Holistic Skin Care at Rasa Spa – Ithaca, NY

I attended Rasa Spa’s free Holistic Skin Care Talk this past Tuesday,  March 6th, 2012 in Ithaca, NY.

Rasa’s Lead licensed aesthetician, Holly Green, offered an informative discussion about holistic skin care and Rasa Spa’s commitment to whole health. The talk was given in Rasa Spa’s Tranquility Room which overlooks the Cayuga Lake Inlet.

The Tranquility Room is simply lovely, offering warm soft colors on the walls and window treatments, dark wood floors, fluffy pillows, soft blankets, glowing candles, and cozy chaise lounge chairs. Ahhhh – relaxation!!  This room also features local artists paintings and  local woodworked furniture & cabinets are found throughout the spa.  Cool cucumber water  and tea were served – so refreshing!

 Holistic Skin Care Talk

Holly Green has been practicing for over 14 years and is also a licensed massage therapist.  She is able to offer a holistic mind & body approach to skin care, combining aesthetics and massage therapy in her facials at Rasa.  Holly, along with Rasa’s other aestheticians,  are able to customize your facial for your specific needs.  Holly emphasized Rasa’s goals of  providing unique, individual, and quality services to each client that comes to Rasa Spa.

I appreciated Holly & Rasa Spa’s passion not only for skin care & education, but for health & wellness from within.  Bringing peace &  relaxation from within helps to create a healthy glow and healthy you on the outside!  Holly is excellent at communicating & educating her clients about what is most appropriate for their specific needs!

Facials range from 30 – 90 minutes for $55 – $140 and detailed descriptions of facials are available on Rasa’s website http://www.rasaspa.com.  Rasa also offers special facials for those with problem skin such as acne or rosacea, aging skin, and a gentleman’s facial.  Don’t forget to check out options for body treatments as well!

Holly also educated the group on three NEW options for facials at Rasa Spa:

• RASA SPA ORGANIC INFUSION MICRODERMABRASION (a regenerating facial that uses organic buffing grains infused with lavender that allows for deeper penetration of products and helps to minimize fine lines & increase skin renewal) 60 minutes $140
• RASA SPA HIGH FREQUENCY CURRENT (an argon filled glass electrode produces varying intensities of infrared light which help kill bacteria, is used to help soothe acne, ingrown hairs, and decrease enlarged pores.)  Add High Frequency to a Rasa Spa Facial of your choice.
• THE NORABLOOM EXPERIENCE FACIAL for RASA (a custom facial curated by Holly Green (NORABLOOM) & Rasa Spa using botanically-derived products from Norabloom) Pricing – same as Rasa’s 30 – 90 minute facials.

Organic, clean, & nutrient rich products are a focus at Rasa since the skin absorbs 60% of what we apply to what is our largest organ.  Some of the product lines available at Rasa Spa include – Eminence Organics, Norabloom, redflower, and local products are also listed on the Rasa website.

What to expect during a facial at Rasa Spa 

• Fill out an intake form to educate your aesthetician about you, your health history, allergies
• Enjoy the Tranquility Room &  relax before your session
• Heated treatment tables & cozy linens
• Cleansing of the face, neck, decollete
• Exfoliation of these areas in combination with steam to open pores, making extractions easier if needed
• Face mask is applied based on your unique skin type
• Relax & enjoy an arm & hand massage or foot massage while your mask sets
• Hot towels are applied to soften the mask
• Moisturizing the face, neck, decollete
• Consultation/education/samples from your aesthetician complete your personalized experience at Rasa Spa

I appreciated the free and informative session on skin care and signed up for special spa offers, information, and upcoming events on Rasa’s Website.  I’m looking forward to my first facial at Rasa!!!

 

 

Rasa Spa is located at 

310 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca, NY 14850  

607.273.1740

 

Enjoy Rasa’s NEW, second location near Cornell University – Island Health & Fitness Community Corners located at

903 Hanshaw Road, Ithaca, NY 14850

607.273.1740 (use the downtown phone number for appointments at this time)

BEAUTY ON A BUDGET :) 3 Quick recipes for a DIY facial

Even though this winter has been mild, my skin still feels a bit dull, and I am feeling like I could use a refresher to get ready for the week ahead!!!

I love getting facials at the spa, but in a pinch and on a budget, this DIY Facial does the trick…

BROWN SUGAR SCRUB, DIY PORE STRIPS, & A NUTMEG, CINNAMON, HONEY FACE MASK

Here is the Facial Order:  Cleanse with your favorite facial cleanser, Exfoliate with the brown sugar facial scrub, Cleanse Pores with the DIY pore strips, Renew with the Nutmeg, Cinnamon, & Honey face mask, Moisturize with your favorite moisturizer!!!

