After a gluttonous holiday season, the first month of the year has a way of kicking your resolve into overdrive. But before you condemn yourself to boot camp-style workouts and carrot-only diets, enhance your stay in Boston with these painless tips to a healthier, prettier you.
Defrost
After spending all those long hours indoors,
you’re probably feeling a bit under the
weather. Rather than reaching for the NyQuil,
allay your mid-winter ailments at
The Sports Club LA’s Splash
Spa (4 Avery St., 617-375-8200)
with the aromatherapy aloe wrap. By
relieving aches and stimulating the immune
system through the restorative powers of
spruce, thyme, tea tree oil and eucalyptus,
this soothing Aloe Vera body wrap is sure to
get you back on your feet.
Speaking of your tootsies, we wager that several months have passed since they’ve seen the light of day—let alone a pedicurist. If snow boots and ski socks have left your soles in need of some extra attention, opt for “The Machine” pedicure add-on at G Spa (35 Newbury St., 617-267-4772). Mere seconds of treatment by this spinning, sloughing device from South America promises to rid your feet of even the most stubborn calluses.
Detoxify
Between the eggnog and the champagne toasts,
December is a trying time for the liver. To
rid yourself of post-binge negatives, head
to Boston Dtox
(83 Newbury St., 617-867-0007), where a
non-invasive 23-minute treatment purifies
you on a cellular level through a high-tech
ionized footbath.
If all that partying is more evident in your face, treat yourself to an organic detoxifying facial at Violet Skin Boutique (257 Newbury St., 617-262-7546). Designed by salon owner Violet Mkhytarian, this back-to-basics facial consists of a deep cleansing using herbal extracts, an exfoliation using a cranberry peel with volcanic ash and a green tea mask followed by an invigorating hand, foot and neck massage.
Treat your tresses
Your mane has been cowering under a hat
since November. To beautify your neglected
follicles, entrust them to the pros at
Vidal Sassoon (14
Newbury St., 617-536-5496) and invest in the
treatment cut. Before being cut into shape,
your strands are sprayed with one of three
deep conditioning treatments from the
Parisian hair product line Kérastase, saving
you time by coifing and fortifying all at
once.
For the gentlemen, we recommend paying a visit to the Men’s Club at Emerge (275 Newbury St., 617-437-0006) and upgrading your haircut with a 30-minute scalp massage, sure to restore balance both inside and on top of your head.
Pamper
those peepers
Illustrious as they usually are, chances are
all that post-holiday pandemonium has
saddled your eyes with some excess baggage.
Put the sparkle back in your gaze with an
eye ritual at Michaud
Cosmedix (69 Newbury St.,
617-262-1607). Using sophisticated eye care
products from the French line Talika, this
45-minute treatment revitalizes your eyes
with a gel mask and a lymphatic
fluid-draining massage.
After de-puffing, give your eyes some dramatic, natural-looking flair with a full set of semi-permanent eyelash extensions at LuxLash (232 Newbury St., 617-587-5274). By bonding lightweight synthetic eyelashes with your real lashes, this treatment leaves you with a set of flirty peepers that lasts for up to two months.
Get some face time
Constant exposure to sub-zero temperatures
is enough to do a number on anyone’s skin.
If your pores are in need of some TLC, seek
solace at La Residencia
(336 Elliot St., Newton, 617-244-1338).
Nestled in a quaint Victorian house, this
cozy spa offers customized skincare
including owner Jane Aranky’s signature
facial, a relaxing 90-minute treatment that
caters to your skin’s specific needs.
If your pores require some extra thawing, opt for esthetician Rachel Zaltman-Murphy’s American facial at The Loft Salon & Day Spa (207 Newbury St., 617-536-5638). Instead of the usual steam bath, this facial prepares your pores for extraction by warming them with an electric plastic heat mask that strengthens the capillary walls.
Trust technology
The fountain of youth is yet to be
discovered, but thanks to modern technology,
you have the ability to rid your visage of
telltale aging signs. One path to a more
youthful-looking complexion is the Visia
skin analysis at the
Essentially Bare Cosmetic and Laser Clinic
(777 Concord Ave., Cambridge, 617-876-5258).
By testing your face for evenness,
photodamage and bacteria, a machine provides
you with a detailed map of your skin,
allowing you to build a skincare regimen
that pinpoints your problem areas.
Therapeutic as they may be, skincare
products can only go so far to defy gravity.
If you’re considering cosmetic surgery, look
no further than the Massachusetts Eye & Ear
Infirmary’s Facial and Cosmetic Surgery
Center (273 Charles St., 617-573-5520).
Teamed with one of the best healthcare
providers in the nation, the center offers
procedures like the mini facelift, a
minimally invasive surgery that targets your
neck and lower face.
Nurture your
relationships
Sometimes, self-betterment is more enjoyable
when you bring a sidekick. For the ultimate
treatment for two, take your significant
other to G2O Spa
(338 Newbury St., 617-262-2220) and try the
Rasul signature ceremony. Nothing says
bonding like getting doused with mineral mud
from head to toe and relaxing in an
elaborately decorated steam chamber.
If mud does not constitute your idea of a good time, stay clean with the signature Hydrostorm treatment at Emerge. Inspired by European hydrotherapy, this single or two-person treatment combines shower, steam, color and aromatherapy to relieve stress and promote overall physical wellness. Too intense? Opt for the La Stone Therapy massage for two and let the weight of several smooth, heated stones warm up your senses.
Eat right
As we’ve often heard our mothers say, good
health starts with good food. If you’re
struck by a craving for a greasy burger,
stay clear of the usual fast food chains and
head to b.good
(131 Dartmouth St., 617-424-5252). A step up
from McDonald’s, this health-conscious
eatery satisfies your appetite while curbing
your fat cal intake by eliminating the deep
fryer and cooking with all-natural
ingredients.
For some, proper nutrition involves more than just mere carb counting. The new DO IT program at the Joslin Diabetes Center (One Joslin Pl., 617-732-2400) guides diabetes patients towards an active, healthy lifestyle through an intensive four-day program focused on exercise, medication and personalized nutrition.
Say
ommmm
Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned
practitioner, the mental and physical
benefits of yoga make it an essential
component of any workout regimen. While in
Boston, perfect your Cobra pose at
Baptiste Yoga (139
Columbus Ave., 617-423-9642), a dynamic new
practice that marries the concepts of
Vinyasa flow and power yoga.
If you’re looking for a challenge, try out a class at Bikram Yoga (108 Lincoln St., 617-556-9926). Originated in Calcutta, India, this internationally renowned approach to yoga oxygenates the body through a systematic series of twenty-six intense postures.
Hit the ground
running
Home to one of the world’s oldest and most
prestigious marathons, Boston is a Mecca for
recreational runners. Whether your goal is
to power walk in the park or sprint to the
finish line, get your kicks at
Marathon Sports
(671 Boylston St., 617-267-4774). With
personalized shoe fitting and video gait
analysis, this famous shop has been catering
to walkers and marathoners since 1975.
As the record-breaking winner of four
Boston Marathons, Bill Rodgers is the Hub’s
running guru. For one-on-one shoe fitting
and tips from the pro, visit Rodgers’ shop,
Bill Rodgers Running
Center (Faneuil Hall Marketplace,
617-723-5612), and stock up on everything
from shoe inserts to official marathon gear.
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