Aging Well

By Myrna Beardshear
@RedMountainSpa
Director of Spa & Wellness

It is so easy to get caught up in the anti-aging game and lose sight of what is really important. That is, who we are and how the sum of all our experiences has brought us to where we are and what we can be in the future. Newspaper executive, Katharine Graham said, “No one can avoid aging, but aging productively is something else.”

When reflecting on the past it is all too easy to get caught up in remembering misfortunes, mistakes and regrets. It is better to reflect on the lessons learned, the strength gained and the wisdom earned from what has been and live with the serenity of knowing the strength you have gained from the sum of your experiences.

We, in the spa industry, are aware of the importance of the baby boomer generation and the desire that people have to look younger and feel fit and healthy. We research every new product and through the marvels of modern science and technology we are able to offer facials and body treatments that will make us look younger. We study anti-aging nutrition and the importance of being aware the importance what we put into our body. We educate our guests on the importance of regular exercise and how crucial it is to overall health and offer fitness regimes to keep the boomers agile and trim.

At Red Mountain Resort & Spa we go further by offering Life Coaching for those who find themselves at a point in their life where their goals are not as clear and who need a new direction in order to remain vibrant and productive.

Energy Therapy is offered to clear negative emotions on a mental, emotional and physical level in an easy, non-invasive way. It can release stress of any kind whether from years of abuse or daily things that tends to overwhelm our emotional circuitry. By changing energy patterns as well as subconscious beliefs, this helps people heal from past or current traumas without having to re-traumatize them or spend years coming to terms with their painful and challenging past

Meditation workshops help guests understand the benefits of meditation, the process of meditation, types of meditation and how to meditate. Tai Chi shows us how we can move gracefully and slowly with physical and mental strength.

I love the lessons that can be learned from butterflies. The butterfly is symbolic of change and transformation in people’s lives. The butterfly is a reminder to stay present in life, to be in the moment. Many have learned to look for the butterfly in their life, to live life to the fullest, to appreciate each moment and express gratitude freely.

Most butterflies live very short lives, only a week or two, except for the Angel Wing and Monarch live about six months. It is at maturity that the butterfly is the most beautiful. The short life span and beauty of the butterfly is symbolic of early spiritual growth. Lessons of life will be shown during sometimes difficult formative years and come to light as the butterfly spirit begins to fly. They hold the gift of transformation and soul evolution. Butterflies remind us not to take life so seriously. They represent the element of air, quickly changing and ever moving, so gracefully. Butterflies are messengers of the moment. They are especially sensitive to the harmony of earth and we can learn from them to stop disturbing the natural design of life and to flow with events in a gentler, natural way.

When we learn not to have resentments and regrets but rather to rejoice in the life we have had and then to look to the future and resolve to do whatever we can to life a rich life and to make a positive difference in the lives of all that we touch, we will truly have learned to age well.


Ref: The Lessons of the Butterfly
Spahvelous, 2008