Wellness Voice

Enhance your health and mood with tropical treasures.

Imagine if the delicious cup of coffee, the freshly made piña colada, the exotic fragrance of wild orchids, or the rich rainforest chocolate could be part of your spa experience. By featuring these, and many other ingredients, within various health, relaxation and beauty treatments, the spa pampering that you will receive here will give you a unique, personal connection to the local environment here in lush Costa Rica. Many of the products can be purchased to take home with you so you can rejuvenate when back home as well, while being reminded of your exotic journey to Costa Rica.

Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse and intense places on the entire planet. Each region has its own microclimates with specific representative flora and fauna to dazzle you. It is amazing how many things grow and flourish here, providing an incredible array of fruits, nuts, spices and oils which end up in hand-made organic spa products. Many spas offer a holistic or integral service of international quality, in a warm and personalized manner characteristic of the Costa Rican people. Add the wondrous source of natural, local ingredients such as coffee, brown sugar, coconut, papaya, mango, sea salt, organic rainforest chocolate and the result is magical; a small taste of the treasures in store for you here. These local gems in the able hands of soothing local practitioners will put you into relaxed bliss, leaving you thinking about your time here long after you leave. What a way to enhance your trip- this is Pura Vida!

One of my favorite places is Hotel Punta Islita in the Nicoya Peninsula, home to the Casa Spa which artfully incorporates herbalist wisdom from the local Chorotega tribe into their treatments. Punta Islita’s own organic garden provides the ingredients for many of the spa’s treatments. According to Dorelia Mulca, director of the Casa Spa, the current trend is to return to our origins, where great value is placed on the natural. “We must not forget that the ancestral indigenous shamans would heal with herbs and rituals,” she points out. Choose from an array of wonderful treatments for him or her, families, athletes, kids, teens even special treatments for women that are pregnant. The Punta Islita Ritual massage is amazing, featuring heated river stones, herbal oil-infused compress ball, and a Guaro Cacique (local Costa Rican sugar cane spirits) drizzle. The Guanacaste Traditions body treatment and massage uses papaya, mango, banana and pineapple which smells and feels great, and leaves your skin super smooth. The Cappuccino Massage with almond oil and chocolate or the Green Coffee Pick-Me-Up (detoxifying with organic coffee beans) are to die for. There are so many to choose from using ingredients such as cucumber, mint, aloe, orange, honey, volcanic mud, avocado, sesame oil, rosemary, vanilla, honeysuckle, golden algae; the list goes on! Dorelia has done a terrific job. The hotel is also stunning and has a great mix of nature, art and community in a stunning setting. Check out the local church and school built with the design and funding of the architect and his wife Ronald Zurcher. The infinity pool at the top of the resort is great, but you can also enjoy a pool lower at the seaside, and dine there also to the sounds of the sea.

Another great spot is the Neidín Spa at Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa in the basin of the majestic Arenal Volcano in the Inland Volcano area. In Bribri indigenous dialect, the word neidín means small nest or point of rest to recover lost energy. Thanks to amazing views, excellent service, and top quality treatments, you can’t help but leave the spa with a sense of complete luxury and well-being. Tocando El Cielo is a great pampering and includes a grape pulp wrap, followed by an orange and honey polish, a “wave” massage (two therapists and four hands), an exotic herb and flower bath and a glass of sparkling wine to finish; scrumptious! The Chocolate Fantasy is the ultimate; starting with the chocolate and sugar glow, followed by the sweet chocolate body wrap and finishing with a super aromatic mint and chocolate bath. This is the nicest hotel in Arenal, with stunning views of the volcano. Don’t miss the trails surrounding the property that are gorgeous with the species of fauna marked for you.

