Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain's 12 Days of Christmas Contest

Ontario's Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain is running a 12 Days of Christmas Contest, starting December 1st. There is over $7,500 in gifts to be given out this year!

Visit Scandinave Spa's Facebook Page for more information and to enter the contest. Be sure to like them on Facebook so you can follow along and watch the gifts grow.

Good luck!

Wisconsin's Evensong Spa launches January Wellness Month with Mammogram Testing

Marshfield Clinic’s Mobile Health Screening Unit will travel to Green Lake to provide mammograms at Evensong Spa on Saturday, January 10, 2015, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. as part of the spa’s Wellness Month programming.

The 40-foot-screening van has provided digital mammography services to thousands of patients since 2007. All screening services completed in the mobile unit are done in a private space just as they would be at a clinic. Women 18 years and older can receive mammograms in the mobile health screening unit. For this event, women are encouraged to schedule a mammogram well in advance of Jan. 10 to ensure availability.

According to Marshfield Clinic, the recommended frequency of mammograms varies with age:

• All women over 20 years of age are encouraged to perform monthly breast self-exams.
• Women age 40 to 49 are advised to have a mammogram every one to two years based on
risk factors.
• Women over 50 years are advised to have a mammogram every year.
• Women over 75 should discuss the frequency of mammograms with their health care
provider.

“Screening mammography is important because it’s the first line of defense in the fight against breast cancer. Early detection is the key to successful treatment,” said Myron Gadke, mobile services manager. “Marshfield Clinic believes it’s important to provide mobile mammography services because many women we see would not have access to mammograms close to home.”

Mammogram costs will be billed to health insurance providers for patients with health insurance or Medicare. Patients should check with their insurance to make sure Marshfield Clinic is a network provider. Financial assistance may be available to those that qualify. Call the Marshfield Clinic Patient Assistance staff at 715.389.4475 to see if this is an option.

“Health and wellness of our guests and community is important to us at Evensong Spa,” said spa director Druellen Kosti. “Therefore, it makes sense for us to provide a convenient opportunity for women to receive mammograms, since it can often take months to get an appointment elsewhere.”

Evensong Spa, managed by Marcus Hotels & Resorts, has scheduled the mammogram bus as part of the spa’s Wellness Month. During January, Evensong Spa will feature health and wellness programming on Saturdays.

Evensong Spa's January Wellness events include hypnosis and lifestyle coaching by John Ahrens, “Life is a Balancing Act” workshop with Debbie Lessin, skincare by Kerstin Florian and Eminence, reflexology by Erin Withun, hoop fitness and $50 services Sunday through Thursday. Guests are encouraged to book the midweek specials well in advance to ensure availability; time slots as these services fill quickly. Additional details of Wellness Month will come as it gets closer.

“With such a variety of events planned, there should be something of interest for everyone,” said Kosti. “Our hope, then, is that these classes will educate our guests and inspire a lifelong commitment to healthy living.”

For more information on the Marshfield Clinic Mobile Health Screening Unit or to book a mammogram appointment, call Marshfield Clinic at 715.221.6086.

For more information on other Wellness Month programming or to make a spa appointment, callEvensong Spa at 920.294.3347 or visit Evensong Spa.

Leading Spas of Canada Announces 2014 Spa Industry Awards

Grotto Spa, Tigh-Na-Mara Resort

Spa Industry Association of Canada (SIAC), Canada’s only national spa association, has announced its 2014 Canadian Spa Industry Award recipients. SIAC presents annual awards to leading spa industry members in recognition of their exceptional contribution to advancing the spa industry in Canada.

The Spa Industry Association of Canada is proud to acknowledge the following Canadian spa industry award recipients:

President’s Award - Diane Sparrow, Riverstone Spa, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Past Chair of the SIAC Board of Directors. Diane has been a SIAC board member since 2005. As a member of the Standard and Practices committee, she helped to pioneer the Association’s Quality Assurance program

Outstanding Service Award - Leslie Lyon, Spas2b Inc., Waterloo, Ontario. The Outstanding  Service Award recognizes the efforts of an individual who in the past year, has worked hard for the good of the Association, the spa industry and/or community. The 2014 recipient is Leslie Lyon, Founder and President of Spas2b Inc. Leslie has been involved in the Spa industry for over 30 years. Today she enjoys her profession as an international educator, writer and speaker.

Education Award - Grotto Spa at Tigh-Na-Mara, Parksville, British Columbia. The Education Award recognizes outstanding contribution to the education of the spa profession in Canada. This year the recipient is The Grotto Spa at Tigh-Na-Mara located in Parksville, Vancouver Island, BC.  Paulina Alexander, Spa Director says, "At the Grotto Spa, we are proud of our commitment to training and education. We feel the Spa Industry is BEST industry to work in and we are honoured to be the recipient of this award."

