Rheal Destressors

The holidays are winding down and regardless of how you feel about them it is a stressful time of year. Diminishing daylight, hazardous weather conditions and the post holiday blahs further contribute to our stress levels. The icing on the proverbial cake is the self-imposed stress of monumental New Year’s resolutions.

We feel compelled to make a list of all of the things we perceive as faults to be corrected in the New Year. On January 2 of every New Year gyms are wall to wall with resolution driven attendees; pantries are stripped of bad foods, and we commit to spending a full two minutes on brushing our teeth, three times a day.

Change is good and all resolutions are well intentioned, however, success is attained by process rather than monumental goals. Instead of a goal to lose fifty pounds determine to be healthy. Instead of saying you will work out seven hours a week, take the stairs and park your car in the spot farthest from your location.

When stressed stop for 60 seconds and ask why. If you can’t pinpoint the source try to incorporate any combination of the following in your routine:

• Lower your expectations to manageable achievements; small changes become lifestyle changes over time;
• Don’t over-schedule yourself or your family;
• Create a play list of soothing music to be used when stressed;
• Take a few minutes and close your eyes to visualize your favorite place;
• Give yourself a time out even if it is sitting in a bathroom stall for five minutes;
• Loosen up - restrictive clothes force muscles to tense and in turn make you tense;
• Ask for help - yes it is hard but you will be amazed at the willingness of others;
• Take care of yourself - you can’t effectively care for others if you don’t take the time to care for yourself;

Rheal De-Stressors


o Schedule a facial;
o Treat yourself to a weekly manicure - think of it as an hour of you time;
o Walk as often as you can;
o Eliminate one food a month from an unhealthy diet;
o Make a list of places or things you would like to do and then schedule one a month -yes it is all right to do it by your self - think of it as a battery recharge and
o Honor your commitments to yourself.

Small incremental changes, rather than large and sometimes overwhelming goals are the path to healthy life changes. It is not selfish to care for yourself. When you are healthy you are strong. You will be a better resource for yourself and those you care for when you operate from a place of strength rather than a place of stress.

May you have the healthiest and happiest New Year of your life!

Rheal Tips to Avoid Makeup Contamination

Most women have fond memories of playing with their mother’s makeup or remember the first time spent with friends experimenting with eye shadow, mascara or lipstick. Do you remember in sixth, seventh or eighth grade applying lipstick between classes only to wash off every trace before you got home and got in trouble? There was nothing unusual about asking to borrow someone else’s lipstick or mascara.

We have all been taught that sharing is an honorable trait but sharing is never a good thing when it comes to makeup. In spite of our innate training to say, “Sure, go ahead”. Don’t! Dermatologists caution, you should never share your makeup.

At one time makeup counters at fine stores were not very careful about application of the same product on multiple women. That all changed as we became more aware of germ transmission. Makeup brushes and applicators can easily carry bacteria from one person to another, and moist, dark containers allow germs to thrive.

Never share lip and eye products that come in frequent contact with more easily infected areas of the body. Cosmetic counters today, always use disposable applicators for lip and eye product testers.

The second important cause of contamination is lack of freshness. We would never dream of eating a food past its sell by date. We change up our toothbrush on a regular basis, but we will keep the same mascara in our bag until we are applying nothing but dried flakes. If you don’t dispose of products on a realistic, self imposed, cycle you may create the perfect playground for germs that cause eye infections, sties or the herpes virus that can cause cold sores and dermatitis.


Neither toothbrushes nor most cosmetics have sell by dates. Old cosmetics should be thrown out and replaced as recommended by your spa professional. Suggested expiration dates vary between products. Liquid makeup ages faster than powder. Mascara should be replaced every eight to twelve weeks. The closed container creates a dark environment that allows germs to thrive.

Finally, be sure you pay attention your brushes and applicators. Treat them with care.

· Do not share brushes with others

· Wash them frequently in warm water with just a drop of non-allergenic liquid soap

· Never wring out the brushes

· Shake excess water from them in the sink

· Allow them to dry on a clean towel

You can share your secrets, your hopes and your dreams with your friends, but please don’t share your cosmetics or brushes. Fresh cosmetics, clean applicators and safe usage are healthy components of healthful beauty.

RHEAL Sugar Tips

Did you know that the enemy of youthful looking skin stares back at you and your children from your sugar coated cereals, sodas and processed food? You might be surprised to learn that your body engages in a sugar coating of its own, through a process called glycation. Glycation occurs when the sugar molecules absorbed into your blood stream during the digestion coat protein molecules in your body. Glycation causes tough, wrinkled connective tissue. This is most visible on the skin as wrinkles. However, it occurs all through the body. Tough, inelastic connective tissue is very damaging to organs where flexibility is vital. This is especially important in the heart, kidneys, brain, eyes and pancreas.

