Travel Tuesday: Elephant Massages in Thailand

Typically you get a massage so you can close your eyes and relax. But if you found out your massage therapist weighed well over a ton and lacked opposable thumbs, would you even be able to blink? Don’t get me wrong, I always appreciate a nice big burly massage therapist. But an elephant? In Thailand, elephants are some of the most sought after therapists in the land.

Thai Massage takes on a whole new meaning. They’ve got moves. They pat, push, tickle and perhaps accidentally knead out knots with their feet and trunks.  More often than not, they get a little frisky. Possible grounds for a law suit in America, but in Thailand, we’re just having some big floppy-eared spa-ish fun with the largest land mammal on earth. Who, after all this, definitely deserve some massages themselves.

See demonstrations below.

Would you try an Elephant Massage?

Photo via

Spa Week Media Party Spring 2012 – The Video

You read the recap, you saw the pictures, you peeked inside the goodie bags… now here’s what really went down!

Dance Walking… I’m SO IN!

There’s a raging hot new fitness trend in town, and it is most definitely not underground. Dance Walking: abandoning all sense of shame and grooving down the street like you’re in a music video. What better way to get from point A to point B than fist-pumping it out to Party Rocker or Let’s Get Physical, burning 200 calories instead of 50? Count me in! This is precisely how I maneuvered around Coachella the other weekend, and you can’t imagine my excitement that it now seems to be a relatively acceptable fitness activity on the streets of New York. Stephanie is in too – we’ve been replaying the video all morning, getting exponentially happier every time we watch. We’ll be the girls prancing, pirouetting and dub-stepping down Fifth Avenue to lunch today. And tomorrow. And the next day. WOO!

Thank you Ben Aaron and Nameless Dance Walk Guru Master. You are my heroes.

PS. Ben, you sound exactly like grown-up Smalls, the narrator in The Sandlot.

The Skinny on Colonics

Eggnog, gingerbread men, Hanukkah gelt, seven-course meals… regardless of holiday parties and vacations and pictures for which you’d prefer to not be at your most bloated state, it’s a naughty season. Yes, and this is why Holiday Season is also the season when curious spa-goers call up their local holistic health centers and wonder:

“‘Tis this season for a colonic?”

Such is the case at Fabylous Living in Chelsea, NYC (which you may remember from my ear candling experience) – owner Fabiola Turner’s phone has been ringing off the hook about colonics. What’s it like? Should I be afraid? Will it help me not gain 400 pounds this December? So she picked up the phone and called me - to come in and film so we can show people once and for all what this colonic biz-nass is all about. At Faby’s spa, it’s not just a colonic, but a full pampering experience. It includes massages, hot towels, vibrational therapy, aromatherapy… and – the kicker! – it even includes a coffee and a chlorphyll enema.

The idea behind a colonic is that food enters the intestine and a lot of it doesn’t get flushed out, causing toxins to accumulate, which can result in illness. Especially in today’s world, where we’re breathing polluted air and consuming pesticides, our bodies are overwhelmed trying to get rid of it all. So a little “push” now and then really helps the digestive system do its job better.

 

 

Although some believe a colonic is not necessary or even risky, I’ve done three with great results… so call me a believer! But before you bare your butt, you probably want to know:

First, how does one prepare? Here’s how to prepare for a colonic.

Then, what exactly are those benefits?

THE BENEFITS OF A COLONIC:

First and foremost… the reason I personally love it… That SKINNY FEELING! It’s like, the greatest bowel movement ever X 100, and sometimes it’s exactly what a girl needs. I once did a colonic specifically to de-puff before an event in a tight dress, and it really does wonders as an immediate de-bloater. Also, cleaning your colon can help your body modify its appetite, aiding in long term weight management.

A boost of energy. Colonics allow the nutrients and vitamins to be properly absorbed into the body again. Although sometimes immediately after I’ve heard that many people feel a bit fatigued, all three times I’ve done it I’ve felt energized. Ready to run a mile! Well, maybe a half mile.

Your colon could use some exercise. As Fabiola puts it, if you have a sluggish colon (AKA are constipated often), a colonic gets the muscles moving, making your colon stronger and more effective.

