Spa Blog
Your insight on Spa Solage, fitness, life, Napa Valley and overall wellness with Solage Calistoga Master Trainer Donavan Almond
Bamboo is an ancient therapy from China as well as a renewable and sustainable resource. As part of our earth month initiatives we are featuring spa treatments focusing on its use. Bamboo is the symbol of suppleness, simplicity and rising spring energy. Our spring special combines a luxurious handcrafted shea butter, lemongrass and bamboo polish and features a soothing and rhythmic massage with warm bamboo canes. This ancient therapy provides a deep sense of relaxation and well-being as muscle tension melts away. You can also incorporate the bamboo tools into your at home routine.
The bamboo tools can be purchased online at Mu-Xing.com. Anyone can use the bamboo tool at home to massage their significant other and release tension on their back, legs or feet. Simply hold the bamboo tool with both hands (like a rolling pin) and roll it on each side of the spine using medium pressure. Great relief for neck and shoulder tension as well as the tension in lower back. For foot massage, use the end of the tool with smaller movements in a circular motion. Start by adding a bamboo massage to your evening routine a few times per week.
We love this blog post from skin care expert Marie Veronique on how to guard against contaminants entering and spoiling your skin care products.
See the full article here. We also proudly offer a wide range of MVO treatments and products at Spa Solage.
Oil-based products
- While essential oils do show some ability to preserve oils,rosemary oleoresin and Vitamin E are your best bets for protecting against oxidation and extending shelf life. Look for one or the other, and preferably both, in your oil-based products.
- If you have an oil-based product you have not opened because you intend to use it later put it in the refrigerator. Keep products that you are currently using in a cool, dark place.
- Look for products packaged in dark glass, with dispenser tops that limit exposure of the products to air.
Water-based products
Perhaps no other issue is more controversial than natural preservation of water-based products. Many preservative suppliers point out that the obstacles to so-called natural preservation are almost insurmountable. “A single natural preservative just isn’t practical,” insists Mary.Chervenak of Dow Biocides. “Although some organic oils and other natural products have antimicrobial activity, their biocidal capabilities are limited and they usually cannot withstand the continuous reinoculation that most personal care products must endure.
The bactericidal and mold inhibitor good guys
Cosmocil CQ is paraben-free bactericide that has so far been given a clean bill of health. Geogard, composed of gluconolactone and sodium benzoate, is accepted as a preservative for use in organic products. Leucidal, derived from a lactic acid bacteria, is new and potentially of great utility, however both Geogard and Leucidal may be skin irritating (see sodium benzoate below). Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, derived from glycine, is a broad-spectrum preservative effective against bacteria, yeast and mold. Showing promise, manufacturers are still working with it to determine whether it is effective enough for general use.
Controversial preservatives
Phenoxyethanol is often described as a safe, paraben-free alternative. While it is an improvement over propylparaben the jury is still out, with the Green Beauty Guide citing some evidence before giving it a definite “no” vote. While phenoxyethanol does not release formaldehyde it is known to work best when used with with diazoldinyl urea, which does. I would be a tad suspicious of phenoxyethanol listed alone.
Our Solution
In addition to using very stable oils like meadowfoam seed oil we use Rosemary oleoresin and mixed tocopherols (Vitamin E) to stabilize our oil blends. Our choice for our water-based formulations is Polyaminopropyl biguanide (Cosmocil CQ) a paraben-free and fast-acting and broad spectrum antimicrobial, providing activity against a wide range of bacteria (including MRSA, Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli) and viruses. Consistent with our thinking, the EWG places Polyaminopropyl biguanide in their low risk category.
We are honored and excited to be nominated as one of JuliB.com’s best hotels in San Francisco. Please take moment to vote for us and check-out their site.
You may remember a post they recently did on our Citrus Skin Smoothies.
VOTE HERE - simple click of the orange “Vote” button found on the page (you”ll need to register to vote first, which is free). Thank you!
The Barre Workout has gained notoriety and become a leading workout due to the incredible effects resulting from elongating the body, tightening the core and focusing attention on small muscle groups. We’re delighted to bring Barre expert, Stephanie Herman’s popular workshop to Solage. Ms. Herman is a prima fitness guru and former principal ballerina who has performed with ballet legends such as Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov.
The Superbowl and Valentine’s Day are two of the biggest healthy new year’s resolutions killers. If you have fallen off the wagon or are looking to get started on your beach body here are some helpful tips from Fitness & Activities Manager, Donavan Almond.
“Master one thing at a time. First week focus on getting your exercise schedule down, second week focus on diet, etc” ~ Donavan Almond
5 Tips For Starting a Successful Weight Loss Program
- Set measurable goals and time to achieve it
- Plan your meals and workout times a week in advance
- Surround yourself with healthy snacks
- Mix workouts with strength and cardio with 2-days of rest per week
- Don’t drink your calories, use water as your primary source of hydration
We love this feature on Inside Luxury Travel on Spa Solage. Spa Manager, Holly Plank does an amazing job describing mudslide treatment.
Watch the full video here.
Here are our Valentine’s Day specials that are running the full month of February.
Monday is the last day to enter this amazing giveaway. We wish you the best of luck!!
We were so happy to be a part of Molly’s wedding celebration. This is such a beautiful spread in C Weddings. We are also excited to congratulate Molly and Scott on expecting their first baby in June!
We are so excited to be featured this week in the San Francisco Chronicle as one of their top Soothing Spa Treatments The mudslide is a great way to rejuvenate that dry skin that always seems to come around in the cold winter months.
“The signature treatment at this Wine Country hotel is the “mudslide” – a mud bath of sorts applied to the skin. This winter, it has been gussied up with organic fair-trade Dominican cocoa and Aura Cacia organic peppermint essential oil that’s whisked into a mineral-enriched clay and volcanic ash blend and geothermal water from the hotel’s own spring. The Chocolate Peppermint Mudslide comes with a chocolate mint hot toddy, with or without alcohol (60 minutes; $185-$210, depending on day of the week). Take-home mud kits available ($25). (707) 226-0825; www.solagecalistoga.com/spa.”
©2011 Solage Calistoga. 755 Silverado Trail Calistoga California 94515 Telephone 866 942 7442