The newly sweetened protein molecules have been given the name "Advanced Glycation End Products" which morphs very neatly into the anagram AGEs, and could not be better named. Why?

Some of the most important protein molecules in your body are those which make up your collagen and elastin. These two substances are found in the lower layers of your skin, and are what give your skin’s surface its firmness and resiliency. The more sugar you consume, the more AGEs your body will produce. By the time you reach thirty-five or so, your skin will begin to dull and early, advanced wrinkling will occur. Glycation will continue to accelerate skin aging as you continue to consume sugar in all of its forms.

You can slow the process by following these Rheal steps:

• Replace processed sugars in your diet with the natural ones found in vegetables and fruits; if you can’t live without refined sugar, limit your consumption to no more than 10% of your daily caloric intake.

• Supplement your diet with 1 mg each of Vitamins B1 and B6 every day. New York dermatologist, Dr. David Goldberg, cites a number of studies that indicate that these two vitamins are very effective in reducing the effects of glycation.

• Limit your exposure to sunlight;

• Use a moisturizer rated SPF 30;

• Wear a hat with a brim wide enough to shade your entire face and neck during peak sunlight season and hours;

• Use an antioxidant enriched cream that will feed your skin directly, such as Rheal Skin Care’s cream for normal to dry skin which is rich in jojoba and apricot kernel oil.

Healthy is beautiful and it turns out that eliminating or minimizing sugar to no more that 10% of your daily caloric intake is both healthy and beautiful.

Reflection & Action

October was Breast Care Awareness Month. People of all ages and products from paper plates to spatulas were sold in the pink of the campaign to raise funds and awareness. Some are blessed to be untouched by cancer. Even if one has escaped personal experience it is a word that resonates with everyone.

In my role as a spa professional people of all ages and experience seek services at Rheal Day Spa. Spa treatments can be very intimate. Treatment rooms are calming and serene to help ease stress and create a safe environment. Even relatively new clients find it a comfortable place to share their life stories in confidence. The first time a female client told me she was a cancer survivor it humbled me to treat and serve someone who had been through so much.

In subsequent years I’ve met people in various stages of the battle with cancer. And then a month ago a client told me she had just been diagnosed with breast cancer and was scheduled for a double mastectomy within two weeks. In the same time frame another friend’s husband a seemingly healthy, humorous and vital man has been diagnosed with stage three esophageal cancer. Both pieces of news felt like a kick from a mule. A swirl of feelings arise when cancer becomes personal. A slurry of hope and dread mixes to create unease and a sense of impotency.

But we don’t have to be impotent. We can contribute to cancer research, participate in annual cancer walks to raise awareness and be creative in our communities to create our own drives to support services for cancer patients and survivors. We can also be sure that we and our families have a better chance to avoid cancer by living healthy, thoughtful lives.

You know what to do; you’ve heard it a thousand times. Eat more greens, exercise, even if it is only ten minutes a day; don’t smoke, if you drink, do so in moderation and most importantly educate your self about the optimum time frames for physicals. Early detection is your best weapon to fight a cancer diagnoses. Though we have yet to find a cure we have improved treatments and survival rates have risen significantly. This is a war please join the battle.

CELLULITE: You can do something about it!

Regardless of your age or weight do you remember the first time you took a backward glance in a mirror and saw a dimple or heaven forbid dimples on the back of your arm or thigh or sprinkled across your bottom? The first day cellulite becomes a personal issue is memorable. Up to 90% of women and a small population of men have had this experience. Some shrug and try to forget about it and some try to attack it with vigorous spot exercise.

The term was first used in France in the 1920s and began appearing in English language publications in the late 1960s, the earliest reference in Vogue magazine, "Like a swift migrating fish the word cellulite has suddenly crossed the Atlantic."

Hormones play a dominant role in the formation of cellulite. Estrogen may be the most important hormone to initiate and aggravate cellulite. Other possible culprits are insulin, catecholamines, adrenaline, thyroid hormones and prolactin. All are believed to accelerated cellulite.

An Ally McBeel episode shows an exchange between Ally and her current lover about a nude portrait he has done of her. At first glance she is thrilled and flattered by his effort. Cue music. She notices that he has enhanced her posterior with texture. Her facial expression goes from delight to horror as she says, “Is that cellulite?” He naively replies, “Yes, it adds character.” While character is an excellent thing to strive for the presence of cellulite is not the step to achieve it.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a dimple-free butt and thighs? As we pass puberty our bodies tend to develop cellulite. Cellulite is fat that gets trapped between fibers that connect your muscles to your skin. The fibers are like stitching on a down quilt - cellulite puffs out between them; the more fat you have between fibers, the more visible your cellulite becomes. Cellulite stores in the hips, thighs, and butt in preparation for childbearing and it causes fat cells to stick together to create the dimply effect of cellulite.

