Sara Daly was recently interviewed by a writer from Health Magazine on the upswing of yoga injuries. Stay tuned to find out more!
Sara Daly was interviewed for Readers Digests special edition of Reversing Diabetes (November 2011) in an article titled Healthy Wisdom. The interview was asking Type I diabetics, which Sara is, about their experiences to tell a Type II diabetic. The article mentions stress as one of the ways blood sugar rises, and having less stress can make you more balanced in your whole life, but specifically in diabetes management.
Waterfalls Day Spa was recently quoted in Costco Magazine (October 2011) in an article about unhealthy sitting and the need to move more while at work if you sit at a desk all day.
We are proud to announce that Skin Inc Magazine recently highlighted Waterfalls Day Spa in the September 2011 issue:
" The Zen Balance Massage at Waterfalls Day Spa in Middlebury, Vermont, uses chakra stones and polarity therapy in a focused relaxation session that uses imagery and light pressure to clear stale energy and infuse the body with new energy. The longer session option includes a neck, scalp, hand and foot massage. 802-388-0311, www.middleburyspa.com "
Pay It Forward Program
Our Pay It Forward Program is our hands on way to give back. We know there are people who can benefit from our wellness services, but feel that the services are inaccessible to them. With our program, you may nominate someone who would benefit from spa services, but would not have the resources or energy to to make a spa moment happen. Nominees will be chosen base on need and Waterfalls will set aside one treatment per month to Pay It Forward to the community that supports our business. Please email us at waterfallsdayspa@gmail.com and an application form will be forwarded to you to complete and send back.
Travelodge U.K. makes patrols so guests can rest with ease
By Harriet Baskas
Travel writer
msnbc.com contributor
Thurs., June 10, 2010
As a New Yorker, Patricia Luebke is used to sleeping through a lot of ambient noise. But there was no chance she was going to get any shut-eye with a party going on in the hallway outside her Cincinnati hotel room door.
She tried complaining to the hotel management. “But they did nothing,” Luebke said. “By the time party finally broke up, at around 4 a.m., I was screaming at the front desk. In retrospect, I should have called the police.”
If only Luebke’s hotel had sleep wardens like those now patrolling the hallways and public areas at all of the Travelodge properties in the United Kingdom. These specially-trained staff members monitor the hotels’ nighttime noise levels and issue warnings to any guest disturbing the peace.
If the noise continues after a warning, sleep wardens can tell offenders to pack up their stuff and leave so that the sweet dreams of other guests cannot be jeopardized.
Why sleep wardens? Travelodge U.K.’s Shakila Ahmed says the chain knows that people don’t check into their hotels in search of spa treatments or an upscale, luxury experience.
“They’re traveling from A to B and they need a comfortable room so they can get a good night’s sleep,” Ahmed says. So the company, which considers itself a “retailer of sleep,” conducts studies to find out what keeps guests awake at night.
In the latest survey of 6,000 adults, money worries, work-related stress and noise showed up as the major causes of sleep deprivation.
Beyond keeping rates low, a hotel can’t do much about the first two sleep-inhibitors. But Travelodge UK decided to try to tackle the third. So in addition to sending sleep wardens into the halls, the chain has asked its hotels to reschedule deliveries so that rumbling, sleep-interrupting trucks don’t arrive too early in the morning.
“We’re not saying you need to be in bed with the lights out by a certain time,” said Ahmed. “We’re just asking our guests to have good bedtime etiquette, and we’re letting them know that we’re going to be very serious about monitoring the noise levels in our hotels.”
Waiving the right to party
Other hotels may lack sleep wardens, but do have other strategies for dealing with noisy guests.
A popular tool is the “party waiver” presented at check-in. “This identifies that we have the right to ask guests to stop any noise after 10 p.m.,” said Tom Waithe, director of operations for Kimpton Hotels in the Pacific Northwest. “If they don't, we can ask them to leave. They’ll forfeit any deposits or room charges and we have the right to add charges for the room of any other guests who complain about the noise as well.”
