Fall Renewal

After a busy summer filled with camping, barbecues, beaches, parties, boating and just all-around busy-ness, it can be a little startling to look in the mirror and see the damage that we’ve wrought on our skin.

A little flaky, perhaps dry, irritated, or inflamed? Maybe oily and prone to break-outs?

Whatever the issue we’re “faced” with, it’s entirely possible to bring healing and repair to environmentally damaged skin, following these steps:

• Firstly, consider seeing a qualified esthetician with a special interest in holistic skin care, and who understands quality natural source ingredients, for a professional facial. She can help you choose the most appropriate products, and answer questions you may have about your specific skin concerns.
  
  
  
• Be gentle in cleansing. Don’t overstrip with harsh chemical cleansers, even if you’re attempting to clear up breakouts. Let your skin regain its own balance by offering gentle cleansing, such as with Moor Spa’s Cleansing Milk. With chamomile, to soothe and reduce redness, and arnica to heal and improve elasticity of the skin.
  
  
  
• Exfoliate to reveal new undamaged skin below the dead surface skin cells. Be thorough, but gentle. Stay away from harsh facial scrubs such as that use pumice or shell to exfoliate. For sensitive skin, Moor Spa Facial Polish with natural jojoba wax beads can be used several times per week, without damaging sensitive skin. As part of a skin-brightening regimen, use a glycolic acid exfoliant like the Moor Spa 15% Glycolic Lotion, which is highly effective, yet still naturally derived from sugar cane. For dry, aging skin, the potent Moor Spa Pumpkin Peel with Pumpkin, Papaya and Pineapple enzymes renews the texture of skin, leaving it smooth and supple.
  
  
  
• Intensely replenish with a serum targeted to your skin’s specific needs. Serums offer a concentrated dose of nutrients, penetrate the skin easily, and enhance your moisturizer to renew, repair, brighten, or hydrate. Moor Spa’s series of water-based serums are suitable for any skin type.
  
  
  
• Assist your skin’s natural capacity to repair itself with good hydration. Avoid products with petroleum derived ingredients such as mineral oil and petrolatum which suffocate the skin and impair cellular respiration. Natural humectants such as shea butter and avocado, and anti-oxidants such as Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C give your skin all the ingredients it needs to heal, produce collagen, and regulate the production of sebum.
  

Moving into the hustle and bustle of fall, take the time to look after your skin, not only with quality skin care products, but also with good nutrition, exercise, and plenty of fresh water to drink. The dry, cold months of winter lie ahead, so give yourself the tools you need to stay healthy, inside and out.

Psoriasis and Mud

We had a wonderful question presented to us last night about how Psoriasis can be treated using mud. Here is some research that talks about this very question. This research is originally written in Italian, so pardon the grammar!

========

---

[Psoriasis and mud bath therapy: clinical-experimental study]
[Article in Italian]
Costantino M, Lampa E.
Clin Ter. 2005 Jul-Aug;156(4):145-9. Italian.
Seconda Universita degli Studi di Napoli, Crisceb (Centro di Ricerche Interdipartimentali, Scienze Computazionali e Biotecnologiche), Scuola di Specializzazione in Idrologia Medica, Napoli, Italia. maria.costantino@unina2.it

OBJECTIVE: The psoriasis is chronic disease characterized from an acceleration of the kinetic of the cells of epidermis. To front of the empirical evidence of the benefits of the thermal therapy in the psoriasis, the experimentals-clinics studies is insufficient. The aim of research it has been that of quantify the benefits of the mud-bath therapy with mineral water in the psoriasis. PATIENT AND METHODS: The study has been channel on a champion of 30 subjects of which 19 of male sex and 11 of female sex with middle equal age to 56 years +/- 5.3 affected from psoriasis. The subjects of the examined champion have been divided to random in 2 groups: A and B. The group A has been treated with drugs used for psoriasis for 12 days; the B group has been treated, always for 12 consecutive days, with mud-bath therapy (FBT) with mineral water obtained from the mineral sources (chlorinate-sulphureous-bicarbonate) of the Spa of Stabia in Castellammare (NA). To the beginning and at the end of the advised treatments has been valued the prurient symptomatology and the PASI (Psoriasis and Severity Index). RESULTS: The data highlight an significant reduction is of the prurient symptomatology and of the PASI in both the groups considered. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this first step of investigations seems to highlight that the FBT (mud-bath therapy ) treatment, to the same way of the drugs anti-psoriasis, results useful in the ameliorate the quality of life of these patients.

