Raindrop Massage available at Seasons - The Spa

For the next nine months, I will be sharing the benefits of the nine Young Living essential oils used in the Raindrop massage. The Raindrop massage is a technique used for detoxing the body as well as easing back pain and specific tension around the spinal area.  This massage combines the art of aromatherapy with the techniques of Vita Flex and massage in the application of essential oils to various parts of the body. Rain Drop Technique combines a revolutionary means of bringing balance and harmony to the body, spirit, and mind. I describe The Raindrop massage to my clients as “an experience rather than a massage, that will leave your body completely relaxed, refreshed and renewed.” The nine essential oils used in Raindrop are applied on the bottom of the feet as well as massaged into the back and dropped along the spine, hence; the Raindrop effect. The first oil applied in this particular massage, used to help balance the body’s energy and calm the nerves, is Valor. The other eight oils include: Thyme, Basil, Peppermint, Oregano, Wintergreen, Cypress, Marjoram, and  Aroma Seiz.

Valor  balances and relaxes the physical body and works to strengthen the spirit by improving spinal problems such as scoliosis. A blend of Frankincense, Tanactin, Spruce and Rosewood, Valor releases a strong, yet soothing aroma, pleasing to both men and women. Personally, I love Valor Roll-on! Whenever I start to feel anxious, stressed or worried, I roll this oil on the crown of my head and take a few deep breaths. Immediately, my negative emotions fade, I feel more self-confident, and I can think much more clearly. During my couples’ massage class, I like to diffuse Valor to ease any anxiety in the room. Overall, this empowering essential oil will make a positive impact on your life!

Valor Essential Oil Blend by Young Living

Here’s how Young Living describes Valor: Valor is an empowering combination of therapeutic-grade essential oils that works with both the physical and spiritual aspects of the body to increase feelings of strength, courage, and self-esteem in the face of adversity. Renowned for its strengthening qualities, Valor enhances an individual’s internal resources. It has also been found to help energy alignment in the body.

Here are a few ways that you can use Valor at home:

• Diffuse for any anxiety, phobia or sleeplessness.
• Massage into neck and shoulder region to help release any built-up tension.
• Rub on bottom of feet to help balance and align the body.
• Drop onto wrists or crown of the head to ease anxiety and yield emotional strength and confidence.
• Apply to bruised areas to reduce trauma to the area.

To experience any of our relaxing and therapeutic massages including the Raindrop massage or to purchase Young Living Essential Oils, please contact the Spa Concierge at Seasons – The Spa: (318) 255-1155.

Bethany Cox, LMT & Certified Facial Reflexologist

This post was provided by Licensed Massage Therapist and Facial Reflexologist, Bethany Cox. 

About Bethany:

A graduate of Cedar Creek School, Centenary College of LA (Health and Exercise Science) and Natural Health Institute in Nashville, TN (Massage Therapy), Bethany has many talents! Besides being a smartie (she has always made great grades) and a fabulous massage therapist at Seasons – The Spa, she is an accomplished pianist and golfer. She even played golf in college. Bethany enjoys setting goals for herself and achieving them. Her favorite moment? A hole-in-one! Her favorite way to decompress after a long day? Scrapbooking, exercising, and practicing deep breathing for relaxation.

Seasons. You might have heard the name.

And we’ve heard the question many times. But answering the question “What is it that you do at Seasons?” in one sentence is nearly impossible. So we’ll give you the top five answers instead.

Answer #1: Seasons offers wellness from head-to-toe.

It all began with the idea that wellness is all-inclusive. Upon moving to the area and opening his clinic in 2006, Dr. Nathan Goodyear, Seasons’ founding physician, desired to offer his patients more than just a visit to the doctor and a prescription. Instead, real solutions to the nagging health problems that seemed unsolvable was his goal. That six-year journey resulted in a center for wellness from head-to-toe.

Comprised of both Seasons Wellness Clinic and Seasons – The Spa, Seasons offers a range of services that promote healthy living based on 5 Points of Wellness: nutrition, hormone balance, detoxification, inflammation reduction, and exercise. Seasons is conveniently located off Farmerville Highway at 1809 Northpointe Lane in Suites 103 and 202, in the 2-story building behind Portico Bar & Grill.

Dr. Jackie White

Answer #2: Seasons provides leading-edge medical care based on the latest in science combined with the most natural approach possible.

Healthcare professionals, Dr. Nathan Goodyear, Dr. Jackie White, and Anna Stephens, WHNP, seek to provide the highest level of care for every client. Rather than a disease-focused approach, the healthcare team at Seasons strives to uncover the root cause of symptoms and conditions such as: abdominal fat, diabetes, difficulty losing weight, fatigue, headaches, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, joint pain, trouble sleeping, hot flashes, and many more.

