Archive for August, 2008

The winner takes it all

Friday, August 29th, 2008

And so they should. If you thought an indulgent Rose Ritual of body scrubs, wraps, massages and champagne at The Dorchester Spa was too good to be true, it looks like you missed out on July’s competition. Instead, the prizes were snapped up by Wahanda citizens – Faith and Achooww, who did as they were told and started penning their reviews so they could be in with a shot of winning our fantastic prize, and it looks like all their hard work paid off.

Seeing as these two lucky ladies are our first Wahanda winners EVER, we thought we’d introduce you to them so you can guide your green-eyed gazes directly at them.

Faith (left), a once-a-month treatment goer, submitted reviews on Gianni and Claudie , Pacifica Day Spa , earthspa and Ajune to win, with the latter coming out on top, while Achooww (right), a pain-before-gain believer, kept it this side of the Atlantic, and rated Middlethorpe Hall and Alquimia Spa , filling the Wahanda community in on her experiences. But we couldn’t let them get away with just writing a few reviews, so we decided to grill them a little more before we handed over their prize package…

How often do you have a treatment?

Faith: On average, once a month.

Achooww: If it’s a nice treatment that I enjoy, probably once every 6 months, but for a nasty waxing treatment, once every six weeks (although I don’t enjoy that as much)!

What’s the best spa you’ve ever been to?

Faith: Ajune in NYC, hands down.

Achooww: Middlethorpe Hall in York is pretty wicked, but I’m partial to a bit of abuse, so any of the spas in Thailand where the massages really hurt – you always feel better afterwards!

What’s the treatment you’d most like to try?

Faith: A pilates class. I don’t know if that technically counts as a treatment, but lots of spas offer them…

Achooww: One day I’ll pluck up the courage to have a colonic, but otherwise it’d be some sort of clingfilm bodywrap inch-loss, exfoliating-type treatment!

So there you have it, our winners in a nutshell. One surprising observation we made whilst we were writing this blog is that both our champs are wearing headgear in their profile shots. We’re wondering if there’s a link? Answers on the back of a postcard please…

If this spa prize has had you screaming for more, make sure you enter the current competition on our homepage. What are you waiting for?

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Complementary medicine expert, Malynn Utzinger takes time out to talk to Wahanda

Thursday, August 21st, 2008

In the hot seat this week is Malynn Utzinger, a journalist turned doctor, and friend and wellness advisor to Wahanda. Instrumental in pushing the boundaries of complementary medicine, both in developing and teaching the first degree course of its kind at the University of Wisconsin, and in her current guise as founding member and Medical Director of Charym Integral Health, she aims to bring together the best of modern, western medicine with ancient healing traditions from around the world.

Malynn, you’ve had a full and varied career, initially studying journalism, what was it that made you enroll in medical school?

While studying journalism, I was drawn to questions of how the media affect our health and body image. My dad, a dentist, started bringing nutrition and biofeedback into his practice in the mid-70s, and my mom, an elementary school teacher, was interested in human potential—basically what would happen to kids if you treated them with respect right from the start. Eventually it became clear to me that I wanted to not only to write about health, but to sit down with others and help them make better decisions. So, after working in several health-related jobs, I went back to medical school and promised to make a difference in how medicine was taught and practiced.

The last few years have seen you work with some of the most esteemed professionals in their field, including the legendary Deepak Chopra. What did you take away from your experience with him?

Deepak Chopra is extraordinary—a man with vision and the courage and energy to support it. He also has a great sense of humor, which I’ve come to appreciate as a sign of true ‘advanced consciousnesses’. Of all the important things I took from him, I would say that he has taught me the most about simply trusting life.

You recently left Deepak Chopra to start an exciting new venture – Charym, tell all…

Charym comes from the Bhutanese word for ‘Beauty and Balance’ and is an idea, and an ideal, about health and beauty. It’s also a physical place where a person might go for a host of services related to health and beauty.

Our first location is in Litchfield, CT, where we have a yoga studio for classes that bridge yoga, pilates, and other types of movement. We also have a small spa, and a medical practice we call Integral Health. The beauty is that these services are all interconnected. People can come for a facial, for a consult for a serious disease, for a yoga class—or all of these. We’re also in the process of building in a specific track for people interested in Ayurveda —the ancient system of medicine in India.

Our ultimate goal is to develop a program that we can take to the inner cities – when we’re touching all elements of society, we’ll know we are making a difference.

Do you think society has finally accepted that Eastern and Western medicine can sit comfortably alongside one another?

