People often ask us if spa therapies really work. There is an important new resource for everyone to use that consolidates independent scientific research studies from around the world for the many of the therapies provided in spas. This was compiled by medical doctors.

Here are just 5 ways that going to the spa can help you achieve your wellness goals. (To learn more, check out the Global Spa Summit’s Evidence-Based Portal for Spa & Wellness Therapies

More energy: An aromatherapy massage offered more relief than a massage by itself, according to Japanese researchers. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18637761)

Better endurance: A recent study (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16877041) concluded that three weeks of sauna bathing after exercise improved endurance runners’ performance, increasing plasma and red cell blood volume.

Stress relief: Research at University of California (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21035949) found that meditation fosters positive psychological change – while helping to increase telomerase activity, an indicator of longer-term cell viability.

Enhanced blood sugar control: Qi gong relaxation exercises improve glucose metabolism and help reduce insulin resistance, according to research findings (http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/25/1/241.long) in Japan.

A better diet: Getting nutritional counseling can help bring real improvements to one’s eating habits.  (http://www.globalspasummit.org/index.php/spaevidence#/nutritional-counseling).
Give your health a boost and book a spa day today.

“Joining a team with such vibrance, strength and uplifting morale really created a kind of collective positive energy, where all our talents and focused energy has ensured a successful opening and propelled us on an upward journey — a great experience that is only getting better!” she says.

The hotel’s historic setting has contributed to the team’s energy, she says. “The hotel itself has a soul of its own, with the energy and history of bygone days, filled with glamour and excitement as a place to see and be seen and the social heart of Shanghai,” she says. “With its central location on the Bund, the Fairmont Peace hotel still holds a special place in the hearts of the people of Shanghai and China. It remains totally accessible to all levels of society, a gathering place and a constant amongst an ever-evolving and dynamic cityscape.

How to tap into the energy flow

If you’re planning to visit the spa and want to energize yourself, Nelis recommends trying something a little different from your usual routine—maybe something you’ve never done before. “This creates a change and a shift in energy,” she says.

Her recommendation? “A morning Tai Chi class on the rooftop of the famed Peace Hotel, followed by our Sun and Moon massage, done with yin-yang shaped stones,” she suggests.

In the 60-minute Transcendent Tai Chi class, she explains, “holistic health is improved through low-impact exercise. The internal art of Tai Chi works on the physical, mental and spiritual dimensions of our being.” Gentle turning and stretching, combined with focusing the mind on movement, brings about calmness and peace of mind, she adds.
“We believe that to find your supreme energy surrounded by an awe-inspiring view on the rooftop of the famed Fairmont Peace Hotel is the ultimate Shanghai experience!” she says.

How does Nelis stay energized personally? “A really long run always makes me feel fantastic— even better if it’s outdoors close to nature!” she says. Decluttering also helps. “Clearing out my space — wardrobe, work desk, email inbox, outdated thoughts — really makes me feel lightweight with renewed energy — free of clutter!” she says.
Looking one’s best can also be an energy booster, she adds. “My beauty must-haves are Kerstin Florian International’s Neroli water spritzer and Jane Iredale’s Sugar & Butter Lip Scrub/Gloss,” she confides. “A hint of color always makes me feel brighter! Both are compact and effective— no fuss instant energizers!”

It’s not your imagination that it’s good for you to reconnect.  Beyond the fun of laughing together, having a strong social network helps reduce the effects of stress on our heart-health and immune system, according to numerous medical studies.

Staying close to friends also seems to make a difference in achieving yours goals. Participants in one recent experiment estimated that it would be easier to climb a hill when friends were around them than others who were alone, The Journal of Experimental Social Psychology reported.

Are you someone who’s so busy that you find that  months go by before you can see your friends? Here are some tips on keeping in touch.

Do it now! Don’t let another year go by without reconnecting with those friends who you’ve been meaning to see. You don’t have to wait until you have time to make a long overdue phone call to get on each other’s calendars. We’re in the digital age, after all. Send an email or jump on Facebook to make plans. It’ll take five minutes to send a message. You can do the real catching up when you’re together.

