6 Cooling Aromatherapy Oils For Summer

Urban Sanctuary offers many aromatherapy products and services.

Aromatherapy can help to keep your body cool and calm during the hot months of summer. Cool aromatherapy compresses, body mists, foot soaks, scalp massage and cool mist room diffusers can recover your body from heat and overexertion. There are many different ways to use aromatherapy and incorporate essentials oils into your daily routine for stress reduction, health, well being and staying cool.

These 6 essential oils are particularly good for keeping cool and cooling down:

• Peppermint
• Spearmint
• Geranium
• Chamomile
• Eucalyptus
• Lavender

Eat Garlic For Anti-Aging and Good Health

Garlic is one of nature's best anti-aging agents. It is a powerful immune system booster, blood purifier, anti-inflammatory agent, antioxidant and the list goes on. Studies have shown measurable health benefits to eating fresh garlic daily. Approximately one clove of fresh garlic a day can help keep the doctor away. Eating a clove a day can:

• improve brain health and agility
• reduce the chances of catching a cold by up to 63%
• boost the immune system in general 
• strengthen your bones
• improve stamina
• decrease hypertension
• increase circulation
• boost heart health
• detox the body of heavy metals
• act as a natural pain remedy
• heal allergies
  
  
  
  
  Steaming, sauteing or roasting garlic will mellow the flavor and odor, if that is a concern. Raw garlic chopped, pureed or sliced is very, very good for the body, however, it can create stomach upset for some. One clove a day can easily be worked into salads, soups, main dishes, smoothies and side dishes. Challenge yourself to eat a clove a day for one month and notice the impact on your allergies, your circulation or any aches and pains you regularly put up with.
  
  

 Urban Sanctuary has been serving the Athens, Georgia community for over 10 years. We source two blogs that share information on foods that heal, massage, stress remedies and skincare.

Men and Massage

Many men are turning to massage to manage stress and to enhance their overall health and well being. Massage has become increasingly popular with men over the last two decades in both spas and clinics. The number of men booking monthly, bi-weekly and weekly massage sessions is at an all time high and growing steadily.

Generally speaking, men are seeking the same results from their massages as women. Men are especially interested in the pain relief properties and enhanced athletic performance that therapeutic massage can create.

For men over 30 in particular, the health benefits of massage are a draw, as well as the stress relief and anti-aging benefits of massage.

Benefits most often reported by men from their massages include:

• relief from chronic pain
• relief from old injuries
• increased range of motion 
• neck and shoulder tension relief
• recovery from work related stress
• recovery from travel fatigue 
• decreased recovery time from sports injuries and pain 
• improved performance at the gym
• headache relief 
• improved sleep
• overall relaxation

Men are more likely than women to stick to a regular massage time slot. Our male clients are highly likely to get a massage series to save money on individual sessions. Massages favored by men include:

• scalp massage
• sports massage
• deep tissue massage
• myofascial massage
• foot massage
• our deep therapeutic foot massage
• hot stones
• our signature massage
• the massage and scrub combo

Urban Sanctuary is a man-friendly spa. We had men in mind when we designed our space and our service offerings. Spas are not just for women anymore. Times have changed. Everyone benefits from a good self care and stress prevention regime.

We like to say, "be kind and unwind"... 

Great Gifts For Father's Day

A great gift for Father's Day, Zum Bars are fresh, clean and natural.

• Our Signature Men's Massage: Includes deep tissue, hot stones and neck, back and shoulder focus. Browse our men's services here
• Soap: What Dad doesn't love soap? Try the manly Charcoal Soap or natural Cedarwood, Sandalwood Citrus and Coffee Almond. 
• Foot Massage: We have several massage styles to choose from - Deep Tissue, Reflexology and Asian Foot massage. 
• Beard Care: Vetiver and Sage Beard Oil, Cedar Bergamot Shave Tonic and Wanderlust Multipurpose grooming product are fine choices. Find these products here
• Mud: Yes, Men's Cleansing Mud for the face is a refreshingly clean scented must try!
• Scalp Massage: Deeply relaxing for the brain and body. Your choice of Tea Tree Eucalyptus or Sandalwood. This service can include TMJ massage and or neck and shoulder massage. Find more information here
• Handsome Scents: Owl, Whale, Boot, Pipe and more solid fragrances by Soap and Paper Factory. Woodsy, spicy and masculine notes
• Sports Massage
• A MAN icure: Why should Dad have to live with hang nails and calluses? Our nail services
• Gift Certificates: Let dad choose his favorite service or products! Find out more or purchase online

      Browse our pricing information here

Tips For Reducing Stress And Creating Peace of Mind Before Bedtime

Stress plays a big part in inadequate sleep and poor health for people of all ages. Common practices such as taking work home at night, taking stress home from work and letting tensions and worry take over at the end of the day can wreak havoc on home life, enjoyment of evening meals and general well-being.

Create a way to enjoy peace of mind and time to unwind in the evenings before bed. This will do wonders to ensure good health and well-being for your body and mind.  Left to our own devices, many of us will work late, eat in a rush, and stay glued to our smart phones trying to play catch-up responding to messages into the wee hours. What these practices ultimately do is over stimulate ourselves until we fall into bed without any real peace of mind or unwind from the hectic day.