---

=====
In plain English? What this study seems to be saying is that mineral rich mud baths are effective at reducing the itching associated with Psoriasis, as well as reducing the severity of other symptoms (without indicating specifically what those symptoms are). Of note is that mud baths are AS EFFECTIVE as Psoriasis drugs in treatment, in this small study. The mud used in this study is from a different source than the Austrian Tiefenmoor used by Moor Spa, but ours is also characterized by a high mineral content.

The recommendation for Psoriasis is to take mud baths every other day, and use Moor Spa Skin Balm, with Goldenseal, topically.

Thanks for the great question, hope this helps!

What are you doing to build your business?

I got a really nice email from a client who we met with last week. We had a relatively brief meeting, with a little bit of product knowledge, some hands on training, and a short discussion on ways she could market her online store to current and new clients.

Here is an excerpt from her email:

"Thank you for the information that you sent since we saw each other. I have placed an ad on Kijiji , and I have updated my Facebook ad, I have also called another esthetician to give me a hand on the next 3 Thursdays, and will put her to work on collecting our e-mail list."

- Sylvie Lapointe

Esthetique Facial Angle, Ottawa

That's what she's done in the last week, based on our discussion. Bear in mind she is an esthetician with MANY years of experience, a full clientele, offering services about 50 hours per week. It's fair to say she doesn't have a lot of spare time.

When building a business, it's about the small things. Sylvie knows that these few tasks aren't going to revolutionize her business overnight, but she doesn't plan to be working all those hours for a lot longer. She has a plan, and she's working it.

What's YOUR plan? What things, big and small, are you doing to achieve your goals?

Diabetic Foot Care for Professionals

Every client questionnaire in a spa contains the question “Are you diabetic?”

If the answer is yes, the question then becomes: What will you, the esthetician or spa therapist, do with the information?

We all know a professionally performed pedicure has tremendous benefits for everyone, but this is especially true for people with diabetes.

Some special benefits of a pedicure for a person with diabetes:

• Improved circulation as a result of gentle stimulation and massage. Many of the complications of diabetes result from poor circulation.


• Prevention of ingrown toenails, which in turn prevents infection. An untreated foot infection in a person with diabetes can be life threatening


• Another set of eyes, yours, getting a close up look at the feet, which may detect foot problems (i.e. blisters, cracking) that can be treated before they become serious

There may, however, be a lack of knowledge in the industry about how, specifically, to care for the diabetic foot. For a person with diabetes, an improperly performed pedicure can result in serious complications – even as bad as gangrene and amputation. Proper precautions are a must.
While people with diabetes are generally more prone to having foot problems, a lot depends on the general health status of the individual. In other words, how in control of their condition they are. Do they control it with diet, exercise or medication, or a combination of all three? Well-controlled diabetes generally equals reduced risk of complications.

A diabetic person is more likely to have problems if:

• They have had diabetes for more than 10 years, and they are in poor control of their blood sugar


• They have other health conditions as a result of diabetes (eye, kidney or heart problems)

When offering a pedicure to a person with diabetes, here are some important steps:

• Be absolutely vigilant about disinfection and sterilization procedures of all equipment. For people with diabetes, bacteria may pose a much more significant risk.


• Examine feet carefully, watching for calluses, blisters and abrasions. Skin may not be producing as much natural lubrication, resulting in dryness, itching and cracking, which then increases susceptibility to infection.


• Evaluate blood circulation by assessing temperature, tone and colour of the foot. When the foot is on the floor, does it turn bluish or deep red? These are signs of poor circulation, and may indicate a need to refer the client to their doctor or podiatrist.


• Make sure the water for soaking the feet is not too hot, and don’t soak for excessive amounts of time. Soaking the feet in Moor Spa’s Herbal Bath with Pine is a good way to improve circulation, as well as combat fungus.


• Dry feet thoroughly and carefully, especially between toes. Avoid putting lotion or cream between toes, because moist areas are more prone to infection.


• Trim toenails straight across, and be very gentle with cuticles. Additionally, you may wish to consider not using metal implements.


• Avoid foot care products with chemicals as the soles of the feet are some of the most absorbent parts of the body. Foot Cream from Moor Spa is specially formulated with Moor extract, Sweet Almond, Avocado and Tea Tree, to be highly penetrating, without chemicals, especially after soaking.

If you have doubts about the health status of a potential client, it may be wise to refer them to their doctor or a podiatrist. Because diabetes is often a silent disease, an individual may have undiagnosed diabetes for years.

Help keep your diabetic clients safe and healthy with keen observation and strong technical skills and you can be a wonderful asset to their health care team.

Stress Awareness Day

Stress: According to the American Institute of Stress, “Increased stress increases productivity – up to a point, after which things rapidly deteriorate, and that level also differs for each of us”. We all know on some level what stress is, but it is actually very difficult to define scientifically as it is a subjective sensation.

