29Jul/090
What the Peat Bog People Can Tell Us About Beauty
Over the past centuries, remains of many hundreds of people--
men, women, and children--have come to light in peat bogs in
northwestern Europe, especially in Ireland, Great Britain, the
Netherlands, northern Germany, and Denmark. Peatlands are most
extensive in northern regions. They develop where drainage of
water is blocked, precipitation is retained, and decomposition
of organic matter is slowed. Because of their highly acidic
nature, wetness, low temperature, and absence of oxygen,
northern bogs have become a repository of past life.
The bog people are amazingly well-preserved with fingernails,
hair, and teeth in excellent condition. How is this possible
when the dates range from 8000 B.C. to the early medieval times?
The peat (Moor Peat) contained in the bogs has amazing
preserving properties which contribute to its ability to both
combat aging and enhance health. Peat has excellent moisture-
retaining qualities which improves skin elasticity.
When peat is applied to the skin, penetrates partially between
the epidermis cells of the skin. A, producing an exchange
reaction of ions is produced when the binding process with
albumin in the skin occurs. The harmful positive ions in the
skin tissues are exchanged for the rejuvenating negative ions in
the moor peat. These particles are captured by the blood vessels
in the system, carried throughout the body to help healing.
The rejuvenating benefits can be attributed to the abundance of
essential oils, fatty acids and lipoids. These penetrate into
the skin re-establishing the skin's natural pH balance. When you
apply the moor peat to your skin, the increased flow of blood to
the skin can be seen by the flush of color seen on the skin when
the peat is rinsed off. This characteristic of Moor Peat makes
it most effective as an addition to any anti-aging and beauty
treatment for the skin.
The soluble organic and inorganic active ingredients leave the
skin detoxified, purified, and toned. It's naturally
hypoallergenic and powerful and yet gentle.
The anti-inflammatory, bactericidal astringent and its
bioavailability properties of Moor Peat make it an excellent
skin treatment both for healthy and problem skin.
It has been found to be helpful in treating acne, eczema,
psoriasis, burns, scars, stretch marks, and cellulite.
For Cellulite, an inflammation of the subcutaneous tissues
caused by a build up of toxins, poor blood circulation and fluid
retention due to weak lymphatic flow, Moor Peat improves both
the inflammation and its causes, making it an excellent
treatment for cellulite and an aid to weight loss.
In fine spas Moor Peat (or Moor Mud) is regularly used as bath,
body wrap, and facial treatments. Cost for these treatments can
be as high as $150 for a body wrap, $100 for a bath, and $85 for
a mud mask or facial mask. These spa treatments can be done
successfully at home for fraction of the cost by purchasing fine
quality Moor Peat from a quality supplier such as Moor Mud Baths
(http://www.moormudbaths.com).
28Jul/090
Make An Easy Lotion For Your Skin
Years ago I found out how incredible easy it is to make lotion. It is so inexpensive and organic that I wondered why anyone would even consider spending a dime on the chemical rich lotions on the market.
Besides I had an added incentive, I have eczema, so I am extremely sensitive to what I put on my skin. Making my own lotion was a great alternative for me.
To begin, for a lotion base all you need is water, oil and an emulsifier. An emulsifier is simply an ingredient that blends the water and oil together. Here is the base that I begin with to make my lotion:
½ cup distilled water ½ cup oil (I usually use olive, almond, macadamia nut, or grape seed) 1 TBS liquid lecithin
You can experiment from here by adding essential oils, combining other oils; you can steep beneficial herbs into your water before you add your oil, etc…
Here is a nice winter lotion to get you started:
½ cup distilled water ½ cup olive oil 1 TBS lecithin 6-8 drops of geranium oil 2-4 drops Myrrh oil 400 IU Vitamin E oil (1-2 open capsules)
Geranium oil is good for supporting balance and rejuvenating dry skin conditions and for wrinkled and matured skin. Myrrh is a gentle oil that is effective in replenishing moisture.
Vitamin E oil is an excellent antioxidant and helps to protect the skin as well as a nice preservative.