The healthcare team begins with identifying your symptoms and, utilizing the most advanced diagnostic testing available, developing a wellness plan that will rid your body of toxins, recharge your energy, and reinvigorate your immune system. The result is elimination of the root cause of the myriad of symptoms and a return to a state of wellness. And when your body is functioning optimally, prevention and reversal of disease states is a by-product of that state of wellness.

The lobby of Seasons Wellness Clinic

Answer #3: Seasons offers specific health programs such as the Wellness Weight Loss Program and Athlete Wellness Program.

Each of these programs use advanced metabolic testing and a natural approach for optimal results in two specific client groups: those who want to lose weight and those who wish to increase their athletic performance in a healthy and natural way. Each program features an individualized approach and includes testing and treatment to achieve goals set at the beginning of the program.

Answer #4: Seasons serves as a beacon for healthy living in a state that ranks #2 in Unhealthiest States in America.

With a commitment to educate all of Louisiana about health and wellness, Seasons provides and shares the best, most scientifically accurate information available on a daily basis. Seasons has pioneered website and social media usage in the medical community. By developing a blog-based website before blogging was a household word, Seasons began building and gaining traction in the online world, and utilizes social media to share information that is dependable and has depth.

Join the online conversation about health and wellness. Read our blog, subscribe to our RSS feed, follow us on  Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, and catch the latest Wellness Lifestyle Report or Nibble On This recipe in your inbox. You can sign up for the e-newsletter and link to all Seasons’ social sites on our homepage.

The lounge at Seasons - The Spa

Answer #5: Seasons – The Spa offers renewal and rejuvenation without the traffic of the big city.

Do you ever just want to “get away” without going far away? Maybe you need a pick-me-up, a lift-me-up, or a fix-me-up. Seasons – The Spa provides a big-city spa experience in rural and scenic north central Louisiana with a highly-skilled and highly-trained staff.

• Bethany Cox, LMT, provides services including massage therapy, reflexology, and Smooth Shapes, a cellulite reduction treatment.
• Skin care experts Lisa Best and Joy Smith offer services ranging from European facials to microdermabrasions to hair reduction and removal to hydradermie lift, a non-surgical face-lift.
• Anna Stephens, WHNP, specializes in skin rejuvenation services such as Botox, Artefill, and Juvederm. Anna’s great disposition makes clients feel at ease, insuring a comfortable skin rejuvenation experience. Seasons also offers back-door service for those who want a more private consultation. Please call the Spa to arrange back-door service at 318-255-1155.

Yoga Instructor, Ashley Moody

Seasons also boasts the only infrared sauna in the area and offers individual sessions as well as packages for clients desiring the proven health benefits of infrared sauna. Fitness classes include Yoga, featuring certified Yoga instructor Ashley Moody, and Fit4Baby, with local fitness specialist Maryanne Smith. Classes are available in packages at convenient times for any schedule. Sauna and fitness classes are free for Spa Members. For more information about Spa Membership, visit the Spa Membership page on our website or give us a call at 318-255-1155. Keep up with the latest Spa specials by signing up for our e-mail list on our home page. Quarterly Beauty Bonuses come to your inbox and feature discounts and special offers on services and packages.

So did that answer the big question about what is Seasons?

Seasons is health, wellness, relaxation, rejuvenation, education and a whole lot more. For more information or to schedule an appointment, give us a call at 318-255-3223 and speak with a customer relations specialist.

Inside is my inner me waiting to climb out of the suit the outer me is wearing.

Sounds like a science fiction movie, doesn’t it. The heroin, wearing the old lady disguise, unzips her flesh and the youthful and energetic younger version of herself emerges, old-lady flesh and tired clothing dropping to the floor.

There are days when my inner me longs to be set free.

She dreams of a beach vacation and a good book.

She dreams of a long soak in a jacuzzi tub with no knocks at the door followed by, “Mom…I need…”

She dreams of a weekend away with the hubby, sitting on a porch overlooking a lake, temperatures in the mid-60s, a bottle of wine, an outdoor fireplace, and the sound of crickets.

She dreams of free time to be more organized for the busy times. You know, organized closet, organized sock drawer, organized catch-all drawer in the kitchen.

She dreams of an hour a day to practice piano and discover new favorite pieces and composers.

She dreams of never being rushed or in a hurry, but instead having the appropriate amount of time to get things done right.

She dreams of a Wal-Mart where the lines are short. (Just had to slip that one in.)

At our house, we have frequent conversations about super-hero powers. If you were a super-hero, what would your super-power be? And with my daughter anywhere near, you are going to get multiple hilarious answers.

One day, her answer was, “I’d have super-skates and could skate anywhere as fast as I want.”