You may have heard that today is Stress Awareness Day. Stress, although beneficial in small doses, can lead to a whole host of problems if it is left to build up in your system. The question is, how do we cope with it?

Here are a few ways to deal with stress:

• Positive thinking – reframe your language, especially the things you say to yourself. Instead of “worries”, you may have “challenges”, “obstacles”, “concerns”.
• Talk to supportive people – friends, family. Check in with those whose opinions you value may help you gain the perspective you need.
• Write down your concerns – rather than have a jumble of thoughts in your head, put down on paper the things you are thinking of. Sometimes just getting them written down can make them seem less serious. Then, rather than worrying, you can focus on more productive things.
• Relaxation techniques – there are oodles of ways to cultivate relaxation. You could try EFT, guided visualization, meditation, breathing exercises. Try one! Try them all!
• Physical activity – not only is exercise distracting, but endorphins from exercise also make you feel so much better. With the weather getting nicer, a brisk walk can be lovely. Yoga is great too, or you may consider taking a class on learning to run!
• Improve your diet – cut down on the stimulants like caffeine (coffee, tea, pop) and refined sugar, as well as alcohol (a depressant) and smoking. All these substances affect mood. Eating a good balance of complex carbohydrates and lean protein regularly through the day in small meals will keep your blood sugar balanced, as well as your mood!
• Complementary therapies – try acupuncture, homeopathy, massage, reflexology, wellness treatments at a holistic spa, yoga, massage, and aromatherapy. The options are limitless!
• Psychotherapy/counseling – some worry and stress, kept in balance with your life, is normal. If worry and anxiety begins to affect your functioning, such as having anxiety attacks, it may be time to find a professional to help you get the balance back.

Moor mud can help as well. This ancient substance abounds with healing, and balancing properties. Whether used in a wrap or a bath, Moor mud can help soothe your stress induced aches and pains, giving you a head start to regaining your balance. Try a mud bath today!

Eating on the Road

There is no doubt our business has us traveling a lot. In the summertime, we drag around our RV so that we can travel in comfort, sleeping in our own beds, and eating our own food. In the off season, however, when we’re visiting clients, attending conferences and trade shows, we generally stay in hotel rooms. Best Western meets our needs for a decent place to stay, but what about food?

They say an army travels on its stomach, so too do a couple of spa products distributors!

We always start our day with a Timmies coffee (of course!), but by the time we get to the end of a long day on the road, the last thing we feel like eating is heavy fast food. We also can’t afford anything too fancy, or else we have to sell twice as much Moor Spa! In the years we’ve been intrepid road warriors, we’ve been fortunate to find a few favourites that we always visit when we’re in their neighbourhood.

This is who we like:

In Niagara Falls, there are lots of choices, but we find ourselves visiting the same places, because we like them so much.

For Thai food, we go to Spicy Thai in St. Catharines. Always warm and comfortable, the service is great, and the food is even better. Will is in love with the Coconut Soup, and we usually have Pad Thai too. For dessert, try the warm Purple Rice Pudding with a scoop of coconut ice cream!

We found out about Mai Vi at the In Your Backyard event at Niagara College from a visitor to our booth. There is also a reference to this Vietnamese restaurant in Anna Olson’s new book. After my very first taste of Crispy Duck, I was hooked. Yum. Service is conscientious and friendly, too.

When we need something special, and on the cutting edge of culinary exploration, we go to the Niagara College Culinary Institute Dining Room. It’s so cool to see what the next generation of chefs are experimenting with. Considering that this is haute cuisine, the prices are outstanding. The service from hospitality management students is top-notch, and they do a lovely job with suggested wine pairings.

In the Ottawa area, if our schedule allows, we try to get out to Kemptville to visit The Branch Restaurant. I just can’t say enough about this place. A restaurant with a social conscience, and amazing food too. In the few short years they’ve been open, they have become a fixture in the community. Whether it’s roasted chicken in a creamy maple sauce, or a grilled Angus steak, or the comforting house-made beef Branchburger, you’re sure to leave happy. Of course the service is amazing. If you can possibly get there on a Sunday, you MUST try the Rubber Boots Buffet. See the website for an understanding of what that is. And if you’re in the mood for a nice read, visit chef Bruce Enloe’s blog. He’s articulate and charming, and has some really nice views on local and sustainable food sources.

In Peterborough, we’re known to have a comfortable meal at The Olde Stone Brewing Company on George Street North. I always choose the suggested pint of microbrew on the server’s recommendation. And while in Peterborough, we stop at the award-winning Franz’s Butcher Shop for some house-made (no fillers!) sausage to take home.

