What is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that harnesses the therapeutic properties of natural plant extracts, known as essential oils, to enhance overall well-being. Thought to have originated over 6,000 years ago, aromatherapy has been used in various cultures for its healing and relaxation-inducing properties. 

Health Benefits of Aromatherapy: 

When inhaled or applied to the skin, these aromatherapy oils can stimulate the olfactory system, or the sense of smell, which is linked to the brain’s emotional center. This results in various therapeutic effects, from reducing stress and anxiety to improving sleep and boosting mood to promoting relaxation. Aromatherapy has been shown to have positive effects on mood and cognitive functions, making it a valuable tool for improving mental well-being and alleviating the symptoms of various psychological conditions.

In addition, these oils can also stimulate the limbic system, a part of the brain associated with emotions and memories, resulting in physiological and emotional responses that contribute to the therapeutic benefits of aromatherapy. With the sense of smell being closely tied to our emotions and memories, aromatherapy is a powerful tool for improving mental health.

Adding Aromatherapy in Your Life:

Incorporating aromatherapy into your routine is simple and can have a profound impact on your overall well-being. Whether through essential oil diffusers, aromatherapy candles, bath oils, or topical applications like scrubs, lotions or perfumes, there are many ways to enjoy the benefits of essential oils. You could also try visiting a spa or wellness center as most incorporate aromatherapy into their facilities and services like oil massages or aromatherapy massages. 

Certain scents, such as lavender and chamomile, are known for their calming properties, helping to alleviate stress and promote a sense of calmness. Create a relaxing atmosphere by using lavender oil before bedtime. On the other hand, invigorating scents like peppermint and citrus can boost energy levels and improve focus. Start your day with an energizing citrus blend to promote productivity.

The benefits of scent extend far beyond just pleasant smells, with physical and emotional benefits. Discover for yourself the soothing effects of aromatherapy!

The post Therapeutic Benefits of Aromatherapy appeared first on Glen Ivy.

What is a Grotto?

A grotto is a natural or man-made cave or cavern, often characterized by its unique geological formations, peaceful atmosphere and association with water such as springs, pools or waterfalls. They are commonly found in gardens, parks or spa environments, providing secluded sanctuaries for relaxation, rejuvenation and connection with nature.

What is the History of Grottos?

The history of grotto caves dates back centuries, with these natural or man-made caves often connected with spiritual and therapeutic properties. In ancient times, these sacred spaces have been historically used for various purposes, including spiritual or religious rituals, meditation and as places for reflection and contemplation. First discovered in ancient Rome, grottoes were recognized as peaceful escapes from the outside world. The Italians used the natural moisture of grottos to create hydrating bath houses. Similarly, the French sought out these cool subterranean caves for relief from the heat.

Over the years, grottos have evolved from simple caves to elaborate structures. Still renowned as sacred spaces across the world, grotto caves now commonly symbolize rejuvenation and people’s connection to nature. 

What are the Benefits of Grottos?

The cool, damp environment of grottos is believed to have therapeutic benefits for both physical and mental well-being. The tranquil atmosphere of a grotto, often enhanced by the presence of water features, can help promote relaxation and reduce stress levels. Additionally, the damp environment of a grotto, along with the presence of mineral springs and mud baths, can have positive effects on skin health, respiratory issues, stress relief, muscle relaxation and skin health. 

At Glen Ivy Hot Springs, The Grotto offers a subterranean experience that includes a treatment ritual to promote healing and overall well-being. After descending into the gently heated grotto cave, guests are painted neck-to-toe with a warm aloe vera, coconut oil, eucalyptus, shea butter and lavender masque that they then rinse off in cascading water.

The post Unveiling the History and Healing Benefits of The Grotto: A Subterranean Sanctuary appeared first on Glen Ivy.

• What are some of the specific physical health benefits that can be achieved through regular massage therapy sessions?

Regular massage sessions have many benefits to your physical health. It improves circulation in your body allowing better functionality. Massage therapy can help speed up muscle recovery and ease the pain of injury. Regular massage treatments can also decrease inflammation in joints providing better mobility.

• How does massage therapy contribute to improving mental health?

Massage therapy plays a crucial role in enhancing your mental state and emotional well-being. Massage can help stimulate the natural endorphins in your body, leading to less stress, anxiety and depression. Regular massage will also improve sleep.

• Are there any specific conditions or ailments that can be effectively addressed or managed through massage therapy?

Absolutely! Conditions such as depression, anxiety, fatigue, migraines, chronic pain in muscles and/or joints and arthritis can all benefit from consistent massage therapy sessions.

