Tag Archives: events

Powerful Spa Trio: Schweder Joins Forces with Fenard and Dusseau to Bring Spatality to the World Stage

spatality.logo 705318 Powerful Spa Trio: Schweder Joins Forces with Fenard and Dusseau to Bring Spatality to the World StagePowerful Spa Trio: Schweder Joins Forces with Fenard and Dusseau to Bring Spatality to the World Stage
by Susie Ellis

In the world of spa consulting, this is big news. Ingo Schweder joins Spatality. Spatality is part of Spa Strategy, a consulting firm specializing in creating spas around the world, whose portfolio of completed projects is extensive and impressive. Richard Dusseau and Elaine Fenard are the partners. The reason this is big news is because the combined talent of Ingo, Richard and Elaine is a true “wow!”

logo.spastrategy 758973 Powerful Spa Trio: Schweder Joins Forces with Fenard and Dusseau to Bring Spatality to the World StageIngo is known by most in the industry as the developer of the Mandarin Oriental spas and for blazing a trail for other hotel companies to begin taking their spas more seriously. He proved that spas do drive room night sales. Elaine was in charge of spa development for Starwood Hotels for many years which was a huge job. Richard has an extensive hospitality background and has been the genius behind the growth of his successful company, which he has now positioned as the premier spa consulting firm in the industry.

Those are the headlines…tomorrow some inside snippets…

Lowering my C-Reactive Protein score at Canyon Ranch Spa

Canyon Ranch fitness class 733106 Lowering my C Reactive Protein score at Canyon Ranch Spa So, here are the seven ways to lower your C-Reactive Protein (CRP) scores and, therefore, relax your immune system for better health.
1. Breathing – Not breathing properly stresses your immune system.
2. Eating – Large meals stresses the immune system. You are better off eating smaller meals more frequently. Eat fish for omega 3 which is critical for immune system health.
3. Most people need more fiber – You get most of your fiber from beans, whole grains, nuts and seeds. Some also from fruits and vegetable.
4. Sleep – This is when our immune system relaxes. We need to learn to sleep well which includes relaxing before bedtime – not doing emails or watching the world’s negative news.
5. Exercise – The best exercise to relax the immune system is a surprise. It is dancing! Apparently the rhythmic movement is of great benefit.
6. Vitamin L – That would be love. A deep emotional connection with someone, something, nature, etc. Since our immune systems are listening to our mood, fears, anger or despair, this will affect our immune system’s response.
7. Sooth the immune system. – Use massage and also take a multivitamin before your larger meals to help process the food and soothe the immune system.

All seems very useful. I need to work on all of these to some extent.

A spa that looks like the Garden of Eden (mine anyway)

landamphilake 715652 A spa that looks like the Garden of Eden (mine anyway)450 people working every day for three years: That is what it took to create the extraordinary place called The Farm at San Benito, along with the resolve of a man, Eckard Rempke, who was stubbornly committed to his vision of creating a place of healing unlike any other in the world.

When I envision the Garden of Eden, this is the picture in my mind. Lush vegetation, beautifully manicured landscape, meandering walkways with surprises at numerous turns – you get the idea. There was an Ayurveda center here, a Bali lounge there, an orchid atrium, fountains, flower gardens, vegetable gardens, birds chirping, peacocks strutting, small lakes, pools, water features – and at night, walkways and gathering areas lit by candles. This kind of masterpiece could only be created in an area where labor costs allow such an undertaking. Here in the Philippines, that is the case. The only other place I have seen a similar setting is at Begawan Giri in Bali.

And that’s just for starters. More about the program tomorrow.

Chi Spa Village – exceeding expectations

I’m at the Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort & Spa in Cebu, Philippines. Arrived after midnight and after a good night’s sleep decided to try out their famous Chi Spa. Since this was my only day to have a spa treatment (because the conference begins tomorrow), I decided to call early in the morning to book some treatments. Looking over the menu, I selected two of their signatures: the Barako Coffee Bean Scrub, followed by the Philippine Hilot Massage.
pic mac chipg08 776715 Chi Spa Village exceeding expectations
After breakfast – and one of the best coffee lattes I have ever had – I head to the Chi Spa Village. I walk over a wooden bridge with water on both sides into a huge indoor/outdoor reception pavilion that appears to be three stories tall with a dramatic hanging art chandelier. I am graciously greeted by several staff members and asked to sit on a certain bench with a view into the Chi Village. I have to say it reminded me somewhat of the Golden Door in California with the landscaping and use of villas for treatment rooms. Although this design is Chinese and the Golden Door is Japanese, there was a very similar feeling of quiet, beauty, simplicity, nature, and a bit of mystery.

More later about the coffee scrub and hilot…..