March 2nd, 2014 • Posted by Texas Ayurvedic Wellness Center and Holistic Spa • Permalink
Your budget is tight, and you're cutting back. You're
eating fewer dinners out, skipping the morning latte on your way to work, or
maybe settling for a "staycation" rather than going away. But
wellness treatments such as facials, massages and yoga can actually be wise
investments in your health and well being. Spending a few dollars now often
translates to better health and well being down the line.
Massage
A massage is more than relaxing. The Mayo Clinic reports that massage can help
control your blood pressure. Are you feeling tense and worked up? Massage can
also help lift a depressed mood and relieve stress. If you're a weekend
warrior, massage is also an accepted treatment for pain and stiffness
associated with sports injuries.
While it's nice for a friend or a romantic partner to give you a massage, a
trained professional can incorporate different techniques to address specific
concerns. For instance, deep tissue massage is designed to ease away the pain
of injured muscles, while Swedish massage is ideal for easing away everyday
stress.
Facials
You know that facials feel great. But facials are more than a feel-good luxury.
Facials can rid your complexion of pore-clogging debris and dead skin cells
that can trigger acne breakouts and make you look tired and older than you are.
In healthy skin, dead skin cells are regularly sloughed away, and replaced by
fresh, new skin lubricated by sebum. However, as you age, skin turnover slows,
so that dead skin cells accumulate. Combined with sebum and impurities in the
atmosphere, dead skin cells can clog pores, causing inflammation that results
in blackheads and whiteheads.
The steam in facials loosens the grip of impurities blocking your pores,
allowing blackheads to be washed away. Facials also loosen the grip of dead
skin cells that dull your complexion. Combined with regular exfoliation
treatments, facials can help you look fresher and younger.
Yoga
More than twisting yourself up like a pretzel, yoga has benefits that can
improve your health and your quality of life. The Mayo Clinic reports that yoga
is routinely recommended as an enhancement for treating a variety of disorders,
including cancer and depression. Maintaining a regular yoga practice can
increase your flexibility, relieve joint stiffness and even help you lose
weight. Yoga can also reduce your blood pressure and relieve insomnia and
anxiety.
While it's true that it's possible to learn yoga on your own, joining a class
with an experienced instructor ensures that you learn the proper techniques.
Your instructor can also help you modify poses to accommodate limitations such
as a bad back, reducing the chance that you might hurt yourself. It's also just
more fun to enjoy the camaraderie of other students, especially if you're a
beginner.
An Investment In Yourself
It's understandable that you might feel as though wellness treatments are a
selfish indulgence, especially if you have a family. But wellness treatments
are a relatively inexpensive way to help you look and feel your best. And when
you're at your best, you also have more to give to your family, your work and
to your community.
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February 18th, 2014 • Posted by Texas Ayurvedic Wellness Center and Holistic Spa • Permalink
Taking proper care of your skin will determine how your skin looks and feels. We all want the best looking skin and we all want to age gracefully. It is necessary to use the right products for your particular skin and we have a quick guide to get you started. There are five main skin types - normal, combination, oily, dry and sensitive.
Knowing yours is a vital first step to planning a routine, and choosing which
treatments are best suited to your skin's needs. A visit with our professionals is a sure way to find out, but knowing which of the five basic
categories you fall into can also easily be self-diagnosed.
Normal
If you have a normal complexion, you may consider yourself to be
favored by the skin Gods. Normal skin is the least problematic of the five
types making up the spectrum. A quick study of your skin in the mirror upon
rising in the morning, is unlikely detect any oil; pores are also minimal. Your
skin has an even tone, feels smooth to the touch and has a supple or elastic
consistency. A minimal or basic skin care routine is usually all that's
required to care for normal skin types, and perhaps the best news about normal
skin is that it ages well.
Combination
Because it requires a skin care routine that encompasses both
moisture and oil control, combination skin is one of the hardest types to care
for. If you have combination skin, you are likely to have an oily ‘t-zone'
(forehead, nose and chin) and pores around your nose are likely to be larger
than usual. Around the eyes, and the cheeks are usually dry, and will benefit
from rich moisturizers and creams. Thorough cleansing, and oil control products
should be focused on the t-zone.
Oily
Oily skins are often problematic. Enlarged pores and excess oil on the
forehead, nose, cheeks and chin lead to regular breakouts. Your skin care
regimen should be carefully chosen. A common mistake oily skin types make is
over cleaning, and using harsh cleansers. This constant stripping of the skin
may result in excess oil production. Opt for light, oil free moisturizers,
although, believe it or not, some natural oils actually help to balance oily
complexions. Consult our skin care professionals to find out more. Finally, the
brightest ray of hope for oily skin types is that you age best. Those oils help
to keep wrinkles at bay, so that later in life, you may just wake up with the
skin you've always wanted.
Dry
Dry skin types easily develop fine lines and wrinkles. This skin type is
usually tight and may feel stretched or taught to the touch. Because dry skins
produce insufficient amounts of oil, this skin type lacks the protective
barrier required to protect it from various external elements. Rich and regular
moisturizing is required for dry skin types, and extra caution should be taken
to protect the skin in extreme or severe weather conditions.
Sensitive
The most problematic and fragile of the five skin types, sensitive
skin, is often red, tight and itchy. This skin type is prone to irritation and
breakouts. A great deal of research and care should be taken when planning a
regimen for sensitive skin types, giving care not to use products that
exacerbate your sensitivities. Consulting with our skin care professionals to help you
choose the right products for your skin care routine is highly advised.
Finding a skin care regimen that you're comfortable with and that works can
often be a process of ‘trial and error'. Be sure to visit our aestheticians to discuss your concerns and to get help planning your regime.
Once you find a routine that works for you, be faithful to it, because it just
may be a key component to helping you grow old gracefully.
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February 2nd, 2014 • Posted by Texas Ayurvedic Wellness Center and Holistic Spa • Permalink
Depression affects 1 in 10 adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The condition can take a toll on the mind and body and is often difficult to treat. Researchers are constantly looking for ways to improve the symptoms associated with depression, which include fatigue, difficulty concentrating, aches, and feelings of hopelessness. Research shows that massage, along with traditional medical treatment, can alleviate some symptoms of depression.
Improving Care
While the causes of depression are still being studied, there is evidence that those suffering from depression have lower serotonin levels. Serotonin, also known as the feel-good hormone, increases during massage. This boost in a person's overall mood and well-being is why the American Massage Therapy Association believes massage is beneficial to those struggling with depression.
Best type of massage to treat depression
Research suggests Swedish massage may be the best spa treatment to improve symptoms of depression. This massage, which involves fluid, comforting strokes to the body, is one of the most relaxing massage treatments. It's known for calming the mind and easing tension from the body.
Talk with your doctor
If you or someone you know is fighting depression, massage may be able to alleviate some of the symptoms. Of course, patients should always consult their doctor about the best combination of treatments.
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