massage

After all those rounds of holiday parties, we're sure you'll need a detox - after all, we certainly do. What better place to kick off your New Years Resolution than at Canyon Ranch Miami Beach, an industry leader in both spa and wellness? They've designed the Luxury of Wellness package, a series of three five-night programs that are customized to your specific needs.

Priced at a cool $45,000, this package is limited to those with fairly deep pockets, but it does offer a comprehensive vacation and wellness experience. Plus, who wouldn't want to spend three weeks a year in Miami?

The package includes a a pre-arrival interview to assess the guest's overall health; completely stress free travel with luggage delivery service, private airport pickup, and more. A host of comprehensive diagnostic tests are conducted to establish the ideal course of action. Private session options with in-resort practitioners (think acupuncture, energy healing, life style management, exercise physiology, etc.) are aimed at leaving the guest with all the tools necessary to take home to improve their health.

It's not easy to bring the luxuries of home on the airplane with you anymore. With TSA regulations and bag checking fees, bringing a bottle of your favorite calming lotion or even face cream can be challenging. t spheres is a new product which aims to give you that do-it-yourself spa experience right in your hotel room (or your living room, or your office) without creating a hassle at the airport. We tried a set on a recent trip to see if these little aromatherapy balls can really be considered "luxurious."

The t spheres, or "tranquility" spheres, were created by Stephanie Whittier, a professional massage therapist who has studied "movement in relationship to pain relief" for over 17 years. The compact burlap package consists of two rubber balls about two inches in diameter and a mini spray bottle filled with the aromatherapy oil you select when purchasing. Spritz the oil on your hands or the spheres and massage it into the spheres to begin.

Once your t spheres are oiled-up and smelling great, there are all kinds of therapies you can try. For example, you can roll them under the sides of your spine on the floor, stick them behind your lower back while you work in a chair, and roll them under your feet. You can simply rub them into the back of your neck or along the backs of your legs; anywhere you feel needs relief. You can heat or cool them to create whatever relaxing, tension-releasing sensation you prefer.

It was a beautiful day at the Curacao Marriott, and an hour-long massage had been booked for me at the spa. When I arrived at the spa, I was delighted to hear that my massage would take place right on the beach. How fabulous!

I followed my masseuse, who carried a large pile of towels, across the property. I assumed we'd be going to a secluded cabana somewhere, but as we continued walking, I found we were headed toward the side of the resort where my room was -- and there was certainly no cabana there. We approached a sunlit area with a few ineffectual bushes and a gazebo-like structure (above) where I understand weddings are often held. Weddings, as in, declaring your love for all to see in public. We entered the gazebo and I examined the roof and sides. There were no shades, no blinds; there was absolutely no privacy. People were lying on the beach (and even on the deck) on three sides of the gazebo, and the fourth side faced the open ocean, where resort guests were swimming and playing paddleball. I pretended this was normal to me for as long as I could.

It was only after she had covered the table with towels and said, "Okay, lie on your stomach facing this way," that I blurted out, "Um, I don't have any clothes on under this robe, you know, right?"

The newly renovated Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills is offering a sexy massage for couples that could be the perfect way to give the object of your affections something you can share.

The Lover's Duet Couples Massage is a 60 or 90 minute treatment in a private suite for two. Champagne elixirs infused with dark chocolate and passionfruit will be given to you in your rose petal-adorned room as romantic music plays, lulling you and your honey into sweet relaxation. At the end of your massage, you'll be given bath salts and custom blended massage oil to take home.

If you'd like to know how to use that massage oil, you can have a 30 minute training session with one of the spa's leading massage therapists (for an additional $105). Now that's an everlasting Valentine's Day gift ($380-$90 without the massage training).

But wait. From February 12-14, your Valentine's Day indulgences can be even more comprehensive -- The Everlasting Valentine's Day package ($535) includes a cocktail and breakfast for two, accommodations, and a private meeting with custom perfume specialist Kedra Hart of Opus Oils' Jitterbug Perfume Parlour. Couples will be guided on an "aromatic journey" and create their very own fragrance, which will be given to them in the form of a 2 oz Eau de Parfum spray and a travel sized roll-on (formula will be kept on file, refills available).

