To My Speeps With Love...

Barely 4 weeks to go before 2011, do you even remember what your New Year's resolution was?  2009 was quite traumatic for so many people, I'm not even sure we had the consciousness to celebrate the usual holiday traditions.  I know all of us were happy to say goodbye and were hoping with bated breath that 2010 would bring in some good news...

Finding time to play

For me personally, 2010 was initially a mixed bag of disappointments & heartache that eventually turned into triumphs and blessings in disguise.  The spa world continued to reel from the economic downturn and so many of us became 'casualties' of the 'new way of doing business' as most corporations like to put it.  Those of us who were fortunate enough to walk away and start anew, are reaping the benefits of rediscovering ourselves and in the process, reclaiming 'me-time' and rescuing our health from the long years of 'running on empty' in keeping up with the rapid growth of our industry.

Unfortunately, so many of my peers who have put in their time, experience and service as Spa Operators while assisting their corporate worlds develop their spa culture, are still entrenched in it. Why do I say unfortunate?  Because this generation of Directors who in the last decade were instrumental in keeping the spa culture alive while Corporate America was still in the learning curve, have given too much of their personal time and wellness to creating memorable experiences for guests while driving revenue and crunching numbers. So many of these same directors are the complete antithesis of what wellness means.

Hope for the new generation

The Industry's Future.

This blog is personal because at the age of 42, I already started to experience peri-menopausal symptoms.  At the time, my doctors in Tucson simply attributed it to stress since I was doing so much traveling for my company, opening spas and mentoring other directors, and commuting back and forth to my home in Palm Springs.  From the age of 44 to 45, I had trouble falling asleep and NEVER had a full 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep for a year and a half.  My staff at the time will tell you that they would never have guessed it since my adrenaline kept me going at a 100%.  Of course there was a 6 month period during that time that I would tear up about everything and I'm horrified to say it happened even at a high level executive meeting.  No wonder that by the time a more forward thinking doctor like Dr. Andrea Cole did my nutritional evaluation along with hormone panel tests last year, I was advised that at the age of 46, I was not only in menopause, but my adrenals were shot and my body was replete of almost all essential minerals and vitamins.

Happy w/new directions

Why am I sharing this?  Because like me, so many of my spa colleagues are going through the same battles.  Those still in the trenches, work weeks at a time before they can even take proper time off.  Some are refused time off even when they ask for it.  And sadly, there are those who have been physically pushed to the limit, that their health conditions have warranted medical intervention.

Speeps enjoying a well-deserved Carribean break

And all I can say is 'It's not worth it'.  We work so hard to keep ourselves at a certain position & level of income but we spend a lot of that on defensive health maintenance.  Last year alone, I spent $10k of my own money on lab tests that the insurance would not cover but I needed.  Those lab tests were my wake up call and I am still playing catch up with refueling my body with all the essentials it needs.

Rare moments 

My wise mentor

 So I am calling on all my Speeps (Spa Peeps) to walk the talk and resolve to create that balance in your life.  Because in the end, you are responsible for your health and if it fails you, no amount of accomplishments and work will save you.  My wise spa mentor once said to me, 'it doesn't matter how much revenue and profits you bring to the table, once you're gone, those accomplishments will be a distant memory'.

 Today, I live and work from my home with my 'boys' as my support, do bikram yoga at least three times a week when I'm not traveling, try to eat as organic and natural as I can, take a complete regimen of supplements tailored to meet my deficiencies, and am enjoying my new phase of womanhood - trying to 'be cool' in spite of the random 'power surges', learning how to love the changes in my body, and giving my heart and my spirit time to reflect in gratitude for small favors...

"Live in Wonder"

The last two weeks have been a flurry of activity from the recent annual convention of ISPA in DC to the Thanksgiving Holidays.  Through it all, I found myself constantly thinking about all the good things in my life.  Could it be that the holidays just tend to make people celebrate their blessings?  I’m sure that’s part of it.  But could it also be due to all those wonderful speakers we were treated to at ISPA?  Every day, the general conference featured Keynote speakers of very different styles and material – sharing one common thread – Inspiration.

Filmmaker Eric Saperston in tandem with multi-platinum recording artist Edwin McCain spoke on the first day.  I think most of us in the audience were skeptical.  The guy seemed entertaining enough but what was with the accompanying guitarist/singer?  Before we could even begin to analyze it, the duo engaged us with their unique story-telling performance about Eric’s journey: a cross-country adventure in a 1971 VW Bus along with his golden retriever and three other friends.  Although he initially set out to follow the Grateful Dead and work a ski season in Aspen, he ended up interviewing and having coffee with some of the most influential people in the world such as Jimmy Carter, Governor Ann Richards, Billy Crystal, Henry Winkler, Jerry Garcia and picking their brain on how to live a fulfilling and successful life.  In 90 minutes, he injected some powerful vignettes of wisdom that he picked up on his journey such as “ Your most important trip in life might be when you meet another halfway” or “Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today”.  ”Many great ideas have been lost because the people who had them could not stand being laughed at”.  And one of my favorites: “To know the road ahead, ask those coming back”.