Make it special. Sometimes it’s hard to really catch up if you’re squeezing in coffee or dinner between the other items on your daily agenda. If that’s the case for you, why not book a Spa’rty at Willow Stream Spas? You and three or more friends will have a chance to unwind in a specially reserved area of the spa, enjoy invigorating spa treatments, and share a free Lifestyle Cuisine lunch in our Spa Bento Box. Participants also get a free spa gift and 20% off of retail purchases over $100.

Make it a regular thing. The best way to make sure you keep in touch is to set a date for getting together. Before you part ways with your friends, choose a day that you can all get together in the next quarter or next year.  By making your gatherings part of the rhythm of your life, you’ll find it much easier to enjoy the fun of  your friendships in an ongoing basis..

To help, Paul Hawco, spa director at the Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Pacific Rim, recently gave us a mini-course on some of the most popular massages available at Willow Stream Spas.

Relief, Unlimited: For those who want to keep active – whether it is by cycling, running, or hiking – and suffer aches and pains, the Stay Active Relief Massage can be a great resource. “It uses a systemic approach, focused on treating the body as a whole,” says Hawco. Targeting parts of the body such as the back and hips with this massage every week or two can help you stay pain free – or at least cut down on pain relievers, he says

Stress, begone!: It’s hard to avoid stress if you lead a busy life. That doesn’t mean you have to live with feeling stressed out. The Stress Relief Massage is one of the most popular offerings at Willow Stream Spas, says Hawco. Targeting areas such as your hips, glutes, back, lower back, neck and scalp, this massage with a therapeutic oil is great for loosening up. And you’ll smell great afterward!

Reward yourself: Have you achieved one of your fitness goals? Instead of rewarding yourself with chocolate, try the Hot Stone Massage. The stones are warmed and used along with hands and touch in the massage for a firm, but still relaxing experience.

No matter what type of massage you choose, don’t rush it. If you only have 60 minutes for your massage, you can get plenty of stress-relief, says Hawco, but, he adds, many people are expanding their massages to 90 minutes, for even deeper relaxation. “90 is the new 60,” he says.

Even if you’ve found a massage you love, keep your spa visits interesting by experimenting with different types of massages. “You can’t go wrong with any massage,” says Hawco. “If you’re entering a massage room, you’re in good hands.”

2. Eliminate toxins. Start your visit in the spa’s personal training center, energizing your body with a class you like – from Latin dance to yoga. Then spend 10 minutes in the steam room, followed by a quick dip in the Swiss shower for a cold rinse. Next, spend 10 minutes in the Jacuzzi, followed by another dip in the Swiss shower. “The exchange of temperatures with plenty of hydration helps our body to eliminate toxins,” says Flandes.

3. Relax. Recover your body temperature and relax with our Chamomile Willow Stream Tea, she suggests. Follow up with a light bento box lunch in the spa’s Serenity area – then take a dip on one of the spa’s two pools or the ocean.

4. Take it home. Stop by the spa boutique for personal recommendations on how to continue to restore your well being when you get back into your daily routine. It will help you to stay open to the unexpected pleasures in your life that are so easy to miss when you’re rushing.

These may be signs that you would benefit from a session with a fitness expert. Fitness experts at Willow Stream Spas are prepared to evaluate your fitness level and fine tune your routine so you can achieve the goals you have set for your workout – whether you’d like to play a better game of golf or get rid of chronic pain.

“You don’t need to be an athlete to be rehabilitated,” says Kirstie Bolitho, spa director at the Willow Stream Spa at The Fairmont Turnberry Isle in Florida. “You could be a woman who wears heels or someone who sits at the computer too long with your shoulders too high.”

