Create Your Own Bath Ritual

Every culture, every civilization throughout time has had a special connection to water, and to the ritual of the bath. Probably the best known is the Roman civilization, who built entire cities around “the baths”. The Japanese held many spiritual beliefs that bathing was a cleansing of the mind as well as the body, and it was a spiritual act, connecting the bather with nature. Turkish baths, an ancient tradition, are currently enjoying a renewed popularity in spas, and have become a delightful treat for those lucky enough to find a steamy location. In an ideal world, we would all be transported regularly to a healing place where we could be detoxified, massaged, and have all our aches and pains soothed by trained therapists.

When you can’t get to the spa for a professional treatment, you can still create a blissful healing experience at home, supplementing your self-care regimen.A nice warm bath is a lovely soothing thing at any time, but the addition of a Moor Spa Herbal Bath to your routine can bring health and wellness benefits that may not have occurred to you.

Why Moor?

Moor mud, an organic peloid created over time by the gradual transformation of herbs and plants, ripens into a rich dark magma containing an array of trace elements, essential oils, minerals and other organic nutrients. These substances are easily absorbed (bio-available) by the body in the presence of water through the simple process of osmosis, and enable the body to rebalance its systems. In addition to balancing your system, the moor compound is highly anti-inflammatory, promoting circulation, bringing relief from pain, and helping to treat skin problems such as psoriasis and eczema. It is also highly absorbent of body wastes and other toxic substances that have found their way into your system, making it an ideal medium for facilitating detoxification. This results in a cleaner, better balanced body, which means a healthier, and happier person.

Creating your own Moor Bath experience

Some days we can take the time to honour the process, and give the body all the space it needs to de-stress, and some days time will only allow for the briefest respite from the hustle and bustle. With whatever time you have, though, it’s possible to create a bath ritual to enhance wellness.

• Begin by preparing your room. Start with a clean bathtub, preferably cleaned with non-toxic products.
• Set out a fluffy towel, comfy robe, and perhaps a nice candle and some soothing music.
• Prepare the bath by adding a cupful or sachet of the Moor Spa Herbal Bath compound (approximately 6 to 8 fl.oz.) into the running bath water (use the Herbal Bath with Pine if preferred). The Moor should be thoroughly mixed into the water, and the water temperature should be a maximum of 38C (100F). Ideally, the water should be deep enough to immerse up to your neck
• Exfoliate your body by dry brushing, preferably with a Moor Spa 100% vegetable fibre brush. Exfoliation by dry brushing will improve penetration of the Moor nutrients, as well as supporting skin circulation and lymphatic drainage.
• You are now ready to submerge your body in the nice warm Moor waters. Keep in mind that at this point water temperature plays a very important role in your experience. For the nutrient transfer to occur, the bath water should be very close to the body’s temperature.
• Relax and enjoy for a full 20 minutes. If you meditate, here is a good opportunity. If you haven’t yet learned to meditate, why not consider playing a guided meditation CD while soaking?
• When getting out of the tub, we recommend that you only pat dry, and don’t rub off the thin layer of moisture on your body. Cover yourself with a robe and allow the nutrients to continue to be absorbed by the skin.
• Rest for at least an hour in a warm room.
• After draining the tub, an immediate rinse will prevent any staining, and assist the small Moor particles down the drain. Moor Spa Herbal Bath is safe for hydrotherapy tubs.
• For assistance with joint pain, varicose veins, carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis, massage Moor Spa Joint Balm gently into the affected area.
• For muscular tension or aches use Moor Spa Tension Balm.

When used for therapeutic purposes, a full course of 21 baths is recommended, to be taken every other day, ideally the last thing at night. Whether you choose a Moor bath as part of your healing regimen or simply to support your health and wellness goals, use this time to learn to trust and listen to your body. Allow yourself to be cleansed inside and out, eliminating mental stagnation and negativity. Feel tension, worry and fear slip into the water, and surround yourself with light, joy and love.

Contraindications. The only contraindication to Moor Hydrotherapy is uncontrolled high blood pressure. Please consult your physician prior to beginning treatment. In most cases, the Moor hydrotherapy will be very beneficial.