** Note:  Test these recipes on your wrist or small area of skin before applying to assure that you do not have any adverse reactions.

**BROWN SUGAR SCRUB:  Brown sugar is a wonderful natural exfoliant that can be used for DIY face & body scrubs.

Ingredients:  

• 1 Tablespoon of Brown Sugar
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil, grape seed oil, or extra virgin coconut oil (I found extra virgin coconut oil at the GreenStar Natural Foods Market in Ithaca, NY, link on Blogroll)

Preparation:  In a small bowl, add 1 Tablespoon of brown sugar, add 1 teaspoon of oil, and stir to create a paste.  Use paste to exfoliate skin in a gentle circular motion.  Rinse with warm water, press warm washcloth into face and remove any remaining scrub.

**DIY PORE STRIPS:  I love this recipe!  I use Biore pore strips on a regular basis, so this is a great budget friendly find instead of paying $8 – $14 for a box of strips.

Ingredients:

• 1 Tablespoon of Milk
• 1 Tablespoon of Unflavored Gelatin
• brush to apply paste (nice to have, but not necessary)

Preparation:  In a small, microwave safe bowl or mug, mix the milk and unflavored gelatin.  Heat in the microwave for 10 seconds, stir again.   Make sure the temperature of the paste is comfortable before applying to your skin.

Apply paste with face brush to nose, chin, forehead, or where ever you feel like your pores are clogged!! (I pick up inexpensive facial brushes at the Dollar Store for masks etc.).   Leave paste on for 10 – 15 minutes, then peal away!! Wash face with a warm washcloth.

**NUTMEG, CINNAMON, HONEY FACE MASK – this mask has been great for me all winter long and smells amazing!  This will probably be the last time I use it this winter as I will be ready for spring scents soon!  This recipe makes at least 2 masks, and stores well in a covered container.  

Ingredients:

• 2 Tablespoons of Honey (I’m using Wixson’s Fall Flower Honey, Dundee, NY 14837 http://wixsonhoney.com link on Blogroll)
• 1 teaspoon of nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon

Preparation:  In a small bowl or container mix all 3 ingredients to form a paste.  Apply paste with a brush, avoiding eye area.  Let sit for 15 to 30 minutes.  Rinse off with warm water, press warm washcloth into face.  Moisturize with your favorite facial moisturizer!

Time:  You could have a good hour into the facial if you do all of the recipes, but you are home, so you can still do things while the mask and pore strips are setting! The Brown Sugar scrub takes just moments to mix and you will spend 1 – 3 minutes total exfoliating, rinsing.  The DIY pore strips, also moments to mix, 10 seconds in the micro, moments to mix and apply, 10 – 15 minutes on face, rinse again.  The mask, moments to make, 15 – 30 minutes on face, rinse, moisturize!!  Please let me know if you have any questions about the recipes or how to do the facial!  I hope you enjoy!

Have a great week everyone 🙂

 

SELF MANAGEMENT TOOL BOX: Str8-n-Up – The Simple Solution to Slouching & Stress

This weeks self management tool, Str8-n-Up, was recommended to me by my acupuncturist, Jennifer Zitkov, L.AC.

Slouch LESS. Hunch LESS. Stress LESS. Str8-n-Up MORE!

Str8-n-Up is an easy to use and portable product that I have been trying out for over 5 weeks with great results!

www.str8-n-up.com

My goal in trying this product was to improve my posture, decrease pain and fatigue after working with clients, after  traveling, and while working on the computer.

The material is lightweight, breathable, and the product is easy to use.  I love that I can throw this product in my purse and put it on when I need it.  It provides a subtle stretch for 30 minutes at the shoulders, but still allows movement and does not feel restrictive in any way.

After I take off Str8-n-Up, I feel more open through my pecs,  have noted decreased pain and fatigue through my upper traps and back and feel as though my posture is improving!!!

I purchased the black Str8-n-Up with the black buckle for $38.00. Other colors, product information, and sizing information are available at:

 www.str8-n-up.com or

LOCALLY in the office of:

Jen Zitkov, L.Ac, CBP  and Dr. Tina Nagle, Chiropractor  located at:

204 W WATER ST
PAINTED POST, NY 14870-1131

Phone (607) 684-7068 or (607) 936-1552

This is a wonderful product and I would recommend checking out the Str8-n-Up website, my testimonial  http://www.str8-n-up.com/noslouch/Testimonials.html , or visiting the Painted Post, NY office for more information or to purchase a Str8-n-Up!!

IMPROVE  YOUR POSTURE!!! 🙂

 

LOCAL PICK – *Earth Suds* bar soap

I have been in need of a new, moisturizing hand soap… For the past few days I’ve been using a lovely, local hand soap that I really enjoy…

http://www.earthsuds.com

Earth Suds – Tangerine Vanilla

Stephanie Hafl, soap creator, has been making these handmade creations on a small scale for about 4 years out of Spencer, New York.  Along with my pick, tangerine vanilla, she currently offers lavender, citrus, and mint chocolate round bar soaps.