To get the most out of your work with a fitness expert, you may want to start with a diagnostic test to get to the root of any fitness-related problems you are experiencing, says Bolitho. “If you’re a runner, we’ll watch you run,” says Bolitho. “We’ll put you in an anti-gravity treadmill, so we can watch your form and see if you’re planting your heels properly.”

Once a trainer identifies the sources of any problems you are experiencing, he or she can help you to develop a routine that works. “The fitness experts we have are phenomenal at tailoring to each guest,” says Bolitho. It’s not uncommon for a fitness expert at Bolitho’s spa to go from working with an NFL athlete to a business person staying at The Fairmont Hotel, she says. Nonetheless, rates for packages remain affordable.

Willow Stream Spas work with fitness experts who have many different approaches, so it’s important to express your needs. “If you’re looking for a fitness expert, you’ll want to find out what their philosophy is,” says Paul Hawco, spa director at the Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver. Some may favor indoor workouts, while others may be more oriented toward harnessing the natural environment as they help you to plan your fitness routine, he notes.

Once you find the right fitness expert, the rewards can be phenomenal, says Bolitho. Bolitho recalls one client who came to the spa very skeptical that personal training would help her. One session with a fitness expert changed that, as the client got to experience how great it felt for her body to work well for the first time in years, say Bolitho. “She completely broke down and cried,” says Bolitho. “She said she never felt this way in her life.”

The Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess hotel makes it easy for spa goers to transform their outlook with a beautifully designed environment that is regionally authentic and local. Among the 27 treatment rooms, more than half open onto a garden patio, says director Brennan Evans. If you book a massage or facial, you may be surprised to find yourself stepping into an environment reminiscent of the Grand Canyon’s Waterfalls of Havasupai, with a rooftop pool that trickles down to a striking waterfall and the surroundings made from natural rust and beige limestone, authentic to the region. If you have time to stick around after your treatment, you can don your bathing suit, step into a Jacuzzi-temperature pool and let the water cascade off of your shoulders.

“You really feel like you’re coming to a true oasis and canyon experience,” Evans says. “You can come for your 60 minute massage, but you can also literally spend five hours here.” If you get hungry, you can nibble on fruit, muffins, and cookies or drink fresh juices that are available throughout the day.

It’s not just the setting that can help you energize yourself. The spa offers some unique services that keep visitors coming back, says Evans. For instance, if you’re a golfer, there’s a Golf Performance Treatment, designed to help you improve your range of motion with acupressure and massage. “Flexibility and range of motion are key things that many golfers don’t take into account,” he says. “It gives you techniques that you can think about and use once you’re away from here.”

Another popular service is the Balanced Body Experience, a 90-minute, full-body relaxation massage and treatment that includes an exfoliating foot bath and oatmeal body scrub. “You get a little bit of everything,” says Evans.

With many busy professionals doing the jobs of two or three people these days, taking a break to recharge has become more of a necessity than a luxury, says Evans. “It goes a long way to simply take a couple of hours out of your day,” he says. “It’s going to make you more productive in the long run.” Getting a massage or treatment in a spectacular setting can make it both energizing and unforgettable.

As a result, it can take some experimenting to figure out how to get the most from your spa visits, he says. “Think of it as a lifelong process that’s fun and interesting,” he says.

Here is his advice for spa goers on how to deepen their relaxation and leave feeling energized.

Keep an open mind. Try treatments you’ve never experienced before to see what works for you and what doesn’t, Dr. Cilona says. “Think of finding new ways to boost your energy and relax as being an infinite puzzle. Seek out new pieces and see if they fit for you.”

Plan ahead. Spend a little time trying to anticipate work and personal concerns that are likely to arise during your spa visit. Address what you can ahead of time and plan how you will deal with matters that you postpone until your return, Dr. Cilona advises. You’ll be able to relax more if you don’t arrive at the spa worried about loose ends. “Most people are willing to invest a large amount of time into the practicalities of trip planning like plane fares and location choice, but few will invest even a fraction of that time into a bit of planning to get the most out of their time away,” says Dr. Cilona.

