How to Choose the Right Massage for You!

@RedMountainSpa
By Larry Ricketts, Lead Therapist

Choosing a massage for yourself is as personal as choosing your career, a car or your clothes each day. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your massage.

First, understand your own personality. Are you a person that is comfortable communicating exactly what you want in a massage? Or, would you prefer to rely on the expertise of your therapist, who can feel what your body needs and go with it? Do you like it when a massage therapist targets your sore areas or tension knots? Or do you prefer long broad strokes that create ultimate relaxation and circulation? Would you like to just have your back, upper body or lower body worked on? Each is an important question to consider before selecting your massage.

Talking to your therapist before any massage is crucial for your treatment. Know what it is you’re expecting and pass that on to your therapist. A qualified therapist will be able to adjust to meet your needs. Throughout the years, I find when I ask my clients “It’s your time now. What is it that you want?” it helps me customize the massage experience, and my clients feel more comfortable going into their treatment. Knowing that you have explained what you want will help you to be more relaxed and you will fully enjoy your treatment.

There are so many different kinds of massages or modalities that you really can find the one that best suits your needs. Looking over the menu of the spa you may be visiting is vital. I find that many guests that I work on here at Red Mountain Resort & Spa don’t even know what treatment they are signed up for or what benefits to expect. That’s a great way to experiment and find new things, but if you know that you can only squeeze in a few treatments while at a spa then you will want to look more closely to the descriptions, so you can find what you will enjoy the most. Treatment descriptions on a spa menu will tell you if the treatment is therapeutic, relaxing, rejuvenating, etc, and many treatments are designed to target specific needs. Take the time to look them over and mark the ones that best meet your needs before setting your appointments. If you are still having a difficult time deciding, take the time to talk to a Spa Coordinator. They have been trained to understand the benefits of each treatment, and can help you find one to meet your needs.

If it is your first time having body work and still a little nervous about it. You may want to have a treatment done that allows you to keep your clothes on like Chair massage, Reflexology or Thai Yoga massage. This way you can ask questions and allow yourself to feel the difference in your body to understand the benefits of massage.

If all else fails read over your options and see what sounds best to you. Spas offer a selection of many massages and treatments that will benefit you in a variety of ways, so you are more than likely not going be disappointed. However, the more information you gather about the massages and the more you know about yourself the better your experience will be. Always remember that once you are in the treatment room take some deep breathes and relax. Trust that you are getting exactly what you need at that time in your life and enjoy.

May every experience you have with body work exceed your expectations.

Note: We thought this would be a fun photo to show that Red Mountain is a pet-friendly facility. Stay tuned for news on our new pet services menu coming soon.

Weight Loss Tips

@RedMountainSpa
Relax – you can’t force your body to lose fat. By being stressed over weight loss – you make it harder to lose the fat. The negative stress causes an increase in adrenaline hormones, such as cortisol.

Take a loving, kind approach to a fitness plan. Focus on following a healthy plan that includes the right amount of food and exercise from day to day. The weight loss will just happen if you are faithfully following your plan.

Should I Go Gluten-Free if I'm Not Gluten Intolerant?

By Dr. Reema Sayegh, Nutritionist

Going gluten-free has never been more popular. However, it should be known that most commercial gluten-free products are still loaded with refined carbohydrates. In short, it is a tradeoff of one processed flour for another. Certainly, those intolerant of or allergic to gluten should adopt a gluten-free lifestyle, but for those with no issues, eschewing gluten does not guarantee better health from a nutritive standpoint. It might be wise to instead explore sprouted grain products, or whole grain products, which can also be gluten free, to offer superior nutrition.

Exercise to Re-Energize Your Day

@RedMountainspa
Water bottle weights: Use full water bottles as weights to increase the difficulty of your work out. You can do bicep curls, side raises, and upper back squeezes with water bottles.

Herbed Apple Cider Vinaigrette

@RedMountainSpa #recipe

Ingredients:
1/2 C Vegetable Stock
1/2 C Apple Cider Vinegar
1 t Dijon Mustard
1 T Chopped Fresh Herbs (Basil, Oregano, etc.)
To taste Agave Nectar

Directions:

• Combine 2 teaspoons arrowroot with approximately 1 teaspoon cold water.


• Bring vegetable stock to a boil and thicken with approximately 1 tablespoon arrowroot slurry- stock should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Allow to cool.


• Combine all ingredients in a blender.