On Saturday evening, Reagan and I enjoyed dinner at the American Girl Doll bistro in Dallas, Texas with her Girl Scout troop. They sold a bazillion (exactly how many is that?) boxes of cookies and earned a weekend trip to Dallas which included ice skating, swimming at the hotel, and the magical visit to the American Girl Doll store.

On the table was a small gift box filled with questions. The questions circulated the table and served as great conversation starters. The best and most discussed question was, “What super-power would you choose? To fly? Or to be invisible?”

Of course, Reagan and I had fun with that question because it is frequent conversation between us. She chose flying. But I chose being invisible. I’m pretty sure it had something to do with that inner me who’s trying to get out. Inner me needs a little peace and quiet, and being invisible could be a handy tool for getting away without going far away.

So what does your inner me say to you?

Perhaps your inner me is like mine. She needs some rejuvenation. I think that’s typical of women in my age group (and men, too). We are moving through the busiest time of our lives. We are juggling the activities of children, spouses, extended family, friends, work. There’s not much left over for ourselves.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as my children have gotten older and busier is that I need a little time to unwind. And setting aside that time is the priority that gets pushed aside most often.

So what to do? Even if it’s only 30 minutes, that investment in your own rejuvenation will pay dividends the rest of your week. And everything will get in the way of your rejuvenation time unless it is SCHEDULED and you have ACCOUNTABILITY for that time.

So go ahead. Schedule a facial. Schedule a masssage. Schedule a yoga class. Schedule lunch with a friend. Schedule a girls’ night. Schedule a mani/pedi with your daughter. But do something.

Your inner me is waiting…

Elizabeth Haynes Drewett

Elizabeth Haynes Drewett: a hormonal woman rumored to be somewhere between the age of 30 and 50. Her job: Managing Partner of SPRING Media USA, a boutique marketing firm in Ruston, LA. Her training: BA in journalism degree from LSU and a BFA in piano performance from LA Tech. Her life: wife of C.P. Drewett, Jr. and mother to Langdon, age 13, and Reagan, age 7. Her passions: the state of Louisiana – as Miss Louisiana 1992 she devoted her year of service to breast cancer education; lover of music – choir director and piano teacher; lover of a good game – job experiences include PING Golf Equipment and the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. Her favorite things: an underdog who overachieves, a good laugh, a good book, a good word, and a good hair day. Follow her on Twitter or Pinterest and see what she’s up to today.

Unfortunately, it seems to be true. But don’t feel silly or naive if you’ve bought Kashi (Kellogg’s) brand cereals, Whole Foods’ 365 brand cereals, or Quaker Oats thinking you were making a healthy choice over the sugary cereals. It’s easy to be misled by environmentally friendly packaging with leafy imagery and terms like ‘all-natural’ and ‘whole grain’. Pardon the pun but it’s only natural that you would believe that a product that markets itself to be healthy would be free from pesticide chemicals and genetically engineered ingredients. And here you thought sugar was your biggest concern.

Thanks to social media and the recent investigation and findings by the Cornucopia Institute, GMO (genetically modified organisms) has become a very hot topic. The news that “100% of the soy used in tested boxes of Kashi cereal was genetically engineered soy” became a viral firestorm leaving consumers saying “GM-Oh no they didn’t!” A grocery store in Rhode Island recently pulled Kashi brand products from their shelves and posted a sign in its place that reads:

“You might be wondering where your favorite Kashi cereals have gone. It has recently come to our attention that 100% of the soy used in Kashi is Genetically Modified, and that when the USDA tested the grains used, there were found to be pesticides that are known carcinogens and hormone disruptors.” 

The photo of this sign was liked, shared, pinned, and tweeted faster than Kashi/Kellogg’s PR department can say ‘no comment’! Ouch! However, Kashi has since posted a response to this viral photo on their Facebook page.

What are Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)?

According to The Non-GMO Project, genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are plants or animals created through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, or GE). Genetic engineering merges DNA from different species, creating unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial, and viral genes that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding. Virtually all commercial GMOs are engineered to withstand direct application of herbicide and/or to produce an insecticide.

Why should you care if your food contains GMOs?

According to Organicconsumers.com, GMOs have been linked to thousands of toxic and allergenic reactions, thousands of sick, sterile, and dead livestock, and damage to virtually every organ and system studied in lab animals. Jeffrey M. Smith, author of Seeds of Deception and genetically modified food expert, says “eating genetically modified food is gambling with every bite.” Smith links genetically modified organisms (GMO) to toxins, allergies, infertility, infant mortality, immune dysfunction, stunted growth, and death.

