WINTER IS THE SEASON OF STILLNESS
The perfect time to detox the body, mind and spirit

What is Detoxing and Why Winter?
Detoxing is about cleansing and Winter is the perfect time to do it. With water being the predominant element in Winter we see optimum opportunities to purify and cleanse in this season.

Why Detox?
Environmental toxins surrounding us are in the air that we breathe, the water we drink and the food we consume. Toxins increase the free radicals in our cells and are thought to play a significant role in aging, cancers, immune system changes and neurological diseases.

When we Detox, or cleanse, we eliminate an accumulation of toxins and free radicals, bringing our bodies back to an optimum state of health and wellbeing.

Detoxing can be done annually or on demand. If you choose to detox on demand, you will have an idea of when the time is right by listening to your body. Feeling sluggish, blocked skin pores, face or back ‘break-outs’ or unwanted increases in weight can all be signs that it’s time to begin a program. Many of these signs have often been linked to periods immediately following over-indulgence or annual celebrations like Xmas!

Sometimes we can give ourselves a hard time after periods of having so much fun! Life’s Balance Philosophy suggests that we remove ourselves from the feelings of guilt and take responsibility for our actions. In these times of over indulgence we prefer to nourish the body than starve or punish it.

Beginning your Detox
Beginning a detox should be slow and not extreme, as an extreme regime of anything will be difficult to sustain. The first step in any Detox should involve commitment. A sustainable plan should involve a commitment to a ‘14 day healthy holiday for your body’ where conscious choices to nourish your temple with good food, activity and rest are made.

The second step should involve locking away any temptations in your food cupboard, fridge or workplace for the 14 day ‘nogo zone’ period. This is often a tempting process in itself, but we strongly recommend that you do it before you start to detox your body.

Step 3 involves the preparation side of your plan, where healthy pantry options should take priority on your list of Things To Do for the fortnight. As a guide we suggest the following purchases:

‘The List’
Rice crackers, tzsatsiki/hummus, plenty of different colored organic fresh vegetables (organic produce has less pesticides and toxins than standard produce – so you are ahead to start with), a variety of coloured organic fruit including plenty of lemons (you will find the organic produce a little more expensive than conventional produce – think of it as a fabulous investment in your health, as the amount of nutrients in organic produce is much higher than in conventional goods - and it saves on taking vitamins), fresh salmon, biodynamic lean red meat ( like organics it’s more expensive, but worthwhile), purified water (you’ll need a large 10 litre container and 6 small bottles).

Step 4 – once you’ve prepared for your detox, you’re ready to begin your program of healthy eating with the following guidelines:

Morning
On rising, drink a glass of water (room temperature) with a squeeze of lemon – lemon helps to cleanse the liver from all that champagne!

Breakfast
Fruit, yoghurt, wheat free cereal (let’s say corn flakes or simply go to a health food shop and ask for wheat free cereal. It’s good to have a break from wheat, as it can clog up our systems over time and we tend to eat too much of it).

Lunch
Salad sandwich, including a vegetable like avocado – no butter on your sandwich.

Afternoon tea
Fruit OR rice crackers and hummus (all available at supermarkets).

Dinner
Protein – listed in order or preference (salmon, white deep sea fish, steamed free range chicken, lean red meat – cooked with minimum oil) and at least 3 different coloured vegetables.

Whilst detoxing we also suggest a minimum fluid intake of 2 litres per day. To jazz up your H2O you can also add some herbal teas, or liquid cholorphyy (derived from alpha). It’s a great internal cleanser, and it tastes like peppermint. You can get this from health food shops.

Tips for Managing Your Vices
Rather than stopping all caffeine and alcohol on day 1 of your detox we recommend that you ease into it slowly. To allow your body to cleanse effectively, by day 7 you should be having no alcohol, caffeine, sugar or high fat foods.

With all detox programs we also recommend a 1 hour massage within the first week of the program to stimulate the lymphatic system (your body’s waste disposal system) and increase the rate of toxin and waste removal. All massages, whether they’re relaxing or therapeutic, will help with this process of detoxification and kick-start the lymphatic system.