Even if you don't normally splurge for Valentine's Day, don't you both deserve a little pampering? You could split the cost and get it for each other. Visit the website or call (310) 273-2222 to book an appointment.

Massages are a wonderful luxury and also one of the few traditionally "guilty pleasures" that aren't so guilty after all. Massages are a great tool for relaxation and stress management, as well as beneficial in treating a host of other problems and giving some unexpected health benefits.

Pain Science has yet to discover exactly how massage helps with pain but somehow it does. Theories surround the fact that massages relax muscles, reduce stress hormones, and stimulate good hormones. Pain due to fibromyalgia, migraines, and back pain respond particularly well to massage therapy.

Self-Esteem Believe it or not regular massages have been shown to raise self-esteem in some people. Direct contact in the form of touch can help a person feel connected and cared for, and as a result have a greater feeling of self-worth and higher self-esteem.

Mood One of the most common benefits of massage is a decrease in stress hormones and an increase in 'feel good' hormones, which means decreased stress, anxiety, and depression, and improved relaxation and overall mood.

Immunity The stress hormone cortisol impairs the body's immune system, but massages reduce cortisol and so give your immunity a boost.

Sleep/Alertness Massage, depending on what kind, can either stimulate deeper sleep or improved alertness.

Want to get the most from your massage? The American Massage Therapy Association suggests ten tips to achieve a positive experience.

1. Be as receptive and open to the massage process as possible.

2. Don't eat just before a massage session. Let your body digest first.

3. Be on time.

4. Take off only as much clothing as you are comfortable removing. Otherwise, wear clothing that will be comfortable during the massage and will allow the massage therapist to touch and move the areas of your body you expect will need to be massaged.

5. Communicate with your massage therapist before the session, providing accurate health information. Let the massage therapist know your expectations and reasons for the massage. If you are allergic to any oils, lotions or powders, tell your massage therapist, who can choose a substitute. Report any discomfort and give feedback during the massage on the amount of pressure, speed of hand movement, etc.

6. Breathe normally. This helps facilitate relaxation.

7. Relax your muscles and your mind.

8. Drink extra water after your massage.

9. Don't get up too quickly and do allow for some open, quiet time after your massage session. If you're dizzy or light headed after the massage, do not get off the table too fast. It also may take a little time to integrate or absorb the results of the massage session.

10. Be prepared to schedule several massage sessions, as massage has its greatest benefits over time.

To find a professional massage therapist, go to the Find a Massage Therapist Locator Service at www.findamassagetherapist.org.

Choosing the right massage technique for your needs is not as easy as it sounds. There are many different techniques, from deep tissue to Swedish and Shiatsu. The American Massage Therapy Association suggests clients speak with the massage therapist in advance to decide which technique will give them the results they want. Some massage therapists use a variety of massage techniques or types during a session to best achieve desired results. Be sure to discuss any allergies you might have to oils, lotions or powders that may be used.

Aromatherapy: This is a massage treatment that involves the application of scented "essential oils" such as lavender, that have relaxing, revitalizing, stress-reducing and balancing properties.

Deep Tissue: When slow, deep pressure and skillful hand movements target stressed muscles, unlocking tension and relieving pain.

Holistic: The human as a whole is considered, rather than a set of conditions.

Hot Stone: Heated smooth stones are placed along the spine and other points of the back, shoulders, hands and feet in order to relax tissues as well as warm and loosen tight muscles. The therapist applies gentle pressure with the stones.

Neuromuscular: This is a a deep tissue massage that can help release spasms and hyper contraction in the muscle and ligaments. It can also assist blood and lymphatic flow.

Reflexology: Specialized pressure techniques are applied to specific wellness-related reflex points on the feet to release blocked energy, relieve stress and boost circulation.

Shiatsu: Originating in Japan, there are several different kinds of Shiatsu techniques. Shiatsu typically involves a finger-pressure technique (sometimes palms and thumbs) that utilizes the traditional acupuncture points of Oriental healing. This type of massage concentrates on detecting and correcting the the flow of energy (or chi) while restoring balance throughout the body.