New Mexico Green Chile Posole

@RedMountainSpa #recipe

Serves 8

Ingredients:
1/3 large Onions, diced
1/2 stalk Celery, diced
2 1/2 t Garlic, chopped
1 1/4 t Olive Oil
1/2 lb Pork Loin, lean, boneless
3 1/2 oz. Hominy
1/2 cup Canned Green Chiles, diced
3 oz. Tomatillos, whole
2 t Cumin
2 t Chile Powder
Pinch Salt
Pinch Black Pepper
2 3/4 cup Chicken Stock, skimmed of all fat
2 T Fresh Cilantro, chopped

Directions:

• Sauté diced onions, celery, and garlic in oil until tender.


• Add diced pork and continue cooking until meat has browned.


• Add hominy, green chilies, tomatillos, cumin, chile powder, salt, pepper and chicken stock and simmer 1 hour.


• Mix in the cilantro and serve.

Red Mountain's Gratuity Policy

@Redmountainspa

In lieu of a mandatory service charge or resort amenity fee often found at inclusive resorts, gratuities are at the discretion of our guests at Red Mountain, and are greatly appreciated by our team members who strive to provide you with memorable service.

A 15% gratuity is added for your convenience to one-on-one experiences, such as Spa Services, Personal Training or Private guided hikes.

At any time that you wish to leave gratuity for an individual, you may charge this to your room. At dinner, you will receive a check so if you wish to provide gratuity for your server you may charge this to your guest room, and pay for wine or other incidentals.

If you prefer, we will of course add a daily gratuity fee to your room rate, of which 100% is distributed directly to our team members.

Vegan Vegetable Lasagna

@RedMountainSpa #recipe

Ingredients
1 T Olive Oil
4 Large Peeled Idaho Potatoes
6 Large Roasted Red Peppers
3 Large Zucchini
5 Large Yellow Squash
2 Eggplant
4 Cleaned Portobello Mushrooms, sliced thin
1 T Parsley, Finely Chopped
1/2 T Oregano, Finely Chopped
1/2 T Basil, Finely Chopped
1/2 T Thyme, Finely Chopped
1/2 t Cayenne Pepper
1 t Garlic Powder
2 t Chili Powder
1 t Onion Powder
1 t Salt
1 t Ground Black Pepper
1/4 Cup Arrowroot Starch

Directions:

• Spray all side of a 9-inch casserole dish with olive oil.


• Combine all the fresh herbs.


• Combine all the spices.


• Slice the potatoes 3/8 inch thick.


• Layer the potatoes, making sure to overlap the edges on the bottom of the casserole dish. Season with spices and herbs. Dust with arrowroot starch.


• Next, slice the zucchini 3/8 inch thick and place over the potatoes, making sure to overlap the edges. Season with spices and herbs. Dust with arrowroot starch.


• Repeat this process, creating individual layers of yellow squash, eggplant, and bell peppers - each layer seasoned with spices and herbs, and dusted with arrowroot starch.


• After creating the pepper layer, repeat the entire layering process in the opposite order making certain to season each layer and dust with arrowroot starch. The last layer should be potato.

Cooking:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.


• Bake covered for 30 minutes.


• Uncover and bake another 20 minutes or until vegetables are soft.


• Let cool before cutting.

Yield: About 12 lbs
Servings: 8
Serving Size: 24 oz.

Exercise to Re-Energize Your Day

@RedMountainSpa
Side raises: Slide to the front edge of your chair. Keep the elbows slightly bent as you raise your arms from your sides, lifting the water bottles or weights upward. Try to get the elbow as high as the shoulder, and then slowly lower your arms back down to your sides. 8-12 repetitions

Try This At Home Manicure

By Myrna Beardshear
@RedMountainSpa
Director of Spa & Wellness

1. Start by removing polish from fingernails. For natural nails, use a non-acetone remover.


2. File nails, filing in one direction starting at the edges and moving toward the top.


3. Soak in soapy water for a few minutes to soften cuticles.


4. Dot a moisturizing cuticle cream on the cuticles and rub in gently.


5. Push back the cuticles, gently, using an orange wood stick. Do not cut cuticles, as this can cause infection and damage the nail.


6. Massage hands with a moisturizing hand lotion.


7. Massage Technique: make small, firm circular motions with your thumb, concentrating on the muscles on inside of hand, near the thumb and little finger, and the base of each finger. Turn hand over and use your index finger to make small circles down the gaps between tendons.


8. Wipe the excess oils or cream off the nails, using a damp cloth.


9. Apply your favorite nail polish.