Because you have cellulite it doesn't mean that you're fat. Regardless of your weight the presence of cellulite is an indication of toxicity. You can minimize toxicity with some simple lifestyle changes:

•Drink lots of water with lemon juice throughout the day to prevent water retention and flush the liver - a culprit in cellulite formation.
•Minimize intake of fried and processed foods; pass on the Big Macs. Processed foods interfere with digestion, blood circulation and lymph drainage. Sluggish circulation and drainage prevent sufficient waste and toxin elimination. Lymph builds up and makes cellulite appear worse.
•Eat greens; fill up on cellulite busting vegetables: asparagus, a great diuretic, celery, kale, broccoli, brussel sprouts, parsley, green peppers, and root veggies like turnips and parsnips. These foods nourish the liver and have a detoxifying effect on the body.
•Eat apples; an apple a day can keep cellulite away. The pectin found in apples (and carrots) is an important phytochemical that strengthens the immune and detoxification systems of the body.
•Exercise; it helps by increasing lymph flow. In addition, weight lifting builds more muscle, making the skin overlying your hips and thighs more taut. The tighter your skin, the less obvious the cellulite is.
• See you Spa Professional; your spa professional has massage treatments to minimize the appearance of cellulite and to further your commitment to a healthier lifestyle. Stay current with your spa’s news and stay current with the many ways they can improve your health and appearance.

The New Beauty Aesthetic

Not so long ago a woman of thirty was advised not to show her upper arms. Heels were traded in for lace ups with squat heels. Bosoms were covered and hair was sprayed into an inch of its life. Simultaneously Hollywood raced through the glamour girl phase followed by the androgynous waif. Somehow those two styles merged into the trend of recent years of women starving to maintain rail thin frames while supporting huge obviously unnatural breasts. The message sent was stay young or be put on the shelf and with rare exception that is what happened.

Sad to say Hollywood has set beauty trends and remedies since the days of silent films. As actresses acquired pouty lips, cat's eyes, tucked tummies and lifted brows average women emulated the styles and subjected themselves to similar plastic surgeries. Decades of women with drum tight, artificial visages is happily waning.

Today we fear the look of artificiality and instead want to look our personal best. We prefer to have someone say, “She looks good” rather than “I wonder how old she is”. Judith Sills psychologist and author said, “There's a changing aesthetic. To look as young as possible is unrealistic; to look as good as possible is a healthy goal.”


Being healthy and your best at any age is a process of good choices. Simple everyday steps like clean skin that is well moisturized and protected from the sun are the basis of a healthy face. Thirty minutes of daily exercise oils joints and maximizes agility. Attention to the care of hands and feet improves circulation and helps you to present yourself as someone who takes care of herself, regardless of age.

Many advances have been made in skincare products in the last five years. Talk to your spa professional to ensure that the products you are using are the best for you at this time of your life. She can help you make the best choices to look good. Healthy is beautiful® at any age.

What Makes a Face

What makes a face? Symmetry! Well balanced features are considered as the base components of an attractive face. The best surgery free way to improve our facial appearance is well shaped brows. Sounds easy, right? In theory we should be able to stand in front of a mirror and shape our own eyebrows to perfection.

Sorry to say this is a myth. Why? Because who among us sees his or her face as a work of art. Who among us knows with certainty the right shape, starting point, balance, thickness, or ending point for the best brows for our own face?

Michelangelo said that when he sculpted he began with a raw hunk of marble and the sculpture told him what to chip away. Professionals who shape brows to perfection are artists who can see the right brow for the right face before they begin to shape it. Just as you ask friends “who cut your hair?” ask friends who shaped their brows. You will find an artist who can enhance your appearance at a reasonable fee and in a relatively quick time.

If you have tried to shape your own brows and been unsuccessful be patient as your artist takes corrective steps. Dependent on how enthusiastic you were in your attempts it might take several visits to get your brows into the best shape.


When you go to a new hairdresser it may take a few visits to achieve a result that both you and your professional agree is optimum, the same is true of brow shaping. Once you have achieved the perfect shape for your face you can leave your office for lunch, have your brows done, see the best you looking back at you and still have time to pick up a sandwich.