And what can be done about amorous couples who get a bit too loud? “They usually just get a knock on the door or a phone call,” Waithe said. “We hate to have to explain the noise complaint to someone in this situation.”
At the El Diablo Tranquilo Hostel in the Uruguayan beach town of Punta del Diablo, the staff patrols the dorm rooms and will ask chatting bunk mates to finish their discussion in a common area. Those playing cards or having a loud discussion will be encouraged to head down to the bar.
“If a guest refuses to move,” said owner Brian Meissner, “we cite an anonymous guest complaint and point out that we’re not asking them to leave the hostel or even to quiet down; just to move.”
Meissner pays overtime and rewards staff that have to “babysit” guests that don’t cooperate. “Nothing quiets someone down like the knowledge that they are forcing someone to sit and attend them,” he said.
Do-it-yourself tips
Many experienced travelers have their own way of dealing with noise at hotels.
Many go the defensive route, bringing along earplugs, noise-blocking headphones, sound machines and over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids. Before reserving a room, many road warriors call ahead to find out if there are any weddings, large meetings or conventions booked into the hotel during their stay. And when checking in, many guests request rooms far away from elevators, ice machines and bars.
Others go on the offensive. Los Angeles hypnotherapist Nancy Irwin says if a complaint to the hotel manager doesn’t get results, she’ll call a noisy guest herself. “I simply say I am the night manager and that they need to keep the noise level down. It nearly always works.”
Or you could do what a Vermont spa owner did. After her family was disturbed at 2 a.m. by a party in the room next door, Sara Daly of Middlebury didn’t call the front desk to complain or march over and bang on the door.
“I toughed it out and then they got a 7 a.m. wake-up call from me. It was payback. And it made me feel better.”
Clear up, buttercup!
Feeling spotty? Our all-star team of experts offers up nine must-dos that'll help ya get glowing skin quick.
Publication: Girls' Life
Date published: April 1, 2011
* FEAST ON FRUITS AND VEGGIES
Will an apple a day keep the zite away? Yep- and and so will strawberries, carrots and tomatoes. "Eating antioxidant-packed fruits and vegetables each day is important," says dietitian Rosanne Rust, explaining that these bites help your skin repair faster and ward off skin-trashing free radicals.
* MAKE GOOD CHOICES
Chowing down on chocolate may not necessarily lead to breakouts. But it may mean you're skipping the healthy stuff, which is better for your skin. Drinking water is key for your complexion, too.
* GET A CONSULTATION
Even if you've got great skin, it helps to be seen by a pro. "Every girl should see a dermatologist at least once," says Dr. Peggy Fuller of the Esthetics Center for Dermatology in Charlotte, N.C. "It's easy for someone to spend hundreds of dollars on products that may not be effective for them." Meaning you'll save big bucks- and have clear skin. It's a win-win.
* WASH THE RIGHT WAY
Dandruff and hair products can cause big breakouts, so Dr. Fuller recommends keeping those strands squeaky clean and washing your face all the way up to your hairline. "Use your hands or a clean washcloth, and be gentle," she says.
* KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF
Truth is, smothering your skin with spot remover and getting squeezy with it will just make things worse. "Nobody likes to hear this, but sometimes ignoring [a pimple] can be better than aggravating it," says Dr. Fuller. If you just can't leave that zit alone, she recommends applying witch hazel (you can find it at drugstores) to help clear It up.
* BE PRISTINE
Sara Daly, owner at Waterfalls Day Spa in Middlebury, Vt., recommends keeping anything that comes in contact with your skin über-clean. That means wiping off makeup brushes, sports helmets, your phone and hands frequently.
* AVOID SHARING
When it comes to skin treatments, what works for your sis may not work for you. Says Sara, "Every girl has different skin, so you should [use products] based on your skin type, the climate you live in and how active you are." And make sure your stuff is made for teens- adult products can be too harsh.
