Tag Archives: UC Irvine

Flying Will Never be the Same – Spas to the Rescue

internetonflights 730136 Flying Will Never be the Same   Spas to the RescueFlying will Never be the Same – Spas to the Rescue
by Susie Ellis
SpaFinder Insider
As I was boarding my American Airlines flight from New York to San Francisco there was a young woman handing out free Internet cards to anyone who wanted one. I immediately realized that this must be one of those flights where you can connect to the Internet while in flight. I knew that some airlines on some routes were now offering this, however this was the first time I would actually have a chance to test it out.
And so I did. The card gave me a promotion code which allowed me to save the $12 fee that they would normally charge me to be connected to the Internet for the entire length of the flight. A fair price I thought.
To my surprise, it was extremely easy to connect to the Internet and the connection was fantastic the entire time, even during turbulence. I was in email heaven. 5 1/2 hours of uninterrupted time to send and receive emails. No phone calls, no co-workers stopping by to ask questions – I really got a lot done.
The only downside was that my eyes became extremely dry. I learned from my eye doctor many years ago that when we work on the computer, we don’t blink as often and so our eyes can become irritated and red. Since it is very dry on airplanes, the not blinking as often can cause even more problems.
So my time to read and relax on planes is probably over. That’s sad. However the option to work via Internet is really exciting. My husband is already upset since airline trips were the one place he felt that he didn’t have to compete with my Blackberry.

kindle 788913 Flying Will Never be the Same   Spas to the Rescue But there is another change I noticed during this flight. That change had to do with what people (who weren’t on the Internet) were doing. It seemed like almost everyone around me was reading on a Kindle. (shown here on the left) And that’s when it hit me…..these developments are going to accelerate and become an even greater negative for the print industry. We all know that print media is struggling because of the Internet’s increasing dominance, yet the one bright spot that many had pointed out to me was that people still loved buying magazines at airports to read during flights. Well, I imagine that’s going to change.

With Internet service on flights and Kindles which give you access to books, newspapers and magazines, a new era is being ushered in. On the one hand it is sad to see these changes, on the other hand the technology has given us more options and more convenience.

What it does say to me, however, is that spas are becoming more important than ever as people’s stress levels continue to escalate. The spa is still a sanctuary where we can de-stress and rejuvenate.
Let’s just hope that no one figures out how to get the Internet or Kindles into the massage room.
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Spa-Enthusiasts, like Hannelore Levy, want to know more about the Biggest Loser Spas!

biggest.loser 792450 Spa Enthusiasts, like Hannelore Levy, want to know more about the Biggest Loser Spas!Spa-Enthusiasts, like Hannelore Leavy, want to know more about the Biggest Loser Spas!

By Susie Ellis

I saw Hannelore Leavy who heads up several spa associations (including the Day Spa Association), at our Spa Experience event at Grand Central Terminal in New York last week. The first thing she said to me was “Your Biggest Loser Competition between Spas is a Marvelous Idea!” I had to laugh because whenever I write something in my blog or in the Club Spa newsletter that goes to our database, I never know ahead of time what peoples’ reactions will be. However, I believe this one has struck a chord! As promised, I am adding this piece to my blog so she can respond and add her comments. So, Hannelore, here it is!

From the Club Spa Newsletter distributed on Tuesday, October 30th:

On the hit TV series the Biggest Loser, people lose 50, 75 or even over 100 lbs by the end of the series and seem to keep it off. What you may not know is that 90 miles outside of Las Vegas, near St. George Utah, there are three spas which have similar weight loss programs:

Fitness Ridge Resort & Spa

Green Valley Spa

These spas help people lose weight with an approach similar to that on the Biggest Loser TV program: healthy diet, exercise, education, and motivation. A bonus at these spas, however, is that they also offer massage, body and skin care treatments, and hiking in the picturesque red rock country right outside their doors!

In fact, I have often thought it might be a great idea for these spas to host a Biggest Loser Competition between the three of them! Whether they do that or not, each fitness and wellness program, although a bit different, would be a great choice for people looking to lose weight. Check them out!

A 4th of July Kick Start

zuckerman 790853 A 4th of July Kick StartPeter and I are at Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires. This is the second year in a row we decided to spend 4th of July here and I am once again glad we did. There’s nothing like the great food, exercise and education here that gets me motivated to make some changes for the better in regards to my health. And all the green trees everywhere make me feel that I am getting more and better oxygen than I do in Manhattan.

On the first day here Peter ran into Mel Zuckerman in the gym. On the second day Mel was there again working out. That is really telling. Mel and his wife Enid founded Canyon Ranch in Tucson in 1979. I believe he is over 80 now. Seeing him still so committed to exercise and a healthy lifestyle is a great inspiration to all the staff and guests here. Deborah Szekely (Golden Door and Rancho La Puerta founder) is also over 80 – in fact she just turned 85. Both of these icons in the spa industry have been practicing what they preach. Lucky for us, we get to see by their example how these principles really work.