10 tips to successful detoxing:

1.	Pick a date to start your detox. Check your diary and avoid high social weeks. Try to pick a time to detox when you can have lots of quiet time to help you stick to your plan
2.	COMMITMENT – there will always be tests along the way to see how committed you are. Resist, resist, resist! After all, it’s only 2 weeks out of 52. You can do it!
3.	Go through your food cupboard and pull out anything that won’t qualify for the detox. Either give it away to a charitable cause or store it in a very high cupboard and forget about it for 2 weeks.
4.	Make a thorough shopping list and get to it. (Hot tip – never shop when you’re hungry).
5.	Plan your week to do at least 3 x 1 hour sessions of activity (walk/run/swim/bike ride)
6.	Plan your rest days – you need 1 day of complete rest – to reward your body. Plan a relaxing activity to enjoy on your day of rest (bath, massage, reading).
7.	Set up your 10 litre container of purified water in your kitchen and put 2 water bottles in your car, 2 at work and 2 in your carry bag/hand bag. (Keep them full and use them daily).
8.	During your detox do not drink liquids around mealtime.
9.	At the end of your shower each day, turn your shower from hot to cold – count to 5 then back to hot for 5 seconds. Keep alternating 4 times at the end of each shower. Slowly work up to 10 seconds of each, as this helps your circulation and the elimination of toxins.
10.	Focus and acknowledge yourself for what you’re achieving, rather than concentrating on what you are missing out on.

Happy detoxing!

DETOX YOUR MIND & ENRICH YOUR SOUL WITH MEDITATION
With the transition from Autumn to Winter and the flow of energy indoors we capture a perfect opportunity to enrich the soul with meditation.

Meditation has been used for centuries as a cleansing ritual for the mind. It provides us with an opportunity to find a quiet space where time stands still. This time out to stand still often releases thoughts that are limiting our potential. It has the ability to deliver up those dreams that we’ve been looking for. Whatever the reason for meditation, we know it’s a powerful process that helps improve our general health and life balance.

Cleansing our minds, like cleaning our house (and I’m not talking about someone doing it for you!) needs to be done regularly. Meditation is the housework for your mind and the detox for your brain.

For those just starting out with meditation, an ideal way to begin is with a guided meditation CD that will lead you with a guided narration on what to do. If sitting by the CD player in your space for time out is not your thing, then a local group class may be an alternative to consider. Check your area for meditation classes under your local Services Directory in the white or yellow pages and take into consideration times you’re more likely to maintain the commitment to yourself.

Meditation does not take too long to master, and once you have the discipline to start on your own meditation sessions, you can meditate wherever and whenever you like. Some people find it the perfect way to start the day to help create clarity and focus, whilst others prefer to meditate at night to help relaxation and induce a healthy sleep.

In order to determine what’s right for you we suggest meditating for one week in the mornings then switching to nights the following week. Your body will be likely to respond differently to the different times you try, and depending on the outcome, your body will most likely have a preference for one of the times you have tested. The best meditation is the one that suits you as it’s not the time that matters but the regularity. By meditating regularly you can increase blood flow, reduce high blood pressure, slow your heart rate (this is a good thing!), induce deep relaxation, reduce anxiety attacks, decrease muscle tension and headaches (any pain due to tension), build self confidence, enhance the immune system and reduce the activity of viruses and emotional distress.

Once you’ve mastered the art of finding your own time to meditate try a colour focused meditation. The colour we suggest you focus on this Winter is red. Red is the colour that is connected to the base chakra, and is the colour of our blood and life's force. Red is a stimulating and energizing colour; it is the symbol of warmth, fire and rage. In colour therapy, red is used to stimulate the circulation and it has the ability to lower blood pressure, assist with hypothermia (don’t stay out in that snow too long!) and general muscle aches.

For those of us who are experienced at meditation we suggest you work with the predominant chakra for Winter. The chakra we recommend to focus on for Winter is the base chakra which is our first chakra. The base chakra is our grounding energy centre, keeping our feet firmly on the ground and our mind focused on physical and creative matters. It also governs our reproductive organs and our sexual vitality. Symptoms of a blocked 1st chakra might include problems in the hips, legs, lower back and sexual organs. Meditation focusing on this chakra can assist with these types of problems.