Boosting your immune system. It is believed that a clean colon helps your body fight disease, because instead of focusing on expelling built up toxins in the colon, it fights toxins elsewhere.

Now… you may be wondering about those other liquids that were flushed up into my intestine:

COFFEE AND CHLOROPHYLL ENEMAS

WHY A COFFEE ENEMA? Coffee is known for its many antioxidants, which helps benefit the health of your liver. Caffeine also stimulates your gallbladder to release toxic bile. Here’s a good medical explanation, if you’re looking for more detail.

 

 

WHY A CHLOROPHYLL ENEMA? The green stuff in plants is great for rehydrating the body and soothing the intestinal lining. It removes toxins and is effective in alkalizing your system when it’s too acidic.

 

 

 

So, there you have it. So, after watching the video, do you think you’ll try a colonic to help you feel slimmer this season?

And if you have any questions, don’t be shy to ask me anything! Either in the comments below or you can email me at michelle(at)spaweekmedia(dot)com – I know it’s a touchy subject and I’d love to help you out. Oh, and also, if 4.5 minutes wasn’t enough, check out this Live Spa TV session I did of  my very first colonic.

Fabylous Living – Chelsea
145 West 28th Street, Suite 900
New York, NY 10001
212.279.0558

DECEMBER SPA DEAL: Colonic Therapy and Hot Stone Massage with Organic Oils for new clients for $160, normally $250

Halcyon Days Salon & Spa at Saks

Long before my Spa Week days, I had a gig interning in the Public Relations department at Saks Fifth Avenue. One of my jobs was to help coordinate any filming production that went on in the flagship store, from news segments to movie scenes. (And psst, that was when they were filming the first Sex and The City movie!) While that was fun and all, I’ve never enjoyed a filming at Saks quite as much I did the other week, when I received an hour-long Aromatherapy Massage from Victor at Halcyon Days Salon & Spa, nestled quietly beneath the hubbub of the famous department store.

But before I introduce you to Victor, let me introduce you to the spa. Halcyon, which translates from ancient Greek to “calm, peaceful days”, has some of the most elegant spa destinations in North America, 13 of which are participating in Spa Week this season. The particular one I visited at Saks Fifth Avenue is a sweeping space with an enormous salon, a spa cafe, men’s and women’s locker rooms, a few different lounge areas, and 10 treatment rooms. Beautiful plush blankets, rather than just towels, added a rich touch to the decor and comfort.

Now, Victor: The man was built to give massages. I liked his demeanor, his accent, the cup of orange-flavored water he poured me, and most of all, his big strong HANDS. Using a variety of techniques, Victor kneaded the stress out of me from top to toe. Penetrating deep into my muscles, he dug his fingers into just the right body parts. My neck and my calves were particularly memorable. This aromatherapy session used a variety of different scents. As you see in the video, when it got to my neck and head part, he asked which essential oil I preferred: Chinese Jasmine or Organic Ginger. I chose ginger, which really helped open up my sinuses. It was an outstanding massage that hit all the marks, knots, and shopping kinks.

So, as I found out upon leaving, this particular Halcyon location booked up for Spa Week next week within just a couple days of the $50 Directory launch! (This is not uncommon.) However, they had said they were working on getting more therapists and estheticians in for Spa Week to accommodate more clients! So give them a call and see if anything is open for next week. Seriously.

If you’re located elsewhere, here’s the rundown on the other Halcyon locations:

There are six Halcyon Saks Fifth Avenue locations in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, and Michigan. You can also find Halcyon Days Salon and Spa at Neiman Marcus NorthPark in Dallas, Texas. The company also goes under other aliases: Kiva Day Spa in Chicago, Illinois. Philipes Day Spa & Cosmetique in Indiana, Indianapolis. Essentiels Day Spa in Boulder, Colorado. Charles Grayson Spa & Salon in Charlotte, North Carolina. Stonewater Spa & Boutique in Missouri and Florida.

$50 Spa Week treatment options include:

50 Min Aromatic Well-Being Facial
50 Min Therapeutic Full Body Massage
70 Min Featured Pumpkin Manicure + Pedicure Retreat

The Salon & Spa at Saks Fifth Avenue
611 Fifth Avenue at 50th Street
New York, NY 10022
212.940.4000