Spa and Wellness: Refreshing and Relaxing Tips

Refreshing and Relaxing Tips

Quick ways to take care of your body and hands

This is a TotalBeauty.com health & beauty article Stop and give yourself some love with these expert tips from massage therapists: Laura Meyers from Talisker Spa at Tuhaye and Randi Sharp from the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa. See tricks

Micro-Current Non-Surgical Face Lift at Desert Bloom Skin Care Center

Inside one of Desert Bloom Skincare's treatment rooms


Inside one of the treatment rooms


Some of the products used or offered at Desert Bloom Skincare (I am particularly using the PCA Skincare line that is offered by this skincare center, and I am LOVING all the products.  More about that in a future entry).

I first met Natalya, owner and licensed aesthetician of the Desert Bloom Skincare Center in Scottsdale, in March of this year when I was preparing for a blog and video entry on Spa Week and her services, particulary the Bio-Roller Anti-Aging Facial. Little did I know that the initial visit would lead to a succession of visits to her spa for a series of chemical peeling facials. Natalya was a great aesthetician as she helped my skin heal due to acne scars caused by my out-of-whack hormones. Her bedside manner was excellent, very professional and took care to explain to me every small detail in the procedure, making me feel relaxed during the entire process. The peelings revealed younger, smoother skin that significantly reduced pore size and hyperpigmentation.

This blog entry, however, is not about my chemical peelings, which I shall discuss (and the results thereof) in another post. This time, our focus is another procedure that Natalya is offering for Spa Week this September 13-26, 2010. Spa Week usually runs for only a week, but Natalya decided to extend the $50 deals for another week, for a total of two glorious weeks of $50 treatments at Desert Bloom Spa.

In the video below, Natalya is doing the Micro-Current Non-Surgical Facelift on her model Diane. According to E-zine:

Microcurrent facial toning machines sends safe, painless impulses to the muscles in your face that help overly-tightened muscles to relax and helps under worked muscles to regain strength. In essence, microcurrent facial toning "re-educates" the facial muscles and restores them back almost to their original shape.

When this happens the visible results are quite dramatic and the face is lifted, firmed and toned back to a much more youthful appearance. At the same time, the microcurrents improve circulation to your face which stimulates production of collagen, improves tone and texture, and improves or eliminates fine lines.

See how Natalya does this procedure in the video below:



You can indulge in this facial and other procedures for only $50 during Spa Week and a week after that, from September 16th to 26th, 2010 at Desert Bloom Skincare Center. For more details, check out www.spaweek.com to see the list of participating spas in your area. If you are in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, check out Desert Bloom Spa in Scottsdale. Natalya is a wonderful licensed aesthetician, careful, meticulous and explains procedures thoroughly. Avail of some of their treatments for only $50 during Spa Week.

Sensual Soul Mate

Sensual Soul Mate

See how your sense of touch, taste, sight, sound and smell can help you feel blissed-out

This is a TotalBeauty.com health & beauty article Allan Lokos author of "Pocket Peace" and fragrance expert Dr. Rachel Herz share tips on how to unwind and distress -- using your senses. See tips

Spa Day With My Girls at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Aji Spa

Horsing around (pun not intended) at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort before going to Aji Spa (which is part of the vast resort).

Last Saturday, my girlfriends and I treated ourselves to a full day of pampering and relaxation at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa. It was a wonderful day of girl bonding and indulgence as we celebrated the birthdays of four ladies from our group. I have been to Aji Spa before, Sheraton Wild Horse Pass' exclusive resort spa, but this was the first time that I went with the entire group. It was not only relaxing, but insanely fun as we tried out the different amenities of this exclusive spa. I even did a thorough review of the Aji Spa in a previous entry:

I've had the opportunity to get a little bit closer to understanding a culture that has always been all around me but never got to fully understand. All around where I live is the vast indian reservation, and there is a plush, beautiful spa that sits by the Gila River on the vast and beautiful Sonoran desert, and it is owned and operated by the Pima tribe, a Native American community that has inhabited the region for more than 2,300 years. The Aji Spa features first world amenities and yet it imbibes the spirit of the Pima ancestors, and it is the world's leader in authentic Native American healing treatments. The revenue from spa services goes to the native american community, and all the lotion, potions, scrubs, and other products used in the spa are grown by the Natives themselves, mostly coming from the shigoi plant or chaparral, and from other botanical sources.