Today, many people – from yoga swami’s to glamorous film stars and fashion models – practice the ancient art of meditation. Meditation is for everybody as there are no limits or boundaries. All you need is a keen desire to participate.

SEASONAL ELEMENTS
Detox - Winter
Winter brings with it a shift in weather, feelings and emotions. It is closely related to the element of water which reflects stillness, sleep, rest – guilt free and unwinding. So often with the shorter days and the cooler months we are drawn to working harder and longer hours as the desire to be outdoors lessens. Unfortunately this is the opposite of what our bodies natural rhythm is. Winter is a time of cleansing of the mind and body. It is a season that demands rest in order to grow into the abundant season of Spring. With the advancement of heating, lighting and all the other forms of technology at our fingertips, it is very easy to sway from our natural rhythms, as our life doesn’t depend on it.

During Winter it is important to nurture both your mind and body for total wellbeing. For many people, spirits are generally lower during the Winter months. The bitter cold and shorter daylight hours mean less time outdoors in the sun and fresh air. This can lead to feelings of exhaustion, lack of motivation, and a general depressed mood. Again, keeping active and exercising can benefit the mind, and there are plenty of activities to involve yourself with during the Winter to lift your spirit. Do indoor things that stimulate your creativity. Visit museums and art galleries; go to concerts and films. Hang out with friends and go shopping, or go out for dinner or herbal tea!. Find ways to entertain yourself at home. Winter is a great time for reading, drawing, painting, playing instruments, and taking pictures. Decorate your home to get you into the Winter spirit. If you take care of your "whole" with holistic healthcare year round, you will be better prepared to survive the bleakness of the Winter and turn it into a productive and healthy season.

We have put together 3 easy tips to conquer this Winter, try 1, 2 or all 3!

1.	Wear red – in colour therapy red is the colour linked to Winter, which will help to balance your body.
2.	During Winter each month plan a vital rest period for your body. You may like to book in for a treatment or simply have time on your own. Plan 3 Special Dates in your diary.
3.	Water – fluids are essential in the season of Winter with its strongest element being that of water. Drink at least 8 glasses a day of water, herbal or green tea.

By bringing your body into the natural rhythm of the season you will stay balanced, healthy and happy all Winter. Enjoy this rest time while you can.

SPA CAFÉ
As we dive into our Winter detox cuisine we see a resurgence of organic root vegetables in dishes that complement the rest time for our bodies. Turnips, beetroots, parsnips, carrots, potatoes, onions and garlic are all abundant at this time of year, and are ideal to include in your cooking. Silverbeet, rich in iron and vitamin B and highly nutritious cabbage are also good to include in the Winter months to assist in balancing your Winter meals.

Experiment with fresh, local chestnuts – so rich and robust in flavour yet low in fat. Try them with pasta or in soups and stews for a different flavour. Great tasting herbs to make use of are coriander, which thrives in Winter, and chervil, which also prefers the cool Winter sunlight to the heat of Summer.

Winter's crisp, juicy apples, tangy mandarins and delicious oranges contain all the sweetness we crave, without the fat but all the nutrients and fibre of natural, raw food. Enjoy the unique sourness of grapefruit and try one of the more unusual fruits in Winter like my favorite – custard apple. Having grown up on a farm where I could simply pick these off the tree and eat them fresh, I recommend relishing the flavour of the custard apples on its own – they are magnificent!

Here’s one of my favorite Winter dishes you might like to prepare to entertain friends and family with this Winter:

Chilli vegetable hotpot
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons of olive oil or water
1 garlic clove (crushed)
1 small red chilli (chopped)
2 medium Spanish onions (chopped)
2 medium carrots (chopped)
2 medium red capsicums (chopped)
4 fresh tomatoes (chopped)
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon cumin (ground)
1 large tin of kidney beans (drained)
10 mushrooms (sliced)
2 tablespoons fresh coriander(chopped)

Method: Heat oil or water in frying pan, add garlic, chilli and onions and cook gently for about 15 minutes until soft. Add carrots and capsicum and stir fry for about 1 minute. Add tomatoes, water, paste and cumin and bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for another 10 minutes. Add beans and mushrooms, simmer for 5 to 6 minutes. Sprinkle with coriander before serving.