Blend all ingredients in the blender either on whip or cream. You will have a nice creamy firm lotion. Add more water to make a lighter lotion. Store in the refrigerator in hot climates or store in a cool place. Shake well before use.
Enjoy your lotion. Hopefully this little recipe will inspire you to become creative!
28Jul/090
Slovenia Wellness Resorts – 6 Low Budget Insider Tips
Slovenia is known for its healing thermal and mineral waters. They have been used since Roman times. Besides the benefits from the natural springs, Slovenia has several major health resorts with wellness programs. Some have become specialized wellness centers that offer classical massage, complementary therapies from the Far East, stress-reduction, beauty, nutrition and weight loss programs, just to list a few. The options to choose from are infinite.
Let us take a closer look at a few of the most popular wellness destinations designed to pamper you... physically, mentally and spiritually.
Podetrtek in eastern Slovenia offers a healthy, unpolluted environment. The Olimia Thermal Spa is truly a marvel, offering therapeutic thermal waters and water parks, as well as massage, fitness classes and beauty services. One of their specialties is an on-staff allergy specialist who uses bio-resonance therapy. The nearby hotels are surrounded by nature trails for hiking and biking. In the nearby town of Olimje, a monastery lays claim to being the third oldest pharmacy in Europe. Even today, the monks prepare their creams and tinctures from nearby wild herbs.
In 2003, the Balnea Wellness Center opened its doors. It is located inside the Dolenjske Toplice Health Resort. Beautiful scenery and three thermal springs are among the many offerings at this modern wellness resort. Laguna houses the thermal water pools and whirlpools for your relaxation. Oaza houses Finnish saunas as well as Turkish and Japanese baths for gentle relaxing cleansing. Alternatively, you may choose to lounge in the misty atmosphere of the tropical garden. Don't forget to visit the Aura, where you can choose any one of a number of massage techniques. The resort offers a wide variety of outings and other activities from underwater massage to archery. Make sure you see what is on the agenda before you arrive.
"Wellness in the Heart of Thermal Springs" is the title of the program at the Terme atež Thermal Spa. This spa is designed in the classical manner, and is the largest natural health spa in Slovenia. They have several programs dedicated to relaxation and rest. These thermal springs are among the hottest you will find in Slovenia. Take your choice of Roman-Irish baths, Finnish saunas and Turkish baths. Choose amongst several massage techniques as well. With eleven outdoor and five indoor thermal pools, including whirlpools, wave pools, water slides, a slow river and more, there are more than enough aquatic activities to choose from. There are also athletic activities like squash, tennis, bowling, fishing, biking and boating at the spa. Nearby, you will find an 18-hole golf course at Mokrice Castle.
Besides incredible healing thermal pools, Terme Palace Portorož offers five individual wellness centers, each focusing on something different. The Thalasso Center offers fango (salt pan mud), algae therapy, and brine and seawater baths. A complete selection of massage therapies is available at the Massage Center. Beauty therapies and regimes are offered at the Medical Beauty Center. Physical therapy is available at the Physiotherapy Center, and the Thermal Recreation Center offers covered swimming, saunas, a sun terrace, a tepidarium, a fitness studio and a play area for children. Nearby you can enjoy a rousing game of tennis, practice your golf swing at the local driving range or relax with a game of mini golf. You can even walk along the beach at sunset and enjoy the Adriatic shore.
The Wai Thai Center for traditional Thai massage is also located here, inside the Morje Hotel. Specially trained Thai massage specialists can offer different types of traditional massage, suited to your individual needs. The floating chamber and solarium are interesting treats, as is the steam sauna. The in-house beauty center offers natural treatments for your face, hair and body.
Located between Portorož and Koper you can find the Strunjan Health Resort, which is part of the Krka Zdraviliš a group that also owns Dolenjska Toplice, mentioned above. Offering specialized seaweed treatments and thalasso therapy (a combination of seaweed, sea fango, seawater and the Mediterranean climate), they will do a custom program just for you.