First of all, there is nothing shabby about the spa. It is one of the most beautiful spas I have ever seen, and I have seen quite a few. It has a luxurious, spacious women's locker, a beautiful pool and tranquil patio for you to lounge in, a sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and the food is absolutely delectable. All amenities are available upon the purchase of a spa service, and you can stay for as long as you like. I love the fact that all their treatments are patterned after ancient healing techniques from Pima and Maricopa tribe ancestors that were passed on from generation to generation. You really get a piece of Native American history and culture with your visit to this one-of-a-kind spa.

Read the rest of the review and spa experience after the jump

Keys Creek Lavender Farm: Lavender Sleep Balm and Lavender Sugar Cookie Scrub Review

I have to confess, I have trouble falling asleep at night. My mind still runs actively even when it's almost midnight. Since I have to be up early in the morning to go to work, I wake up really sleepy and sluggish. I knew I had to find a solution, but I really don't want to pop some pills just to help me fall asleep. I try to drink a glass of wine every night but I am allergic to alcohol. That is why I tried some aromatherapy. I would burn lavender-scented oil in my room and it makes me very relaxed and ready for bed. I tell you lavender works! I also received some products from Keys Creek Lavender Farm that would also help in my relaxation at night.


Keys Creek Farm Lavender Sleep Balm

I LOVE this sleep balm. I take a deep breath and inhale it from the jar, or I massage some of this on my temples. I love how immediate the effect is. If I am stressed out or tense, using this really helps calm frayed nerves. This is going to be a staple at night for me.

The Shades Of U Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars






Lavender Shortbread Cookie Scrub

This scrub is perfect for relaxing baths or showers before bed. I work out in the evenings and summer here is scorching hot, so it's best to take a quick shower after exercising. I apply this lavender shortbread cookie scrub on my knees, elbows, heels, anywhere with rough spots, to slough dead skin and keep skin nice and supple. I really like the relaxing lavender scent, but it's infused with a nice, subtle sugar cookie scent. It smells great and, of course, the lavender is relaxing.

The Shades Of U rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

You can check out Keys Creek Lavender Farm website for more information about their farm and products. They have an online gift shop where you can browse and buy lavender products like essential oil (great for aromatherapy), massage oil, lavender jelly and all other kinds of lavender by-products. You can also visit the farm as well (located in San Diego county in California) during summer but they also have off-season visit opportunities.

Note: Media samples were provided by a representative of the company.

Get a Chance To Win A Trip To Napa Valley and Spa Services: DOVE® Ice Cream Miniatures Contest

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Dove Ice Cream. All opinions are 100% mine.





I know this is about food but listen: this blog regularly features spas and wellness, and since one of the prizes is about spa services, I reckon this will interest many of my readers! Of course, another one of the prizes is a makeover, so that is so my blog's territory! lol

I like chocolate but I am picky with my candy. I am looking for a particular smooth, velvety texture and rich chocolate flavor. When I first encountered Dove, I would just walk past by rows of the brand at the Target aisle because, honestly, I didn't think it was that good. That was until my aunt offered me some of hers. They were really good, honestly, and I've bought some of their dark chocolate when I would get a craving for such. This time, though, the spotlight is on DOVE® Ice Cream Miniatures. At only 70 calories each, DOVE® Ice Cream Miniatures feature full indulgent ice cream wrapped in real Dove chocolate making them the perfect treat. Try the new decadent Café Collection which features Java Chip and Cappuccino Flavors.