Fifteen years ago, it was a struggle to explain that I was interested in holistic medicine. These days, it feels as though the door is wide open and demand is high. Even in traditional settings like hospitals and medical schools, there are programs in Integrative Medicine. Most western doctors know that even if they don’t become experts themselves in a ‘complementary’ approach, it might be helpful to understand some of the available options.

As an advisor to Wahanda, what was it that attracted you to the site?

Wahanda does a lot of things right. I love the fresh approach—not overly steeped clichéd language about the importance of mind-body-spirit, but rather using humour, lightness, and the simple presentation of really useful information. It’s designed to get right into the head of the person seeking the service, and anticipate what he or she would want to know.

I also love that Wahanda is built on the awareness that people these days are simply seeking wellness—even in their vacations! Having a site like Wahanda will help feed this cycle forward in a positive way, meaning that even more people will think of wellness first as a gift option, vacation, or quick lunch-hour treat. The more we can help people find creative ways to pursue wellness, the better off we’ll all be globally. Finally, I love the space Wahanda has created for user-driven content. You’re igniting a global conversation, and that’s fantastic.

Do you think Wahanda will face any challenges in becoming as accepted by therapists and professionals as it will be by consumers?

Well, of course some professionals can be a little threatened by the idea that a lay person is evaluating the efficacy of their therapy. At the same time, I’d say more therapists and professionals are actually interested in what people have to say. In a time when we still need more research on every aspect of medicine (traditional and holistic) it’s important to gather feedback from the people actually receiving these therapies. It is a form of research itself.

How do you unwind at the end of a long and stressful day?

A good walk is my best therapy. Sometimes a jog, but a brisk walk is my number one. I also love to cook – the more fresh veggies, herbs, olive oil and garlic, the better!

Finally, what advice or tips would you give to business owners and therapists to help improve the consumer experience?

At Charym we’ve tried to eliminate or cut down on unnecessary paperwork and replace it with genuine human interaction. I also think that although people crave a bit of pampering at a spa, it doesn’t have to be stiff or over the top. Spas can spend so much money on lavish spaces when there is a simpler version that might be just as striking and effective. And good food, I can’t say how quickly a spa experience can go downhill when the food is less than fresh and healthy. We have to remember to feed the inside as we feed the outside.

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2008 British Spa Awards finalists announced

Tuesday, August 12th, 2008

In just under a month, spas and salons all over the UK will be gearing up for one of the most prestigious industry events on the beauty calendar. The British Beauty and Spa Awards, now in their 12th year, were among the first to recognise the increasing growth of the spa and beauty industry and so decided to help raise its profile by rewarding top-notch spas and salons with awards for innovation and excellence in their field (let’s hope they’ve been following Wahanda’s top tips)!

Although we’re not official judges (this year, anyway) representatives from sponsoring companies, industry experts and the beauty press will judge the finalists over two days – with no conferring. Salons, spas and individual therapists will then have to work their cotton socks off to meet all the criteria set for the category they enter. Previous winners include The Spa at the Mandarin Oriental, London, Stobo Castle, Scotland, Champneys Forest Mere, Hampshire and Wahanda’s favourite nail technician – Sophy Robson.

Heralded the Oscars of the beauty industry, Wahanda will be there on the night flying our very own health, beauty and wellness flag and finding out who’s going to be in the spotlight this September. We’ve already got our hands on the list of finalists and we’re hoping to get the chance to check some of them out in person before the award ceremony takes place on September 7th at The Royal Lancaster Hotel, London.

The finalists include (drum roll please)…

Beauty Therapist of the Year (sponsored by Decleor)

Carolyn Philpot from Pure Wellbeing by Design, St Albans

Nicole Robinson from Nicole Robinson Beauty, Weybridge

Rosin Eadon-McKenna from Glow, Wrexham

Margo Robertson from Beauty Network, Hamilton

Louise Snowdon from City Retreat Salon & Spa, Newcastle

Laura Wood from Relaxation Station, Worcester Park

Body Therapist of the Year (sponsored by Health & Beauty Salon)

Tina Kennedy from Senspa, Brockenhurst

Lynsey Ashman from The Haven on the Loch, Loch Lomond

Jamie Chalmers from One Spa, Edinburgh

Rebecca Livings from Serenity Spa, Seaham

Louise Postlewaite from Utopia Salons, Anglesey

Elaine Sadler from Balance Skincare Studio, Leamington Spa

Customer Care Award (sponsored by OPI)

Cedars Health & Beauty Centre, Gloucester

Revival Retreat, Glasgow

Pretty Woman, Leeds

Utopia Salons, Anglesey

Zen Lifestyle, Edinburgh

City Retreat Salon & Spa, Newcastle

Day Spa of the Year (Sponsored by Payot Paris)