Whenever we find ourselves in downtown Toronto (often after a long day on the trade show floor), we make a stop at Magic Oven for some hand-crafted spelt crust pizza with unique toppings and tender but crispy crust. Pizza is the perfect comfort food after a long day.

We go to these places because they provide good service, and they do what they do (prepare food) with passion and quality. Shouldn’t most of our buying decisions be based on the same criteria?

We never know where we’ll be going next. Where should we eat when we’re in YOUR town?

Exhilarating Leg and Foot Mask

In a recent visit with one of our innovative clients, Deb Izumi at Indulgence Spa and Salon, in Wellington, Prince Edward County, we developed a lovely new treatment, using two Moor Spa products.

It’s always more cost effective to use products you already buy in different ways, and this time we came up with a winner. We combined the light and creamy Moor Gel Body Mask with the fresh and tingly Tension Balm (not coincidentally the best selling Moor Spa product in the world) to create a leg and foot mask that can raise the simple pedicure to new heights.

Simply add a few pumps of Tension Balm to about four ounces of Moor Gel, and you have enough product to do approximately 4 spa pedicures. You could incorporate this mask into a spa pedicure after a foot soak (perhaps a Moor Spa Foot Bath?), exfoliation and nail/cuticle work. Apply a thin layer of the mask to the client’s lower legs and feet, up to just below the knee, wrap with plastic, and cover with a warm blanket for up to 20 minutes. Removal of the product is easy, with either a dry or hot towel. Finish with an effleurage massage with Moor Spa Foot Cream.

Your clients will be left with a feeling of lightness – soft, moisturized and cool for hours.

We travel – for spa professionals who would like to see this protocol demonstrated, please contact us for an appointment and/or costing of the products used.

Niagara Waters Spa Grand Opening

Yesterday we had the tremendous privilege to attend the grand opening of the Niagara Waters Spa, the student spa connected with the esthetics program at Niagara College. It was a wonderful event, with delicious and dainty snacks produced by the Niagara College Culinary Institute, and buzzing with media coverage.

Among the guests were some of the elite of the Niagara spa industry, illustrating the interest in well trained estheticians for the bustling Niagara region. In her speech, Anna D’Amore of Serenity by the Falls Spa at the Marriott Fallsview, an industry partner, acknowledged Niagara College’s program as a world class spa training institution. Also in attendance was Jennifer Hipwell, of Five Lakes Aveda Spa at the Doubletree, and Sharon Weldon, of Senses Spa at the Americana Resort.

The class of students graduating in April will be the first in Ontario to be trained in hydrotherapy using the Moor Spa Integrated Spa System, which will provide a substantial benefit to spas seeking technicians who are ready to go right to work and provide the full range of spa services.

We offer our sincere congratulations to the educators and students at Niagara College, and Niagara Waters Spa, for a successful event and wonderful program.

Great job, Lisa, Susan, Tina, Laurie, Joelle and Lorraine!

Today at Trillium

Today we did one of our favourite jobs. We met a class of soon-to-be estheticians at a private college. We only had a couple of hours there, but it was such a great opportunity to have an honest discussion with open minds, and to gain insight from different life experiences.

In our school presentations, we always begin by introducing ourselves, and talking about our backgrounds. Will has been in the spa/wellness industry for more than 13 years now, and I learn something different every time he talks about his history. From a professional hockey hopeful, to a photographer, to a debilitating back injury which kept him out of work for 2 years, he’s had quite a life journey. My background is in women’s health care and research, seemingly a dramatically different field, yet not so much. I try to bring to my new field a perspective that promotes education, critical thinking skills, and as often as possible, research.

We take a holistic approach to skin and body care, and talk about how our inner health is reflected in our skin. This reinforces what the school teaches about how the systems of the body all interact to create optimal health. We talk about how symptoms (such as a skin break out, headache or even an upset stomach) are the body’s way of telling us something is going wrong. For example, a headache can be an indication of several things, from a stressful lifestyle, to dehydration, to high blood pressure. As an analogy, Will suggested that if the fire alarm went off while we sat in that classroom today, the prudent approach would be to investigate the source, as opposed to shutting the classroom door and ignoring the alarm. Closing the door would be comparable to taking an analgesic for a headache – treats the symptom, not the cause.

Whether or not our body sends out an “alarm”, we talk about how we can support it to eliminate “toxins”, and nourish with Moor to increase nutrients supplied to our cells and promote optimal health. Even if we live a relatively “clean” lifestyle, we still ingest some toxins as well as have some intrinsic toxins produced by the body itself and we must eliminate both kinds.

