Moab Happenings Archive
Return to home

HEALTHY HAPPENINGS June 2013

Spa Moab

Spa MoabWhether it's relaxation, therapeutic recovery or you're searching for a perfect gift, Spa Moab is the place for you. We welcome each and every individual who walks through the door and invite them to find space here. Our team of massage therapists and estheticians combine a huge array of experience and education with a long list of offerings. Choices of treatments and services include many types of massage, facials, hydrating body scrubs, pedicures and, even health coaching. Spa Moab also has a couples room, where you and your other half, mother & daughter, best friends alike can enjoy receiving massages together in the same room by two therapists.

Spa Moab is proud to offer supportive whole body cleanses, helping people to continue their healing journey at home. Cleansing is like hitting the “reboot” button on our system. It gives the body a chance to clear up the accumulated toxins that have built up over the years. Cleansing triggers the body’s natural healing and nurturing defenses to do the work it’s meant to do.

Spa MoabThat’s why at Spa Moab, we are launching three different 10-day cleanses to help you do a little Spring Cleaning on the inside of you. Join Certified Health Coach Sarah Finkbeiner as she personally guides and supports you each day for 10 days, while you cleanse and nourish your body back to vibrant health. You don’t have to do it alone!

• 10 Day Sugar Cleanse – Addicted to sugar? It just so happens to be a highly addictive toxic substance and is found in almost all processed & packaged food. Deconstruct your cravings and re-train your body to crave naturally sweet foods with this Sugar Cleanse!

• 10 Day Junk Food Cleanse – Can’t resist the junk food? Well, there’s really no such thing as junk food – there’s either food or junk. Reset your cravings and give your body what it really wants with this Junk Food Cleanse!

• 10 Day Veg Pledge Cleanse – Increasing the amount of vegetables in one’s diet is one of the most fool proof ways to boost health, fight off disease, and increase longevity. Challenge yourself to cut the meat with this 10 day Veg Pledge Cleanse!

We not only have a choice in what we put into our bodies by way of food, but we also have the good fortune of choosing what we put ONTO our bodies as well.

The facials at Spa Moab are customized for each individual and can treat sun damage, fine lines, acne, and more. The experienced estheticians love sharing first hand knowledge about treating skin in this harsh high desert environment. Spa Moab offers two product lines, both are very high quality, professional, and result driven. A neck, shoulder, scalp, and foot massage with warm booties are included in the facials.

The more we can help our bodies do their job, the healthier we will be. We have a choice. When possible, receive a massage, choose non-toxic organic foods and skin care products, and begin to feel the benefits of clean living!

We invite you to stop by, browse, and take a "menu" home. Visit us on-line at www.spamoab.com and check out the monthly packages and Father's Day specials. At Spa Moab the goal is that you will walk out the door feeling relaxed and quietly energized having spent quality time at a soothing small-town spa.

A Fatter World

Moonflower MarketWe are a fat country. It isn’t exactly news that one of the few metrics that America still leads the world in is our obesity rate. What is news is that the rest of the world is catching up with us.

A study released by The Lancet, a medical journal, which involved nearly 500 researchers across 50 countries who tracked and compared health data from 1990 to 2010, found that over the last two decades the global rate of obesity has risen by 82%. In all but the world’s poorest countries, people are getting fatter at an alarming rate.

Even more shocking is the fact that, for the first time, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), like heart disease, diabetes and strokes, are the leading causes of years spent sick or injured. That means that, even though people are living longer, their quality of life is getting worse. These chronic diseases are not cheap either. “In many cases being overweight at age 50 will not only double but actually triple or quadruple the incident rate for many diseases,” says Dr. Y. Claire Wang of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.

Wang estimates that by the year 2030 the cost of treating these obesity related diseases in America will top $66 billion. Treating these diseases globally over the next 20 years could cost $30 trillion, according to a report by the World Economic Forum and the Harvard School of Public Health.

So what happened? How can it be that obesity is a bigger global health crisis than hunger? The problem of obesity is not as simple as it used to be. Eating the wrong food and not getting enough exercise, though largely responsible, are not the only reason that the world now has a bigger problem with people being overweight than underweight.

There is no doubt that people are eating too much of the wrong stuff and not moving around enough afterwards. There is no doubt that the percentage of Americans that are obese and overweight- 35.7% and 74.1% respectively, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)- would be dramatically reduced if people starting eating fresher, more nutritious food. And no doubt that if you got people getting just 20 minutes of exercise per day (that can include just walking around the block) in addition to eating healthier, then those numbers would be a fraction of what they are today.

But to leave the solution at that is to miss a much more pernicious culprit that is helping to fatten the developed and developing world. That culprit is the industrialization of our food and health products.

