By Jessica Lapidos, reporting from her Czech Republic spa and wellness adventure with the EuroSpaClub, compliments of Czech Tourism

We’ve found it. We’ve discovered thee place, the steal, the ideal spa vacation location. It’s in a spa city called Marianske Lazne, aka Marienbad, and the Maria Spa is the spot. This resort, which is actually three in one – Danubius Health Spa Resport Nove Lazne and Centralni Lazne are connected to Maria Spa – is sprawling, centuries old, rich in history, and recently restored. The treatments are unique to the land; the natural resources are sourced locally. It is luxurious and medicinal at the same time. Let me explain. (more…)

By Jessica Lapidos, reporting from her Czech Republic spa and wellness adventure with the EuroSpaClub, compliments of Czech Tourism

Here at Spa Week Daily, we love our Hot Mom Spa Squad. They love the spa, and presumably, their kids. But for those having biological trouble joining any sort of Mom Squad, we’ve found a place that can help. This place happens to be rather beautiful.

The Czech Spa Triangle of Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad), Marianske Lazne (Marienbad), and Frantiskovy Lazne (Franzensbad), encompasses a stretch of land ripe with natural sources of carbonic mineral water. The spas in this region are maintained by doctors that, in addition to modern medicine, are well studied in baleontology and geology. They understand the mineral content of the various waters that dwell in springs miles beneath the earth’s surface, and their effects on the human body.

In Frantiskovy Lazne, this water has naturally transformed into moor, a type of mud in which minerals from the carbonic water mixed with paleolithic plant matter that existed in the days even before the dinosaur. Over time, it essentially created a pre-historic reduction that possesses a type of positive radiation that helps the body cure itself.

What does this mean for mommies in waiting? Well, see, the process of this fertility treatment come in the form of a tampon-like structure, which inserts the moor mud directly into the vagina. This mud is heavy with FeS2 (pyrite) which when oxidized reduces the pH of moor to 1.6 and promotes natural bacteria and flora growth. This controls and corrects the pH of the vagina, which is typically a source of sterility.

Czech it: they’ve been practicing this therapy since 1827. Before that, the moor mud was used for locomotive problems, but during the early stages of application, they discovered its utility for feminine issues. Not only does it help correct infertility, but it is a PID treatment for any serious vaginal inflammation, and used after bladder and gynecological operations, among other benefits.

This treatment doesn’t just take effect overnight. You really need four weeks for the cure to work; three weeks of treatment, one week of period hiatus. Many treatments are based on a Dr.’s prescription (examination upon arrival, anyway).

The heat of the moor mud is of utmost importance. It stays warm throughout the entire procedure. What really differentiates the mud from the water treatment is heat; 43º C mud feels like 39º water. Water gets too hot to endure at 42º The moor also retains the heat during the procedure, as it helps to vaso-dialate the veins and improve circulation. It also helps to keep Aunt Flow in line.

We stayed at the four star Hotel Pawlik-Isis, where they have the super family-friendly Aquaforum (and the extremely hot-staffed Fitforum). The Aquaforum is a sprawling swim club with a giant pool, fountains, whirlpool and grotto inside, and a huge pool with a water-park-grade water slide outside. Only these pools are filled with mineral water, so it’s healing to swim.

The Imperial Hotel, also four stars, is more focused on on the medical treatment of infertility. It is there we met with Dr. Jarisoslav Kozma, the gynecologist who introduced us to these fertility treatments and answered our questions about them.

You may be wondering how in the world you’re going to get to these (not-so) remote towns in the Czech Republic (and afford to stay a whole month). Highly understandable question: Which is why the EuroSpaClub is working with Czech Tourism to bring you package deals. Some spas already offer such prices as $415 (EUR 300) per person/week, with room, meals and 3 treatment per day included!

If fertility is not an issue for you, Czech It Out Karlovy Vary, Marianske Lazne (which I’ll be telling you all about shortly!), and other cities have a cure suited just for you.

Drink more water, less coffee, eat more veggies, less sweets, quit smoking, get more sleep, lose 12 pounds, wear SPF, exercise frequently, find inner balance, go to the spa as much as possible… YOU CAN DO THIS! These are YOUR goals, and this is YOUR year to be the healthiest you ever.

As the finale of our Like Us And We’ll <3 You Back month-long February giveaway series, you entered to win a wellness adventure: Two VIP Tickets to the Dr. Oz Show including a backstage meet and greet with Dr. Oz, along with a $500 spa day for two at the luxurious Spa Merge in midtown Manhattan. To enter, you had to fill in the blank:

“My #1 health and wellness goal for this year is _________.”

Click HERE to see all your answers of health and wellness goals; they are quite inspiring.  One particular goal stood out among them, and it ties back to the whole theme of the month—heart health. Congratulations to Michelle Giorgi, who has put herself through schooling in the name of lower blood pressure and cholesterol for herself, her daughter and her husband. Check out her answer:

“Here’s to living a long, healthful and prosperous life everyone!” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

You may also remember that part of “loving you back” this February meant that for every new Like we got on Facebook since the promotion started, Spa Week is donating 25 cents to the American Heart Association. We started out with 25,066, and as I write this post we have 30,466, bringing the total number of new likes to exactly 5400.

Final amount: Spa Week is donating $1,350 to the American Heart Association, thanks to YOU!

Now go treat yourself to a massage, that’s one of the most effective (and enjoyable!) ways to stave off high blood pressure and the dangerous risks associated with it.

Sadly, it’s more common for a New Yorker to wait in the 45 minute line at Shake Shack for that cheeseburger above, than to take a 45 minute stroll in the park after said cheeseburger to burn off the calories. Right? Don’t worry, I’m just as guilty.

If you call New York City home and get a kick out of  cool spa trends or mid day Pilates, then you should check out one of my favorite sites: it’s witty, it’s wise, and it’s all well and good. Founded by superstar journalists Alexia Brue and Melisse Gelula, Well+GoodNYC is your virtual ticket to insider scoop on health, beauty, fitness, and living well in the city that never sleeps.

The duo just released their second annual wellness trend report, and they’re totally on point for 2011. After a year of interviews conducted with the city’s wellness experts, they evaluated what was simply a fad and what is here to stay. From non-toxic NY spas to the new “Vegan Vogue” sweeping the Big Organic Apple… they’ve got the scoop. Click below for the list:

Keep up the great work, ladies! On behalf of Spa Week, I thank you for making New York a good-er place to live.

Founders of Well+GoodNYC, Alexia Brue and Melisse Gelula

The lymphatic system is probably not one you give much thought to – but you should! The lymphatic system helps clear excess fluid from the cells and distributes powerful immune cells which work 24/7 to ward off viruses and bacteria that want to make you sick. But  did you know you can get a spa treatment to help your lymphatic system work optimally? It’s called electro-lymphatic drainage, and here are the details!

What: The treatment uses gentle electric currents, massage, and heat to increase circulation and stimulation along the body’s lympathic pathways. ELD treatment is said to boost immunity, relax the whole body and mind, reduce pain, even skin tone, and increase energy.

Who: People suffering from chronic pain, conditions that can cause chronic pain like shingles, and lymphedema (painful swelling) are proven to have the best (and quickest) results from ELD therapy. But anyone can benefit from the feeling of whole cleanliness, inside and out, that the treatment can provide!

When: Give ELD a try for just $50 during Spa Week, April 12th-18th.

Where: Bruno Salon & Spa in Brooklyn is offering 55 minutes of ELD during the Spa Week event. Give it a try! You just might find yourself hooked!