Sport: This kind of massage used before or after an athletic performance. It lessens fatigue and reduces the risk of injury, while decreasing swelling. It can improve flexibility and range of motion and also prevent injuries.

Swedish: A classic stress-relieving, medium pressure technique, using varied strokes of gliding and kneading to promote circulation and an overall sense of well-being.

Trigger Point: This employs compression at specific areas, also called "trigger points" of hypersensitivity in muscles, ligaments and tendons. These trigger points are distinguished by local pain, tightness, and tenderness.

The stress of working and living under tough economic conditions is enough to trigger the urge for a trip to the spa. Unfortunately, there just isn't enough cash around to lay out for that perfect facial or relaxing massage. Rather than give up, however, most Americans are compromising. Shorter treatments are becoming more common, as many realize that something is better than nothing.

In June this year, the International SPA Association found that treatments lasting 30 minutes or less grew in popularity. Forty-six percent of the ISPA's 3,200 members reported an increase in these shorter services ... and close to have saw the amount spent per visit fall year-over-year.

Interestingly, there is a changing of the guard afoot among spa visitors. In the past, Baby Boomers were the most frequent spa-goers, but Generations X and Y are starting to see the benefits of relaxation, according to a study by SpaFinder. For many spas, this may require a change in design and treatment menus, as younger guests may not be soothed in the same ways their parents were.

The Radisson Blu Resort and Spa Dubrovnik just became the largest resort on Croatia's Dalmatian coast. The new property, which is only 11 miles from Dubrovnik International Airport, boasts more than 100,000 square feet of spa, sports and wellness facilities with treatments such as hydrotherapy and salt saunas. This is the first Anne Semonin spa to open in Croatia, and to celebrate the milestone, several exclusive treatments have bee developed.

The spa itself occupies 37,000 square feet along the Croatian coastline, with seven individual treatment rooms and two more for couples. An outdoor hot tub sits at the center of this layout. The Thalassotherapy Therma Stone Experience, 100% Active Ice Therapy Facial and Black Sand Scrub & Ocean Massage Ritual were developed specifically for the Radisson Blu – I guess giving three more damned good reasons to get on a plane for Dubrovnik.

Another 75,000 square feet is dedicated to a sports and wellness center. The 60-foot lagoon pool, waterfall and underwater vitality jet lounges sound simply seductive, and there are additional treatments built around these decadent aquatic amenities.

Pass on the cliche European destinations this year, and head out to the Dalmatian coast. The spa experience will be a far cry from the usual.

Remember the days when the only reason you needed to go to a spa was that you felt like it? Yeah, so do I, but it looks like they're behind us for a while. A tight economy makes even luxury decisions tough to execute, resulting in a similar tightness in necks and backs. When you need that deep-tissue rub most, it seems, it's hardest to reach. So, I'm pretty excited to see spas make it easier to pry open your wallet for a bit of bliss.

Spa AQUA is making it pretty easy for you to enjoy Cancun. The latest deal cuts 50 percent from the nightly room rate and lops dining and spa service by 25 percent. If you're looking for excuses to dust off your passport, this is about as good as it gets. Need to be seduced? Consider the adobe clay sauna and mandarin and rose aromatherapy pool. Yep, that's where I was hooked, too.

This destination bills itself as a "modern lifestyle resort," with a "sensory stay" philosophy. Call it what you want, but I'm drawn to anything that clears the tension from my mind, back and shoulders. Integrating Asian techniques into its spa therapies, you can enjoy rice wraps and a variety of massage treatments, including Shiatsu, Samuprai and (my favorite) Shinodarah. Western touches include milk wraps and diamond facials. Manicures, pedicures, fitness centers and the other spa stables are also offered.

The resort, of course, is just the beginning. Once you're in Cancun, walk along the beach, grab a filling meal and sip more than your share of tequila. Forget about home for a few days: you've earned it.