More than fifteen natural thermal and health resorts and wellness centers you will find all over Slovenia, in addition to the few we have mentioned here. If you are looking for a wellness vacation, you cannot go wrong choosing Slovenia... it has so much to offer.
27Jul/090
Lemon Juice – 6 Beauty Tips from a Sour Puss
Mother Nature has been supplying us with many beneficial ingredients to help you stay beautiful for centuries. One ingredient that can be used for beauty and health is fresh squeezed lemon juice. Lemon juice has many uses in food preparation such as cakes, meat marinades, and of course as a delicious refreshing summer beverage. It also has a variety of uses for beauty as well. From head to toe, this juice provides many benefits. Here are 10 uses to keep you looking good:
Healthy Fingernails: Soak your fingernails in lemon juice for about 10 minutes. Then brush your fingernails with a tooth brush or nail brush using a mixture of 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 warm water and then rinse with warm water.
This treatment helps your fingernails stay strong and bright and you will be surprised at how shiny and amazing your fingernails look!
Get Rid of Blackheads: Rub lemon juice over the area of your face that has blackheads right before you go to bed at night. Rinse your face with cool water when you wake up. Repeat this procedure every night until blackheads are gone.
Brighten your skin: I remember as a little girl, I liked to crawl around on my bare knees on the carpet and outside. My knees became rough and darker.so my grandmother would rub half of a fresh lemon on my knees to brighten and soften them up.
You can use fresh lemon juice on any area of your body, including your face to brighten up and soften your skin. Simply rub a fresh lemon on this area before you go to bed at night. You can also add 1/2 cup of fresh juice to your bath water and soak for 20 minutes for an all over treatment.
Hair Conditioner: Dull, damaged hair will benefit from lemon juice by combining 3/4 cup Olive Oil, with 1/2 cup raw honey and 3 tablespoons of lemon juice. Set the mixture aside. After shampooing your hair, towel dry your hair and work the lemon juice mixture in your hair by combing it evenly throughout your hair. Then cover hair with a plastic cap for a 1/2 hour. Shampoo and rinse this conditioner out of your hair.
Add Blond Highlights to your Hair: The all natural alternative to hair dyes and bleach is to use 1/4 cup lemon juice and 3/4 cup water mixed together and applied to your hair. Sit in the sun for 25 minutes for lighter colored hair.
Breath Freshener: The citric acid content of lemons is a powerful killer of odor causing bacteria. You can quickly freshen bad breath by squirting a few drops of lemon juice into your mouth, swish it around for about 15 seconds and then swallow it.
27Jul/090
Cosmetology Schools
Find Cosmetology Schools in the United States and Canada. Cosmetology schools provide training and education that can lead to infinite career possibilities in the fields of spa and beauty. While cosmetology schools vary in specific curriculum's, most programs includes in-depth training in hair care including hair straightening, darkening or lightening techniques, permanent waving and relaxing, coloring; cutting, shampooing and styling; scalp and facial treatments, skin care techniques, facial and scalp massage, body wraps, microdermabrasion, makeup analysis and application; manicures, pedicures, foot and hand spa and massage, and other nail technology.
Typically, courses in cosmetology schools range from 1,000 training hours to 1,500 hours. This is often due to independent state laws, regulations and requirements. Foundational studies at Cosmetology Schools involve education in CPR and first aid, anatomy, physiology, chemistry, nutrition and product education. In addition, cosmetology schools will often include supplementary training in business, legal and ethical issues (pertaining to cosmetology), client communication skills, and in some cases, software programming with regard to running a salon or cosmetology office.
Cosmetology schools successfully prepare students to become professional cosmetologists, beauticians, hairdressers, aestheticians, nail technicians and the like. Professional cosmetologists who have acquired licensure can opt to open their own day spa or beauty salon, or may work throughout the industry in beauty shops, retail stores, resorts or other wellness clinics.
To learn more about cosmetology schools, or if you are interested in entering other fields of health, wellness and beauty, feel free to search the vocational schools directory.
Find your dream job! Let education within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, healthcare, personal training, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.