For some students, this is a radical new concept, which often prompts skepticism, and for others, it resonates with a world view they are already familiar with. Whatever the response, we love the flow of ideas, and the critical thinking this engenders.

We also find that students enjoy learning this holistic type of knowledge, versus just learning about individual products, which any manufacturers rep can rattle on about. Although, I have to say, once the products come out, the students can’t keep their hands off, and love to get right in there to touch and feel everything from body mask to toners! Then the questions fly, and we see the enthusiasm that brought students into the esthetics/spa/wellness industry in the first place.

We were also remarkably flattered today by the teacher, who made the comment that we are very approachable, and open to disclosing our industry knowledge. Sadly, that doesn’t seem to be the standard for spa suppliers. We feel that buyers need to demand that kind of transparency from their suppliers, and expect more of a partnership relationship. No matter the size of the spa, or the size of the order, estheticians and spa owners need to feel like valued clients.

Detoxifying

Most of us groan a little as we think about the excesses we’ve lived through over the holiday season: too much food (of the wrong sort), too much alcohol, not enough exercise, not enough sleep, along with the stresses of parties, shopping, and family events.



These excesses live on in our bodies as “toxins”, along with toxins that we ingest through air pollution or pesticides contained in our food. Along with the ingested toxins come those that are the byproduct of our body’s natural functions - breathing, digestion, or muscular contraction. In that instance, we can call uric acid or lactic acid a toxin as well. Under optimal conditions our bodies are able to almost completely eliminate the latter type of toxins. Our bodies were not designed to process and eliminate the synthetic toxins, however – heavy metals, PCB’s, nicotine and other synthetic chemicals. These toxins may accumulate in our internal organs, our skin, or be trapped in fatty tissue.



Simply put, a toxin is merely a waste product in the body that hasn’t been excreted.



Accumulated toxins can lead to sluggishness, brain fog, fluid retention, and an inability to let go of extra weight. Toxins can be equated to “clutter” in the body. If your desk is cluttered, how much more time does it take to get your work done?


Encouraging your body to let go of toxins
For the most part, we trust in the sophisticated systems in the human body to detoxify itself, however, we can also support our bodies in a number of ways.

• Drink water – help your body help itself by giving it the fluids it needs to flush toxins through your kidneys. One to three servings of Herbal Infusion in water or juice daily can assist with this.
• Improve digestion with a healthy diet. This includes fibre-rich foods like fresh, raw vegetables and fruits; whole grains including brown rice, millet, and quinoa; and raw nuts and seeds. Did you know that ounce for ounce, sesame seeds are the most calcium rich food available?
• Get plenty of restorative sleep. Going to bed early so that you can get 8 hours of solid sleep is a decadent and rewarding thing to do. You can prepare your body for sleep by taking an evening Moor Mud bath. Through simple osmosis, moor mud will also help your body detoxify.
• Eliminate (or reduce) your intake of non-nutritive products like white bread, processed foods, coffee, carbonated drinks and alcohol.
• Reduce serving sizes of meat in your diet. A piece of meat the size of a deck of cards is about 3 ounces, the recommended portion for a meal. Avoid processed meats.
• Reduce stress with lifestyle changes. Do small things daily, and don’t resign yourself to a life of high stress. Meditation, yoga, and visualization are all ways to teach your body to let go of stress.
• Exercise and get a good sweat going. Shower and steam afterwards and you’ll rid your body of loads of toxins.
• Exfoliate your skin – either with a body scrub or dry brushing. Try a salt glow or Moor Spa’s Body Scrub Cream.
• Choose healthy personal care products that take care to use natural source ingredients, without chemical preservatives, artificial colours or fragrances, or petroleum derived ingredients. This reduces the toxic load you put on your body. Moor Spa’s complete line of skin care offers plenty of options.

How do we encourage clients to invest their time and energy into detox?
People want to feel good. They want to feel energetic, have high energy levels, let go of extra weight, and have fresh and healthy looking skin. Your clients are bombarded with the fear of “toxins” in magazines and on television, but we don’t want to feed into that fear.

By no means do we want to promise something we can’t deliver to our clients. Honestly, there is no such thing as a magic bullet. We need to keep our integrity and credibility intact, and our clients need to commit to doing their own work too.

So, knowing that there is nothing you can “sell” your clients to “fix” them, what can you do to help them in their journey to better health?

Offer supportive encouragement, reliable information, and treatments that help them feel better. A warm, soothing, detoxifying Moor Mud wrap can help kickstart the process for them, as can an invigorating Salt Glow. Offer clients at-home support with Herbal Infusion and Herbal Bath, and they can be on their way to making positive changes in their health.