Looking to green your spa, but worried about the expenses?
Our upcoming Green Scene ("Mayan Marvel," August 2010) contains lots of information about cost-efficient ways to incorporate eco-friendly supplies into your spa.
Heres a taste to get you started:
Make investments that have a proven return. John Vater, co-owner of Spa Adriana in Huntington, New York, says, "solar panels pay off, as long as you continue using them to save on energy costs."
Shop locally. When Vater and his wife Adriana recently remodeled their spa, they wanted to enrich their Mayan theme by building a faade with limestone from the Yuctan Peninsula in Mexico. Instead, they found a local company that manufactures precut concrete. "That way our renovation doesn't have the environmental impact that would result from shipping and trucking materials all that distance," John says. "It saves a lot of money too."
What supplies, products and materials do you employ to increase your spa's sustainability? Send your ideas to Katie O'Reilly, associate editor, at koreilly@creativeage.com.
Clients increasingly look to day spas to curb unhealthy habits and dramatic weight gain (see Weighing the Options in July). Natural health aids can help spa-goers control their food cravings by speeding up the metabolism and providing nutritional support.
Following is a list of the most common active ingredients found in these supplements:
Cascada Sagrada Bark. With a name that means "sacred bark" in Spanish, this product of the buckthorn tree is found in the Pacific Northwest. Long used as a laxative by Native Americans, the bark contains compounds called anthraquinones (cascarosides A and B). They're transformed by intestinal bacteria into substances that increase peristalsis in the large intestine and help restore its tone. It's often found in intestinal cleansing products, which can be used to kick-start a weight-loss program.
Guarana. This climbing vine is found in the Amazon basin. It revs up the metabolism, combating body fat as well as cellulite by transforming the fatty deposits beneath the skin into energy.
Laminaria Algae Kelp and Plantain Kelp. Kelp, or seaweed, contains large amounts of iodine, which is essential to the functioning of the thyroid. The organ helps maintain a healthy metabolism and prevents the accumulation of body fat. An underactive thyroid causes the body to process food inefficiently, and prompts water retention, leading to the accumulation of cellulite.
Minerals. Trace minerals are involved in numerous biochemical reactions important for tissue health, and they're necessary for the proper functioning of metabolism. They can easily mix with vitamins B6, B12, and C to boost energy.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids. It may seem counterintuitive to eat fat to lose it, but omegas—found in foods such as flax seed and fish—help ease depression and promote optimal brain functioning. This is important for anyone struggling to bring their eating habits under control. In addition, omega-3 acts as an anti-inflammatory, increases "good" cholesterol, helps prevent heart disease, and improves skin function and appearance.