Serves 4-6

Getting real pleasure and enjoyment from new season's produce is a great way to be in tune with nature and the real life cycles of our food.

SPA NEWS
Enjoy the benefits of regular massage this Winter with our Series 6 Massage Pack. Valued at $720, this pack gives you the opportunity to purchase 6 massages for the price of 5 for just $600. This series pack can be used for our Bliss, Balance, Detox or Vitality massages and is redeemable over a 12 month period.

Take advantage of this 17% discount on massages this Winter.

SPA TREATMENT REVIEW
Aurora 1.5 hourDetox Massage
The Aurora 1.5 hour Detox Massage is an ideal treatment for Winter. Beginning with our opening Winter ritual, the treatment continues with a dry exfoliating body brush and application of tangerine, spearmint and lemon essential oil (our Detox oil). This specific massage uses deep tissue, acupressure, Thai and reflexology techniques to maximize the benefits of your massage, and works with the body to relieve stress and tension. We also incorporate a hot compress, specific stretches and a scalp and facial massage to relax and lengthen the muscles.

This treatment has been designed to relax the entire body, relieving stress and tension, relieve tired and sore muscles, help improve flexibility, speed recovery from strenuous physical exertion, stimulate blood and lymphatic circulation, help keep muscles flexible and pliable, improve circulation, and bring fresh oxygen to the bodies tissues.

PRODUCT REVIEW
Great Skin for Winter – The Phytomer range of Moisturizers, Exfoliants, and Aurora Lip Balm
As we modify what we eat for the cooler months it is also wise to modify your skincare routine to give your skin the protection it needs. As we age, our skin reacts differently as the weather changes. In Winter, we are exposed to dramatic temperature shifts. Our skin’s ability to retain moisture is affected when we move from the warmth of heated rooms to the cooler outdoors. During the Winter months, our skin needs a little extra attention and hydration. We suggest the following 5 skin savers to beat the Winter blues:

1. Moisture boost
Declines in temperature can cause lowered sebum and sweat secretions, which make up the skin's natural protective barrier. It's very important to use an extra hydrating and protective moisturiser for Winter, to prevent dehydration and protect your skin from the elements. Also consider a moisture booster before you moisturise. Treatment Oils will enrich your preferred moisture protective to provide added nourishment, hydration and skin softness.

2. Extra exfoliating
Use a gentle exfoliant that won't leave your face without valuable oils and healthy skin cells. Removing the outer layer of skin assists with oxygenation and promotes cell growth. Exfoliate 2-3 times per week to remove the flat, dry cells that form and build up on the surface of the skin, making it look dull and lifeless.

4. Body buff
Don't forget your body too! Though it might be colder, we have a tendency to look after our bodies less in Winter than in Summer. Exfoliate at least once a fortnight to enhance circulation and get rid of any dry, flaky dead skin.

5. Luscious Lips.
Lastly remember your lips. Strong, dry winds result in dry, chaffed lips. Most lip balms on the market are mineral oil based and will protect the lips from the environment, but provide no nourishment, prolonging the healing time. As your lips dry out there is a tendency to keep licking them, which results in further dryness and cracking. Carry the Aurora Lip Salve with you to keep you out of trouble.

SPA COMPETITION
Refer a friend this month and go into the draw to win a 2 hour detox retreat of our 1/2 hour geisha detox, 1 hour detox massage treatment and 1/2 hour meditation foot wrap.

How?

Send us the name and email address of someone you would like to share our quarterly "Keeping in Touch" newsletter and we’ll put you in the draw to win this 2 hour detox retreat.

Email the name/s and addresses/s to info@aurorasparetreat.com with the subject header "competition". Please also give us your name and direct phone number for us to contact you should you win the retreat.

Winner announced Monday 27th June, 2005.
Good Luck.

SPA PARTNERS
BODY – Designer of our Spa Therapist and Client Service Uniforms
At BODY we believe that how clothes make you feel should be just as important as how they look. In all aspects of your busy life, we understand that beauty and function must co-exist always.

