The Holiday Survival Guide

Posted on 11/27/07 Page 3 of 10

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One Great Massage
A rubdown for every tired part.

	The Treatment	The Spa	The Experience
Scalp: 30 minutes, $45, integrativebodytherapy	Champi Massage	Integrative Body Therapies, Back Bay	Ayurvedic relief from insomnia, migraines, and general holiday angst. No nudity required.
Nose: 30 minutes, $45, pyaraaveda.com	Neti Massage	Pyara, Cambridge	Sinuses get some TLC with a eucalyptus-infused steam bath for the face.
Face: 30 minutes, $60, lotusmb.com	Acupressure Facial Massage	Lotus Mind + Body Spa, Needham	Hot and cold stones placed on various pressure points ease pent-up tension. No needles, no pain.
Lymph Nodes: One hour, $115, bostonbodyworker.com	Lymphatic Drainage Massage	Boston Bodyworker, Back Bay and downtown	Gentle pressure to the lymph nodes in the neck and armpits makes for an interesting, but not uncomfortable, 60 minutes. Emerge sniffle-free.
Hands: 35 minutes, $50, dchristopher.com	Anti-Aging Hands	Daryl Christopher Salon and Day Spa, Back Bay	Hands are exfoliated smooth with an alpha-hydroxy serum and rubbed with an anti-aging cream.
Chest: 30 minutes, $55, ardanspa.com	Upper-Body De-Stress	Ardan MedSpa + Salon, Wellesley	Essential oils massaged into your upper arms, décolleté, and chest let you breathe easier (really).
Neck/shoulders: One hour, $75, backworksinc.com	Deep Tissue Massage	Backworks, Financial District	Highly skilled therapists pinpoint where you’re holding stress. Major gain for your pain.
Back: Two hours, $280, thesportsclubla.com	De-Stress Massage	Splash at the Sports Club/LA, downtown	Slow, purposeful kneading to soothing music leaves you feeling pleasantly lobotomized.
Spine: 75 minutes, $150, emergespasalon.com	Rain Drop Therapy Massage	Emerge, Back Bay	Nine potent therapeutic oils dripped on your spine target tricky nerve endings all along your back.
Libido: One hour, $210, violet skinboutique.com	Couples’ Massage	Violet Skin Boutique, Back Bay	Masseurs work on you and your beloved in the same room (on separate treatment tables). Hot!
Feet: One hour, $65, spachristine.com	Happy Feet	Spa Christine, South Boston	A really elaborate foot rub, in which feet are exfoliated, buffed, and kneaded. A bit of reflexology comes as a bonus.
Aura: One hour, $90, bellaspa.com	Holistic Serenity Massage	Bella Skin, Newton	Touch therapy releases feelings of stress, anger, and anxiety.

For contact information for all these spas, click here!

For the best quickie treatments in your neighborhood, go to the next page...

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User Comments:

Enjoyed the whole article immensely.
Posted by Anonymous | Dec. 4, 2007 at 2:35 PM

COMMENT:

What a wonderful tip sheet for the weary xmas shopper. Humor does help this time of year. Great ideas. Thanks

correction
Posted by Anonymous | Dec. 21, 2007 at 12:19 PM

COMMENT:

please correct Violet Skin Boutique website The correct one is www.violetskinboutique.com

A simple, effective way to manage stress
Posted by Inna | Jan. 16, 2008 at 6:51 PM

COMMENT:

Our minds and bodies are interconnected and wellbeing of one depends on the wellbeing of the other. Stress causes a number of physiological changes in the body, including breathing changes and muscle tension, which in turn can lead to more anxiety and stress. I suggest that people do some preventive self-care, before stress hits. Slow abdominal or diaphragmatic (yoga) breathing is one of the simplest most effective ways to help you manage your stress. Diaphragmatic breathing shuts down the stress response and activates relaxation response. Perform slow abdominal breathing for five minutes. Focus your mind on the breathing; if your mind wanders, just bring it back as soon as you notice. This skill is great to learn when you are not stressed, so that you are not learning a new skill at a stressful time – a professional can teach you how to do diaphragmatic breathing correctly. About biofeedback: In addition to stress, biofeedback is considered particularly effective for people strug

additional info about biofeedback
Posted by Inna | Jan. 16, 2008 at 7:29 PM

COMMENT:

In addition to stress, biofeedback is considered particularly effective for people struggling with tension headaches, chronic pain, heart arrhythmia, and other medical and psychological conditions. Many people retain their skills for life and require only occasional refresher sessions. Inna Khazan, PhD Clinical Psychologist www.BostonHealthPsychology.com