Dove Ice Cream launched the "My Mini Moment" contest contest. DOVE® Ice Cream is asking women to share their favorite mini moment of escape and one lucky winner could win one of 3 sensational mini-grand prizes: a mini-getaway to Napa Valley, Spa services for a year or a mini-home makeover.

CONTEST MECHANICS:

Women need to submit a photo and short essay at DoveIceCream.com/myminimoment by June 7, 2010.

Napa Valley? Spa services? Mini-home makeover? That's what you call indulgence! I'd love to be pampered at the spa for a year for free, and what can be more romantic than a trip to the Napa Valley? In this tough economy, more and more people are stressed out and at their wits' end. “Me-time” is important to the Dove consumers, so DOVE® Ice Cream Miniatures conducted a survey of over 400 mothers and an astonishing 70 percent of these ultimate multi-taskers are taking time for themselves each day. The “My Mini Moment” contest celebrates these cherished moments.

Everyone has their own idea of what their favorite min-escape would be. That’s why DOVE® Ice Cream Miniatures has given you three luxuriously indulgent choices. If you can have the choice to take one of these prizes, which one would you choose? I would probably choose the Napa Valley trip, but darn I'm such a spa nut, so spa services are enticing me as well.

Whichever one you prefer, take a moment to check out the My Mini-Moment contest. Goodluck!

Spa Week Madness: My Bio-Roller Anti-Aging Facial At Desert Bloom Spa

I'd hate to pepper this entry with a lot of text as the video is the highlight of the entire post, and almost everything is there. That said, however, allow me to say that I really had a wonderful, relaxing treatment at the Desert Bloom Spa in Scottsdale. Special thanks to Spa Week Daily for sending me to experience this amazing facial treatment as part of Spa Week Madness. I brought my brother with me who took the video of the procedure and did the editing (thanks bro!). Natalya, owner and licensed aesthetician, was very nice to give me a step-by-step narration of what the Bio-Roller Anti-Aging Facial is. Basically it is a long, heavenly 90-minute treatment that includes cleansing, application of masks, two soothing massages, facial steaming, and the main procedure, the bio roller. It is this contraption with around 300-400 surgical needles that allow the marine collagen ampoule to penetrate deeper into the skin, which is supposed to give deep hydration and elasticity to the skin.

One of the best parts of the 90-minute procedure was the massage. Did you see how she massaged my feet? It was heaven! It really soothed my frazzled nerves and made me feel so relaxed. Her 15-minute facial massage almost made me fall asleep, her hands were so gentle and soothing and just heavenly. The enzyme peeling was very soothing and relaxing that it didn't really feel like a peeling treatment at all. Natalya was very detailed in explaining to me what the bio-roller facial procedure is, what it does to the skin, and what I should expect, so I was very reassured and calm even at the sight of that intimidating roller. When the roller touched the skin, it stung a little bit and was a bit uncomfortable at the scalp area (because the skin is thinner there), but it was nothing to be scared about because it was very tolerable.

After the bio-roller procedure, Natalya slathered some soothing strawberry mask on my skin to cool it down and soothe it from the effects of the bio-roller. It smelled so good that on that particular night, my little boy kissed me and said I smelled like strawberries. =D The plaster mask pushed the concoction deeper into the skin to fully hydrate it.

After the facial, my skin felt very moisturized and supple. It smelled so good and I just felt pampered all over. The Bio Roller Anti-Aging Facial is designed for dryer, more mature skin. If you have oily or younger skin, you can also try the other procedures available at Desert Bloom Spa specifically designed for your skin type.

Remember: You can indulge in this facial and other procedures for only $50 during Spa Week, April 12 to 18, 2010. For more details, check out www.spaweek.com to see the list of participating spas in your area. If you are in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, check out Desert Bloom Spa in Scottsdale. Natalya is a wonderful licensed aesthetician, careful, meticulous and explains procedures thoroughly. Avail of some of their treatments for only $50 during Spa Week.