KuBu Spa, Henley-on-Thames

Waterfall Spa, Leeds

Eastthorpe Hall Health & Beauty Spa, Mirfield

Pure Spa Silverburn, Glasgow

Chessgrove Day Spa, Bromsgrove

Portland Hall Spa, Southport

Destination/Hotel Spa of the Year (sponsored by ESPA)

Senspa, Brockenhurst

The Spa at Gleneagles by ESPA, Auchterarder

Rookery Hall Hotel & Spa, Nantwich

Thornton Hall Hotel & Spa, Thornton Hough

Alexander House Hotel & Utopia Spa, East Grinstead

Titanic Spa, Huddersfield

Norton House Hotel, Edinburgh

Facial Therapist of the Year (sponsored by Guinot)

Lynn Daniels from The Haven on the Loch, Loch Lomond

Melanie Verity from Pure Health & Beauty, Lewes

Jessica Hayton from Serenity Spa, Seaham

Jennifer Emms from Cedars Health & Beauty Centres, Gloucester

Jennifer Griffiths from Glow, Wrexham

Emma Clark from Epitome Health & Beauty, Bushey Heath

Manicurist of the Year (sponsored by Jessica)

Claire Bradshaw from Tranquility Beauty, Wolverhampton

Linda Butler from Just Nails, Poole

Heather Brown from Glow, Wrexham

Alison Smith from Epitome Health & Beauty, Bushey Heath

Kate Reeves from The City Retreat, Newcastle

Samantha Calvert from Way Beyond Beauty, Dewsbury

Marketing Award (sponsored by the London College of Beauty Therapy)

Beyond Beauty, Cheltenham

The Day Spa at Whittlebury Hall, Northampton

Pretty Woman, Leeds

Tulsi, Reigate

Utopia Salons, Anglesey

Zen Lifestyle, Edinburgh

Titanic Spa, Huddersfield

Nail Professional of the Year (sponsored by Grafton International)

Sam Biddle, Dorset

Susan Green from En Route Hair Design, Wakefield

Claire Durtnall-Holland from Perfect Elegance, Eastbourne

Elise Scholes from Flawless Nails, Stoke–on-Trent

Liza Smith from Bodylines, Sittingbourne

Belinda Price from Nailspa, Huddersfield

Retail Salon of the Year (sponsored by Health & Beauty Salon)

Cedars Health & Beauty Centre, Gloucester

Beauty Beyond, Cheltenham

Serenity Spa, Seaham

Zen Lifestyle, Edinburgh

Training Award (sponsored by International Dermal Institute)

Serenity Spa, Seaham

Revival Retreat, Glasgow

Epitome Health & Beauty, Bushey Heath

Zen Lifestyle, Edinburgh

London & South East (sponsored by Vibro Tone)

La Mirage Beauty & Laser Clinic, Stanmore

Cedars Health & Beauty Centres, Bushey Heath

Epitome Health & Beauty, Bushey Heath

In-Touch, Southend-on-Sea

In Harmony Spirit & Balance, East Molesey

Skin & Tonic Beauty Salon, St Albans

Midlands & North East (sponsored by Health & Beauty Salon)

LA & CO Professional Hair & Beauty, Litchfield

Beauty Beyond, Cheltenham

Helene at L’Academie, Shipston-on-Stour

Pretty Woman, Leeds

City Retreat Salon & Spa, Newcastle

Elysium Day Spa, Leamington Spa

North West & Scotland (sponsored by Health & Beauty Salon)

The Haven on the Loch, Loch Lomond

Revival Retreat, Glasgow

Zen Lifestyle, Edinburgh

Celeste Beauty Spa, Edinburgh

Pure, Edinburgh

Beauty Network, Hamilton

Wales & South West (sponsored by Salon Secure)

The Beauty Clinic, Clevedon

Cedars Health & Beauty Centres, Gloucester

Aspirations Hair & Beauty, Clevedon

Utopia Salons, Anglesey

Figure & Face, Welshpool

Frontlinestyle, Bath

The Secret Spa, Holt

Salon Director of the Year (sponsored by Carita)

Julie Speed from Cedars Health & Beauty Centres Gloucester

Debra Bell from The Haven on the Loch, Loch Lomond

Sara Shoemark from Glow, Wrexham

Rebecca Lane from Epitome Health & Beauty, Bushey Heath

Lynda Tarpey from Pretty Woman, Leeds

Fiona Fowley from Zen Lifestyle, Edinburgh

Salon of the Year (sponsored by Health & Beauty Salon)

The winners of the regional categories will be judged and the winner of Salon of the Year will be announced on the evening of the awards.

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