The second day was another pleasant surprise.  2009 CNN Hero Doc Hendley dreamt up the concept of raising money to support water projects around the world while he was bartending and playing music in Raleigh North Carolina.  The first fundraiser was held in 2004 and shortly after,  he lived in Darfur, Sudan to install water systems for the victims of the government supported genocide.  In 2007, after working two jobs and volunteering his time over three years, he founded ‘Wine To Water’.  This man whose only real world job experience came from bartending now heads a non-profit organization that focuses on providing clean water to needy people around the world.  Not to sound like a gushing fan, but can I even tell you how down to earth and sincere this man is?  On that stage, he echoed Saperston’s words “If you think you’re too small and insignificant to make a difference, you’ve never spent a night with a mosquito in a tent”.  And we took it to heart.  That evening, a few of us were having dinner when we spotted him at another table with his family.  My friend Jim Chenevey decided to pick up his tab.  He came over with his wife and two kids to thank Jim for the gesture   He was as real and as genuine as I imagined.  And Jim felt that he contributed in a small but significant way.

After two days of wisdom and inspiration, I wasn’t sure how Marcus Buckingham would compare.  I almost forgot that I was gifted with an autographed copy of his book as one of the first people to sign up for the conference.  Obviously, I had not read it yet and I’m glad I didn’t.  Watching this man in person will make me enjoy reading his book even more.  The English accent and the boyish looks definitely helped, but it was his quirky humor that totally won me over.  I’ve been to several leadership seminars but this is different because the concept is simple and realistic.  With a world that tends to focus on weaknesses, he suggests that we ‘play to our strengths’ and those of others as well.  He narrates how he used to stutter as a young teen, and one day was forced to speak in front of an entire audience at his school.  He readied himself for the laughing and the ridicule but to his amazement, as soon as he stood on stage and started speaking, his stuttering disappeared.  He realized that he LOVED speaking in front of big groups – the bigger, the better.  On the flipside, he ‘loathes’ the small talk at parties.  But he loves  interviewing people.  So instead of trying to build a weakness or avoiding parties, he imagines every person he talks to at a party as someone he’s interviewing.   Presto!  The key is to identify strengths, champion them and minimize occasions that you will need to utilize your weakest traits.  And more important, we need to do the same for those around us at work and in our personal lives. In Eric Saperston’s words, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”.

Live in wonder...

Pinkwashing...

Two weeks ago, I wrote about GREENWASHING.  Then I realized that October, the month of Breast Cancer Awareness was coming to an end - which leads me to the topic of PINKWASHING. 

Look at all the companies and spas that are promoting their products and services in support of breast cancer research.  Are they practicing what they're preaching or are they just using Breast Cancer as a tool to generate more sales?

According the most recent statistics issued by the Susan G. Komen foundation, breast cancer is the leading cancer among American women and second only to lung cancer in cancer deaths.  Race is not considered a factor for increased risk of this disease, but differ among ethnic groups.  For instance, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among African American women, exceeded only by lung cancer.  Among Hispanic/Latina women, it is the most common cancer.  Breast cancer in men is rare but it does happen. 

Unfortunately only a small fraction of breast cancer can be linked to genetics and we have yet to find a cure.  However, what we are sure of is that many cancers are linked to environmental exposure and chemicals present in items we use daily. 

What is within our control are the lifestyle choices we make beginning with the products we use.  My last blog In US, On Us, Around Us, clearly illustrates how everything we use on our body, feed our body and surround ourselves with has an effect on our health.  Cosmetics and skincare are the items that women utilize most on a daily basis.  In fact, even during a recession, women will scrimp on food and household items before they sacrifice their favorite toiletries. 

But how does the regular consumer begin to wade through they myriad of ingredients and false labeling that skincare giants have successfully masked?  At the recent Green Spa Network Conference, they gave us a few tips which I'd like to share...

The Dirty Dozen are ingredients to avoid in personal care products - Parabens, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Phthalates, Nanoparticles, DEA/TEA/MEA, Coal Tar Derivatives, Formaldehyde/Formaldehyde Donors, Hydroquinone, BHA, Octoxynols,  & Ethyl Acetate.  

Did you know that the Beauty Industry is not regulated by the FDA?  This means that companies must list ingredients in order of use but are not required to test their products.  I can't speak for you but I certainly don't feel like being a guinea pig.  So what is the alternative?

Familiarize yourself with this word - INCI... International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients.  Many countries including the US, Australia, Japan and the members of the European Union, require manufacturers of cosmetic ingredients to submit all new ingredients for registration in the INCI system.  If you intend to sell your cosmetic products for LEGAL LABELING REQUIREMENTS, you need to use the official INCI name of the ingredients on the label.  This cosmetic regulation law is important for consumer safety.