The newest destination by Grupo Islita of Hotel Punta Islita is El Silencio Lodge & Spa nestled within the cloud forest of Los Bajos del Toro. Located just an hour and a half away from San Jose in the inland central volcanic region, treatments at The Wellness Spa are just as natural as the sounds of nature surrounding it. It offers a menu designed to rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit. Recommendations: El Silencio Purifying Revival Massage in the cone room. This is an aromatherapy massage treatment utilizing hot oil compress ball with herbs like thyme, oregano and mint meant to increase relaxation. The cone-shaped room was specifically designed to capture positive energy from the forest that surrounds it, with the intent of enhancing the effectiveness of the treatments. Also offered are packages that combine wraps, exfoliating treatments, facials and aromatherapy using more fabulous ingredients: lime, honey, volcanic clay, coconut, carrot, and so on. The hotel’s organic orchard on property supplies fruits and vegetables to be used in the treatments. For couples the Meditation Duet is amazing. It starts with an organic herbal massage, followed by the brown sugar, vanilla and coconut body polish accompanied by organic wild blackberries and sparkling wine, such bliss! You can hike in splendor, visit nearby canopy zip-lines, river rafting trips and horseback riding. This place is heaven in the cloud forest.

Next is the place with my favorite view in all of the Quepos area: Hotel El Parador Boutique Resort & Spa. Located on the Central Pacific Coast in a region of great beauty, El Parador boasts gorgeous, panoramic ocean views. This gem is close to the Manuel Antonio National Park where you can hike through the park to pristine white sand beaches, viewing a myriad of wildlife along the way. Back at the hotel, the Pacífica Spa offers all kinds of natural treatments, including special day packages. Highlights include sand exfoliation, aloe vera relief wrap (if you have had too much sun), and the papaya and honey facial. The ginger-orange body mask is invigorating and super aromatic. The ylang-ylang milk bath is especially soothing. For men the Naturally for Him is excellent which includes a relaxing exfoliating cappuccino bath, a volcanic mud wrap with a hydrotherapeutic massage, a facial and a hot stone massage. Also offered are yoga lessons and a special place designed for couple’s massages with a spectacular ocean view. All spa visitors receive a plate of fruits. The spa also has its own line of products.

Another option near Manuel Antonio National Park is the only 5 star hotel in the area: Gaia Hotel & Reserve featuring the Terra Spa. The surrounding forest reserve is a perfect backdrop for the spa with great sounds and sensations. This hotel is very modern and elegant with clean long lines and great light. Terra Spa offers an array of treatments and therapies that use organic natural products, many of which are certified and produced by locals that also follow the sustainable concept adopted by the hotel. Terra Tuning is one of the most popular and holistic packages. This 4 hour splurge includes a sauna session, Reiki chakra balancing, Thai massage, and organic facial treatment using all local hand-made products. The organic facial is called the Arco Iris and includes Papaya Exfoliation Polish, Citrus Cleansing Lemon Meringue Mask, and Mango Dream Hydrating Cream. Part of the facial is a sumptuous acupressure scalp and foot massage. Also available is the “Vichy Rain Shower,” which consists of a hydrotherapeutic massage of a warm rain shower in the tropical forest where you select your desired temperature and which is recommended to follow with an exfoliation. Elegance and sophistication in the rainforest!

Last but not least is another all-time favorite, Xandari Resort & Spa. Located in tropical paradise some 1,200 meters above sea level and boasting a beautiful view of the Central Valley, the Xandari Spa is located at only 20 minutes away from Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela. This is fabulous on your way in and out of San Jose traveling internationally, you can do fabulous day trips or half-day trips very easily from Xandari to Poas Volcano, Doka Coffee Tour, Sarchi, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Sarapiqui, Reventazon, or Pacuare River Rafting, Villa Blanca Canopy Tour and many others. One of the Xandari Spa’s outstanding feature is that each spa treatment provides you your own palm-thatched jalapa with its own Jacuzzi. There you may experience the feeling of mind, body and soul melting into nature in complete privacy. One of the big treats is Xandari Heaven, which involves three hours of enjoyment in your private jalapa: Jacuzzi jets, followed by an aromatherapy treatments for your hair, exfoliation for your entire body and a soft or deep massage of your choice. Some of the key special treatments that focus on local ingredients include: Selva de Osa mud wrap using 100% natural sediment from the Osa Peninsula, Coffee and Macademia Buff to polish and hydrate your skin, or Papaya Body Polish. The views, service, architecture, art all come together for a unique and special Costa Rica experience only 20 minutes from San Jose’s International Airport. Those of us that live here in the central valley can escape to Xandari in minutes and feel we are a world away with all the amenities you could ever hope for.

