Amerispa does it again!

Winner of numerous Consumer Choice awards, Amerispa adds a new Health and Beauty Centre to its family of Hotel and Resort Spas, in Esterel just a short hour away from Montreal. Recently rebuilt, this iconic Laurentian retreat brings you the best hotel and resort experiences with a magnificent view of Lake Dupuis.

You can expect the same quality of services from this chain that now counts 10 Health & Beauty Centres throughout the province of Quebec. Since opening this past December, it has already began to enchant spa goers with 40 different types of massage therapy, aesthetic services and signature body treatments. Prices range from: manicure, $50; pedicure, $65; Swedish relaxation massage, $80 to $115; Elixir ice cider regeneration, $125.

While at the Amerispa in Esterel, also enjoy the well-being of thermotherapy as access to the hot tubs, Finish sauna and lake are included with the purchase of any package or two hour treatment.

I can’t think of a better way to experience the natural beauty of the Laurentians!

Maggie Richardson

Findsalonspa.com Blogger

- Planning a weekend road trip up to the Laurentians!

Feeling stressed? Who’s not? The best part of going to the hair salon is when you get your hair washed! What an amazing feeling, you sit back, relax and let someone else do the job. Then suddenly, two hands delicately touch your scalp and slowly start to massage your head. One word: Awesome! But does a head massage really de-stress and why does it feel so good? (Pardon to those who don’t like it)

To begin with, some of our most sensitive nerve endings are around the scalp and head areas that’s why when someone else is slowly massaging our scalp, certain zones of our head will directly release feel-good endorphins, this then blocks the stress hormone cortisol, and boosts circulation, blood flow, and in turn helps feed the hair follicle. It helps reverse the damaging effects of stress by slowing heart rate, respiration and metabolism and lowering raised blood pressure.

The proper term for head massage is known as Champissage, which is a form of Indian head massage. Many hair salons and spas provide a kind of scalp massage as part of a hair treatment or styling appointment. It’s recommended that even a regular head massage has positive benefits. Anyone seeking scalp massages to improve issues with hair should do so once a week for the greatest benefits. This allows the practitioner to gently spread the natural and special hair massage oils each week to improve strength, flexibility, and what we all love; shine. So not only does it feel great but it helps the hair as well. Next time you hit the salon, ask for a head massage, where they can gently work the scalp with warm oils and let the tension be relieved. It’s a beneficial because sometimes the tight muscles in the temple and neck can lead to tension headaches and pain.

Much tension in the body finds its way to the head and neck. By massaging your temples, neck along with your nose and forehead can quickly de-stress you in a few minutes. A scalp massage is a more direct attack on the pain, so it serves as a quick fix rather than using medication in some instances. The natural tendency to rub or massage areas of pain is instinctively correct, and scalp massage is definitely something to be explored for anyone who suffers from headaches. It’s fast and effective, proven fact! The only hard part is finding someone to do it for you! Clients are most content when they get up from the chair and thank you, simply because you got rid of their head ache. So when you’re at work and have a throbbing head ache, bribe a friend, give them chocolate and have them save your head, literally, with a 5 minute massage.

So now that you know all the technicalities as to why our brain sends off a positive feeling and that your body and mind are relaxed, why not learn a few quick methods to improve your own way of giving a head massage?

Start off by the top of the head, near the forehead, gently using your thumbs and fingers going in circular movements and then moving downwards. The main point is to slowly but firmly apply pressure and keep moving in circular patterns. You can then work your way down towards the neck area and apply pressure in 3 different points, by continually massaging the area of pain. Sometimes holding a pressure point too for a few seconds can undo the stress point.

It’s easier being said, but practice is definitely needed sometimes, so you don’t hurt anyone.

On that note, keep it simple and soft and your friends will be thanking you since you’ve taken on the new role of Dr. De-stress.

For the love of well-being; relax, let go, and enjoy!