Sustainability Award - Éminence Organic Skin Care, Vancouver, BC. The Sustainability Award recognizes the efforts of a member who is committed to sustainable and environmentally sage practices and is awarded to a member who has managed to balance competitive business strategies with sustainable development. This year's recipient is Éminence Organic Skin Care, long time leaders in this field, and celebrating over 50 years of supporting beautiful skin care.

Quality Assurance Award - The Spa Ritual, Calgary Alberta. The Spa Ritual in Calgary is this year’s winner of the Quality Assurance Award for the second year running. The award recognizes a member who has both practiced and promoted the highest standard of quality and safety in the spa industry. The Spa Ritual focuses on therapies and spa treatments based on authentic, holistic rituals inspired by ancient practices of health and wellness from Southeast Asia - specifically designed to enhance your path to personal revitalization.

For more information contact Leading Spas of Canada

Vermont's New Life Hiking Spa Relocates to the Cortina Inn & Resort

New Life Hiking Spa, long regarded as one of the top ten destination spa and wellness retreats in the country, is moving to the Cortina Inn & Resort in Mendon, Vermont.

The Cortina Inn & Resort, which has recently completed a three million dollar renovation, is located on 33 acres in the Mendon/Killington area of Central Vermont. The ideal location of the Inn will enable New Life Hiking Spa to retain its employees and continue with the usual hikes and indoor pool classes. Its location will also allow for new hikes to be added and some of the guest’s favorite hikes to be accessed directly from the property.

New Life Hiking Spa is open each year from mid-May through the end of September and will keep the same schedule with the new location. The 2015 season is from May 14 – September 28. However, groups and corporate wellness retreats, usually only offered while New Life Hiking Spa is operating, will now be offered year-round.

“This is a big move for New Life Hiking Spa”, stated Jimmy LeSage, the founder and director of New Life. “I started New Life in Stratton, Vermont, where we stayed for 12 years and then moved to Killington, where we stayed for 24 years. With this next move to Mendon, it will allow New Life Hiking Spa to continue to grow and give our guests an exceptional destination spa experience while offering the best hiking in the country. We plan to continue to stay in the same affordable price range. We have a 40% return guest ratio and we have listened to what they want and expect from New Life. We are thrilled to be offering the same product, with many improvements, at the same affordable price,” he went on to say.

New Life Hiking Spa caters to approximately 600 guests a season from all over the world.  Regular prices range from $229-$259 per night and include a deluxe room with a private bath, three healthy and freshly prepared meals per day, fruits and vegetables as snacks, three levels of guided hikes offered each day, all fitness and yoga classes, one massage or spa service for every three night stay, evening lectures and cooking demos.

For more information, visit New Life Hiking Spa.

Ontario's Ste. Anne's Spa Adds Three Spa Cottages

Ste. Anne's Spa has opened the doors to three new cottage accommodations, offering guests more options than ever. This announcement heralds one more step in the growth of Ste. Anne's, which began as a country inn and has evolved into a spa village in Northumberland County.

Casa Del Sol is the largest of the new facilities, a ranch-style cottage with five bedrooms and three bathrooms, located just 100 metres from the main inn. It comfortably accommodates up to ten people who are seeking a luxurious, private retreat. Guests can relax on the wrap-around porch or laze in the private hot tub, while enjoying the beautiful sunsets that inspired the name of this cottage, Spanish for "House of the Sun".

Vista Lago sits atop a hill with gorgeous views of the rolling countryside and Lake Ontario. There are four bedrooms as well as a private hot tub and deck, and it is suitable for up to eight people. This cottage, located 1.5 km from the main inn, can also serve as a perfect setting for groups seeking a meeting space. It has a table that can seat 12 people boardroom-style. The conference management team at Ste. Anne's will provide equipment free of charge, such as smartboards, flipcharts or conference phones.

Casa Del Sol and Vista Lago have gas fireplaces, full kitchens and beautifully appointed living and dining rooms.

Maison Sante Nook, a short walk from the main inn, is ideal for guests who want the privacy of their own space with the convenience of a well appointed fitness facility, hot tub, dry sauna and an outdoor endless pool right next door. The nook features 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a large kitchen and living room with a gas fireplace.

Ste. Anne's offers a free shuttle service between the main inn and all its facilities. In addition, guests at Casa Del Sol and Vista Lago may take advantage of Culinary Classes or a Private Chef Experience in their cottage.

For the past eight years, Ste. Anne's has been voted "Canada's Favourite Spa". Located on more than 400 acres of scenic, rolling countryside, it offers guests more than 35 rejuvenating spa services, uniquely appointed accommodations, first-class amenities and, of course, delicious cuisine.

For more information visit Ste. Anne's