* STOP OBSESSING
Freaking about your lab partner sizing up your pores? Don't. Psychotherapist Joy Singh says that other people don't notice your blemishes as much as you think they do. Just get on with life.
* STALL THE STRESS
Don't let your skin sitch get the best of ya. "Stress releases hormones that can cause breakouts," says Joy. Instead, take a couple of deep breaths, remember that it's not as bad as you think, smile and put your best face forward. Gorgeous.
Locals send thoughts, raise money for Haiti relief
JAMES SCHWERDTMAN 10 FEBRUARY 2010
The outpouring of support for the people of Haiti has been a small silver lining to the disastrous earthquake that struck nearly a month ago.
In one of the largest relief efforts in history, people from all corners of the globe have pledged donations large and small to the country, be it through texting the Red Cross, holding fundraisers or traveling to the country to get their hands dirty. The town of Middlebury has answered the call in a strong way, as well.
“Vermonters have always been incredibly generous,” said Rob Levine, the regional executive for Vermont and the New Hampshire Valley for the Red Cross.
“There is a high awareness here of the world beyond Vermont and America.”
That awareness has manifested itself in a number of ways throughout the state and in Middlebury.
“We’ve had everything from elementary fundraisers to youth groups helping out to neighborhood cookie sales,” said Levine.
In Vermont alone, Levine put the total amount of money raised in the “hundreds of thousands,” and said that thus far, the national Red Cross has spent or committed more than $78 million in various ways.
Most of this spending has gone to the establishment of a few large-scale projects. Operations have been set up to supply Haitians with one million liters of clean water per day. In addition, four warehouses run by the Red Cross, two in Port-au-Prince and two in Santo Domingo, have been opened to give people basic need items, such as blankets, medical supplies and small cookware.
On a more local scale, many small businesses have donated their time and money to help those who are suffering. American Flatbread sponsored benefit bakes at all of its locations in the week following the earthquake.
“We donated a portion of each bread sale for each night we were open,” said Solon Coburn, office administrator at American Flatbread.
“The turnout was excellent, with many people saying that they were there to show their support, in addition to having a great meal.
“We had some very positive feedback from people,” said Coburn.
“It’s always cool when people take the time to tell you those things.”
In addition to the contributions from American Flatbread, customers were able to donate in jars set up throughout the restaurant. By the end of the weekend, the bake benefit had raised more than $1,000, which was sent to Relief Partners in Health, another charity that has been heavily involved in the relief effort.
At Waterfalls Day Spa, the staff came up with a creative way to raise some money and remember the victims of the tragedy.
“We were trying to figure out something that was equal parts a show of solidarity as well as to benefit Haiti in any way we could,” said Sara Daly, owner of Waterfalls.
“People started to give ideas and we came up with the band.”
The Heal Haiti wristbands are on sale for $5 at the spa. Beyond the initial $5, if customers wear their bands to future spa treatments, five percent of the purchase goes towards the relief efforts.
“The band serves as a symbol and is done in the colors of the Haitian flag,” said Daly, helping to serve as a reminder of those who are suffering.
“We do a lot of healing here and we wanted to come up with something that would try to help heal the people of Haiti.”
Daly hopes to raise about $500 through this fundraiser, with proceeds from the bands going to the Red Cross, and proceeds from the additional contributions to go where it seems most appropriate.
While this disaster has been met with incredible support from the community both here in Middlebury and internationally, Levine stressed the presence of the smaller local tragedies that happen every day.
“This has been the second largest outpouring of monetary support, following Hurricane Katrina,” said Levine,
“but people must also remember that catastrophe also happens in Addison County. A single family lost their home in a fire in the weekend following the earthquake, and Red Cross volunteers here are crucial in assisting them.”
With the help of local businesses and townspeople, the Red Cross can continue to send aid to Haiti and maintain local support .
I Need a New Sport
FEBRUARY 17, 2011 BY TOM MATLACK 21 COMMENTS
Tom Matlack is disillusioned with the Patriots, Celtics, Red Sox, and Bruins. He wants a new sport. What should it be?