A Spa Vacation

School is back in session. Family life is ramping up. We find ourselves in run mode trying to accommodate all of the demands on our time. We long to get away. Many things can get in the way of the desire to escape. Sitters for the kids, someone to walk the dog and finances are all hurdles to an imagined oasis. The effort to plan a getaway can be enough to discourage the steps necessary to put together an itinerary.

It doesn't have to be that complicated. You can give yourself a break and book a treat right in your own backyard. We are blessed to live in a community rich in resources that can take you out of the day-to-day rat race that is “normal” to a resort of your own making.

You may not be able to get away for a few weeks, but if you are lucky enough to have trusted family members or friends to care for children and pets, book a night at a local inn, have a lovely dinner and spend the next day at the spa to create your own appointment plan with your spa professional. If an overnight is out of the question treat yourself to a day at the spa, on your own or with your partner. Book a day of appointments; enjoy a massage, a facial and a manicure/pedicure and go home refreshed.

When you take care of yourself you are better able to care for others. A day of self pampering can fuel you to get back to “normal” with renewed energy and calm. Remember it doesn't have to be complex you can stay in your own backyard and still get refreshed.

Pedicures are more than relaxing…

Summer is winding down. Our thoughts are turning to fall, sweaters, and close toed shoes. Some of you may have booked what you think of as your last pedicure for the summer. But do not put pedicures on the shelf with your sandals. We abuse our feet daily; men take 7192 steps and women take 5210 step per day.

An average person, with an average stride who lives to the age of 80 will walk about 108,000 miles. Often we wear shoes that are uncomfortable or wrong for the job at hand. Calluses build on our feet that can cause imbalances and negative impact on our posture. When you have calluses on your feet they cause uneven pressure when you walk or stand for extended periods of time and this leads to foot pain. Over long nails can become ingrown and heels can become cracked and dry.

A professional pedicure includes exfoliation to removal dead skin and smooth calluses, and massage to stimulate blood flow and increase your relaxation response. A pedicure also includes trimming the nails and grooming the cuticles. Nail color (polish) is a secondary benefit and may be skipped. Women often forgo polish in the winter months to give their nails time to breath and so that they will better accept needed moisture in the dry weather. But in warm weather pretty toe color is icing on the cake!

The health benefits of pedicures are not imagined. Once foot care was viewed as a luxury for women; however the health benefits are not gender specific. Everyone deserves an hour to relax, be pampered and to take good care of their feet.

Intimidation

“To the timid and hesitating everything is impossible because it seems so.”
Sir Walter Scott.

Young parents, business people and retirees alike juggle multiple demands from families, work and commitments to others. As they keep the many responsibilities they have in balance, they often forget their own well-being.

The thought of a manicure, facial or massage sounds lovely, but the thought of actually making an appointment at a spa can feel selfish or intimidating. We forget that to treat ourselves can create personal balance. The more personal balance we have the more easily we can fulfill our commitments to others.

Sometimes, because an experience is new to us, we feel wary of the unknown. We worry that we will be out of place or perhaps we will do something we shouldn’t. If you are considering a spa visit, put those thoughts out of your mind. Spas are owned and staffed by professionals. Their goal is to provide a safe, healthy and sedate environment. To ensure that you have the most positive experience possible, spa staff will ask you questions about your personal comfort level as regards the service scheduled. Expect to leave your spa relaxed and recharged. The most onerous schedule is less daunting when you feel your best.

Make an hour or two commitment that is for you, alone. By doing so you can take care of yourself as well as you take care of others. At the same time you are modeling a healthy example for your children. It is important that you be your best so that you can do your best.

To Everything There is a Season

Summer is bounty. We expect to pick up great bouquets and sugar sweet corn. As summer turns to fall we know that tomatoes will still be bountiful but that they will not be as luscious as they were at the height of the season. All natural things have a time.

To be in harmony with nature we live more flavorful and self-sustaining lives. We strive to cook and eat by season. We avoid processed foods and products. We want our toothpaste, hand cream and beauty regimen to consist of natural oils and botanicals. We understand that what we put on our bodies is as important as what we put in our bodies.

But we may not understand that natural beauty products, like summer’s bounty, have a peak season. Reputable leaders in the field of natural skin care, like Dr. Hauschka, date each product in their line to ensure that you are aware of the optimum period of usage. Be sure to check the usage date on the products you choose and to use them during the period defined as their peak.

The most delicious meals are often comprised of elements of the season. Foods cooked and eaten in their prime nourish the body. Natural skin care used when its ingredients are at their peak nurtures your skin.

Reflecting Inner Beauty

I'm a bit hesitant to endorse something before fully exploring it but the following was sent to me by a trusted colleague, Holly. I signed up for this free event happening tomorrow night regarding why it's important to look the way YOU look; you may want to check it out, too. This should make for great discussion.


