December, the diamond-frosted clasp linking twelve jeweled months to yet another year. - Phyllis Nicholson

Many of us have perfected the art of giving. We give to others, do for others, and we're always there for others. Although the intent comes from a beautiful place, sometimes we tend to forget about our own needs.

If you are always the reliable rock among your friends, family and colleagues then perhaps it’s time for you tip the scales in your own direction.

What better time to start nurturing yourself than in the gorgeous months of summer? The weather is warm, so escape outside into the fresh air, sprawl out on a rug and indulge in your favourite book. Take some time to reflect upon the year that has passed. Instead of yearning for what might have been, focus on all you have achieved and enjoyed this year. Without any doubt, you’ve been good and you need to reward yourself.

Happy tidings of comfort and joy.
Lyndall

THE SPA CAFÉ
Frozen Summertime Delights
Cool off at home this summer
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TAP INTO YOUR INNER CHILD THIS CHRISTMAS

When we were children, Christmas was the most magical time of the year. We found wonder in simple things and delighted in the spirit of the season.

I believe one of the real miracles of Christmas is that it has the possibility to awaken the child in all of us. Christmas can evoke a sense of wonder and hope that even a year of grown-up doubt, discouragement, or disappointment can’t snuff out.

All that’s required of us to get back in touch with our inner child is a little belief. Belief in what? Try starting small, with the things that surround us – everything you can see, hear, taste, smell and touch. Take a couple of minutes each day to tune into each of your senses and you will be amazed at the bigger picture that grows from it. Below is a story I found that evoked a little Christmas magic in me.

The Believer
What has happened to me has been the very reverse of what appears to be the experience of most of my friends. Instead of dwindling to a point, Santa Claus has grown larger and larger in my life until he fills almost the whole of it. It happened in this way.

As a child I was faced with a phenomenon requiring explanation. I hung up at the end of my bed an empty stocking, which in the morning became a full stocking. I had done nothing to produce the things that filled it. I had not worked for them, or made them or helped make them. I had not even been good - far from it.

And the explanation was that a certain being whom people called Santa Claus was benevolently disposed toward me…

And as I say, I believe it still. I have merely extended the idea. Then I only wondered who put the toys in the stocking; now I wonder who put the stocking by the bed, and the bed in the room, and the room in the house, and the house on the planet, and the great planet in the void. Once I only thanked Santa Claus for a few dolls and toys, now I thank him for stars and street faces and wine and the great sea.

Once I thought it was delightful and astonishing to find a present so big that it only went halfway into the stocking. Now I am delighted and astonished every morning to find a present so big that it takes two stockings to hold it, and then leaves a great deal outside; it is the large and preposterous present of myself, as to the origin of which I can offer no suggestion except that Santa Claus gave it to me in a fit of peculiarly fantastic good will.

By G. K. Chesterton

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THE GIFT OF INSPIRATION, LUXURY AND INDULGENCE

Inspire, indulge and introduce the special people in your life to the fabulous experience that is Aurora Spa Retreat.

Beautifully packaged and wrapped, these three Aurora gift packs can easily be ordered online at www.aurorasparetreat.com or phone (03) 9536 1130, and delivered direct to your home or work.

Pack 1. An Inspirational Christmas
Aurora 1 hour gift voucher
Li’tya Macadamia Facial Hydrating Cremè
Evexia Botanical Sachet - Orange & Star Anise
‘Every Day A New Beginning’ Inspirational Cards
Price $ 150

Pack 2. A Luxurious Christmas
Aurora 2 hour gift voucher
Phytomer Hydrating Body Lotion
Phytomer Multi-Active Contouring Bath
Phytomer Seaweed Exfoliating Soap
Price $ 280

Pack 3. A Purely Indulgent Christmas
Aurora 3 hour gift voucher
Li’tya Lillypilly Facial Cleanser Cremè
Li’tya Wattleseed Protein Polish
Evexia Botanical Sachet - Clove, Bay Leaf & Star Anise
Aurora Herbal Tea blend - Balance
Herbal tea infuser
Price $ 420

To order, simply visit www.aurorasparetreat.com or call Aurora on (03) 9536 1130.

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SPA NEWS
New staff outfits by BODY

Urban, natural and chic – Aurora’s new staff outfits have arrived, and the word on the street is that the change is better than a holiday.

Designed by Dainy Sawatzky of directional Melbourne fashion label BODY, the new range incorporates fabrics inspired by the holistic ethos of Aurora, and the Aboriginal, European earth-derived elements of our treatments.

With all this in mind, BODY has designed a new uniform range that encompasses the comfort factor required by our administration and therapy staff, while reflecting the beauty and tranquility of our environment. Individual pieces include funky kimono inspired tops, pants and a cotton wrap apron.

The synergy between Aurora and BODY is the shared focus on the importance of feeling as good as you look. Approached for their unique vision, BODY combines cutting-edge style and innovation with a focus on key elements of function, form and comfort. For the latest online BODY catalogue visit www.body.com.au

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SUMMER PLEASURES FOR THE KID IN YOU

Summer holidays are the perfect time to unplug, unwind and relax. Forgotten how? Read on for Aurora’s hot tips for summer, and before you know it, you’ll be building sandcastles and running barefoot.

Super soaker excursion. Gather together a summer-time tribe, a couple of super soakers and rediscover the joys of squirt-gun warfare. Our favourite beaches this summer are Watego’s in Byron Bay, Wilson’s Prom in Victoria and Rottnest Island off the coast of Perth.