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www.russellblaylockmd.com prisonplanet.tv Alex welcomes back to the show Russell Blaylock, MD, a retired neurosurgeon, and author of Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills and The Blaylock Wellness Report. Dr. Blaylock has demonstrated the link between food additives and degenerative diseases.

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Did you know that it is just as important when you eat as what you eat? Watch Byron, Leading Leptin Expert, explain The Leptin Diet 5 Rules, and why they are so important to follow for weight management and optimum health. “Learn how to eat in harmony with the hormone leptin.”

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The second day of the ‘Weekly Yog Practices’ begins with the basic rules and precautions that a Yoga practitioner should take before starting any kind of Yogic exercises. Covering an explanation of simple, easy and scientific practices of Yoga this part would rejuvenate the user with a healthy and spiritual consciousness in practicing Yoga. Click www.rajshri.com to watch more Baba Ramdev Videos.

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With a fresh approach to a common problem, this self-help guide to overcoming back pain advocates adopting the natural, healthy posture of athletes, young children, and people from traditional societies the world over. Arguing that most of what our culture has taught us about posture is misguided—even unhealthy—and exploring the current epidemic of back pain, many of the commonly cited reasons for the degeneration of spinal discs and the stress on muscles that leads to back pain are examined and debunked. The historical and anthropological roots of poor posture in Western cultures are studied as is the absence of back pain complaints in the cultures of Africa, Asia, South America, and rural Europe. Esther Gokhale, LAc, is the founder of the Esther Gokhale Wellness Center, a licensed acupuncturist, and the creator of the Gokhale Method, an approach that helps people achieve better health through better structure. This Authors@Google event took place February 14, 2008 at Google Headquarters in Mountain View, CA.

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The use of magnets for health goes back centuries. Now more and more doctors, other health professionals, athletes, and millions of people around the world are enjoying the health benefits of magnets. Recent scientfic studies in the US have validated their effectiveness. Discover this breakthrough yet ancient technology for yourself.

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So what can you do to celebrate this Valentine’s Day? With the right intention, a few simple ingredients and a little effort, you will be richly rewarded as you express your true devotion to the one you love. I have been working with Aromatherapy Essential Oils for many years, so I’m very familiar with creating the right romantic setting that will make that magical space in your own home a rewarding experience.

To get the right ambiance, start by lighting some candles in your favourite room and play some relaxing music that you both like. The setting is not complete without the subtle effect of aroma. The sense of smell is one of the subtlest and oldest ways of communicating that we possess, the mechanism of which still remains a mystery today. Creating the desired mood with essential oils has been around for centuries. In fact, the Ancient Egyptians made aromatherapy a way of life with the use of perfumed oils, scented barks and resins being recorded as far back as 4500BC. Perfumes were used by lovers to heighten the forces of attraction that existed between them. According to history, Cleopatra wooed Antony by ordering that her bedroom be carpeted an inch deep in rose petals. Imagine that!!

Now to create your romantic ritual…. Place either a single essential oil or blend in your aromatherapy burner with a tea light beneath. (I prefer to use an essential oil burner with a deep bowl so that it takes longer to diffuse without overheating and drying out).

For a ‘sensual interlude’ add 1 drop of orange, 2 drops Ylang Ylang essential oil and 3 drops frankincense to your burner. Around 5 to 6 drops is enough. Orange is a joyful and playful scent that blends well with the sweet, heady fragrance of ylang ylang. With the added connection that frankincense gives to heighten your senses you will be well on your way to enjoying a sensually euphoric evening!!

For the true romantic, rose helps us feel more deeply. It is a gentle aphrodisiac with a spiritual quality that you may use on its own or in a blend. Or if you’re feeling a little more bold try Jasmine essential oil, a wonderful oil that brings with it the rare qualities of strength and softness, yin and yang , making it a powerful aphrodisiac!

So this Valentine’s Day open your heart to love and romance by embracing the gentle art of Aromatherapy and add some essential oils into your life!