Desert Bloom Skin Care Center
7110 E Mc Donald Drive suite Bl
Scottsdale AZ 85253
480-567-8180

NOTE: The Bio Roller Anti Aging Facial was a complimentary treatment from Spa Week and Desert Bloom Skin Care Center as part of the Spa Week Madness promo.

Easy Ways To Turn Your Home Into a Spa

Easy Ways To Turn Your Home Into a Spa

Check out these cheap alternatives to fancy, professional services

Can't afford to splurge on laser treatments or a spray tan? These gadgets will give you all of the hottest spa treatments for much, much cheaper! See products

Relaxing DIY Spa Day Idea

Relaxing DIY Spa Day Idea

Take a minute to unwind from the holidays and give your feet a treat

Whether you have five minutes or five hours to relax, you'll love this step-by-step at-home pedicure. It's an easy way to put your feet up (literally) and have a few calm moments to pamper yourself and reflect on all the fun you (hopefully) had this holiday season. See step-by-step

Alternatives to Beauty Salon and Spa Treatments

Alternatives to Beauty Salon and Spa Treatments

Find out how you can get professional-level results at home

Who has the money or the time to head to the spa or beauty salon these days? Not us. That's why we searched around for gadgets and products that would give us spa-worthy results at home. Check them out and be on your way to better skin and hair, without making a huge dent in your bank account. See gadgets

Spa Week's Best Deals for March

SPA WEEK Spring 2009!

What: The biannual event you’ve been waiting for! Spa Week is coming to a city near you. Enjoy luxurious treatments for just $50! Participating spas and treatments have been posted and spas have started taking appointments.

How: Visit Spa Week to see a list of markets, participating spas and treatments.

Why: The health and wellness lifestyle shouldn’t just be for the wealthy but for everyone in need of some pampering!

Allure Magazine’s Beauty Insiders’ Giveaway

What: Heroes of the beauty industry like Chris McMillan and Pat McGrath reveal their secret beauty weapons. Allure and Spa Week have partnered to let you have a chance to win these fabulous products and tools!

How: Visit Spa Week to enter a chance to win Dermatologist Patricia Wexler’s anti-aging line, Garren’s favorite dual-barrel curling iron and other secret weapons of the beauty masters.

Why: Wonder Woman had her cuffs, Super Girl had her cape – what’s your secret weapon?


Win a $1000 Spa Week Gift Card

What: In conjunction with our Spring event we’re giving away a $1000 Spa Week gift card to one lucky grand prize winner. Five 1st Prize winners will receive a $100 gift card.

How: Go to Spa Week, enter your information and pass the message along to 5 friends. When they register, your name will go into a drawing to win the Grand Prize.

Why: Good health is infectious and we want to reward you for sharing it!

Ingrid Millet Sweepstakes

What: Skin care expert, Ingrid Millet has partnered with Spa Week to give away a top of the line 30 Day Travel Kit. The products achieve a botox-life effect – sans needle.

How: Enter for your chance to be one of 50 winners at Spa Week.

Why: Just because you’re traveling, doesn’t mean you should sacrifice beauty.

Win Manolos or Vibrant Vino!

What: Spa Week and Rioja wine are bringing you the ultimate in female fantasies: a chance to wine a pair of Manolo Blahniks or a case of delicious red wine.

How: Log on to Spa Week to enter one of these prizes. It’s a win-win!

Why: Free Manolos or free red wine. ‘Nuff said.

Spa Week's Best Month Ever

In this economy, who doesn't want freebies? Check out some fabulous giveaways from Spa Week's sponsors:

ALLURE Giveaway

What: For the entire month of January on SpaWeek.org, Allure is giving away 739 free haircuts and hair color appointments, makeup applications, and personal training sessions. Yes you heard us right – you have the chance to be beautified by the experts over at Allure!