Put yourself on an e-mail diet. “Set specific limits on things like checking emails and making phone calls (such as 30 minutes a day) and stick to them!” says Dr. Cilona. “A spa visit is a special time devoted to yourself, relaxing, recharging, pampering and enjoying being free from the stresses and demands of everyday life. Try to view the costs as investment – in yourself – and maximize your `return on investment’ as much as you can.” If you are visiting a spa with a friend or partner, help each other stick to your limits. “Sometimes, being accountable to someone else or a gentle reminder can help you stay focused on your goal of getting the most you can out of your visit,” he says.

Write it down. “A simple yet powerful tool to stay connected with the benefits of a great spa experience is keeping a daily journal of your stay,” says Dr. Cilona. “Write a few descriptive sentences about the beautiful environment, how you felt after a fantastic massage, the great people you met or anything that brought you joy, comfort and peace.”

Prolong your energy buzz. If you create a personal journal or album of your stay, don’t tuck it away. “Revisit all your entries and the images to bring yourself back to the time you spent there and the luxuries you experienced,” he says.

You’ve seen it on Dancing with the Stars and if you wander into one of the new dance clubs in just about any city in the country, you’ll see salsa up close and personal.

And you can join in if you spend a few hours learning how. Right now thousands of people every day are signing up for Ballroom dancing, learning everything from waltz to tango with salsa being the overwhelming favorite.

Salsa is mesmerizing with its colors, characters, flashy outfits, and smooth moves. It’s quite beautiful and very emotional. Many dance teachers tell us that salsa is almost pure emotion; if you listen to the music, feel the beat, react to the rhythm, and let yourself go, you’ll get it.

Salsa bursts with energy and just about any style with spins, upper body rolls, and leg and arm movements will work just fine. It’s a great way to keep fit and you’ll see why as soon as you go to a club. Salsa’s almost addictive; it’ll keep you on the floor all night long. It’s a workout.

And, as you might expect, it’s also social, a great way to spend an evening with friends, meet new ones and have fun burning calories.
The last time we Googled “Salsa Dance Lessons” there were almost 48,000,000 results, including some hot videos.

These words won’t really help you understand the amazing feeling you’ll have as you step out of the spa. But, you might want to know exactly what happens, so here is the order of the treatment (we call them protocols):

• • As you relax on the spa treatment table, your therapist applies a Spirulina Body Masque, leaving your face untouched. You will then be wrapped comfortably in a thermoplastic blanket covered with hot towels for 20 minutes while your body absorbs the protein, vitamins and minerals of the spirulina …
• … and enjoying a delicate facial treatment. A moist masque brush applies a cool Thalassotherapy Spirulina Face Masque. (For very sensitive skin, this facial includes Thermal Mineral Remineralizing Face Crème.) Two Swiss beauty pads spritzed with Aromatherapy Neroli Water are placed over your eyes and your face is covered with a warming steamed towel. Neroli water, by the way, is an all natural floral water from the bitter orange blossom.
• This stage of your experience winds up with a soft face massage, 16-point acupressure exercise and a light scalp massage. Then your shower.
• To this point, everything has prepared your body for the Thalasso effect, the rejuvenating effects of the sea.
• You step into a warm bath of Oligo Seawater, a concentrate that helps to remineralize and nourish the body, and Fucas Algae, which stimulates the circulation and nourishes the skin. You just close your eyes and they are covered with cool sliced cucumbers and you feel the toxins ( and stress) float away.
• Fifteen minutes later, you are back on the spa treatment table, relaxing for a 20-minute massage with warmed Marine Firming Body Crème and Lavender Oil.

And, in 90-minutes, your energy is back.

You feel the maximum benefits of Kur Thalasso when treatments are repeated in a series for several days. This is one treatment you will want to take home with you so that you can get ever more benefits. All the products mentioned above are supplied to Willow Stream by Kirsten Florian, International (KFI) and are available in boutiques at Willow Stream spas.