Though it is still in its infancy, the study of obesogens, a subset of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, is already yielding some frightening evidence about the extent to which the chemicals in our food, water, cosmetics and air are altering our body’s natural hormonal balance to increase the development of our body’s fat cells.

A recent New York Times article details a study that showed how mice, exposed to just one part per billion of DES, an obesogen, at birth, gained significantly more flab than mice that had not been exposed, despite no real difference between the mice in exercise or diet.

A major reason that you may not have heard about these hormone disrupting chemicals is that there is a concerted effort being put forth by large chemical companies to keep these chemicals unregulated. In much the same way that cigarette companies for years sought to block research and publication on the detrimental effects of smoking, the chemical lobby is doing its best to keep the public in the dark about these chemicals. Chemicals that many Americans consume everyday and that are being shown to contribute not only to obesity, but also to cancers and dysfunctions in sex organs.

So what can you do to stay as far clear of these poisons as possible? Fortunately there are a few quick and easy steps that you can take to help you avoid some of the worst of these chemicals.

Don’t drink out of plastic single serving containers- Most plastic containers contain Bisphenol A (BPA) and a group of plastic softeners called phthalates. Both of these substances have been shown to contribute to serious health problems, particularly in children. So instead of a grabbing a plastic bottle next time your thirsty, fill up a glass or metal container, like a Klean Kanteen, with water or juice.

Eat Organic and Non-Genetically Modified (Non-GMO) Produce- Not all produce is created equal. The fertilizers, chemicals, and genetically modified seeds used to grow much of the produce that you see in the grocery store can contain chemicals that may have long-term negative effects on your health. Rather than buying apples grown in Chile or tomatoes grown in greenhouses all the way across the country, go down to your local health food store or farmers market. Locally grown and Organic produce not only is better for you but tastes better and keeps your money in your community.

Look at the ingredients- Before you throw something into your shopping cart, take a second look at the ingredient panel. Are there any names longer than three syllables? Is there anything listed that looks like it belongs in a science lab? Does it have corn syrup, hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils? If the answer is yes to any of these, put the box back and find a substitute with ingredients that you would want in your body.

At Moonflower Market we have done most of this work for you. Our buyers purchase only the healthiest and most ethically sourced food. None of our products have corn syrup as a sweetener, artificial colors, artificial flavors, or MSG. We do not accept any dairy products that contain growth hormones and we carry no commercially grown produce. Wherever possible our products are organic, non-GMO, locally grown and produced, Fair Trade and free of preservatives. And as a non-profit, community run, natural foods store (soon to be Utah’s only co-op!) you know that your money is staying in and benefiting the Moab area.

Crystal Spa
Crystal SpaWhen most people think of Massage Therapy, the first thing that comes to mind is relaxation. The serenity of a quiet room with soothing lighting, calming music, and a complete sense of well-being. In a society of high stress and that is constantly on the go, relaxation is a much needed addition to most people’s lives. This added relaxation in a person’s life can be extremely beneficial in more ways than one.

Massage and Therapeutic Bodywork has been known to lower stress which has countless benefits on overall health and attitude. Although increased relaxation is a wonderful gift massage can give to the mind and body, it is only one of many delightful advantages men and woman alike can enjoy. Massage can increase circulation, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and organs. It also stimulates lymph flow, the body’s defense system against toxins and illness’, which goes hand in hand in boosting the body’s immune system. Massage may also help individuals who suffer from headaches by relieving muscle tension and increasing blood flow. Body work has also been known to alleviate pain for those suffering from migraines.

People that carry a large amount of stress are not the only ones that can gain from massage, those who are physically active can receive great rewards as well. Physical activity can cause significant wear and tear on the body. Certain activities, like mountain biking, rock climbing, or even sitting at a computer all day, can cause tightness and knots in specific areas. Getting a regular massage like a Swedish Massage or Deep Tissue Massage, can help alleviate the pain caused by these activities. It can also assist in the healing of injured or overused muscles by reducing recovery time.

Whether it is a relaxing break from the day that is needed, or a cure to a nagging pain, massage is an option that should not be overlooked. If you are in need of a little TLC, The Crystal Spa offers a friendly and inviting environment to take away your troubles. Offering 30 minute, 60 minute and 90 minute sessions, The Crystal Spa can customized massage to each individual client and meet their specific needs. Massage and Therapeutic Bodywork are not the only way to unwind, many other services are available to accommodate to a client’s preference. Facials, Manicures, Pedicures and various other services are available to sooth and relax those in need of something other than a massage.

Next time you are in need of getting rid of some unwanted stress or tension, give massage a try, the result could surprise you.
Return to Archive Index
return to home
 
Return to home