"I'm sorry if you'll be sore tomorrow," the massage therapist informed me unprompted, "but you needed it."

Set foot in the Spa at Esperanza in Los Cabos, Mexico, and you will encounter professionals who know their jobs cold. Surrender yourself to their capable hands, and you will not be disappointed. From the front desk, where your order for a post-treatment beverage is taken, to the gender-specific and general relaxation areas to the treatment rooms, you will be treated to the sights and sounds of trickling water, stone-based décor (commonplace in this part of Mexico) and a staff that is singularly focused on relieving you of the emotional baggage that you carried onto the plane en route to Baja California Sur.

The Spa at Esperanza, part of the Esperanza Resort, offers a wide selection of treatments, including facials, massages, manicure and pedicure packages, private yoga sessions and couples options. In addition to the basic presentations of these themes – such as the Esperanza Massage, the deep-tissue treatment I enjoyed through which I persevered – twists are available to suit your mood or help you connect more closely with the part of the world you're visiting. The Corona Beer Face Lift, Papaya Plus Enzyme Peel and Avocado Butter Mani/Pedi, for example, feature local color that you're unlikely to encounter back home. Spice up your revitalization a bit with the Esperanza's local expertise.

More than just the La-Z-Boy for the wealthy, Inada's Sogno massage chair (above) can give you a healthier back -- and shoulder, arm, and fingertip.

The Sogno chair (pronounced "SOHN-yo") was the winner of the CES Innovation Award for 2009, for its impeccable balance of comfort, functionality, and design. Songo, which means "dream" in Italian, can massage over 1,200 square inches of you as you sit in it, including from your shoulder to your fingertip. That's more than any other chair on the market. Doesn't that sound nice? It gets better:

"Every Sogno massage begins with an infrared body scan that compares a user's profile to 106 stored body profiles. Advanced robotics and differentially applied then mimic the hand movements of a human massage therapist, providing the widest range of variation and choreography in kneading, tapping, and sophisticated stroke combinations." -- Inada

$6,000 doesn't seem like too much to pay for an infrared scan and a full-body massage every time you sit down to watch TV. You can purchase the chair from HealthyBack.

A few weeks ago Guerlain opened a spa in the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City. The spa "ensures a comprehensive luxury experience for every Waldorf guest." On the menu are eight kinds of massage, four kinds of facials, six kinds of body treatments, and five men's treatments, as well as hand and foot therapies, makeup application and all-day and partial-day getaway spa experiences. The spa also has a boutique and personal training studio.

I'm no beauty maven, but I've had massages and lots of facials, and what's described on the site seems no more special than what's offered at any other upscale spa, except for the use of Guerlain products and exquisite descriptions of services. I've no doubt the products add a level of luxury that's likely missing from a run-of-the-mill salon-type spa on the corner. But does Guerlain do a better job for what I assume to be a big pricetag? I don't know. I might have to check it out!

Who doesn't wish they had access to a professional massage at any time of the day or night in the comfort of their own home? Apparently enough people do to warrant the invention and production of this gadget, the Personal Dry Water Jet Massager. Laying down inside this space-looking capsule will get you what I can only imagine is a truly dreamy massage experience, as the 28 water jets mimic a shiatsu massage while the rest of your senses are relaxed via the Bose speaker system with iPod hookups, aroma diffuser, and 7 " LCD television with DVD player that's positioned perfectly as you lay on the headrest.

Sounds pretty awesome! Looks awesome, too, but seeing as how it costs more than my car I doubt I'll be treating myself to one anytime soon. $29,500.


Via Acquire

Human Touch calls the HT-7450 the world's first zero-gravity massage chair claiming that it basically helps to defy the effects of gravity. It reclines deeply with the back, seat and footrest moving in synchronization to position the body for massage comfort. From there it massages the neck, back and legs. It has an adjustable headrest, a detection system that scans the back and creates a map of individual pressure points. There is an eight-point seat massage system as well as a foot and calf massager and two lumbar head modules. It is being exhibited at CES and has been chosen as a Innovations 2008 Design and Engineering Award honoree in the Furniture product category. It sells for $3999.