Northern Lights Spa Newsletter

From the Editor:

In nature, Winter is the time to store up nutrition and then slow down your life so you don't run out of supplies before Spring.  Squirrels, bears, and other mammals hoard food all fall, then hibernate or greatly reduce their activities all winter so they conserve fuel.  Trees release their leaves to "lower maintenance costs" over the winter, and work on their root systems, soaking up the water from snow and rainy seasons to use in Spring.  

Here in human civilization, we only observe half of that process.  Here in the US at least, we get the hoarding with our wonderful big holiday meals and treats while visiting friends and family.  But instead of then resting, saving our energy, and planning for springtime, we are more active at the end of the year than possibly at any other time.  Worst of all, because of all the activity, we sometimes don't take time out to take care of ourselves. 

This year, do something different!  If you must be busy, make sure you enjoy the majority of your activities.  And take time to take care of yourself--get regular massage, treat yourself to a facial, do a series of acupuncture visits to alleviate stress and keep your immune system strong.  Make your  Winter a healthy time!

Aromatherapy: Something Spicy:
This season, spicy flavors and scents are abundant--gingerbread, spice cake, peppermint, pumpkin pie spice, cinnammon oatmeal cookies, all the tastes and scents that go with increased cooking.  Those spices have tremendous health value.  Ginger is well-known as a digestive aid and helpful for nausea, cinnamon is useful in managing blood sugar, and clove is great for digestion, and is considered an anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial functions. 

You can use these spices virtually without restraint in food (unless you have specific health issues, such as using coumadin or other medications).  If you want to use the essential oils, you can add a drop or two to some hot water to scent a room.  All of them increase blood circulation, so they are also useful topically--but be sure to dilute them as they can irritate your skin if used neat (at full strength).  

We are using some of these oils this season in our treatment specials--for not one, but two specials!  Have a 30-minute Winter Wonderland Snuggle Up Heat Treatment--a detox treatment combined with warmth for extra benefit--for just $30.  We also offer a Ginger Bread Massage for $70--a massage featuring ginger to increase muscular relaxation.  Both of these specials will leave you feeling pampered and rejuvenated!

Treatment Showcase: Heat Therapy
Heat therapy is a common part of a massage treatment.  In addition to feeling great, heath therapy:

• Dilates the blood vessels, allowing more oxygen and nutrients to the muscles.  The more nutrients to the muscles, the more healing to damaged muscle tissue.

• Heat stimulates the surface of the skin, Heat stimulates the sensory receptors in the skin, which means that applying heat to the lower back will decrease transmissions of pain signals to the brain and partially relieve the discomfort.

• Heat application facilitates stretching the soft tissues around the spine, including muscles, connective tissue, and adhesions. Consequently, with heat therapy, there will be a decrease in stiffness as well as injury, with an increase in flexibility and overall feeling of comfort. Flexibility is very important for a healthy back.

Heat therapy is great in the winter--it relaxes you and makes a great contrast to the cold weather outside!

New Therapies!

Thai Herbal Ball Massage 60 min...$80
Traditional Chinese herbs are wrapped inside steamed bundles of fabric. Then the Therapist applies the heated herbal balls along acupressure points and joints. This massage has a special energy flow that is both invigorating and relaxing. It opens the body's pathways to soothe aching muscles, reduce stiffness, and inflammation in the joints.

Warm Bamboo Massage 60 min...$80
Natural Bamboo sticks are heated, rolled, rubbed and pressed over the body to reduce life's everyday strain. The warmth of the bamboo rolling over your muscles will soothe and revitalize you. This massage increases lymphatic circulation, reduces stress and fatigue and leaves the skin feeling supple.

Important  Date

Elisa and Trina will offer a Couples Massage class Sunday, Jan. 23rd from 3-6pm.  The class will cover basic massage technique for a couple to practice on each other.  This is a hands on class that will teach you how to give that special someone in your life a massage! The cost for this comprehensive class is just $200. To sign up, call 757-903-4302.



Northern Lights Spa  
109 Bulifants Blvd.. Suite A
Williamsburg, VA 23118
(757) 903-4302