It all started last spring when I took my son Seamus and his friends to a Red Sox–Yankees game on a Thursday night. We live a quarter mile from Fenway Park, so we walked over on a pleasant sunny afternoon. After four hours of long pitch-counts and Dice-K’s excruciating between-pitch routine, the Sox were ahead 2-1 in the top of the seventh. It was a school night, and I needed to get the boys home. But even more troubling was that I just didn’t give a shit if we lost to A-Rod and those other Yankee A-holes. I had lost interest. We left, and I never checked the box score the next day.
Wasn’t I the same guy who lived and died on every pitch of the Sox’s come-from-behind victory in the ALCS in 2004? The same guy who watched the silly DVD recap of that whole season probably 20 times?
For Game 7 of the Lakers-Celtics NBA finals I found myself at, of all places, the bar at Bubba Gump Shrimp on Fisherman’s Wharf. Our family was on vacation and had ventured out too close to game time. Seamus and I frantically looked for a television set as tip-off approached. We sat at an outside bar, watching a tiny screen until my wife secured space at Bubba’s. All five of us sat through the entire game, drinking Diet Coke, eating fried food, and increasing our heartburn. I watched in horror as the Lakers played volleyball on the boards. My Celtics went from a double-digit lead with six minutes remaining to hanging their heads in defeat, making me sit through Ron Artest thanking his shrink for helping him combat his many demons.
♦◊♦
I happened to be at a party a couple of weeks after the Celtics debacle with the team’s owner, Wyc Grossbeck. All the men at the party snuck to a back room to catch the tail end of Game 7 of the Bruins-Flyers series, culminating in a humiliating end for Boston, who fell to Philadelphia after a 3-0 series lead.
Then there’s Tom Terrific and the Patriots. Football is the one sport with a real salary cap, so there are no LeBron James press conferences or New York Yankee payrolls. It’s a pure sport in the sense that each team has to develop talent on a budget. It looked liked the Patriots had done that as well as ever as they headed into their playoff game against the loudmouthed Jets last month.
I went to the game with Seamus and my wife, Elena. We watched from the 50-yard line. Everything was perfect—until I caught Tom Brady snorting ammonia before the kickoff. When he took the field he looked as confused as when he tried to figure out how to dump a pregnant girl next-door actress for a Brazilian supermodel. Watching the Jets players run around the field like bald eagles, flapping their wings, was about as painful as it gets for a Boston sports fan.
♦◊♦
The Celtics look damn good right now. The Sox have reloaded. But I’m not biting. I’ve been to one Celtics game all season, and I’ve watched a grand total of two on television; seeing them beat the Lakers in L.A. lifted my spirits for an hour or two.
|
Recruiting violations aside, it’s more like what sports should be about: athleticism, team spirit, sportsmanship, manhood. |
Here’s the thing: professional sports pretty much suck in my book. I’m not just saying that because I’m a bitter Boston fan (OK, maybe just a little). But really, baseball games go on forever. Tim Donaghy, despite being a convicted felon, is right about the NBA: the refereeing is awful. Hockey and football are both purer sports, but let’s face it, Big Ben, the rapist, and Shawn Thornton, the Bruins thug, are hardly role models. For a while I was thinking about the Boston Breakers, the indoor lacrosse team in Boston. But then they had a lap dance contest at halftime, which quickly put them out of the running..
I live within walking distance to the Boston University rink and a short ride on the Green Line to Boston College, where Seamus regularly goes to basketball and football games. So I’m thinking about giving up pro sports entirely. I’m fascinated by college football in the south. Recruiting violations aside, it’s more like what sports should be about: athleticism, team spirit, sportsmanship, manhood. Thankfully, I do have March Madness to look forward to. Seamus and I participate in a “suicide” pool that’s a lot of fun.