25Jul/090
Interior Design – Design Your Own Bathroom
There is a relatively new trend in bathroom design and that is creating the home spa. Sure, the spa feeling includes glamorous vanities, exclusive light fixtures, luxurious bathroom accessories and much more. It sounds expensive, doesn't it? Well, this is not necessarily true. If you look at interior decorating magazines you wonder how professionals get such amazing vanities and bathroom suites. That's not so hard. Creating a luxurious bathroom is, as a matter of fact, an affordable task and having a luxurious bathroom is no longer the exclusive privilege of a millionaire or Hollywood celebrity.
Probably the first step in redecorating your bathroom would be the acquisition of a new bathroom suite. There are so many models to choose from and so many are really affordable. You can opt for a contemporary look infused with an antique touch to create a romantic feeling, or you can even choose deep-set baths that will enhance that modern look you are trying to create. Mixing styles is a modern trend: don't be afraid to experience it. You'll get a bathroom design out of its time, one that cannot go out fashion, because it's distinctive and inimitable. Inimitable doesn't mean expensive: just give ebay a try. There you'll find bathtubs and bathroom suites for any budget. Besides, manufacturers all over the world compete to create more appealing products, using innovative materials, including acrylic, mineral crystal composites (such as the Quarrycast developed by the UK manufacturer Victoria & Albert), cast iron and much more.
You can even get that wellness spa feeling with a whirlpool bath, a steam shower or a massage shower cabin. No matter if your bathroom is small or big, there are always ways to transform it into a real home spa. Be creative and you'll see: you have endless possibilities.
What else is on your wish list? Vanities? They need to match the style of your bathroom suite. If that's white, you'll not have many problems choosing the colors. Vanities come in different styles as well. However, you need to make sure what you purchase is protected against warping in moist conditions.
Mirrors are magic: just think how they can reflect the light of your aromatherapy candles while you enjoy a bubble bath. Contemporary bathrooms have large frameless mirrors mounted on the walls or on the ceiling, endorsed by accent lighting that delivers the genuine impression of an ultra-modern home spa.
To complete this feeling you'll need a few additional accessories, such as fashionable heated towel rails (on sale during the summer), modern or traditional taps with special designs, maybe some plants, candles or special lamps, eventually a bathroom TV or a bathroom radio-CD-MP3-player. It's really modern to have in a bathroom an LCD bathroom TV with heated screen (that allows condensation-free viewing) and inbuilt water resistant speakers. But, if you cannot afford it, a bathroom radio-CD-MP3-player will create a pleasant mood too.
One last tip: to complete the luxury feeling, use floor-warming systems. No more chills on a cold winter day.
24Jul/090
Your Wellness
Wellness is a concept which has been around since the 50's and is linked to Dr H.L Dunn (1896-1975). It has been defined as "an integrated method of functioning which is oriented toward maximizing the potential of which the individual is capable. It requires that the individual maintain a continuum of balance and purposeful direction within the environment where he is functioning."The concept was not popular then, not until the 70's and has been associated with alternative medicine. Generally wellness has been used to describe the healthy balance of the mind, body and spirit triad; a state that combines health and happiness. It can be viewed as the way in which we balance and cater for our mental/emotional, physical and spiritual health state and how we make choices daily to attend to our wellbeing. Approaches to wellness do vary and usually depends on who is using it or talking about it; I suppose the most important aspect is to promote the generally wellbeing of individual/s where they subsequently live a healthier and happier life.
However for some of us our emotional and mental wellness may be determined by our physical state where we may struggle especially if challenged by either body abnormalities, genetic problems or illness.The beauty here is that for those affected by ailments beyond their control, skills as well as psychological tools can be utilized to help maximise the potential to live and get the best out of life.
Research have indicated that people who have a happy and optimistic disposition and laugh more in their day to day life , live far happier and have a longer life span.
Moreover, Research has also studied how positive attitude coupled with spiritual practices such as regular church attendance promotes health, wellness and healing.
The road to wellness and happiness can be paved by the small decisions we make daily toward our health. "Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh! Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is" By M.A Radmacher. Good luck...... and God bless you all...

