Get lost in a book. Quickly, sneak off! Run away and get lost among the pages of a great book. Whether it’s a classic you’ve always wanted to read or today’s bestseller, a good book can inspire and reignite your imagination. Our favourite page-turners this summer include Dance by Oriah Mountain Dreamer, a divine book to help you connect to your true inner essence, and Desiderata by Max Ehrmann, small handbook of timeless scriptures.

Chill out with mint. Take inspiration from the Moroccans and brew up a mint tea – and then chill it! Infuse a tablespoon of mint leaves in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes, blend with cool water and chill in the refrigerator for a cool surprise. Or impress party guests by placing mint sprigs in your ice cubes!

Take it outdoors. Host an outdoor movie night. In your backyard! Rent a projector, gather some sleeping bags, hire your favourite video and invite your friends to snuggle up for a fun night. Great flicks to watch outdoors include the saucy Mexican flick Y Tu Mama Tambien, the hilarious Legally Blonde and the Australian beach classic Puberty Blues.

To market, to market. Hit the road (car windows down, of course) for a trip to your favourite country markets. Farmers' markets throughout Victoria sell fresh, seasonal produce and make a great escape from the fast lane of the city. Sample the produce of new surroundings and you’ll never want to come home!

Bliss out. Avoid the pressure of details and simply book yourself and a friend in for your own Bliss Retreat at Aurora. The two hour Bliss Retreat includes a Relaxation Massage (1 hour), an Aromatic Steam and an Express Facial – guaranteed to chill out even the most stressed business executive!

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SPA CAFÉ
Frozen Summertime Delights

Cool off at home this summer and fill your freezer with ice blocks made from the fresh, delicious fruits of the season. If you’re new to DIY ice blocks, start with our suggestions below. Get creative, invent your own and email us recipes of your favourites.

Strawberry Sensation
Puree one punnet of strawberries and one cup of water or fruit juice (e.g. orange, apple, pear). Pour into moulds and freeze.

Mouthwatering Mango
Puree one mango with a little orange juice. Add 1-2 tablespoons of yoghurt (or for a little exotic essence, use coconut cream) per one cup of puree to give a creamier texture. Pour into moulds and freeze.

Passionate Pine
Puree one ripe pineapple with the insides of two passion fruit. Pour into moulds and freeze.

Beautifying Banana
Mash one banana with apple juice. Add passion fruit. Pour into moulds and freeze.

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WHAT DID THEY SAY?
Love is in the air

Possibly one of the most delightful conversations overheard by staff at Aurora took place last month when one lucky client had just come out of a two hour Bliss retreat, booked and paid for her by her partner.

Relaxing in the Time Out lounge, and enjoying a fruit platter and a smoothie from Circa, our lucky guest Michelle was taken aback when her partner entered the room and got down on his knees to (yes, you guessed it!) ask her to be his wife.

Much to the relief of the other guests in the room (and of our therapists who had all been part of the plan, and were watching in anticipation from behind a curtain), Michelle said yes. Whoever said the days of good old-fashioned romance were over?

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SPA TREATMENT REVIEW
Maya Mapi

Feel in need of a little TLC? Aurora’s signature wrap, the Maya Mapi, is the perfect way to open your heart for summer.

What is a Maya Mapi Wrap?
Laying on a heated day bed, a chosen oil and Australian desert salt is used to massage your body and exfoliate the skin.

A yellow ochre mud mask and muslin sheet is then applied over the whole body in the wrap component of this treatment and left to do its work for around 20 minutes. Whilst the calming yellow mud is weaving its magic, a Quandong mask is applied to the hair and massaged into the scalp for 15 minutes.

At the end of the 20 minutes, your body is gently unwrapped and the mud washed off in the shower. When you are dry, warm and back on the day bed, the therapist performs an indigenous kodo massage using long, flowing movements and concentrating on meridians and pressure points. The massage works to balance, ground and facilitate the re-alignment of your body and energy flow.

What are the benefits?
This treatment works specifically on the emotional body (the solar plexus) and acts as a nerve tonic, helping anxiety and dissolving stress and nervousness.

Derived from river banks, the mud used in this wrap is rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, potassium and magnesium. A number of natural essences have been added including Tasmanian Lavender (calms and nurtures), Mandarin (hypnotic and soothing), Ylang Ylang (alleviates anxiety and brings balance) and Australian Sandalwood (grounding and strengthening).

The ingredients of the hair mask work to lock in colour, and assist in healing dry, irritated scalps. The core ingredient Quandong (native Australian peach) leaves your hair with a beautiful shine and gloss.

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COMPETITION
Broome, the Bahamas or St Kilda Beach

Summer is always a great excuse to escape to an exotic beach to rejuvenate after a long winter. We know you have some brilliant holiday stories, and we want to hear them. Whether you were in Broome, the Bahamas or at St Kilda beach, we want to hear about the most adventurous holiday you’ve been on. Email us in 25 words or less before January 30, 2004 and you could win a Jina Foot treatment to the value of $120.

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PRODUCT REVIEW
Calm, soothe, replenish

Soothe and replenish sun exposed skin this summer with the latest product to arrive on Australian shores from France, the Phytomer After-Sun Reconditioning Cream.

Light and easy to apply, the Phytomer After Sun Soothing Lotion immediately calms and soothes skin that has been over exposed to sun. Perfect for applying in the evening after a shower, the lotion may also be used after a UV tanning session. Designed to be applied to clean, dry skin on your face or body.

Return your skin to its natural levels of hydration this summer with the Phytomer After Sun Soothing Lotion. Available from Aurora this summer for $35.00.

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Aurora Spa Retreat
2 Acland St
St Kilda
Victoria 3182

Ph: (03) 9536 1130
Fax: (03) 9525 3729