Incorporate some nurturing, some quiet, some joy and comfort into your evening routines every night. Include the people you love. You'll benefit enormously and so will your relationships.

Here are some after work practices you might adopt at home to reduce overall stress, recover from work stresses and end your day on a high note with peace of mind:

• Go for an evening walk in the neighborhood and get your blood pumping.
• Drink lots of water in the evenings to help your brain and body recuperate. Water with fresh thyme, cucumber or cut fruit is refreshing and a great soda substitute.
• Turn off the smart phone and computer at a predetermined cut-off time and fully disengage.
• Make a to-do list for the following day/week. Get all the unfinished items in your head down on paper and put that list away and out of sight for the night!
• Soak your feet in epsom salts or bubbles for 10-15 minutes.
• Plan a do-over or redo for anything that did not go at all how you hoped during the day. Tell somebody. Get it off your mind. Then stop thinking about it.
• Drink herbal tea to calm your mind and your belly.
• Eat dinner in a lovely spot in the house or a quiet spot outside. 
• Exchange TV time for some reading time.
• Play and have fun with the kids, dogs or by yourself. Fun is really important!
• Stretch out on the floor and listen to some beautiful music.
• Stretch out all of your muscles. Do stretches that feel good to your body.
• Call people on the phone and tell them you love them. (Perhaps people that know you...)
• Call a friend.
• Meditate.
• Do a craft or something creative with your hands.
• Be kind to yourself in some way (small or large) at the end of the day, every day.
• Celebrate another's success at the end of each day in some way.
• Soak in the tub and throw in some dead sea salt, herbs or aromatherapy.
• Sing your heart out. Play an instrument.
• Tidy up your living space so it feels fresh and welcoming.
• Burn aromatherapy candles.
• Trade massage with your mate.
• Breathe long, slow, deep breathes for 5-10 minutes.
• Make your bedroom look, feel and smell peaceful and lovely.

Detoxify and Balance Your Body With Himalayan Sea Salt

Himalayan salt has remarkable healing and purifying properties, including pain and stress relief. It's been used to help detoxify and revitalize the body for centuries. Himalayan salt can be used in the bath, as a seasoning salt for cooking, inhalation, room purifiers, body scrubs, foot soaks and more. Being a day spa, we like to recommend Himalayan salts for baths, body scrubs and foot soaks.

Himalayan salt provides 84 essential minerals for healthy bodily functions. Sodium helps regulate blood volume and blood pressure, controls muscle contractions, nerve transmissions and heart function.

Himalayan salt is high in iron, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, potassium and chloride. It also contains traces of boron, fluoride, iodine, zinc, selenium and copper, all of which are important for health and well-being and help to create a balanced mind and a relaxed body.

For centuries people have trusted the benefits of salt therapy (speleotherapy with Himalayan salt) to relieve respiratory illnesses, improve skin conditions and strengthen their immune systems. Here are some of the benefits of soaking in Himalayan salts. You can find support and healing for the following:

• Fatigue
• Stress
• Muscle and body aches
• Headaches
• Skin conditions caused by stress
• Nervousness
• Insomnia
• Seasonal allergies
• Sinus problems
• Cold, cough and flu
• Immune system 
• Joint pain and inflammation

Himalayan salt’s mineral benefits are available regardless of what form the salt is consumed.  Himalayan salt is most often found as coarse grains, fine grains, or large blocks which can be used as room purifiers.

6 Gifts For Moms That Bring Comfort and Calm

We like to say that every day is Mother's Day at Urban Sanctuary. Moms love it here. We have lots of spa services to delight a mom of any age, including Prenatal Massage, Aromatherapy Massage,our Mother Daughter Spa Day, Queen For A Day, Advanced Facials, Foot Massages, Scalp Massage, the Sweet Birch Mineral Pedicure, Seaweed and Mud Wraps, Massage for people Over 70, our White Tea Hydrating Facial, Manicures and much much more...

Our vast selection of eco-friendly products for house and home or bath and body give Mom lots to choose from to create the calm, comfort and peace of mind that every mother needs and deserves.

 Here are 6 favorite gifts for mom:

1. Spa Time Certificates-- available in increments of time and redeemable toward whatever service makes Mom's heart content.
2. Gift Certificates-- can be written for specific dollar amounts or a spa service and they are redeemable toward any product, service or merchandise in stock.
3. Candles--    lovely aromatic soy candles to choose from ranging from $7.50-$19.99.Favorites for Mom include Level Natural's Jasmine Rose in glass and Citrus Harmony travel tins.
4. Perfume Lockets and Cameo Pendants-- handmade locally and ranging in price from $28-$36.
5. Organic Tea-- favorites include the Green Tea Heart Box $20 and Peace of Mind Tea $15.
6. Relaxing and Beautifying Baths-- try Lavender Chamomile bubbles $14, Joy bath salts by Urban Sanctuary$10.50- $22, Herbivore's Calm $18 and Coconut Milk Bath $32.