• Why did you decide to become a massage therapist?

At a very young age, being someone that helped make others feel better came naturally. When my grandfather got sick and was in hospice care, I went to visit him. Other family members informed me that he was not the same and was unable to converse with anyone. When I went to his bedside, I started to massage his right hand and for the first time in a long time he smiled THE BIGGEST SMILE and squeezed my hand. It was at that moment I realized how powerful and how healing touch was. This is what made me want to heal others through the power of massage therapy.

• What does Massage Therapy Awareness Week mean to you?

Educating and bringing light to how healing, therapeutic and beneficial massage therapy can be to everyone. It gives us a chance to use our knowledge and expertise so that people know they do have options for a better lifestyle.

National Massage Therapy Awareness Week serves as a way to highlight the many benefits of massage therapy and showcase the expertise of massage therapists. Through education and awareness, this week encourages individuals to explore the healing and therapeutic effects of massage for overall well-being.

The post Benefits of Massage Therapy for Your Physical and Mental Health From a Glen Ivy Expert appeared first on Glen Ivy.

The Rise of Sustainable Skincare:

In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift in the beauty industry towards more natural skincare products. People are becoming more conscious of what they put on their bodies and the impact it has on their health and the environment. This growing awareness has led to the rise of sustainable and clean skincare, a movement that promotes the use of non-toxic, organic and natural ingredients that are beneficial for both you and the earth.

Why Non-Toxic Skin Care Matters for Your Health:

Traditional skincare products often contain synthetic ingredients that can have negative effects on the skin and overall health. These harsh chemicals can strip the skin of its natural oils, causing dryness, irritation and even long-term damage. Additionally, many skincare products contain harmful chemicals such as parabens, phthalates and sulfates. These ingredients have been linked to various health issues, including hormone disruption, allergic reactions and even cancer. 

On the other hand, using non-toxic, organic and natural skincare means the products are free from harmful chemicals. Switching your products provides many benefits for both your skin and overall health. 

• Gentle Ingredients: Organic skincare products often contain natural ingredients such as plant extracts and oils that can help maintain the skin’s pH balance and promote healthier skin without harsh chemicals. 
• Boosts Hydration: Natural ingredients are known to be powerful to lock in moisture in your skin. Shea butter and mineral oils like jojoba oil and rosehip seed oil hydrate the skin to prevent dryness, flakiness and rough texture.
• Improved Skin Health: Choosing clean skincare can lead to improved skin texture and tone. The nourishing properties of organic and natural ingredients can provide essential nutrients to the skin, resulting in a clearer, healthier and more radiant complexion.

The Impact of Choosing Natural Skin Care Products on the Environment:

Not only are natural skincare products better for your health, but they are also better for the environment. Traditional skincare products often use synthetic ingredients derived from fossil fuels, which contribute to pollution and habitat decline. In contrast, organic skincare products are often produced using sustainable practices that are better for the environment and are made from renewable and biodegradable plant-based ingredients which have less of an impact on the environment and help to minimize pollution. 

Sustainable Skincare Tips:

When it comes to building a sustainable skincare routine, it’s important to choose the right products for your skin type. Look for non-toxic, organic and natural skincare products that are specifically formulated to address your unique skin concerns. In addition to using natural beauty products, there are other sustainable skincare tips that you can follow to help reduce your impact on the environment. 

• Support Sustainable Brands: Opt for products from brands that use minimal packaging or those that use recyclable materials.
• Reduce Waste: Invest in reusable products or ones that are made from better materials, like washable makeup remover pads and bamboo cotton swabs to reduce waste.
• New Approaches: Try incorporating holistic skincare practices into your routine, such as facial massages or dry brushing as a new approach to skincare. 

By opting for clean skincare, you can enhance the health and appearance of your skin while also making a positive impact on the environment. Join the clean skincare revolution! 

The post Sustainable Skincare Benefits for a Healthier Lifestyle and Environment appeared first on Glen Ivy.

Massages have been proven to offer multiple health benefits for both mental and physical well-being. Research shows that massages can do wonders for relieving stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as the physical symptoms associated with conditions such as headaches, shoulder tension, high heart rate, insomnia, and fatigue. But that’s not all, massages can also be instrumental in increasing range of motion, improving cardiovascular health, reducing inflammation and scar tissue, and minimizing the frequency of migraines.

Extensive research has proven massage therapy to also be supportive of various health treatments, making it an optimal option for those in need of rehabilitation after surgery, people living with chronic diseases, expectant mothers, war veterans dealing with physical injuries or psychological conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as patients undergoing cancer treatments. 