In the meantime, I’ve become a huge fan of Seamus’ freshman football and basketball teams at Boston College High. I’ve also been coaching my five-year-old son’s YMCA basketball team and taking him to this cool indoor baseball camp called Frozen Ropes. And I’ve been riding my bike and practicing kickboxing. I need to reorient my love-hate relationship with sports. I don’t really hate all sports, just the ones that I know about right now. I love being a fan, but don’t know where to put my loyalty in this upside-down sports world we inhabit.
I asked Good Men Project readers what they thought should become my new sport of choice, and here’s what they said.
♦◊♦
Rodeo cowboys and cowgirls are among the most popular, respected athletes in professional sports among adults and children alike. They compete at the highest level in a sport that has America’s early west as its roots. They have no guarantee of a paycheck. Most of them regularly play with injuries that would sideline most ball and stick athletes. They travel 60,000 miles per year, most of it over the road to compete.
—Mike Donnell, Pueblo, Colorado
♦◊♦
I think you should be a skier. Skiing (and its twin, snowboarding) is a participatory sport. It is healthy and invigorating and gives you something to do during the dull winter months. Furthermore, skiers are more handsome and have better sex lives than non-skiers (just ask them!). Seriously though, I spend my life in the mountains. My “office” overlooks the glaciers of Mt. Rainier, the tallest volcano in Washington state, and the view is so spectacular I’m often tempted to yodel. Whether ripping across groomers or getting face shots in the powder, skiers race down steep slopes and gain access to the mountains in a way that no other sport allows.
—Kim Kircher, 40, professional ski patroller at Crystal Mountain for 21 years, author of the forthcoming memoir The Next Fifteen Minutes (Behler Publications)
♦◊♦
Water polo is a great sport to be a fan of. Without any pro leagues in the United States, the sport is done strictly at the amateur level, meaning college, high school, or national team. You won’t see any of the issues you have with professional sports. In addition, there isn’t a sport that is more physically demanding than water polo. These guys and girls tread water for nearly an hour while playing a sport. It’s a mixture of sports you already love—basketball, soccer, swimming, and maybe a little rugby. You’ll likely get so pumped up watching this game, it’ll make you want to get back in the gym or pool and get in shape. Not to mention, our country is very good at water polo. Our women’s national team are two-time defending world champions, and our men’s team won a silver medal at the last Olympics.
—Greg Mescall, USA Water Polo, Huntington Beach, California
♦◊♦
Powerlifting. More than anything, it’s a man versus himself, striving to be the very best that he can be.
—Jordan Gottlieb, Mansfield, Texas
♦◊♦
Baseball is still where my heart lies, but market inequities and a stadium experience that is increasingly geared toward fat cats make it hard to justify intellectually. Hockey is the one sport that seems to maintain a blue-collar ethos, both on the ice and in the stands, but it’s hard for me to transfer affection from blue skies and the crack of the bat to refrigerated arenas and Canadian accents. I think there’s an argument for trying, however.
—Seth Berkowitz, 34, singer/songwriter from the band Lucky Ghost, New York, New York
♦◊♦
Mixed martial arts is the sport a man should be a fan of. It’s pure one-on-one combat, no excuses, one man’s brute strength against another’s brute strength. Referees play a big role in the top sports—in football, baseball, basketball, hockey. They can change a game. In MMA, that’s not going to happen. The combatants alone determine the outcome in the octagon.
—Andrew Golding, 33, TV executive, New York, New York
♦◊♦
NCAA college basketball. It’s not as talented as the NBA, but conference play is always exciting, and the NCAA Final Four is one of the most exciting tournaments in all of sports. Lots of kids will not make it to the next level and don’t care; they’re there to do what they love.
—Scott Keatley, director, Nourishing NYC
♦◊♦
You should be a fan of cycling—mountain biking in particular. Not so much pro road racing because the doping scandals make it ridiculous. Mountain biking is honest. It’s real. It’s powerful. Getting lost (figuratively) on a dirt trail in the mountains for days on end is magical. Think of it as bike-packing—packing only the necessities on your bike and taking off a few days or a few months.