About Moor Spa
Moor Spa skin, body and wellness products contain no synthetic preservatives, no artificial fragrances, no artificial colours, no petroleum derivatives, are not tested on animals, and are made in Canada. Distributed by L'Moor.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis

A Concern for Spa and Esthetics professionals

What is it?

Dermatitis is an itchy skin condition that can result from exposure to irritants. An irritant can be anything from water, soaps, detergents, or even friction. Irritant contact dermatitis can occur in anyone. Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), on the other hand, is a condition that occurs in a percentage of the population who has a reaction to a substance (an allergen) that would be harmless to a person who is not allergic to that substance.

What does it look like?

Itching, redness, swelling and blisters can be local, as in someone who has a reaction on their wrist from the nickel in their watch, or it may be generalized, such as from the use of cosmetic skin preparations or topical medications.

Who gets it?

As with most allergies, the first contact with an allergen doesn’t usually provoke a reaction. An allergic response can often come as a complete surprise to someone who has not been prone to sensitivities. Among health care workers, an issue of increasing relevance is latex allergy, and for hairstylists, estheticians and spa professionals, ACD is becoming an important concern, most likely as a result of exposure to products used in their trade. Allergic contact dermatitis is a major occupational disease, and in serious cases, may result in an inability to work.

What causes it?

As with health care workers, and the cumulative exposure to latex gloves causing ACD, those who work in the health and beauty industry have cumulative exposure to products they use in treatments on their clients. Research points to chemical fragrances, colours and preservatives as potentially causing numerous skin irritations.

How is it treated?

While treatment with topical corticosteroids and in some instances systemic corticosteroids can reduce symptoms and prevent complications, the only real solution is avoidance of the allergen. In the case of those allergic to chemical fragrances and preservatives in cosmetics, education on ingredients and compounds is essential to avoiding flare-ups. Frustratingly, since a fragrance may contain thousands of individual chemicals, and manufacturers are not required to list each one, avoidance can be challenging. The list of chemical preservatives used is long, and may include: Formaldehyde, and compounds releasing formaldehyde (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, diazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, quaternium 15) and Parabens (methyl-, ethyl-, propyl- and butylparaben).

While consumers facing allergic reactions are encouraged to read product labels and avoid products that contain the allergens they are sensitive to, it is even more crucial for professionals in the industry. Not only are they protecting their clients, but they are protecting their own skin, not to mention their careers.

About Moor Spa

Moor Spa skin, body and wellness products contain no synthetic preservatives, no artificial fragrances, no artificial colours, no petroleum derivatives, are not tested on animals, and are made in Canada. Distributed by L'Moor.

I learned a new word the other day: puffery.

The official definition of that word is as follows:

"term frequently used to denote the exaggerations reasonably to be expected of a seller as to the degree of quality of his product, the truth or falsity of which cannot be precisely determined."

In other words, baloney.

And it's what companies are feeding you - the spa therapists, owners and estheticians, as they try to market their products to you.

Coming up this week is Toronto's spring spa show, Esthetique Spa International, and I think it is incumbent on all of us, as we walk the trade show floor, to keep the word "puffery" front and centre in our minds.

Here is a link to an excellent article in the Harvard Business Review Research Blog:

The Power and Perils of Puffery

When measuring the marketing claims of the various exhibitors you meet, and the speakers you hear, you might consider asking some of the following questions:

• Does the marketer make claims about a single aspect of the product, while avoiding talking about the less charming points? (i.e. indicating "no parabens", but failing to mention using formaldehyde releasers as preservatives)


• Does the marketer use vague language in their promotional strategy? (i.e. "voted the best" without indicating who voted)


• Does the product have a third-party endorsement label? If so, is it a recognizable and accredited organization?


• Does the exhibitor answer your questions fully, without verbal tapdancing? To answer this question, you have to trust your instincts.

Never has the term "buyer beware" been more relevant. Expect the exhibitors to respect your intelligence, and when visiting shows or entertaining vendors in your business, do your research, and don't forget to ask critical questions.

Moor Spa, Canadian manufacturer of 100% Natural Source Skincare, Bodycare and Wellness products, is committed to bringing integrity and fairness to the spa and wellness industry. Ask us your questions, and if we don't know the answer, we'll find out for you.

Body Treatments, the key to increasing spa revenue

Body Wraps are the quintessential spa treatment, a photo of which you’ll find in almost every spa’s marketing materials. Why, then, do many spa owners and managers tell us that they are unsatisfied with the quantity of these services they perform, and that they would like to do more?