How do we know whether an ingredient is bad for us?  A great source is the Safe Cosmetics Campaign Database.  What percentage of the ingredients are natural?  "Plant Derived" does not = natural.   How were they extracted?  That makes a difference too.  Do they use Fragrance Oils or Essential Oils?  Fragance oils are synthetic, so definitely watch out for those.  Also remember that unless a product is designed to be use within the next 48 hours, companies must utilize a minimum amount of synthetics to preserve the shelf life.

There are 3 basic rules - Avoid the ingredients that are not good for you.  Look for full disclosure ingredient listing, preferably INCI.  And when in doubt, select the product with a higher percentage of natural ingredients.

So back to Pinkwashing... just like Greenwashing, we need to concentrate on the issue and how we can resolve it rather than getting sucked into the hype and the marketing gimmicks that come with it.  As in any cause, make a conscious effort to support those who truly believe and are working towards the cause.  Personal and social responsibility is the key...

In Me, On Me, Around Me

The title refers to three basic mantras to follow when considering any lifestyle choice, according to Sustainability Strategist Lewis Perkins.  He and several other 'Green' advocates gave us an amazing amount of information to ponder on at the recent Green Spa Network Conference (http://www.greenspanetwork.org/).  For instance, did you know that the rise of autism and ADHT has a significant correlation to the increased usage of pesticides?  Am I surprised?  Not at all!  Growing up, I had 3 relatives who had autism and at the time (70's and 80's) no one knew anything about it.  And although Dustin Hoffman's portrayal of an austistic savante in the movie Rainman brought Autism into the spotlight, the Center for Disease and Prevention issued findings that the prevalence of autism had risen to 1 in every 110 births in the United States and almost 1 in 70 boys.

In Us...According to Lohas (Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability) 90% of our main crops are genetically engineered so much so that pollen has drifted and tainted the native crops of Mexico.  Pesticides if you didn't know it yet, come from petroleum products.  Cloned animals are already in the food system.  And 25% of global warming is attributed to our food production system.  On the other hand, organic farming utilizes 30% less energy and organic food is 30% higher in antioxidants and 25% more in 11 essential nutrients.  Conventional milk contains 3 to 5 pesticides while organic milk provides 35% more in essential fatty acids.

On Us...what did you use this morning?  Studies show that the average person uses 10 cosmetic products (including hair care, skin care and perfume) which immediately exposes them to 126 different ingredients.  There are 85K synthetic chemicals in commerce.  Of the 12.5K that exist in cosmetics, 80% have not been assessed for safety.  If you don't believe that products on your skin can have that much of an effect on you, Beauty & Wellness Expert Rona Berg suggests that you cut a piece of garlic and tape it to the inside of your wrist for ten minutes.  You will notice that eventually, the taste of garlic will be in your mouth.

Around Us... Over 400 billion gallons of polluted chemically laden laundry detergent water are released into water systems that enter rivers, lakes and the oceans every year.  That same water feeds the fish we eat, seeps into the groundsoil where our plants take root, and it evaporates into the air we breathe. 

So why aren't we being more socially responsible and looking out for ourselves?  Is it because organic and natural tend to be more expensive?  But think about this, would you rather pay the farmer or the hospital?  If you haven't watched it yet, then you need to watch 11 year old Birke Baehr speak about 'What's Wrong with our Food System" on You Tube http://bit.ly/9FFavO.  If he gets it, then so should we.

Unfortunately, Greenwashing (the perception that the environment is being taken cared of) has made us less discerning of our choices.  Even more, each one of us wonders what we can do to make a difference.  Visionary Mineral Cosmetic Maven Jane Iredale who began in 1994 created this mission statement for her Green Team - "One person can't save everything, but every person can save one thing...".

Being "green" is no longer a trend.  It's a lifestyle...

Who am I?

I've been meaning to blog for the longest time.  Writing has always been a passion of mine but somewhere along life's way like everything else we believe in, we forget what really makes us happy.  My last ten years in the spa industry have been such a learning experience about wellness and lifestyle choices, and I've always wanted to find a way to share it.  So I came up with the Sprinkle of the Day - droplets of information that I can shower you with.  Sometimes it will be relaxing and refreshing just like a pacific rain shower and other times it might be deep enough to create puddles and pools of information that you can immerse yourself in.  But the inspiration will always be water - which happens to be the origin of the spa lifestyle but more important, it's about us and the world - both made up mostly of water.

Just like water, this blog will flow freely where life directs it.  For instance, I happen to have two beautiful dogs - a golden retriever and a chocolate lab.  Those two aim for the water and take so much joy in it and consequently, watching them gives me that inner sense of peace.  Animals can be an integral part of your wellness and they certainly are mine.  So at times, I may blog about my two 'boys' as I fondly refer to them, and hopefully share the same sense of well-being they bring to my life.

I've read so many tips on how to blog and how to tweet and most of them tell you to come up with ONE general direction.  Like water, I'll flow towards the spaces that need to be filled.  Now and then I may appear to digress, but like the water in a shallow river, I may slip through the rocks and even travel up the banks but I will always flow back to the source.

I hope to be part of your day's ritual and shower you with enough information to help cleanse your body, soul and mind.