How: Log onto http://www.spaweek.org/content/promo/allure09. Every weekday in the month of January is your chance to win, so enter and cross those fingers. Yes, you heard us right! Make sure to log on everyday to increase your chances.

Why: Because it is every girl’s dream to win a free makeover, and with so many being given away this month the odds are in your favor. We don’t even need to wish you luck!

THE ULTIMATE DAY OF BEAUTY Giveaway for You and Your Bridal Party

What: SpaWeek.org and WeddingChannel.com have teamed up with Red Door Spas and are offering one lucky bride and up to five of her bridesmaids the “Bridal Bouquet Package” to be used at a Red Door Spa. The package includes: massage, bikini wax, mani pedi, haircut, and spa lunch for the gorgeous bride and each of her beautiful maids.

How: Visit http://www.spaweek.org/content/promo/reddoor and enter to win. There is only one entry per email address so make sure the entire wedding party enters!

Why: Because remember when you participated in “Running of the Brides,” and almost broke an ankle? This is way easier!

JANE IREDALE sweepstakes

What: It's Jane Iredale's Zap&Hide, a double-ended blemish treatment stick with antiseptic botanicals. The perfect combination of all-natural Tea Tree Leaf and Lavender oils, plus Algae and Buckwheat Seed extracts.

How: Visit http://www.spaweek.org/content/promo/jane/ and enter to be one of ten lucky winners who will receive the Zap&Hide Blemish Concealer.

Why: You no longer have to worry about randomly running into your ex-boyfriend on a blemish day, because the blemish stick has you covered. Whew!

Everything Bridal

With the New Year come new features on Spa Week’s Everything Bridal section. Be sure to check out the new content from our partners at WeddingChannel.com. From an “ultimate bridal beauty checklist” to the most luxurious spa treatments for you and your groom, visit http://www.spaweek.org/content/bridal for your entire pre wedding and honeymoon planning guide.

With LA Magazine:

Screw getting the same old sappy card and stale chocolates in a heart shaped box for Valentine’s Day. You can win a romantic getaway for two brought to by Spa Week and Los Angeles Magazine. Log on to: http://www.spaweek.com/content/promo/lamag/ and enter for a chance to win the Sweetheart Spa Sweepstakes! The grand prize winner gets Valentine’s Day night at the Ritz Carlton, Marina Del Ray, CA, and dinner for two at Jer-Ne restaurant, plus a 50min couples massage. Your boyfriend will stop complaining about this holiday if he is getting scrubbed and rubbed for FREE!

So what are you waiting for…lightning to strike? Good luck!

Aji Spa: Indulging the Native American Spirit

The Pima Legend of BlueBird and Coyote

A long time ago the Bluebird's feathers were a very dull ugly color. It lived near a lake with waters of the most delicate blue, which never changed because no stream flowed in or out. Because the bird admired the blue water, it bathed in the lake four times every morning for four days, and ever morning it sang:

There's a blue water.
It lies there.
I went in.
I am all blue.

On the fourth morning, it shed all its feathers and came out in its bare skin, but on the fifth morning it came out with blue feathers.

All the while, Coyote had been watching the bird. He wanted to jump in and catch it for his dinner, but he was afraid of the blue water. But on the fifth morning he said to the Bluebird: "How is it that all your ugly color has come out of your feathers, and now you are all blue and sprightly and beautiful? You are more beautiful than anything that flies in the air. I want to be blue too."

"I went in only four times," replied the Bluebird.
It then taught the Coyote the song it had sung.

And so the Coyote steeled his courage and jumped into the lake. For four mornings he did, singing the song the Bluebird had taught him, and on the fifth day he turned as blue as the bird.

That made the Coyote very proud. He was so proud to be a blue coyote that when he walked along he looked about on every side to see if anyone was noticing how fine and blue he was.