While there are arguments for both sides of the issue, here is what you should know about GMOs:

• Currently there is no law dictating that food products containing GMOs must be labeled as such.
• According to the FDA, 93% of soy, 78% of cotton, and 63% of corn is currently genetically modified.
• Approximately 80% of all packaged foods in U.S. grocery stores contain GMOs.
• Animal studies have revealed that mice fed a variety of GM foods have experienced a range of health ailments ranging from stomach ulcerations to allergic reactions to dysfunctional immune systems.
• According to a recent CBS News/New York Times poll, 87% of consumers would like GMO ingredients to be labeled, and 53% of Americans say they won’t buy food that has been genetically modified.
• Experts say that if it comes in a can or a box and the label lists soybean oil or corn syrup as ingredients, odds are that it contains GMOs.

Help make a change! Because the FDA does not require mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods, you cannot  make informed decisions about what you are eating or feeding your family. You can tell the FDA that you want the ingredients in your food clearly labeled by visiting Just Label It‘s website.

The staff at Seasons Wellness Clinic is committed to educating north Louisiana and the surrounding areas with the most scientific and reliable information about healthy living. If you have questions about GMOs, leave a comment below, and we’ll be happy to guide you towards the best information and, hopefully, a happier, healthier life! For more information about Seasons Wellness Clinic and Seasons – The Spa, wander around our website to your heart’s content! Or call our office at (318) 255-3223.

Which would you like first, the good news or the bad news? Let’s get the bad news out of the way. Unfortunately the cause of rosacea is unknown and there is no known cure. But the good news is that you can suppress the symptoms during a flare-up with the right procedures and products.

Depending on your skin and the severity of your rosacea, procedures such as IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and red light treatments can help to strengthen capillaries. In addition to facial treatments, products such as Obagi Rosaclear and Guinot Red Logic are great for treating the symptoms of rosacea. Some treatments and products that treat rosacea may be acceptable expense items under your Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account.

April has been designated Rosacea Awareness Month by The National Rosacea Society (NRS)  to emphasize the importance of seeking medical help for the skin ailment. Any of the following are a signal to make an appointment for a consultation with a Seasons aesthetician. Our aestheticians can make sure you are taking advantage of all of the procedures and products available to help your skin and insure that you aren’t doing anything to worsen the condition.

• Redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead
• Small visible blood vessels on the face
• Bumps or pimples on the face
• Watery or irritated eyes

• Rosacea by the numbers. It is estimated that rosacea affects more than 14 million Americans.¹ It occurs most commonly in adults age 30 to 60.² And 30% to 40% of patients with rosacea have a close relative with the condition.³ It tends to occur more often in women but more severely in men.²
• Menopause is a red flag. Many menopausal women tend to think they have adult acne when they see red bumps and pimples. However, it is possible that it could be rosacea. In fact, hot flashes might cause the first appearance of rosacea, so visit a dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis.
• The sooner the better. People often delay treatment, thinking they have a temporary condition that will go away quickly, yet rosacea is reported to worsen with time—so the sooner treatment is started the better. If you have facial redness, acne-like pimples, flushing of the cheeks, nose, chin, and/or forehead, meet with your physician for a diagnosis and to discuss the prescription-based Rosaclear^® System.
• Avoid the aggravation. Prevent future flare-ups by avoiding things that can trigger rosacea. It might be helpful to keep a journal because everyone has different triggers. The most common ones include sun exposure, vigorous exercise, caffeine, stress, spicy food, excessive sugar and sweets, and alcohol.
• Keep your chin up. According to a National Rosacea Society survey, nearly 70% of rosacea sufferers reported experiencing embarrassment and anxiety because of their condition. The Obagi Rosaclear System incorporates a therapeutic prescription component, as well as products that help calm your skin and minimize the visible redness and blotchiness associated with rosacea. Even better, it is a skin care regimen that is noncomedogenic, so it won’t clog your pores. This can make it easier for rosacea sufferers to face the world and it helps improve their quality of life.

Rosaclear System by Obagi

Obagi has developed clinically-proven products and systems primarily for common and visible skin conditions including: aging, photodamage, hyperpigmentation (melasma and freckles), acne, sun damage and rosacea. Obagi has been featured in numerous publications and received many accolades including being named  ‘Best Skin Care System Sold in a Doctor’s Office’ by New Beauty Magazine.

• Gentle Cleanser
• Metronidazole Topical Gel USP, 0.75%
• Hydrating Complexion Corrector
• Skin Balancing Sun Protection SPF 30

Guinot Red Logic Face Cream

Guinot’s Red Logic Face Cream has rich, melting textures that alleviate the symptoms of irritated and damaged skin by restoring comfort, regenerating and softening the skin, and soothing irritation.

At Seasons – The Spa, our skin specialists are highly trained in treating the symptoms of Rosacea with advanced skin treatments and professional strength products. Call us today for a complimentary consultation and let us help you achieve a clear, calm, and more balanced-looking skin tone, (318) 255-115.

¹ American Academy of Dermatology and the National Rosacea Society

² www.medicinenet.com/rosacea/article.htm

³ www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/160281.php