Every year in May I have always spotlighted Mothers, including Mother-in-laws. I have been blessed to have had both that have enriched my life.

In this newsletter I would like to focus on Sisters. In my young life I was not raised with my two sisters as I was still a baby when they left home to start work. It was only when we got older that my sisters and I became close.

Now that my Mom is gone my sisters have become so important in my life. A few weeks ago my sister Joan and I went to our sister Beverly who lives in Buffalo for the weekend. We spent time together laughing, shopping and telling old stories. Sisterly love!

So this Mother’s Day you may be feeling sad because you don’t have your Mom to spend the day with. But maybe you have a Sister, Aunt or friend that has been like a Mom to you. These women have enhanced your life, celebrate them.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful women that have impacted our lives. 

This is one of mine, my Spa Manager Anita Neeson.

Men have their “Man Cave” what do women have? Every woman should have her own place that is just for her.  

In 2016 I found that I really needed my own space to practice meditation, read and just have a place to run away too. Our spare bedroom was going to become my “Zen Room”. I spent time looking through images of Zen type rooms for decorating ideas. Decorating included my favourite things; pictures of palm trees, birds, soft turquois colours, whites, creams and candles. A comfortable chair for reading, a new comforter, de-cluttered the room, new lamps and padded head board.

This is my space and I love this room. It’s my space to be in the present. It also gives me that space when you just need to get away from everyone and become grounded. The Zen Room has also come in handy when I broke my ankle and needed to sleep with my leg elevated.

Decorate just for you and no one else. This is your space and you deserve it!

PS – the other funny names for this space are She Shed, Women Cave and Vagina Closet. The last made me laugh.

Do you know the power of meditation? We often hear about the power of meditation and how good it is for us. Some of the benefits are: reduces blood pressure, relaxes us, helps us sleep better, reduces stress, controls anxiety, improves learning, memory and self-awareness just to name a few.

During my recovery from a broken ankle I had a lot of time sitting around communicating with people from around the world that had a broken ankle (Facebook group). One of the people on the site recommended an App called “Insight Timer”. It is a guided meditation App and has over 15000 meditations. It gives a list of different purposes for the meditation i.e. sleep, love, mindfulness, anxiety, pain, happiness and a lot more. The good thing about the App is that it’s free. I now meditate at night and in the morning with this App and it has been a wonderful tool.

Meditation is one way to reduce stress but don’t forget that massage and human touch works as well. We have you covered for that.

Happy Valentine’s Day

You and our staff have requested that we bring back the Luzern Oxygen Facial and we heard you.

Cultivated at the highest elevations in the Swiss Aps, Luzern sources the world’s most powerful organic actives and transforms them into ultra-pure, high-performance skincare.

Powerful ingredients with the ability to visibly transform the appearance of the skin, standardized to ensure the potency of each and every Luzern formulation.

Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas everyone.

This is always our busy time of year at the spa. It starts on November 12^th when the decorations go up. The joys of being in retail, but not quite as bad as Costco who have theirs out in August. Then on December 6^th we have our Christmas open house/Client Appreciation including the Christmas Treat Table. That means baking for me, shortbread cookies, maple fudge and a few new Christmas cookies. Over the years I have gotten to know your other favorites like Turtles, Toffifays and chocolate covered Almonds.

Like you and your family’s Christmas traditions, we have ours with you. We look forward every year to sharing with you the joy of this festive season.

Season Greetings

Did you know that changes of season means changes in your skin?

Because this is true, I have always tried to match our Monthly Specials with what your skin needs are at that time of the year. If you are not a regular facial person i.e. every 4-6 weeks you should have a facial with the changes of the season.

This month and last I have put the Microdermabrasion Treatment on special because we all have a lot of dead skin that does not drop off after the summer. Dead skin gets into the lines in the face making them look more prominent; causes unevenness of the skin tone; sunspots look darker.

We love the results we are seeing with the new Microdermabrasion machine. Plus the clients are so pleased.

Sherry Robinson at Spa Sedona

Just when you thought you had been given a few life lessons you didn’t expect, BAM, you get another one! On August 29^th I broke my ankle in two places and had to have surgery to put in a plate and 7 screws. I slipped on a wet ramp putting my golf clubs away.

I have been non weight bearing since the surgery but have now been put in an air boot and can start partial weight bearing. Not having my mobility has been a tough pill to swallow but I have learned a lot.

These are some of the lessons:

patience, I had none before and now I have to let others help me; my family and friends are wonderful; some people have a hard time when you have a problem and don’t bother with you; don’t push yourself and take time to heal; ask for help when you need it; meditation helps; keep yourself in a positive mindset, if that means watching funny shows do it, it’s very easy to get down when you are not mobile.

Soon as I get back to work full time I’m going for a massage, pedicure and facial. Touch is a great healer.

It didn’t seem that long ago when my Mother was the caregiver for my Father after his stroke. My mother spent day and night caring for him. She never took time for herself. She never had family or friends come in and help her.   I don’t think it was something she did to be the martyr, but rather she thought that was what was expected of her.

I met a woman at the spa that was a caregiver to her husband who had had a stroke. She talked about how it was very important to her to make sure she took care of herself. She could not look after her husband if she did not take care of herself first. She does things for herself that keep her positive, healthy and fit. She accepted support from family and friends when offered. She also used the different support groups and agencies out there for caregivers to give her a break when she needs it.

This is the age of the new caregivers, giving care to themselves first. Then they can care for others. It’s great to see this change. If you are a caregiver, take time to care for yourself. Book a massage or even a pedicure to give you that time for yourself and to experience the relaxation of touch.

Putting yourself first is not selfish it’s smart!

SPA SEDONA

TRANQUILLITY

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Have you ever heard the expression “Finding your tribe?”

I have read this often when referring a business’s clients “being their tribe”.

The term ‘tribe’ implies a common set of goals, values, and beliefs; all of which promote the well-being of the group.

We all want to experience a sense of community. To have a group of like-minded people, which are on the same page supporting each other as a collective group.

Over the last few months our clients and staff have been referred to as the “Spa Sedona Family”. We have come together as a family when we needed each other the most. So I think family and tribe is the same thing! Maybe we are the “Spa Sedona Tribe.”

“Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.”

Jane Howard, Margaret Mead

Have you ever been to Sedona AZ? I highly recommend it.

I knew Sedona was calling me to “restore my spirit”, the phrase that goes with my Spa Sedona logo.

Seeing the Red Rocks for the first time was very emotional, they were telling me “it’s ok to release the pain, let it go”. After the first two days I was ready to enjoy everything I love about Sedona.

The calm of the red rock, the hiking trails, the energy of the vortexes and the sound of the water of Oak Creek trickling over the rocks. These are all things that will put you in such a relaxed state. Then there is the food! My blog would not be complete without a few food pictures. So please put Sedona AZ on your bucket list, you won’t regret it.

Spring is here in Ontario and it was good to get back to warm weather.

Happy Father’s Day, congratulations to all the graduates and School is out for the summer!!!

Oak Creek with Cathedral Rock in the back Ground at the Vortex

My daughter Stephanie and I on Baldwin Trail with Cathedral Rock

Breakfast at Red Rock Café in Oak Creek Village WOW

View from the dinning room at The Sedona Golf Club