Spa Alert

So I have this bad habit of slouching at my desk. I don't really do it when I am standing or anything, but I suspect that being short and having a computer set-up that is usually just a bit too far away has caused that habit. Needless to say, because of this habit, which has been paired with innumerable amounts of stress over the past few years, has created what I like to refer to as, "the Chilean Alps" all the way down my shoulder blades in the form of very painful knots.

Yesterday I made the executive decision to treat myself. Afterall, I just got a new job, I'm trying to get into a decent weight lifting schedule again, and I can't deal with the pain anymore. So I decided to revisit this spa in the grove called Aruj. I went once in grad school and had a great experience, but when Miami Spa Month started coming up, I took that as excuses to try other spas. I do want to say, this time around it was a good experience as well.

First of all, Aruj is an Aveda spa. If you aren't familiar with Aveda, you should be. I have been going to Aveda salons since I was a teenager, and they have been organic and earth friendly before it was trendy. But if you are familiar with Aveda products, you know that their spas are a total experience. When you walk into Aruj, it's the store front. If you book spa services, they escort you into a back area with dimmed lights, running water and the unmistakable scent of Aveda products: A sweet (but not Bath and Body Works sweet) aroma of herbs and spices. They also have low, instrumental world music playing and as you wait, you really should take them up on their offer for some hot tea.

As with any spa-oriented massage, Aruj offers scented and unscented massages. Unlike some other spas, they also have heated beds AND they have therapists who are not afraid to do deep tissue. I despise going to spas and getting a light massage, and I am relieved to say that was not the case this time.

So in my opinion, if you are in need a massage and a relaxing experience, head over to the grove! And you can stop at RedBerry afterwards and get some delicious frozen yogurt afterwards!

Miami Spa Month

I think that Miami Spa Month is possibly one of the greatest things the city has come up with. Is it because I get ridiculously stressed out over things because I have the tendency to take too much on? Probably. But that's not important. What is important is that Miami Spa Month is fantastic.

I posed about a week and a half ago that I am going to be taking a bit of a rest from blogging, simply because I am taking a rest from running around like crazy all weekend. But I wanted to write about this experience, in case anyone wanted to take advantage of the last few days of the month (Spa Month lasts from July 1-July 31.) So where did I go? The Palms Hotel, and I highly recommend it.

First of all, the Palms has one of the best deals, you get either a massage or a facial with a manicure/pedicure. Most places only offer a massage or a facial or some body treatment, which to me is not worth $100 on it's own. Secondly, the Palms is an Aveda spa. That's huge to me. Anyone who knows me well knows I am very brand loyal, and that I have been going to Aveda salons since I was young (for haircuts.) I just really like the product, their mission and the whole experience that comes with an Aveda salon. For example, they were environmentally oriented before it became cool a few years back.

Anyways, I digress. As you walk in, there's the unmistakable scent of an Aveda salon/spa, a very relaxing herbal essential oils scent. The service was impeccable, and the whole spa was just very chilled out, with low down-tempo lounge world music playing. Between the massage and my nails, they have you wait in the "relaxation room." Basically it's a room with lounge chairs inside and outside, water (laced with lemons) and fruit. I decided to lounge outside on a chaise. It's been raining all week, so it was overcast, warm and there was water flowing from a nearby fountain. The combination of all these factors kept me totally relaxed and not all hyped-up ADHD like I normally am when I have to wait around for something.

Overall, I highly recommend the spa. Going back to the service, just the fact that they had such phenomenal service on Miami Beach alone is worth it. But the whole air of the place doesn't help either.

I like to do it Tribal Style

So I have a little bit of an addictive personality, and one of my obsessions is exercise. But I hate going to the gym because the smallest thing throws me off my routine, so I am constantly on the lookout for things I can do that are fun and keep my attention. One of my favorite things is Shotokan Karate and another is bellydance, in particular tribal fusion.

So after a year's absence I went back to my tribal class today and I am feeling it! Anyone who thinks dancing is not a workout has never taken Alicia's class. That's for damn sure. But even though I will probably be aching tomorrow I feel a hundred times better. I've been super stressed with work, apartment situation and money, so going and getting a break from my karate routine was definitely a good kick.

I think with this I'm going to try to chronicle other Miami activities to keep you interested and in shape. But first, a nice relaxing lavender bath to relax my poor muscles some...