Archive for November, 2011

Haven Soho Spa Review

Nestled in the bustling side-streets of SoHo is a true Haven amongst the busyness and at times, this chaotic center of shopping, restaurants and art galleries.  Haven has been around since 1998 and is one of New York’s original and affordable day spas. The ambiance here is incredible in that as one walks through the halls it  feels less like a spa in SoHo and more like a retreat in a remote and quiet place in New Mexico.  Haven is gently well lit and inviting with warm hues of mauve and plum.

I have enjoyed a variety of services here as I proudly was employed for five years at this spa.  This makes me favorably biased which is a good sign.  Not everyone can recommend places they were previously employed.  The owners have diligently put together a spa menu that is a head to toe fantastic and rejuvenating experience.  From body treatments to specialized manicures and pedicures.  I witnessed them consistently experiment till they would find the right combination of essential oils, scrubs and other delicious products for their services.  It would be difficult to review all the services offered here but I recommend Haven highly as a full service spa for grooming and relaxing.  Waxing is also available with both regular and organic wax for sensitive skin.

The cost for a one hour massage is $115.00 which is well under other competitors in the neighborhood.  As mentioned, the ambiance here is artistically relaxing especially considering its central location.  Their customer service is very good as is the hygiene.  A special recommendation about the facials offered is that they really have exceptional esteticians so it is worthwhile to check them out.  The facials start at $110.00 for the one hour Remedy Facial.  The Products used in the facials are a choice of Yon-ka or Sonya Dakar.  Both tried and true lines.  Haven also carries it’s own line of massage oils that are quite good.

A word about the locker room and changing area is that because it is small you must change in the bathrooms.  This can be time consuming if it is busy.  Always arrive early to give ample time to change in a restful and non stressful way.   Generally, it is not a problem and once you are settled the lounge area is very comfortable.

www.havensoho.com

The Chakra System in Yoga

The practice of Yoga has gained an immense popularity over the last few decades.  There are classes in gyms everywhere in small rural areas to cosmopolitan centers.  Among the benefits of participating consistently  in a well instructed class are good alignment, improved breathing and more spiritual connection (alignment through the Chakra system).  This last part is often forgotten or completely overlooked because yoga is often represented as simply another form of exercise.  Yoga means path or way.  The practice of the Asanas (poses in yoga) are meant as a way to connect to one’s center,  to source energy and spirit. Yoga is an ancient spiritual practice that effects your body, mind and spirit by practicing balance, strength and focus as we connect to the chakra system.  The words Yoga and Chakra were taken over by a flighty new age perspective at one point -it is important to reclaim them as they are refreshingly structured and grounded.  They are concepts that have been around for thousands of years and for good reasons.

Chakra means wheel in Sanskrit.  Literally wheel of energy.  The seven main chakras correlate directly to nerve plexus exit points from the spine to the rest of your body.  An optimal structural and energetic alignment affects your whole body’s systems (nervous, endocrine, cardio-vascular etc).  A brief explanation of the chakra system is to imagine the seven chakras as (depicted in the photo above).  Now imagine earth energy winding its way upward to meet the heavenly energy which is in turn is winding its way downward to meet the earth.  This creates the spin action of the chakra wheels.  Earth and Heaven or the divine masculine and feminine merging in a constant dance.  To create a good alignment for these energies helps us to feel the great vitality and peace we are meant to experience.   Before I get too esoteric let me finish by simply stating that maybe this fantastic feeling is why yoga caught on so fast and furiously in the west!

I often find that it is the root chakra (first Chakra) in many people that needs awareness and nourishment.  The root chakra-our “survival” chakra includes our money, food, and shelter the basic necessities.  Without these, we do not have a strong foundation for the other aspects of our lives (the other chakras).   It is very important to realize that the root chakra begins at the feet.  To feel grounded (root chakra) draw energy up thru the center of your feet . Nourishing earth energy. (See posture article than come back to this).  Feel the whole foot on the ground.  Toes and all.

For further work and information, Anodea Judith’s many books and audio tapes on the subject of the chakra system are excellent.

So, next time you are in yoga class remember in each pose you are effecting one if not several or all the chakras.  Learning about each chakras purpose from the root to the crown will make the practice much deeper and exciting and even more enjoyable

A Simple Guide to Aromatherapy

The word aromatherapy often appears in my articles,  so I would like to share some simple  tips on how you can use it to enhance the quality of your environment and to help improve your mood.  First, go to your local health food store and check the lovely assortment of flora and fauna sitting there on the shelf!  Always make sure it says 100% pure on the label.  This means exactly what it says without that marker you may be purchasing artificial oil which will not have the same healing value.  You can, of course, purchase essential oil online but going to the store allows you to sample scents prior to buying.