An example of this is a treatment known as the Oncology Massage. With growing evidence-based research, this massage treatment has emerged as a specialized service, providing customized care for individuals dealing with cancer. This type of massage assists in addressing the side effects of treatments, such as chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and nausea, as well as alleviating associated stress and anxiety.

Regardless of the reason, anyone can indulge in massage therapy and reap the mental and physical advantages. National Massage Therapy Awareness Week also aims to educate the public about the different techniques and styles of massage therapy that have been developed to target specific concerns or meet certain goals. One of the most popular and widely recognized forms is the Swedish massage. This technique combines rhythmic tapping and kneading strokes to target surface muscles and alleviate tension. If relaxation is your goal, look no further than a soothing relaxation massage that promotes calmness and helps you unwind from the daily stresses of life. 

Expanding further, aromatherapy massages employ the use of essential oils to provide specific health benefits, while the revitalizing Shirodhara treatment involves the gentle pouring of warm oil over the forehead, heightening awareness and managing stress. For a contactless yet invigorating experience, HydroMassages utilize heated water within a specially designed table, offering revitalization and reducing inflammation without the need for a massage therapist.

If you are looking to observe this National Massage Therapy Awareness Week, booking your favorite treatment, trying a new style of massage, or giving the gift of a service to a loved one is a great way to do so. With multiple options to choose from, celebrating massage therapy this October is your opportunity to take a step towards self-care and overall wellness. 

The post National Massage Therapy Awareness Week appeared first on Glen Ivy.

So how does one tackle the dry season? It might be helpful to better understand how and why your skin is dehydrated in the first place. The outer layer of human skin is made up of dead skin cells that are stacked on top of each other, sealed together by lipids. This wall of dead cells helps to keep moisture locked inside of your body–but this system is not totally foolproof. Once the cells beneath this barrier lose water, the cells begin to dry out, causing your skin to also dry and become dull. The unpleasant dry skin that results from this process can become itchy and begin to crack.

The first solution people will usually jump to is to moisturize as moisturizers are helpful in bringing relief to dry skin. Emollients and occlusives, prominent components in moisturizers, are ingredients commonly used to counteract dry skin. Emollients, or lotions and ointments, are used to soothe and hydrate the skin when irritated, whereas occlusives, such as shea and cocoa butter, help to seal and lock in the moisture. These two elements work together to treat dry skin and can provide temporary relief. Another major gameplayer in keeping skin healthy and hydrated is sunscreen. Though most people think to skip sunscreen during the winter, it’s still crucial to apply and protect the skin’s moisture barrier that can still be stressed in winter UV light.

Hydration, on the other hand, goes a bit deeper than moisturizers can by infusing water into those cells lacking moisture. One major way to increase hydration is by taking an internal approach. Drinking more water than usual during the winter is a surefire way to increase hydration. Your diet can also assist in this process by consuming foods that are high in antioxidants and omega 3-fatty acids, like berries and different types of fish. 

A few other tactics to combat dry skin include reducing the length and heat of your showers and switching out your soaps, detergents and other skin-care products for gentler brands made for sensitive skin. Exfoliating your skin throughout the winter can be beneficial to keeping it looking vibrant and refreshed, but it’s good to only do so in moderation. Over-exfoliating, or using the wrong products, can break down the skin’s moisture barrier and cause the skin to crack further. Of course using hydrating masks and overnight treatments are always effective ways to treat your skin, but it’s important to know your skin and which products to avoid as some can lead to your skin being further dried out and damaged.

With skin being the largest organ in the human body, it’s imperative to know your skin and take care of it through its ups and downs and seasonal changes. Hopefully with these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to handle your dry skin this winter season and find which routine and products work best for you!

The post Winter Wellness appeared first on Glen Ivy.

With a rich history dating back thousands of years, the origins of massage therapy can be seen throughout cultures and countries around the world. Early beliefs were that physical ailments were often due to being out of sync with the environment and that massage could be used to restore the body’s physical and natural balance. Massage therapy is not only an act of self-care but also has other major, proven health benefits. A recent study done by the American Massage Therapy Association shows that “88 percent of individuals view massage therapy as beneficial to overall health and wellness.” Massage therapy has been renowned for improving quality of sleep, increasing range of motion, reducing anxiety and stress, and has even been adapted to help manage cancer symptoms. 

