facial, below.

Have you ever been sitting at your desk in the middle of the day, struck with vicious hunger pangs, and all of a sudden remember you left that healthy lunch you took the time out to prepare on the kitchen counter? No one’s perfect, but we have a guest post from one of our Westchester County spas, Intentional Living to help cure some of those healthy eating woes—during Spa Week and beyond.

You are what you eat is an old cliché, but it holds a lot of truth. We passionately encourage you to create the life you want to live, but how can you do that if you don’t have the energy? Food is our fuel and the foundation that gives us the energy needed to do the things that we love. Food is fun. Food is sexy. Choosing wholesome foods and developing a functional love affair with food is an act of self-care and self-love. And who couldn’t use more love!

By this time, most of us have tried so many different diets, supplements and tricks, all which have left us not only fed up (no pun intended) but also with no insights to what gives us the most energy and how to sustain good lifestyle habits. This is why at Intentional Living we strongly believe in nutrition and wellness counseling Our mind, body, and soul approach to food, fitness, and lifestyle teaches you how to achieve optimal vibrant energy so that you can focus on living your best life!

Whether you are looking to use food as medicine, gain knowledge on preventative maintenance, eat and train for optimal sports performance, or change the dietary and lifestyle habits of yourself or your family, nutrition and wellness counseling will change your relationship with food and ultimately, your life.

Our comprehensive guided approach draws on our training in nutrition, fitness, self-mastery, and stress management techniques. You will get a thorough education about food and fitness and the science behind it (not to mention the politics behind it), and how it affects your individual system. There is no one diet and exercise program for everyone, so why not learn about your system and how to achieve optimal energy and performance. Start living your best life with our easy step by step guided approach. I guarantee that you will never feel like you are on “a diet” and this will be your final ride on the food and wellness roller coaster!

Being part of Spa week is an amazing way to arm more people with the knowledge and opportunity to have a love affair with wholesome food! This empowering force will bring out each individual’s inner warrior and allow you to take control and live the life you were meant to live! Call Intentional Living now at 914-414-0078 to take advantage of our $50 Spa Week Nutrition & Wellness Counseling Session. This could be the most important investment you do for you and your family!

For Spa Week readers I wanted to share some delicious, energy-lasting, healing food breakfast recipes that will set your day off on the right foot!

Breakfast Option #1:

Kefir Smoothie:

1-cup plain flavor kefir : a fermented drink high in pro-biotics. Pro-biotics help keep the gut flora flourishing thereby helping you break down your foods for better absorption. For a dairy free & soy free option use coconut milk kefir.

1 cup of fresh berries: High in antioxidants to help fight inflammation

1 TBS of ground flax seeds: highest source of heart healthy Omega-3 fatty acids

1 tsp vanilla

Few cubes of ice

½ TBS of raw honey (optional)

Blend and Enjoy!

Breakfast Option #2:

Sweet Millet with Rice Milk and Almonds-This makes a wonderful breakfast or dessert.

½ cup of Millet: Millet is a gluten-free cooling grain which is good for gastrointestinal irregularities. Millet also balances blood sugar, is high in iron, and has a high amino-acid protein profile.

¼ cup of blanched almonds: Almonds restore, tone, and nurture the body. According to Ayurvedic medicine, almonds relieve constipation, kidney stones, and gallstones. They help strengthen the bones, nerves and reproductive system.

¼ cup fresh blueberries: Great source of anti-oxidant vitamin C. Blueberries help increase good cholesterol levels

1 cup of water

¼ cup vanilla rice milk

Cinnamon to taste: Regulates blood sugar

Rinse millet and strain through a fine-mesh sieve.In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add millet and simmer for about 20 mins. Or, until all water is absorbed. Add the remaining ingredients and gently heat until all ingredients are warm, approx. 2-3 mins.

Convenient Time Saver: Place everything in a travel mug, pour boiling water on top and by the time you get to your destination, it will be ready to enjoy!

There is ALWAYS a convenient way to enjoy good food and great choices!! For more great recipes and lifestyle tips sign up for Intentional Living’s monthly newsletter.