Say hiking
Say hiking and Peru in the same breath and most people think of the Inca Trail. But the Inkaterra approach is as far from backpacker-grunge as it gets. Its three hotels are for those seeking both adventure and creature comforts, and are now all strung together on a new Walking to Wellness tour, which spans the Amazon, Machu Picchu and Cusco for 16 days of adrenalin-pumping activities, healthy local food and spa time.
At Inkaterra
At Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica, excursions are twice daily. The most hardcore are in the morning (partly due to the 5am wake-up call), taking on knee- knocking canopy walkways, cayman-ridden rivers in a kayak and jungle hikes.
Next it's on to the Andes
Next it's on to the Andes and Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel for treks around the everything-it's-hyped-up-to-be Lost City of Machu Picchu. After scaling the steps of the 15th-century Inca citadel, it's back to Pueblo for daydreaming in the Andean sauna, a candle-lit eucalyptus hut. There are also hot-stone massages with gems and coca-leaf oil (the same leaves that make the class A drug, so it gets the blood flowing).
The last stop is Cusco
The last stop is Cusco. The UNESCO World Heritage city is 3,400 metres above sea level and Inkaterra La Casona's micro-spa is one of the few in the world where therapists ask if you want extra oxygen with your massage. This trip will leave you hyper-toned from trekking, massaged to knot-free oblivion and wide- and bright-eyed having soaked up all the marvels of the Incas.
Spa has launched a new eco-friendly, single-use headband.
The original hybrid was introduced by visionary American plant breeder and horticulturalist Luther Burbank in 1901. He crossed four species from different parts of the world to create Leucanthemum superbum, the cheery white-petalled, yellow-centered daisy we know and love, naming it after snow-covered Mount Shasta in California.
The thick and waffle-embossed headbands are easy to use and will gently hold back a client’s hair during treatments to protect it from masks, creams and oils.The headbands, which cost 12p each, are fully adjustable, with an easy-peel adhesive strip, making them simple to put in place.
Each headband is made from the same sustainable waffle material as Scrummi’s towels, meaning
the headbands are ultra-absorbent and will easily soak up any drips or product smears. Each headband is made from 100% natural wood fibres that have been sourced from sustainably-managed forests and can be recycled into compost after use.
Rob Cooper, Managing Director of Scrummi Spa says, ‘Our new headbands are a simple, hygienic way to care for clients’ hair during treatments.
Rob Cooper, Managing Director of Scrummi Spa says, ‘Our new headbands are a simple, hygienic way to care for clients’ hair during treatments. They are clean and fresh for each new client, so they always look professional. You can even incorporate headbands into the overall sensory experience of a massage or facial, by adding a few drops of essential oil to gently infuse the air with fragrance and help to create a relaxing or uplifting atmosphere.
Nationwide academy now offering three fully-accredited beauty courses
The three new courses, added this September, cover all aspects of beauty therapy and wellbeing.ITEC Level 3 Diploma Massage Therapy teaches practical and theoretical massage skills. Salon Management & Business is based online to allow students to learn at their own pace and combine study with other courses and commitments. The course takes approximately 160 hours over two years, teaching the practical and theoretical skills needed to own and run a beauty salon.
Finally, Jennifer Young, founder of Beauty Despite Cancer, has collaborated with The Training Room to create the Oncology Face and Body Workshop, a course in specialist massage, created for all those affected by cancer.
Students will be taught how to provide adapted and specialist touch therapies to suit individual needs and promote wellbeing and therapeutic deep relaxation.
Laura Sheridan, Head of Beauty and Wellbeing at The Training Room, says: ‘We are very excited about the new courses and proud to be giving students the opportunity to learn new skills that will give them that extra knowledge in order for them to stand out.’
Working closely with all the top industry specialists, The Training Room has recently acquired new corporate partners including Blow Ltd, Cowshed, Lifehouse Spa, Urban Massage, Vebena Spa and Center Parcs.
Salt Innovation, a nonprofit based in Fremont, CA, wants to know more about the benefits of salt therapy. The organization recently began researching the potential improvement of respiratory function with salt therapy. Using the newest findings and research available, the organization is establishing collaborations within the scientific, medical, and wellness communities across the globe to get the study underway.
According to the Salt Therapy Association, dry salt therapy treatments claim to have multiple health benefits for respiratory and skin conditions that date back hundreds of years to eastern Europe. “Our mission is to improve the knowledge and understanding of Himalayan salt therapy for human diseases,” says Idrees Munir, Ph.D., founder of Salt Innovation. “Working with experts in the field and creating a global network by enhancing the education and research, we hope to focus salt therapy options for asthma and allergies and work towards improvement of patient’s quality of life.”
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that people with cystic fibrosis – a progressive genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections – who were exposed to hypertonic saline, or salt water, experienced improved lung function. Studies such as this are what inspired Salt Innovation to continue researching for more health benefits that can better the quality of life for patients of illness.
With a local team in on the ground in Rabwah, Pakistan, Salt Innovation is basing its medical expertise project near the biggest salt mine in the world. Research is being conducted at Tahir Heart Institute, a world-known cardiac hospital with two salt chambers. Initial trials of mild to moderate asthmatic participants are currently in development.
This is an aside post.
Awarded by numerous publications and organizations for her innovative entrepreneurial skills, Jen Groover will share her expertise on March 6 at the American Spa's Women in Wellness Leadership Conference with a session on "Building a Brand with Impact and Influence." From yet-to-be realized personal passion projects to enhancing the impact of your current efforts, she will reveal best practices for innovation, evolution, and entrepreneurship. Groover is the founder of the multi-million-dollar Butler Bag brand, the world's first compartmentalized handbag, and multiple other lifestyle brands, such as Empowered by Jen Groover, and entrepreneurial empowerment efforts, such as Leader Girlz, which teaches young girls the importance of empowerment through play. Groover was tagged by Success Magazine as a "One-Woman Brand," a "Creativity and Innovation Guru," and by Entrepreneur magazine as a leading "Serial Entrepreneur." She was recently nominated as a UN delegate to the first-ever Global Accelerator for the Global Entrepreneurs Council. And she made history at the New York Stock Exchange as a member of the first all-female group to ring the opening bell.
This fall, Groover is relaunching her best-selling What If? & Why Not?, with updated resources; Optimized Potential; and #Empowered, which is based on her one-hour PBS special. A top business and lifestyle contributor and content creator for major television networks such as ABC, CBS, CNBC, NBC, Fox News, and more, Groover has also contributed to a host of publications and online resources including The Huffington Post, Entrepreneur magazine, and HealthyStyle NY.
The success and momentum of Groover's empowerment movement led her to launch the Empowered Economy Initiative, which encourages corporations and universities to combine efforts in order to educate and support small business owners and entrepreneurs in their communities, thereby stimulating the economy. She is also an advisor and partner for a new company called Thuzio, started by Tiki Barber and Mark Gerson, which is an innovative business model blending sports management and sports entertainment.
Most recently, Groover launched an innovative economic and innovation movement for entrepreneurs and small business owners called Jumpstart StartUp, a first of its kind pop-up shop that launched in Philadelphia in October 2016 and is currently expanding to 10 cities nationwide. The groundbreaking venture features a curated matchmaking conversion of business experts, global brands, and entrepreneurs, creating an inspired experience to support small business growth and accelerate brands.