Massages clearly have overall positive effects, but as its popularity spread around the globe,  different techniques and styles of massage therapy have been developed to target specific areas. To name just a few, there are Swedish, Thai and Shiatsu massages, and the list doesn’t stop there. Glen Ivy proudly contributes to the ongoing practice of massage therapy and provides an extensive menu of massage services, as well as offering an online survey for guests to discover which treatment will best cater to their needs. From pro-sleep to warm Himalayan salt stone massages, Glen Ivy offers both traditional and one-of-a-kind treatments. The Shirodhara treatment offered at Glen Ivy is a perfect example of the impact massage therapy can have. It is a full body experience with a continuous stream of warm oil trickling over the forehead to sooth the third eye and allow the body to enter a meditative and blissful state. This kind of treatment has been known to help combat insomnia, high blood pressure, depression and anxiety and leaves guests with a sense of relaxation, rejuvenation and clarity that is unmatched.  Massage therapy has been and continues to be a key component to health and wellness practiced in different ways and parts of the world, and Glen Ivy is honored to take part in that celebration this October. 

The post Massage Therapy Week appeared first on Glen Ivy.

Arguably one of the most important preventative measures of skin care, especially during the summer season, is to incorporate sunscreen in your daily skin care routine. With Glen Ivy recognizing National Wellness Month this August, and the 15th being National Relaxation day, there’s emphasis on spending time outdoors, being active, and soaking up the sun. All of those activities sound rejuvenating and relaxing, but they also entail lots of sunshine. The Skin Cancer Foundation reminds us that “skin is damaged by sun exposure over your lifetime, whether or not you burn.” This is a great reminder that sunscreen should be worn on a daily basis and should be reapplied every two hours.

Glen Ivy not only promotes the significance of sunscreen, but focuses on skin care as a whole. When looking at the selection of treatments at Glen Ivy, you’ll find countless facials with face masks that target and treat different skin types, ages, and conditions. With so many options to choose from, Glen Ivy makes it easy for you to pick with a survey to find the facial best suited to you. Celebrate wellness this month at Glen Ivy Hot Springs with treatments like the Nourishing Classic Solution facial, a subterranean full-body masque in the Grotto, or the natural exfoliation of California red clay in Club Mud. Whichever you choose, Glen Ivy has your skin-care needs covered from head to toe.

The post Skin Care appeared first on Glen Ivy.

Pairing nail care with meditation, Sound of Color transports guests to a zen and relaxing state. SpaRitual partnered with UnPlug, an accessible meditation app, to curate stress-reducing and wellness-inducing meditations that correspond with SpaRitual’s nail polish shades and take nail care services to a deeper state of relaxation.

Sound of Color treatments start by selecting a Vegan Nourishing Nail Color from SpaRitual’s range of 36 brilliant polishes. Choose from empowering shades like Wellness Warrior, a bold red, True Freedom, a rose pink, or Breath of Joy, a peachy nude. Each polish corresponds with a special meditation that guests listen to with noise-cancelling headphones, often drifting away to a place of total wellness. Each Sound of Color meditation is unique and is designed to support calmness and well-being.

Nail care is often overlooked as a wellness ritual with the hustle and bustle atmosphere in the standard nail salon. SpaRitual is bringing wellness back to the salon with empowering, meditative Sound of Color services. Glen Ivy Hot Springs is pleased to offer Sound of Color pedicures. To learn more and book a treatment, please call 888-GLEN-IVY.

The post Sound of Color appeared first on Glen Ivy.

A recent trend in skincare are products designed to nourish the skin’s microbiome. A science-backed trend, microbiome skincare aims to protect the healthy microbes living on the surface of the skin that fight off bad bacteria and keep skin healthy. The skin’s microflora is made up of thousands of healthy microbes that help maintain the skin’s barrier and function properly.

The key to microbiome skincare is to maintain the skin’s natural pH so the microflora is not disturbed. Microbiome friendly skincare products are ultra-gentle and often include prebiotic ingredients that reinforce the healthy bacteria. The best cleansers are made with gentle surfactants that are often coconut derived, instead of sulfates. Balanced skincare products are also key in microbiome skincare. Take hand sanitizer, which is often quite drying. Microbiome friendly versions are made with Aloe vera to help maintain the skin’s moisture barrier.

Microbiome skincare sounds complicated, but brands like [comfort zone] make microbiome skincare easy. The Remedy line by [comfort zone] leverages the power of a natural prebiotics to promote skin health and provide extra defense. The entire line is formulated without fragrance, alcohol, silicones, parabens, mineral oils, artificial colors and animal derivatives. At Glen Ivy, we encourage guests to take care of their skin. We are proud to partner with [comfort zone] to provide relaxing skincare and body care treatments and consult guests on which [comfort zone] products are best for their routine.

The post Nourishing Your Skin’s Microbiome appeared first on Glen Ivy.