Jennifer N. Mancini
Professional Hair Stylist, Montreal
Findsalonspa.com Blogger

“Self-help” has become a popular motto in the last decade that has sparked thousands of books to emerge advising us on how to improve our lives economically, intellectually, and emotionally. Let’s face it; we can always use a little know-how or positive thinking from published professionals. But with all this “self-help” advice around, I can’t help ask myself: “when did living become so difficult?”

Self-help books can sometimes be stereotyped as corny psycho-babble books that cater only to middle aged women. However, self-help and self-improvement books suggest that there are loads of issues like self esteem, anger, anxiety, stress, time management, marriage, love, relationships, family, and happiness that we all deal with on a day-to-day basis. I, myself was always a little hesitant to pick up a “self-help” book because I was skeptical of the information, assuming it to be a little ridiculous and redundant. I was not impressed! Even the hype built up around Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret or Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now could not get me to pick up a copy.

All this changed when I was introduced to Miguel Ruiz’s The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom. Having sold almost 4 million copies, been featured on Oprah, and been on the New York Times Bestsellers list for four years, this tiny little book packs quite a punch. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, the book offers four agreements that are simple and can transform our lives into a new experience of effectiveness, balance and self-supporting behaviour.

The four agreements are:

1. BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2. DON’T TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

3. DON’T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best and you will avoid self-judgement, self-abuse, and regret.

The following is a review written on Accomplishlife.com by Mark Machaalani which I truly agree with, “The agreements themselves may indeed seem basic and some what common knowledge, yet it is the way that Miguel energetically conveys to us the meanings behind these agreements, which is indeed outstanding. He is able to transform four basic concepts of life into a foundation on which we should build upon in search of happiness. It’s the how and why one should do these things that make The Four Agreements worth reading and remembering.”

The next time you find yourself at a bookstore, pick up a copy of Miguel Ruiz’s The Four Agreements, I promise it will change your perspective on self-help books, and on life.

Sabrina Giancioppi
Concordia University Student
Findsalonspa.com Blogger

Rigorously conducted research at the Institute of HeartMath shows that the heart receives and responds to intuitive information before the brain does. Their research shows that the heart first receives an intuitive signal then sends it to the brain, and lastly the body responds (the gut). This heart-brain system allows the heart to process information and make complex decisions independent of the brain and central nervous system. Their research also shows that the heart has access to a field of information not bound by space or time. Fascinating.  In my recent conversation with Dr. McCraty on Heart Beat he explained that the heart is our ” primary access point to our larger selves ” (also referred to as higher self/soul/spirit/ greater consciousness), known as our heart intelligence.  He went on to explain that  ” we perceive what we attend to” and made the crucial point that it is important to notice where our attention is going, suggesting that if we pay attention to our heart we will notice the intuitive signals it is receiving. When we pay attention to our heart  we will be able to connect with this heart intelligence that is available to each one of us.   How this month can you pay more attention to your heart and listen to its signals? What might you do to hear the intuitive messages being received in your heart?   This month you can start to take notice of your heart by taking the following steps:

1. First and most importantly acknowledge your heart as the access point for your unique own intelligence (beyond your mental intelligence) and knowing.

2. Put your hand on your heart and connect with your heart by placing your attention there.

3. Invite a feeling a positive emotion into your being, love or gratitude or appreciation (through a memory or thought of a person, animal, place or thing)

4. Feel the resonance of this heart vibration you are generating through this positive emotion and notice how it feels in your body and around your heart.

5. Take this state of being with you into your day for as long as it feels genuine and come back to this practice whenever you like.

Julie L. Cusmariu
Intuitive Consultant, Certified Life Coach, Creator & Host of Heart Beat internet radio
Using your intuition to live an inspired life
www.juliecusmariu.com
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/heart-beat
(514)849-5761

Tune in to Heart Beat each Wednesday at 4pm EDT or listen through the archives http://www.juliecusmariu.com/blog/radio-show-archives/ and listen to conversations with guests such as Bruce Lipton, Ph.D, Byron Katie, Dr. Marilyn Mandala Schlitz, Dr. Judith Orloff and more..

Want to connect to your intuition? Check out my new audio meditations for download