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Take Some Time Out This Holiday Season
By Esther Schultz
With the holidays just around the corner, it seems as though our 'to-do' lists just keep getting longer - errands to run, gifts to buy, food to prepare and parties to plan - but with all the social events on the horizon we also want to look our best. That is why it is so important to take some time out for ourselves at this hectic time of year.
The Goddess Salon and Spa offers the perfect sanctuary for those in need of some pure relaxation and beautification. Located in Granada Hills, the Goddess has a relaxed and inviting ambiance. As you step in from the busy street you will be welcomed with warm hospitality. The staff is friendly and down to earth, and the desire to please is genuine.
Goddess owner, Yahaira Kolb, was born into the spa industry. As a child she was influenced by her mother, a Cosmetologist and Cosmetology instructor. In 1993 Yahaira graduated from the International School of Beauty and began working alongside her mother in her Los Angeles salon. Three years ago Yahaira decided to open her own salon and spa, and the Goddess was born.
Yahaira has earned a reputation for her excellent hair coloring skills and her ultimate facial with peel, but if you have an hour to spare, try her pièce de résistance - the Goddess spa pedicure deluxe. First your feet will be recharged in a warm, bubbling sea salt soak. Then your nails will be shaped, cleaned and buffed, and a callus removal treatment applied. Your feet will then be re-energized with a deep sea salt scrub and a clay and mint mask, before you relax into a leg and foot massage with aromatherapy oil. The treatment will be completed with the nail color of your choice. This hour-long luxury treatment costs just $35.
Besides these signature treatments, the Goddess offers a full range of services including hairdressing, manicures, pedicures, waxing, facials, microdermabrasion, acne treatment, tanning (permanent and instant), permanent make-up and hair extensions. For just $10 you can add the ultimate compliment to any service - a wonderfully relaxing 15-minute foot or back massage.
Goddess also provides the perfect one-stop solution for all bridal beauty needs. The salon offers bridal packages, which can be customized to suit each individual bride. What better way to relax before your big day than to enjoy a luxurious facial, a relaxing massage and a deluxe spa manicure and pedicure. Then have your hair styled and your make up applied by professionals. You will arrive at your wedding feeling truly pampered and beautiful. Yahaira likes to meet with the bride two months before the wedding to discuss the bride's needs and create the perfect package from a full range of services.
And before you think that Goddess only caters to the ladies, men are more than welcome to come and experience the luxuries on offer. In fact, Yahaira likes to take on the challenge of transforming a man's idea of what a spa is all about. Apparently the facials go down particularly well with the gentlemen!
Yahaira is keen to make her customers feel as comfortable as possible from the moment they walk through the door. "I want them to feel open to expressing their individual personalities - to take their shoes off and really feel at home." In that respect, Goddess definitely succeeds. The salon offers great quality services in a serene and inviting setting. It's a wonderful place to escape the hustle and bustle of life. You'll leave feeling relaxed, revived and ready to tackle those holiday chores.
Goddess Salon and Spa is located at 16139 Devonshire St., Granada Hills, CA 91344. To make an appointment call 818-894-0405 or for more information visit www.valleygoddess.com.
How to Cope With Fatigue
By Staff Writer
If you're tired of waking up tired, it might be time to try to determine why.
When you haven't had a proper night's sleep, you will wake up tired. Many people plagued with sleep disturbances resort to sleeping pills. However, sleep disturbances and the resulting fatigue are often due to underlying health problems.
Fatigue has many causes - some simple and others more complex. For instance, many people think that sadness is the main symptom of depression. Buit, researchers have found that the primary symptom of depression is actually fatigue.
People who suffer from stomach problems also have sleep problems. Heartburn interferes with sleep. However, that can often be alleviated if you stop eating three hours before going to bed and go for a thirty-minute walk after dinner.
Another major cause of fatigue is sleep apnea. A person who snores loudly and often while asleep may very well have sleep apnea. People who have sleep apnea actually have breathing pauses during the night. This interferes with the flow of oxygen to the brain and robs the person of a restful sleep. Sleep apnea requires a doctor's help and is highly treatable. But it can be dangerous if left untreated.
Restless legs syndrome and hypothyroidism also interfere with a good night's sleep. In addition, daytime hoarseness and chronic coughs are clues pointing to sleep disturbances.
Stress frequently keeps people awake at night. When people are under stress, they produce extra amounts of the hormone cortisol that is recognized as a sleep saboteur. Ask your doctor about insitol, a nutrient member of the B vitamin group. Insitol lowers stress levels resulting in a reduction of cortisol production.
Calcium is also known to be beneficial in relaxing muscles and the nervous system. Since many people already take calcium for other health benefits, taking it at night before bedtime utilizes its additional sleep inducing benefits.
Theta brain waves are the deeply relaxing brain waves that must be activated to engage you in the first stage of sleep. There are various ways to trigger these brain waves. One is to start playing soft background music about an hour before going to bed. The scent of lavender also induces theta brain waves. So you might try a lavender scented bath and lighting a lavender scented candle prior to bedtime. Be sure not to drift off to sleep with a candle burning. You can also buy lavender scented pillows or attach sachets to your regular pillow.
Your bedroom needs to be dark and cool but not uncomfortable. Darkness encourages the production of melatonin, a hormone that induces sleep. Practice going to bed and getting up at the same time every day. And avoid taking naps during the day.
Finally, if none of these strategies work and you absolutely cannot get to sleep, don't lie in bed and fret. This just increases your stress and worsens the situation. Get up and find something relaxing to do such as reading a book.
DERMATIQUE™ MEDICAL CENTER FOR ADVANCED SKIN CARE OFFERS BLUE LIGHT THERAPY FOR ACNE
Millions of people suffer each year from acne. Dermatique Medical Center for Advanced Skincare, Inc in Westlake Village is proud to offer the latest treatment for acne…BLUE LIGHT THERAPY.
It is a two-step procedure that is minimally invasive and can be done on your lunch hour. During the first step, a topical solution called Levulan Kerastick is applied to the skin. After an incubation period of 30-45 minutes the patient is exposed to a special blue light that will treat the acne and destroy the bacteria deep in the skin and hair follicles which causes acne. The procedure usually takes 8-10 minutes. Patients typically need between 3-5 treatments depending on the severity of their acne, usually 3-4 weeks apart.
After each treatment the patient may experience some redness and skin sensitivity. Most patients can return to normal activity immediately but must avoid sun exposure for 5-7 days.
According to Dr Marc Kerner, "patients with difficult to treat acne respond favorably to blue light and levulan therapy and more importantly it may treat acne without the use of dangerous oral medications."
To learn more about Blue Light Therapy and schedule a consultation, contact Derm-atique™ Medical Center for Advanced Skincare, Inc at (805) 230-1111.