Body wraps truly offer great benefits, to all concerned, so it's simply a matter of identifying the benefits, and communicating them to spa therapists and clients, as well as employing some consistent strategies to keep your schedule full.

Benefits to the Spa

• Greater revenue per service hour. The benchmark for service dollars is generally the revenue generated by one hour of massage, so if a massage provides $80 of revenue per hour, you can usually expect that the same hour of a body wrap brings $100-120. A few extra dollars in product cost can increase service revenue by up to $40!


• Massage therapists who perform this service can often offer an insurance receipt, as it falls under the “hydrotherapy” area of their scope of practice. The ability to obtain a receipt can be a draw for many clients.


• Many body wraps, such as Moor Spa’s Moor Gel and Seaweed Gel, don’t need a wet room to perform the service, which opens the door for many more spas to provide the service without costly construction in the spa.

Benefits to the therapist

• A body wrap is much less physically demanding for the massage therapist who performs it, which can extend his or her career lifespan. It also offers the therapist variety and prevents career stagnation.


• A body wrap often helps the client recover from muscle pain and soreness more quickly, which adds to the therapist’s fulfillment.

Benefits to the client

• Body wraps have an added therapeutic value, above and beyond a simple massage. Body wraps work to increase blood circulation, nourish the body’s systems, eliminate toxins and provide an anti-inflammatory effect which can relieve pain from conditions like arthritis.


• As a high-touch service, clients derive tremendous pleasure from a full body wrap, which can include exfoliation, cocooning with product (Moor Spa Body Mask, Moor Spa Seaweed Gel, White Gold Wellness Chalk), and a light, finishing massage.

How to market these services

The key to “selling” any service is knowledge! The person in the best position to sell any spa experience is your Spa Receptionist or concierge, your client’s point of first contact with your business. We often recommend things that we know, understand and enjoy, so shouldn’t your staff know firsthand how delicious a body wrap can be? It’s vital that your receptionist be part of the ongoing training of your staff, and she must not only know your menu but also have experienced all your services. In our experience, we often find when we visit spas that the receptionist has never had a body scrub, a wrap or any body treatment other than perhaps a massage. How can she express passion for a service that she either doesn’t know or hasn’t fallen in love with?

Here is a cost effective list of things you can do to market body services without breaking your advertising/marketing budget.

• Make ongoing training mandatory for all staff including receptionists, stylists, and estheticians – both full and part time. If you haven’t had training in a while, schedule another session. Suggest that non-technical staff be a model for the hands-on portion of training. Make sure as many of your staff as possible experience the treatments. For the staff performing the services, competence and confidence come with lots of practice, and in experiencing it themselves.


• As each guest arrives, offer them a tour of the spa section of your business. You will be surprised with the number of regular clients who do not know the full range of services you offer.


• Make it part of the booking process to mention at least one body service to every guest as a suggested service.


• Have your staff with open time slots offer small complimentary treatments (such as a neck and shoulder massage with Moor Spa Tension Balm) to waiting guests. Your clients will feel special, their wait time will fly by, and the time spent will offer your staff the opportunity to learn about the purchase motivation of your guests. Your client will also experience a portion of the pampering effect they will feel if they choose a full treatment.


• Educate your staff by teaching them to use words designed to convey the spa experience. Explain the health benefits of spa treatments in understandable terms. They should also talk about the benefits the client will receive by having the treatment, i.e. improve the texture, firm, tighten and tone the skin, relieve dry and itchy skin.

Work to build caring and respectful relationships with clients. Make them want to spend their free time with you – then they’ll be more likely to try the treatments you suggest.

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!

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[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.

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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.

Moor Mud

It’s a common misconception that “Moor” is a company or brand name, when Moor is actually the name to describe a type of mud, or earth. Several companies, in Canada and worldwide, produce and sell Moor-based or pure Moor products.

