Out with the old and in with the new to begin 2011… particularly if 2010 was filled with sleepless nights, stress-filled days and unhealthy eating. The Stress in America Survey* reports 40 percent of adults lie awake at night because of stress, 44 percent say their stress levels have increased over the past five years, and 40 percent ate unhealthy foods because of stress. It’s time to break the cycle of stress and make 2011 the year of wellness with time-tested lessons from members of the Destination Spa Group.
Lexington, KY (Vocus) December 29, 2010 -- Out with the old and in with the new to begin 2011… particularly if 2010 was filled with sleepless nights, stress-filled days and unhealthy eating. The Stress in America Survey* reports 40 percent of adults lie awake at night because of stress, 44 percent say their stress levels have increased over the past five years, and 40 percent ate unhealthy foods because of stress.
Sound familiar? It’s time to break the cycle of stress and make 2011 the year of wellness with time-tested lessons from members of the Destination Spa Group. With 25 locations from Phuket to Illinois, all DSG members offer a complementary balance of fitness, healthy cuisine, life-enhancing programs and relaxing spa services.
“You can’t escape it; stress is a fact of life we all need to learn to manage. The professionals at Destination Spas are amazing resources to teach you how to control stress in order to live a well-balanced life,” said DSG Executive Director Debra Koerner. “To help make 2011 your year of wellness, we urge you to incorporate a tip per month into your lifestyle. Just imagine how much better you will feel by next December!”
JUST BREATHE:
• From Lake Austin Spa Resort’s Fitness Director Sharon Rekieta: When caught in a crazy, busy day, try the Breath Series of Four - inhale to a slow count of four; hold the breath for a slow count of four, exhale completely to a slow count of four. Repeat four times
• Golden Door Behavioral Therapist Cindi Peterson wants you to just say ‘no’, “Learn to set your limits and stick to them. You don’t have to attend every party you are invited to, or volunteer at every function. Set priorities so you can truly enjoy the activities you choose to attend.”
• Deborah Marshall-Warren, Hypnotherapist at Six Senses Sanctuary Phuket urges you to celebrate your health and talk about wellness and being well, rather than being ill, and diseased, “The subconscious listens and hears every word and every thought, so sing a song of wellness and happiness, and then your subconscious will chorus your success.”
NO-STRESS CUISINE:
• Red Mountain Resort & Spa Nutritionist Reema Sayegh, Ph.D. suggests, “A good de-stressing ‘pick-me-up’ could come in the form of fresh fruit and natural nut butter, or a serving of cut-up veggies, raw nuts and one ounce of low-fat string cheese. These foods provide the stress-busting nutrients your body really needs without sabotaging your good eating habits.”
• Try this detox from The Oaks at Ojai Fitness Director Nancy Byrd Radding: 1-3 week detox to cleanse your body from too much of everything. Omit white flour, white sugar, alcohol, and all processed/refined foods from your diet. Instead, choose whole-grain, wheat-free products, oats, fish or chicken, brown rice, and lots of veggies
• Emily Fonnesbeck, Registered Dietitian at Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge says to use your weekends to plan meals, grocery shop for healthy ingredients and prep food for the week, “Maybe make a big pot of soup to freeze? Grill chicken and fish to use throughout the week? Chop fruits and vegetables for quick snacks and salads? Hard boil eggs for a handy breakfast? Do what you can to set yourself up for success throughout the week.”
GET YOUR WORK OUT ON:
• Try a group approach says Mountain Trek Fitness Director Cathy Grierson, “Look for like-minded individuals that will help motivate you through those ‘rainy’ days. It could be informal such as suggesting to friends to walk your dogs together, joining a fitness club or taking a class at your local recreation center.”
• John Yohman, Certified Trainer at Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge has this formula for exercise success: Maximize your benefits by doing cardio sprints after performing two strength exercises. Pick six strength exercises or machines that work major muscle groups. Pair the strength exercises performing 20 - 30 reps of each exercise, followed by a one-two minute sprint of any cardio activity. Rest for 45 seconds and continue to the next grouping
• And, we hear again from Radding at The Oaks at Ojai, “Get moving! Do at least 30 minutes a day of something. Hire a trainer for a month if you need motivation. Join a class, buy a DVD, get to the gym, or pull the machine out of the garage. Calendar in your workouts like a dental or medical appointment.”
NUGGETS OF WELLNESS WISDOM:
• Too many ‘to do’ items? Harold Lebovic, Managing Partner of The Heartland Spa recommends, “Creating a list of what really needs to get accomplished so you can keep things in perspective. After doing so, you may be surprised at how manageable your to-do list really is!”
• Things not going as planned? Golden Door’s Peterson says to shift your perspective. “If things don’t go according to plan, tell yourself that someday you will look back on this and laugh. Try to shift points of view and put the unpleasant event into a broader perspective.”
• Lake Austin Spa Resort’s Rekieta chimes in, “Feeling grouchy and stressed? Take some time to just lie down, attend a gentle yoga class, read by the fireplace, cuddle with your kid, or whatever else sounds inviting.”
To find details on the spas mentioned as well as all 25 members of DSG, please visit http://www.DestinationSpaVacations.com or call 888.772.4363.
About Destination Spa Group®
Only a select group of spas follow the tradition of the true Destination Spa – where the total environment is dedicated to health and life enhancement. Representing 25 spas, Destination Spa Group® is a membership organization dedicated to educating the public about the unique wellness and self-improvement opportunities of Destination Spas. More details on http://www.DestinationSpaVacations.com
Source: 2010 Stress in America Survey: http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/index.aspx
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Contact Information
Debra Koerner
Destination Spa Group
http://www.destinationspavacations.com
888.772.4363