Ingredients listed for my tangerine vanilla soap:  Saponified Olive, Coconut, & Palm Oil, Tangerine Essential Oil, Vanilla Extract, & Paprika

• This soap lathers so nicely,  has a pleasant, light fragrance, and moisturizes well without leaving a greasy residue 🙂 Thumbs Up!!!

Earth Suds Soaps are currently available at the following locations:

Bun Appetit,  located on 215 Main St, Groton, NY 13073.  (607) 898-4162 (my full bar soap was $3.50 and half bars were also available for $2.00 at this location)

Spencer, NY –  Farmers Market, their season begins June 23rd and the market is open from 9:00am to 1pm every Saturday until October 1st.  Located at Nichols Pond right in the heart of Spencer, NY.

OR –

Purchase online at http://www.earthsuds.com

 

It’s Sunday afternoon… How about a manicure.. & a chair massage? :)

It was gorgeous, sunny, and 35 degrees today in Corning, NY.   After a long walk this afternoon, I felt refreshed but was in need of a bit of pampering.. Winter is leaving my hands a bit dry and tired…

I decided to explore a new spot for a quick manicure.

Modern Nails & Beauty Spa, located at –  Arnot Mall 330 Chambers Road South, Horseheads, NY 14845

(607-796-2866) was open until 6:00 – walk ins welcome…

Here  I come!

Staff was friendly and attentive upon my arrival… Nice selection of colors. I chose – Essie  DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde free  polish –  playa del platinum

I decided on their basic manicure, $12.  I was seen promptly by the nail technician.  He did nice work cleaning up my cuticles and shaping my nails.  The hand massage for each hand was done very quickly with no forearm work… ehhh.

I did appreciate the warm, moist towel after the massage, covering my hands for a moment and removing excess lotion from the fingers and nails.

The manicure was over with in less than 15 minutes, but my nails do  look nice.

• I noticed 2 massage chairs in the middle of the spa and decided I could really use a quick shoulder and neck massage… 20 minute chair massage $20.. Sign me up!

The massage chair was comfortable and clean.  A face shield was used.  The therapist did not introduce herself or ask me any areas I would like there to be a focus.  I told her I felt most of my tightness in my neck & shoulder region.

Shortly after starting, she began coughing and another therapist took her place.  I appreciate that she did not continue working on me if she was feeling ill, but no introduction to the new therapist.

Pressure was moderate throughout, and overall the chair massage was fair.  I did not enjoy  the use of  lotion near the end of the massage on my neck and upper traps.  I had on a nice long sleave top and did not like feeling the lotion stick to my shirt while he was working on my neck.  I did not expect the therapist to use lotion on the neck or upper back during a chair massage.  I  have only experienced the use of lotion on hands & forearms in a chair massage session.  I did feel relaxed after the session.

I would revisit Modern Nails & Beauty Spa in a pinch or on short notice for a mani or pedi, and appreciate their customer service and am happy with how my nails look today.  I would pass on the chair massage at this location.

Ahhhh, Lovely Day 🙂

Hello Friends of the Finger Lakes!

Hello!

I’m Erica & I am so pleased to share some of my favorite experiences, tools, and resources for  healthy living and wellness  in the Finger Lakes region.

I am a  Pennsylvania licensed massage therapist & physical therapist assistant with over 13 years of experience in both of these fields.  My Husband & I relocated to the Finger Lakes region in June, 2011 from Pittsburgh, PA .  I left my home massage therapy business, spa, my dear friends… and here we are! – I couldn’t be happier.

It can be a whirlwind transitioning from one place to another, but I was ready to leave my home & city of almost 8 years.  My Husband & I took a leap of faith for a fresh start in New York, just south of Ithaca.  New York started to feel like ‘home’ almost right away 🙂

Sailing & swimming at Cayuga Lake through the summer, kayaking on Keuka Lake & taking in all of the peacefulness, sunshine, &  beauty… Ahhhhh..  This is wonderful… and brings me back to what I enjoyed so much growing up in the small village of Henry’s Bend, PA… the beautiful outdoors…

Upon my arrival to the Finger Lake Region, I had some difficulty finding reviews for all of the wonderful spas, salons, beauty studios, and activities offered to us and visitors to the Finger Lakes… “Where do I go for a hair cut or a massage or to get a pedicure???”  This blog was created to share experiences and  provide you with information that you may use to promote wellness in your life, links to spas and favorite services they offer, bodyworkers, ideas for activities in the area for active  residents and visitors of the Finger Lake Region.  I hope you enjoy!

Thank You!

Erica