A respected ancient healer, Paracelsus, understood healing to come from the earth and knew the healing properties of moor. Moor has been an important health and wellness ingredient for many centuries, and according to sources, one of the first users of moor was Cleopatra herself. Modern research was influenced by Professor Otto Stöber, a researcher who founded the Austrian Moor Research Institute in the 1940’s. His work has been continued by others, including Walter Kosmath in the 1950’s. He discovered tiefenmoor (a deeper deposit of moor near Vorarlberg, Austria). In most European countries today, Moor remains a respected and sought after therapy. A brief perusal of current clinical research reveals thousands of published studies in journals around the world on the therapeutic value of Moor.

Moor is a rich, organic mud, formed by time and composed of thousands of plants, which has been proven to be quite similar to the composition of the human body. Moor an ideal ingredient in body and skin care compounds, as its bio-availability aids in nourishing the body as well as assisting in its detoxification. This gives therapists a powerful tool to assist clients in reestablishing their body’s ability to heal. The anti-inflammatory properties of Moor assist in healing skin disorders such as psoriasis, and inflammation of the joints, as in Rheumatoid Arthritis. It is a natural antiseptic and works to balance hormones as well.

Every Moor Spa product includes the rich, black moor water as the signature ingredient. This water is extracted from the moor by a process of filtration which takes several weeks to complete. It contains most of the moor’s water-soluble nutrients and is therefore extremely nourishing to the skin and body.

For more information about clinical research involving Moor, and to receive copies of abstracts, please contact L’Moor.

The Myth of Free Shipping

Hearing the phrase “Free Shipping!” is enough to get any shopper’s heart beating faster.

You know what they say, though: There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.

Any business that offers free shipping has somehow hidden the cost in the price of their products or services. They either absorb the cost of shipping products and reduce the services they provide to you, or they calculate the total cost of prior years shipping and come up with the average cost of shipping an order. This average shipping cost is “baked in” to the cost of the goods, and applied as an increase in the product price. Some go one step further and impose minimum orders as a requirement to receive free shipping. Yet, you never see a discount on the cost of your products if you don’t meet their minimum order, right? Yet, you have increased their profit as the shipping cost is already included their profit margins.

Shipping product is a cost of doing business, and is generally one of the top 5 expenses a business will incur. No business can ship without cost, even if they own the shipping company. Canada Post, Purolator, UPS, etc., make their living from shipping and they certainly don’t give their service away. So, unless Canada Post decides to give up on the idea of generating revenue, someone, somewhere, is paying the cost of shipping. The average cost of shipping products ranges from 5% to 15% depending on distance traveled and weight.

When free shipping is offered, then the customers who place the largest orders actually reap the least benefit, in terms of the percentage of what they save on shipping. Why would it be fair to make the ones who invest the most in us, save the least?

It seems to us that having everyone pay for what they actually use is the best option.

The occasional “free shipping” offer can be a legitimate way of driving sales - perhaps on products that are overstocked, seasonal or newly released. However, offering it routinely will cost the client in the long run.

We want to be upfront with you, and offer transparency about how we make money. We pay to have the products shipped to us, and we pay the carrying cost to keep inventory in Ontario - close to our clients until they are ready to buy. Of course, the occasional back order occurs as we grow and learn about the products our customers want and need.

The shipping cost on each invoice is the cost to us to ship to you via Canada Post, which has proven to be the most timely, cost effective way to ship to our clients in Ontario.

While free shipping can be a valid customer acquisition and loyalty tool, we generally prefer to focus our marketing initiatives by offering superior customer service, build face to face relationships over time, and supporting our clients to grow their businesses. This includes:

• onsite training
  
• providing well researched articles for clients to use in newsletters and advertising
  
• offering personalized attention to helping our clients order the right products
  
• guaranteeing the quality of our products
  
• carrying an inventory offering multiple sizes to give our clients the choice to purchase sample, travel, retail, professional or bulk sizing
  
• no minimum orders

In the end, given the choice between paying for your products and knowing the actual cost of shipping, or having the cost buried in the price of your order (which helps pay for someone else’s shipping), which would you choose?

First post

Thanks for joining yet another newbie blogger.

This is my first post, and while I've spent a few days (yes, sitting on my couch in my pyjamas - we call that "working from home") researching what I want to do, I'm still pretty unsure.

I'm certain that most people, when they start a blog, wonder why anyone would want to read what they have to say. I'm in that place too.

That being said, one thing I'm not short of, is opinions. And I'm generally not shy about sharing them.

I hope you'll like my thoughts, and if you don't, at least I hope I won't offend you (too much).