If  you or anyone you live with has allergies, be very mindful when making your selection.  Avoid the strong scents at first such as eucalyptus or tea tree.  Though they have great therapeutic value, they can be very overpowering when introducing aromatherapy for the first time in your home.  Try the more simple and equally beneficial scents of citruses!  Grapefruit, sweet orange and even lemon are fantastic!  Bergamot, a citrus fruit similar to grapefruit and the main ingredient in Earl Grey tea, is one of my favorites.   Most people will not have a problem with these scents (unless they have a food allergy to them).  In addition, they have the familiarity factor which make people feel comfortable and welcome.  Citrus scents are great to use in those dark winter months to bring a little sunshine in your home and combat depression.

Lavender is known as “the mother of all aromatherapy scents.”  It blends beautifully with almost everything including the essential oils I have mentioned so far.  It is known to have an adaptable quality because it has a dual effect, in that if you are feeling down it can be very uplifting.  If you are feeling restless or hyper, on the other hand, it has a calming and soothing effect.  It is also very effective when you are itchy from a mosquito bite!  It is safe to put on undiluted and directly on the skin.  With most aromatherapy oils, however, it is recommended to mix/dilute prior to application.

I have always enjoyed the ceramic or glass type diffusers, which use a tea candle beneath them (see photo).  They are very inexpensive, attractive and easy to clean.  Always place water in the bowl almost to the top before the oil (seven to ten drops is usually sufficient).  Do not put the oil by itself as it will burn up.   To clean them (about once a week ) put some rubbing alcohol in the bowl for a few hours and then take a scouring pad and it should clean up well.

Imagine the home where you grew up or your local garden.  What kind of flowers and trees were there?  Did you have rose bushes?  How about Geranium (aka the poor man’s rose?)  Both of these scents can be very curative and are great for issues of the heart.  We had lilac trees around the house where I grew up.  To this day it is one of my favorite scents and always brings me back to the beauty of springtime.  There were cedar trees around too.  Cedar is a very grounding scent.  All of the “tree” scents are grounding.

The use of aromatherapy is amazing on an airplane, but remember to be mindful of the other passengers of course!  If you open the bottle quickly and sniff you will get the benefit without disturbing others.  You may be surprised they may get a whiff and enjoy it!   Why use it on an airplane?  For several reasons: the air can be very stale and the right scent such as a citrus, lemongrass or peppermint can really help you feel more refreshed.  Cedar, as mentioned, is very “grounding.”  If you are nervous about flying and not being connected to the earth what a great way to trick your mind into feeling a bit more grounded and have a restful flight.  Speaking of rest, lavender has a relaxing quality that can help you sleep on the plane.

Lastly, be aware that essential oils, therapeutic as they are, can be harmful in certain situations.  For details visit: http://www.naturesgift.com/warnings.htm

Neck exercise AKA “The Clock”

Stretching the neck muscles can be challenging and confusing.  Here is a simple, centering neck exercise that can help alleviate neck pain.  It is called “The Clock.”  This is the same pattern of movement as used in the article entitled, Computer Eye Strain Exercises.

Lay on the floor in supine position (face up) on a yoga mat or towel.  You want the surface to be firm but not too hard.  First, feel the muscles of your head on the ground beneath you.  The floor will be your guide as you move through the exercise, so maintain contact with it without too much effort.  Also,  you will be gently massaging these muscles via the pressure on the floor as you move through this neck exercise.  Make sure your head is in good alignment.  Your neck should not be flat on the floor and your chin should not jut out.
Look up and imagine a large clock above you. Now move your head up towards the twelve and then down to the six slowly three times. This will mimic the “yes” movement.  Now, move your head from the three to the nine three times slowly. This will mimic the “no” movement. You can use your  nose as a guide. Remember to maintain contact with the floor beneath you. Now you can hopefully sense your neck in a more centered alignment. Maintain this centered feeling for the rest of the exercise because you will want to return to it as your reference point for these next steps.
Next you will do the opposite diagonal movements of the clock. Look up at the one and down at the seven three times slowly. Place the one right next to the twelve and the seven right next to the six. This will be a more specific stretch. Next do eleven and five o’clock again, imagining them right next to the twelve and the six on your clock. Pause in the center as mentioned before.
Lastly, and this is where people often feel the most dramatic part of the stretch. Look at two o’clock and eight o’clock three times slowly. Then ten o’clock and four o’clock three times slowly.
It is very important to do this in this sequence as you need to center yourself before you do the diagonal movements. The benefit is not the same if you skip steps. When you have completed the series take your head three times slowly clockwise and than counterclockwise to complete the neck exercise. Remember to enjoy the massaging sensation on the muscles on the back of your head.
This technique can help to create better alignment of your neck. It can also increase your proprioceptive awareness of your head and neck placement and of course relieve tense and painful areas of the neck and shoulders.
It may be a little choppy while you are learning the stretch at first because you have to keep referring back to the directions but hang in there soon you will know it by heart and enjoy doing it as part of a daily decompression technique.

Photo source: kramesonline.com