Then he started running along very fast, looking at his shadow to see if it was also blue. He was not watching the road, and presently he ran into a stump so hard that it threw him down upon the ground and he became dust-colored all over. And to this day all coyotes are the color of the dusty earth.

I've always been fascinated with different cultures and how they view the universe and the entire order of things, and how they shape their inhabitants' thinking as to how to revert to the natural order of the cosmos should there be disorder of some kind. It may be the Philosophy major in me that piques my curiosity about different civilizations and cultures. Yesterday, I've had the opportunity to get a little bit closer to understanding a culture that has always been all around me but never got to fully understand. All around where I live is the vast indian reservation, and there is a plush, beautiful spa that sits by the Gila River on the vast and beautiful Sonoran desert, and it is owned and operated by the Pima tribe, a Native American community that has inhabited the region for more than 2,300 years. The Aji Spa features first world amenities and yet it imbibes the spirit of the Pima ancestors, and it is the world's leader in authentic Native American healing treatments. The revenue from spa services goes to the native american community, and all the lotion, potions, scrubs, and other products used in the spa are grown by the Natives themselves, mostly coming from the shigoi plant or chaparral, and from other botanical sources.

First of all, there is nothing shabby about the spa. It is one of the most beautiful spas I have ever seen, and I have seen quite a few. It has a luxurious, spacious women's locker, a beautiful pool and tranquil patio for you to lounge in, a sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and the food is absolutely delectable. All amenities are available upon the purchase of a spa service, and you can stay for as long as you like. I love the fact that all their treatments are patterned after ancient healing techniques from Pima and Maricopa tribe ancestors that were passed on from generation to generation. You really get a piece of Native American history and culture with your visit to this one-of-a-kind spa. The story of the Bluebird and Coyote is an ancient Pima legend that has been passed down to descendants, and now it is the central theme of the spa's signature treatment, the Bahn or Blue Coyote Wrap. It is an 80-minute treatment that is described as follows:

Derived from the Pima legend of the Bluebird and the Coyote, this treatment begins with a dry brush exfoliation to promote circulation and an application of Azulene mud, which would soothe, nourish, and heal the skin. Symbolic of Coyote's coat turning the beautiful color of the Bluebird, our proprietary Azulene mud is applied to the body. Unlike the prideful Coyote, as the blue is removed, your skin will feel more radiant, soft, and beautiful. The entire experience is completed with a hydrating cedar/sage oil full body massage.

Whew. That description is making me weak in the knees.

Yesterday was Aji Spa's Cultural Awakening event, a by invitation only event that featured a whole ensemble of activities to introduce the uninitiated to the culture and healing techniques of the Pima and Maricopa indians. The event was open to existing clientele of the spa, but the entire event was free, from the treatments to the hors d'oeurves to the cocktails. The event started with a meditation and sage burning, followed by a heartfelt blessing ceremony from a Pima elder who uttered the blessing in his native tongue. Thereafter, we got different treatments for free that spanned around 15 minutes each, just for us to experience a taste of authentic Native American healing techniques.


I first tried the Shegoi Foot Soak and Rub that featured an indigenous herbal plant called shegoi in the Native American tongue, otherwise known as chaparral. You can see the scrub on the left side of the photo.


The attendant proceeds to apply the scrub on my skin


Then the heavenly part begins - the foot massage!

We also got to do a tour of the river where we saw the different plants used by the Pima tribe that are processed into herbal medicine and products for the spa like massage oil and lotions.




Our guide was a young Native American who is a university graduate.

I wasn't able to take a picture of the other treatments I tried, but I had the Pima Medicine Scalp and Neck massage (amazing!), the Chair and Indigenous Hand Massage, and the Indigenous Hand Scrub featuring salt personally gathered by the Pima Indians from the Gulf of Mexico, as was told to me by my attendant. There was also Spiritual Reading by a Native American spiritual leader, but I wasn't able to try it for lack of time.