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Relaxation and hydrotherapy are two of the main reasons why people choose to buy portable spas and hot tubs. With warm, soothing water and massaging jets, spas and hot tubs provide an easy way to unwind and to find some relief from the tension and stresses of everyday life. Of course, many purchasers also enjoy the unique social environment that hot tubs create. Whether you want to gather with friends and family or add some extra romance to your relationship with your significant other, spas and hot tubs can provide you with exactly what you need. Best of all, there are many different brands, models and features available on the portable hot tub market so you can select a hot tub or spa that meets all your needs and preferences for the ultimate at-home relaxation.

While just about all portable spas and hot tubs are great for relaxation, it’s important that you purchase a model with the specific features and characteristics that will enhance and maximize your enjoyment of your hot tub. For example, if you want to use your portable hot tub as a remedy for arthritic pain, back pain or stiff muscles and joints, the placement of the hydrotherapy jets is an important consideration. You need to make sure that the hydrotherapy jets of your particular model are appropriately placed such that they will target and massage the particular part or parts of your body that you wish to soothe and relief of pain. Adjustable jets are also a good feature to look for, as they will allow for a more customized experience.

Other important considerations to keep in mind when looking at a selection of portable spas are size and seating arrangement. You need to think about how many people will be using your spa and for what purpose. If you have a large family or plan to use your hot tub as a focal point of parties, you will probably want to choose from a selection of portable hot tub that will seat several adults. In other circumstances, a more moderately sized spa may well be suitable for your home and lifestyle.

Luckily, portable spas are available in many different sizes and with many different seating configurations. From models designed to seat three adults to those with a capacity of up to six adults, there are many options to choose from. Naturally, in addition to size, it’s also important to take note of the level of comfort provided by the spa’s seats. If the seats are not comfortable, your relaxation and enjoyment could be significantly diminished. On the other hand, many portable hot tubs feature contoured seating which is specifically designed to offer maximized comfort which, in turn, maximizes the level of enjoyment you get out of every single one of your hot tub experiences.

In addition to hydrotherapy jets and seating, there are many other features and accessories which can further enhance your entire hot tub environment. For example, top-of-the-line digital controls and in-spa lighting are common amenities that can be found in many portable spas and hot tubs, especially those offered by highly respected manufacturers. Some portable hot tubs also feature waterfalls, which can add points of interest as well as soothing sounds. It’s also possible to add additional amenities and features to your spa environment with spa and hot tub accessories. These can include everything from towel racks and drink holders to pillows and cushions, all of which can make portable spas even more relaxing and enjoyable.

Once you choose the perfect spa or hot tub for your home, there are still a few things you need to keep in mind with regards to installation and safety. While most spas are quite quiet, you may not want to place yours too close to a bedroom, depending upon the preferences of you and your family. Also, it’s often a good idea to place your hot tub in an area where it will be relatively protected from wind, falling leaves and strong, direct sunlight. In terms of safety, it’s vital to ensure that the installation is performed by licensed professionals and that your portable spa or hot tub meets all safety standards. If children live at your home or are likely to visit, a sturdy spa cover with safety locks is a must.

Once you have decided what features and amenities you are looking for, it will be time to find the perfect model at the perfect price. Fortunately, high quality portable spas and portable hot tubs can be found for great value if you know where to look. For example, direct online retailers such as Intheswim.com offer a wide range of excellent models and brands to choose from at very affordable prices. These retailers also offer a great selection of hot tub and spa accessories. Once you have everything you need and installation is complete, you will be ready to begin enjoying hours of fun and relaxation in your very own portable home spa or hot tub.

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OSHO International Foundation – www.osho.com Osho examines the nature of compassion from a radically different perspective. He points out that “passion” lies at the root of the word, and then proceeds to challenge assumptions about what compassion really is. He shows how the path to authentic compassion arises from within, beginning with a deep acceptance and love of oneself. Only then, says Osho, does compassion flower into a healing force, rooted in the unconditional acceptance of the other as he or she is. Excerpt from an original, 104-minute talk by Osho now available on DVD with the book COMPASSION — St. Martin’s Griffin (February 2007) ORDER here www.amazon.com

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