Follow Your Bliss

Photo via Yogurt Yoga.

“You must find the place inside yourself where nothing is impossible.”

― Deepak Chopra

Online Resources for Yoga, Meditation and Wellness

Photos via I Can Read on Tumblr.

Are you looking for resources and tools to help guide your journey toward physical, mental and spiritual health? Here are a few links from around the web that we find inspiring.

http://www.chopracenterhealingwisdom.com/
A Chopra Center blog with scientific and spiritual findings.

http://www.yogajournal.com/
A leading publication in the yoga world offering insight from master teachers and healers.

http://kripalu.org/blog/thrive/
A blog from the Kripalu Center which focuses on yoga, health and wellness.

http://www.donothingfor2minutes.com/
A site to help you learn how to sit in stillness for a few minutes during your busy day.

http://www.dailyom.com/
Daily inspiration for achieving self-fulfillment 

http://www.elephantjournal.com/
Elephant Journal covers quite the mix: yoga, sustainability, politics and spirituality.

http://www.spiritualnow.com
Articles on topics such as enlightenment, compassion, wisdom, relationships and strength. 

Getting the Most Out of Your Next Massage

Photos via Pinterest.

Here are some tips on how to get the most out of your massage experience.

• Drink water before and after your massage, as your body will be flushing toxins.
• Share accurate health information with your therapist before you begin your session.
• Alert your therapist to any allergies you have. 
• Be open about discussing your expectations and any apprehensions you have prior to beginning your massage. 

• If at any time you feel discomfort or pain during your massage, let your therapist know immediately. Also feel free to provide feedback about pressure or speed of hand movement during the massage so that your therapist can adjust to your needs.
• Relax and breathe during the massage. The more you can let go, the more effective the therapist's work will be.
• Book a follow up appointment. Since the benefits of massage are cumulative, you will experience better results if you schedule yourself regular appointments. 
• Take the night off. You'll hold on to the benefits of the massage for longer if you plan a relaxing evening afterward.

Celebrate Dads, Grads and Grooms

Have you thought about celebrating Father's Day, upcoming graduations, and weddings this summer?

Here at Serenity Spa, we're offering an amazing deal to celebrate dads, grads and grooms!

Gift Certificates Available 90 minutes of bliss $139  Drench him in our indigenous therapies that will take him where the sun fires the SOUL while the sea settles the MIND. Relax with a Hot Stone Balinese FOOT SCRUB with the citrus of the sun & the salt of the sea. Flow into a 30 minute TANDEM MASSAGE with two therapists working in synchronicity on the neck, head, face, shoulders, legs and feet. This is followed by 45 minutes of DEEP TISSUE THERAPY, with attention to the back. All infused with camphor, clove, and cardamom oils to soothe and restore tired muscles.

serenity spa 3984 Douglas Blvd. #150 Roseville, California 95661 916-797-8550 www.serenityspaonline.com

The Health Benefits of Massage Therapy

Photos via Pinterest.

We all know that getting a massage is a great way to relax and let go of muscle tension. But the benefits go further. Research shows that massage can provide relief from back pain, headaches, osteoarthritis, cancer and anxiety.

"Massage is no longer just a stress-relief modality. People are seeking it as a preventative medicine for their health and for wellness," says Dr. Leena Guptha, president-elect of the AMTA, in an interview for Forbes magazine. "Some of the immediate benefits of massage are that it reduces heart rate and blood pressure, and increases blood and lymphatic circulation."

It's also important to note that peoples' reasons for getting massages have shifted toward overall health and wellness. 

Check out these facts from the American Massage Therapy Association:

• Instead of seeking massage therapy solely for relaxation and pampering purposes, individuals are turning to massage therapy to assist with medical conditions.
• As few as 31 percent of individuals believe massage therapy is only a form of pampering.
• 19 percent of respondents said they received a massage at a spa in the 12 months prior to the survey compared to 23 percent in 2011. This decline, and the presence of chiropractor’s offices, health clubs and physician’s offices/medical clinics on the list of locations where people receive massage, indicates consumers identify massage as an important component of overall health and wellness.
• 50 percent of people have received a massage for one or more of the following reasons: soreness, stiffness or spasms, to relieve or manage stress, for prevention or to improve quality of life, injury recovery or rehabilitation, to keep fit or healthy/maintain wellness, or to control headaches or migraines.

Once you've considered the amazing benefits of massage therapy, you won't think twice about booking your next appointment. Here's to your health! Namaste. 

Shirodhara

At Serenity Spa, we offer a variety of Ayurvedic treatments. One of these is shirodhara.

Shirodhara is a simple, yet profound treatment that works specifically on balancing and stabilizing the activity of the mind. Warm, dosha-specific herbal oils are beautifully streamed over the Ajna Chakra or third eye, taking the participant on a journey deep within. This helps bring balance to emotions and the mind, and is balancing to the nervous system, creating ecstatic feelings of relaxation and pleasure. 

At Serenity Spa, we offer this 45 minute service for $90. Call our front desk at (916) 797-8550 or see our website to schedule an appointment.

Shirodhara is a form of Ayurveda therapy that involves gently pouring liquids over the forehead (the 'third eye'). It was developed by vaidyas (practitionars of Ayurveda) in Kerala, India for use in sukhachikitsa (restorative therapy) and can be one of the steps involved in Panchakarma. The name comes from the Sanskrit words shira 'head' and dhara 'flow'.

To read more about shirodhara, check out this article from the California College of Ayurveda.

Inspiration for Today

"I sit before flowers
hoping they will train me in the art
of opening up"

— The Student, Shane Koyczan

Today, in your practice, consider that the natural world has things to teach us: stillness, acceptance, comfort in giving up our endless searching, the art of listening carefully. If you can, spend ten minutes observing nature, whether that's taking your dog for a walk, finding a bench in the park, or going for a hike. See what your observations reflect.