The spa made sure that we were satisfied not only with our treatments, but with the food as well. They had this amazing spread that was such a gastronomic delight - So. Freakin'. Good. I especially loved the ahi tuna lollipops, the eggplant quiches, the exotic cheese tray, and and a lot more that I forget. Imagine eating all these grub for free, chased down with mojitos and the most amazing smoothie I have ever tried - the Green Tea and Wasabi smoothie. Yes, you read that right. It was refreshingly sweet but as soon as you swallow the concoction, the familiar zing of wasabi tingles at the back of your throat - and it was surprisingly good (and addictive!).




The ahi tuna lollipops - melt-in-your-mouth goodness






My meat plate with various condiments (loved the pesto)


meat platter


shrimp cocktail and strawberry-flavored dessert


You get to enjoy the tranquil scenery as you sip your mojito....






....while getting lulled by the lone, soothing sound of the Native American flute serenading you.


As if all those weren't enough, my friend and I got to leave with a gift bag from the spa worth $80!

My friend and I loved our day at the spa not only because of the relaxing treatments and cocktails (what is better than lounging in a luxurious environment sipping cocktails and eating hors d'oeurves on a Sunday afternoon?), but we also got a deeper understanding of another culture totally different from ours. I've developed a new found respect for the Gila River Indian community. I am in awe of how they remain sovereign and yet work hard for the future of their tribe and its descendants. It's also refreshing to patronize a spa whose revenue does not go to the coffers of an impersonal, abstract corporation, but actually sustains the existence of an entire community.

Spa Week Is Back

I am the ultimate spa girl, and it's not yet too late to take advantage of this amazing offer!

Spa week?? What does this mean?

What: $50 full service spa treatments at over 600 spas across North America!
When: On the West Coast – September 15th-21st! In the Mid-West and on the East Coast – October 13th-19th! Appointments fill up quick. You can book now for both Spa Week events!
How: Visit http://www.spaweek.org to see a full list of participants and the treatments they are offering.
Why: So you can get the girls together and plan that much needed trip to the spa!

Millions of consumers across North America, twice a year, carve a little time out of their hectic schedules and think about their own mental and physical wellbeing thanks to Spa Week. The Spa Week Spring and Fall Events, with their signature $50 treatments, allow people with a minimal amount of expendable income to enjoy a well needed massage or other spa treatment. This simple premise of a discounted treatment has opened up the once elitist spa industry to the masses—morphing the once cost-conscious consumer into a regular spa goer.

The Fall Spa Week Event will bring $50 spa treatments to consumers at over 750 spas across the United States and Canada . As always, the goal is to introduce a new generation of consumers to the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and to open up the spa industry to the masses. Spa Week’s goal is to make “wellness” more than just a word--we intend to make it a reality. By educating consumers to the health benefits of the “spa lifestyle,” Spa Week is taking a leadership position in the campaign to change the unhealthy course the country is navigating.

Spa Week is slated for September 15th-21st on the West Coast, including Arizona, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, and October 13th-19th for the balance of the country including New York, New Jersey, Denver, Detroit, Minnesota, Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington D.C., Dallas, Austin, Chicago, Atlanta, Florida and Toronto, Canada. In total, the fall event will include 22 markets. A list of participating spas will be posted on www.spaweek.org.

Spa Week was created and founded by Cheryl Reid, who hails from successful careers within the luxury spa industry and publishing spheres. For 2008, Spa Week is proud and excited to announce the inclusion of jane iredale The Skincare Makeup as its Title Sponsor and Allure Magazine as its exclusive National Media Sponsor.

This years Spa Week Sponsors include: Jane Iredale, Lancaster, Canyon Ranch Resort, LaBelle Water, The Wedding Channel, Sephora, CEW, Goldstar and Loft 11. As always, a portion of Spa Week proceeds benefits Cancer and Careers (http://www.cancerandcareers.org), a non-profit organization for working women with cancer. For more information, visit http://www.spaweek.org or call Jenna at (212) 352-8098.