Beautiful cuts and lines is the focus of our active line of yoga pants, camisoles and wraps, to ensure flattering visuals on the form, while carefully chosen fabrics that enhance body performance, particularly in exercise, are just as valued.

When partaking in body detoxifying activities (such as yoga for example) it is so important to allow the body to breath and cleanse in natural fibres and open weave knits. This allows perspiration to not only escape the body, but to evaporate quickly from the skin.

We invite you to check out our range of natural fibre knits for exercise or everyday, at any of our BODY store locations. Mention this email and receive 5% off your purchase.

www.BODY.com.au

SPA TRAVEL
Overview
In keeping with the season of detox we have chosen to focus our Spa Travel section this quarter on the international spas that are genuinely focused on detox to purify and cleanse the body.

On my recent visit to the warmth of Tucson, Arizona I visited the legendary Canyon Ranch Health Retreat, a retreat I had been wanting to visit for a very long time. Canyon Ranch is one of the Granddaddy’s of the spa industry with humble beginnings in 1979 by founders Carl and Enid Zucherman (who still live on site to this day). Canyon Ranch, now owned by a Texan Real Estate Agent, is still true to its original philosophy and incorporates an active development role for the still heavily involved Zuchermans.

In Australia, we see retreat properties similar to Canyon Ranch cope with anywhere between 40 and 50 guests over the period of one stay. Canyon Ranch can comfortably accommodate up to 300 guests with lots of regulars coming back. They nurture a 900 strong bevy of staff. The typical group at the Ranch comprises about 70% female and 30% male clientele. Canyon Ranch appeals to people who make it onto the Forbes 500 list we see each year.

The retreat has a strong health focus – but does include coffee on the menu it offers its guests. I don’t personally agree with having coffee available in this environment, but if we remind ourselves of the virtues of living a balanced life, then I guess we can find room for it in such a program. Living a balanced life and not depriving yourself of those things that make you happy can only work if you practice moderation in your plan to achieve.

I could see that this retreat has experienced substantial growth, as many of the buildings which were scattered around the property appeared to have been developed for new activities and guests, to meet demands for change and new programs.

Environment
As you approach Canyon Ranch you drive though a residential area that is currently occupied by residents of the area. The area is hot and dry, a typical desert. Imagine lots of big cactus and a dry desert-like landscape, and you’ve got the picture of this great place for a retreat.

Facilities
The facilities of Canyon Ranch are extensive. The main spa and fitness complex is fantastic and purpose-built to easily cater for the number of guests they see each week. The sorts of facilities I saw were out of this world, with under water cabana shaded treadmills in the pool, 3 pools (25m, leisure, and aqua aerobics), golf clinic (golf course is 20 minutes away), 2 restaurants (1 with cooking class facilities), a meditation room, a yoga room and plenty of other activity areas to keep you busy and motivated.

Improvements and drawbacks
The food was only partly organic, which I thought was a little disappointing for a retreat focused on healthy living. Most of the accommodation looked a little tired from the outside, however internally the rooms had been refurbished with contemporary furnishings – not that you spend much time in your room at retreats – or more to the point you shouldn’t spend much time in your room. The location was slightly more residential than I expected however it was also a lot more beautiful than I had anticipated, and the architecture of Tucson was stunning.

They seem to have such an extensive spa menu – you could never work your way through all of it – unless of course you stayed for 5 months like one of their recent guests did! They do have the latest and greatest treatments on the menu, though this concerns me a little, as I would want to be certain that the therapeutic value of the treatment is paramount, rather than the fact that it is the latest fad.

They are now running a Life Enhancement Program with smaller groups, to try to overcome the fact that with the growth of the business, they have lost a personal touch with their guests. This program had a maximum of 45 guests. For detoxing they run specific programs at different times of the year. I liked the variety of programs that they had on offer, as it seemed to cater for most clients’ needs.

They have a ratio of 3 staff to every guest which does ensure your needs are monitored and goals hopefully achieved.

Score out of 10: 6.5
(10 being exceptional)
Website address: www.canyonranch.com

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St Kilda VIC 3182
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