—Mike Dion, 42, film/TV producer and producer of the award-winning film Ride the Divide, Denver, Colorado
♦◊♦
You should be a fan of college football. Every major sport is somewhat influenced by money. However, there’s no sport where the players’ passion for their teammates, their classmates, and their schools are more apparent. These kids pour their hearts out every weekend. There’s no contract season, no free agency, and no trades. College football players pound each other’s heads in for three hours in front of 100,000 fans, climb into the stands with their classmates and sing their school’s fight song, and go back to a dorm room to celebrate. Emotion and dedication still rule college football.
—Sam Debord, Seattle, Washington
♦◊♦
Hockey seems have much less nonsense in it than other sports like basketball or football. For example, last summer there were two major free agent signings that dragged on all summer—basketball’s LeBron James and hockey’s Ilya Kovalchuck. The Kovalchuck saga was about as ridiculous as it gets in hockey, but it was completely toned down compared to LeBron’s “decision” on ESPN. The cult of personality is not the same in hockey as it is in football or basketball, and there is nowhere near the emphasis on sex in hockey as there is in other sports. (Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, anyone?) Hockey salaries also tend to be lower than those in baseball or basketball.
—Dan Landau, graduate student at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Bridgewater, New Jersey
♦◊♦
Golf is all about patience, commitment, and power. Sexy.
Tennis is about agility, athleticism, and grunting. Sexy.
Baseball is about Derek Jeter. Very sexy.
—Sara Daly, 39, president of Waterfalls Day Spa, licensed physical therapist and massage therapist, Middlebury, Vermont
♦◊♦
Yachting/sailing. A few reasons why: Few sports have been around for 2,500 years; it’s one of the greenest forms of transportation (wind); it’s a combination of physics, navigation, and athleticism unmatched in any other sport; if you happened to have a time machine handy, would be one of the only sports you could have a conversation with your great-great-great-great-great-grandfather about; everybody looks cool in boat shoes; it’s one of the only sports on the planet that has named its ultimate prize after our country—the America’s Cup.
—Bob Denison, third-generation advocate of the yachting industry
♦◊♦
Martial arts, specifically taekwondo. Why? One, it’s physical. Olympic-style taekwondo is a full-contact sport. Men want and need physicality. Two, there’s no age limit. People can participate in martial arts tournaments all over the world at any age. It’s something they can watch and participate in. Three, it’s truly family-oriented. You won’t find all of the associated negatives of professional sports. Four, it offers great life lessons. Taekwondo teaches sportsmanship, respect, and self-discipline—all the things you want your children to learn.
—James Davenport, president, All American Martial Arts
♦◊♦
I could say something about the romanticism of the sport. Or how each game is a complete blank slate, a canvas to be painted over 90 minutes. Or how, more than any other sport, any team can win on any given day. Remember Switzerland? Or the U.S. in ’94 and 1950? And as far as expressing and fostering creativity, soccer has no match—unless you’re British.
But I’m gonna go at this from a different angle. Peter Crouch—a 6-foot-7, 256-pound, sinewy alien of a man with the face of a ghoul—was asked what he would be if he weren’t a professional soccer player. His response: “A virgin.”
—Ryan O’Hanlon, sports editor, the Good Men Project Magazine
♦◊♦
Win or lose, the post-game handshake is a long-standing and well respected hockey tradition that teaches sportsmanship at the highest level.
The notion that two players who have battled hard through a game can put aside their differences and look each other in the eye afterwards and whisper “good job” is a testament to the hockey fraternity.
Anything less is frowned upon by your peers.
—Brendan Shanahan, NHL Vice President Hockey & Business Development, eight-time NHL All-Star, three-time Stanley Cup champion, Olympic gold medalist
Spa Corner: Relaxation Takes Practice
By Sara Daly
Vermont Bride Magazine Summer 2010 issue
Being positive is stress relieving in that it puts life in perspective and you realize all you are grateful for.
Have you ever wondered how to relax?