Free Event: A Startling Fact About Your Inner Beauty

All you have to do is look at the magazines in the grocery check out aisle to see the images of beauty being "sold" to us. These images of beauty may lead us to pluck our eyebrows, get a nose job or undergo plastic surgery to remove crow's feet or those lines that go from your nose to your mouth as you age.

In fact, many images of beauty make us want to change something about our face and hair, don’t they?

Well, what if making those changes actually inhibits your TRUE beauty? What if making too many changes to your face actually keeps you from living your purpose?

In our upcoming free training event - A Startling Fact About Your Inner Beauty – find out what your face is telling you about your true purpose. Our special guest, Jean Haner, Hay House author of the book, The Wisdom of Your Face, shares her expertise about Chinese face reading (a branch of Chinese medicine).

So before rushing to change your appearance to fit the fashion magazines, discover the secret to your own natural, timeless, ageless beauty.


EVENT DETAILS


In this free training event, you will learn:

Why plastic surgery might do more harm than good

How to age beautifully and develop the "inner light" that makes you look younger

How to attract loving, nurturing relationships

How your face reveals your true purpose

How you can find a career path in alignment for your own unique design

How to discover the hidden vitality and joy that is waiting for you

How to feel compassion for yourself and others


What if the face you were born with could show you how to achieve more joy? What if your own unique blueprint could reveal your true purpose in life, the right relationship or the perfect career? Join us and find out!

Register today !


DATE: Wednesday, June 16th, 2010


TIME: 4:00 pm Pacific Time / 5:00 pm Mountain Time / 6:00 pm Central Time / 7:00 pm Eastern Time or convert to your own time zone :


To Attend the event, register here:
http://app.streamsend.com/public/hcws/p74/subscribe


You can attend by phone or over the Internet and the call will be recorded.


If you cannot make the call and want to listen to the recording, register for the class and you will receive the call recording link as well.



Join us for this special, free training event!


In health and happiness,
The Body Ecology Team



All Content, Copyright 2010 Bodyecology.com
Body Ecology
Suite D
130 Conway Dr
Bogart, Ga. 30622

Dreams of an Acne Free Generation

"What causes blackheads?" a curious teen asked during her first facial. With enthusiasm Kasey explained that blackheads are caused by the skin producing more oil than it needs and it has nowhere to go so it widens the pore and then oxidizes (turns black) when the air hits it.

Our skin needs oil--oil is good, but like with most things too much is not necessarily better. So, why does the skin produce more oil than it needs? Hormone imbalance caused by stress, chemicals found in processed foods, junk foods, pesticides, antibiotic-laced dairy products, lack of rest, impure water, are some of the major reasons.

When out of balance, the skin becomes dehydrated and oil production increases to counteract it. And then acne develops when the natural sloughing of dead skin slows or stops, trapping oil and bacteria, and therefore causing infection, i.e. pimples. And, by the way, this condition can be exacerbated by using harsh drying agents in an effort to “get rid” of the oil. Using a quality moisturizer appropriate for oily skin is a must.

It’s exciting to think that as Americans get more and more educated to the importance of eating locally grown, pesticide and antibiotic-free foods, and realize that relaxation and rest are key for everyone, we could see a generation of acne-free teens and adults in our future!

Our teen clients are lucky that they have an adult in his/her life to bring them to a professional to learn about how to care for their skin and relax. I wish I had that when I was a kid!

Remember, Healthy is Beautiful®

The First Rheal Blog

I told my friend Amber that I long to blog. So, here's my chance and I have to admit there's some angst attached to the significance of putting this first post out there. I decided my first Rheal Thoughts should express why my business, Rheal Day Spa, exists, and I'm dedicating this first blog to all my entrepreneur friends -- especially the women of the CAMROCK Network.

Rheal is about healthy lifestyle choices. As business-people, we know that putting your best face forward (both figuratively and literally) lends credibility to your message. Achieve your goals with Rheal; we'll help you get there through:

· Inner work for spiritual growth

· Body work - massage and wraps for stress relief

· Facials and natural skin care products for healthy skin - for men, women, and teens

· Healthy hands and fingernails (confidence when shaking hands and sitting across the lunch table from a prospective client)

· For women, a polished-look through makeup that is good for your skin and helps you look your best in an understated way.

All of these treatments require human touch that, since the beginning of time, is known to heal all wounds.

Rheal wants to be the spa you turn to for yourself, your family, and your employees. Healthy requires balance, peace, and as we say at Rheal day spa, Healthy is Beautiful^®.