There are times when relaxing is a difficult thing to accomplish. Sure, on the beach in Negril, relaxing is easy. But the week of your wedding, not so easy. At the spa, we are amazed at the number of times we have heard bridesmaids tell their brides, “Just relax!” The brides look at them with an anxious expression of, “I would if I knew how!”
Relax is a verb which means to spend time resting or doing things for pleasure; a relief from the effort and stress of everyday life. Using this definition as a framework, let’s explore how to do this the week leading up to your wedding. Schedule time for rest. Make sure you are not up late at night doing tasks that you can easily do in the daytime. Try to maintain your sleep schedule and stick to it. Being refreshed the next morning will help you accomplish more the next day. Lavender is a great essential oil that can aid in sleep and relaxation.
The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it. ~Attributed to both Jim Goodwin and Sydney J. Harris
Delegate. Do the wedding planning that is pleasurable to you. If you don’t enjoy tying ribbons around favors, there is someone else who welcomes that job. Delegate the pieces that feel uncomfortable, or that do not need your direct attention. Someone you trust who enjoys this job will do it better and quicker. Do not take on more tasks than you can handle. Be reasonable with yourself.
Learn breathing techniques. There are many techniques to try, but most of them focus on lying down, taking deep inspirations, and full expirations. Breathing deeply helps to oxygenate your body, stretches muscles, and slows your heart rate. Try this: lie flat on your back. Place one hand on your chest and the other one on your abdomen. Watch your hands. You want to see both of them moving. Often the hand on your chest is the only one moving, which means you are breathing too shallow. Practice making the hand on your abdomen rise while you breathe through your mouth. Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths. ~Etty Hillesum
Visualization. Proven to get results, visualize relaxing situations. Imagine yourself on a raft floating in a pool, the beach chair in the sun, the hammock under the trees. Use visualization to focus on positive situations. If you are concerned about your wedding cake tasting good, envision the smile on the groom’s face as he takes his first bite. Get a massage. Massage focuses on all the qualities you need to relax: lying flat, deep breathing, visualization, mediation, and it increases endorphins in your body. Muscles hold tension. See your licensed massage practitioner to give you the massage that your body needs at the moment.
How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then to rest afterward. ~Spanish Proverb
Stay Positive. Your positive attitude will be infectious. Your friends will want to be around you, and your energy will state that nothing can go wrong. Being positive is stress relieving in that it puts life in perspective and you realize all you are grateful for. Gratitude for friends, family, your spouse-to-be, and the chance to have this one-of-a-kind wedding will make the potentially stressful situations less difficult.
Unplug. Limit your communication via phone and computer and decide what moments you need to take calls. Purposefully leave the phone in the car when you have your bridesmaids’ brunch. Spas required your phone be turned off so you can enjoy your day. Delegate a friend as your contact person so you can relax. This is hard to do, so it is recommended that you practice being unplugged.
Exercise. A well-known stress reliever, exercise promotes well-being on a mental and physical level. Hormones called endorphins are produced which are often called feel good hormones. Exercise can be as simple as a walk. Yoga is a fantastic stress reliever as it incorporates many of the above including visualization, breathing, and exercise. Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are. ~Chinese Proverb
Smile and Laugh. Be silly. Plan activities that will make you laugh with your friends. Go to a comedy club, watch a movie, and look at old college photos. Laughter is the best medicine when stress is looming. You will remember the moments of your wedding when you were laughing and smiling.
Laughter is an instant vacation. ~Milton Berle
Do you feel relaxed just reading this article? Good work. Take a nice deep breath. You are on your way to the stress-free wedding of your dreams!
Sara Daly is a Physical Therapist, Massage Therapist, and Certified Manual Lymph Drainage Therapist. She is President of Waterfalls Day Spa in Middlebury, Vermont and Waterfalls at Basin Harbor Club on Lake Champlain. She is a frequent contributor to Vermont Bride Magazine and was featured in the September/October 2009 edition of Massage
Getting the Glow
Vermont’s only luxe cosmetics company, Tata Harper Skincare, helps women look good naturally