Every once in a while you will experience something that will change your life. Not because it just happens, but because it’s meant to happen. That’s what We Care Spa is dedicated to: helping you change your life by teaching you and helping you eliminate toxins and chemicals through a 6-step solution of detoxing. (Don’t let that word shy you away.) What they are doing is educating you on how to listen to your body and understand what kind of stress you put it through, making you feel and look better in everyday life. It’s no wonder why celebrities flock here to take advantage of We Care Spa’s detoxing methods.  I was lucky enough to take part in the juice fasting and activities at We Care Spa in Palm Springs for just one day—and I got a very mind opening and relaxing experience. Why? Because in a world of fast food, you need to give your body a break to detox and revitalize mind, body and spirit.

What it is

We Care Spa is a 60-acre spiritual retreat located about 10 minutes from Palm Springs Airport. Their program has been carefully refined—and in action helping guests—for over 25 years. They stress that additives, preservatives, and toxic chemicals found in every breath, beauty product, bite and drink you take will start to affect your body, preventing it from functioning properly.  They treat the symptoms of digestive toxicity such as bloating, constipation, painful swelling of joints, tiredness, low energy, depression, lack of clarity, skin breakouts and rashes. They incorporate the notion of juice fasting in the desert to achieve total mental and physical clarity. We Care Spa is surrounded by gorgeous desert scenery and equipped with ancient Indian practices, medicine wheels, Jacuzzis, saunas, a labyrinth and relaxing tools. They also have full-service spa treatments, which I can assure you are more than anyone could ask for.

The 6-step program to help you feel and look better:

1. 1. Stop eating solid foods and embark on a juice fast.
2. 2. Use the energy you’ve freed up from digesting foods to release toxins by powering up the 5 organs of elimination.
3. 3. Use colon hydrotherapy to flush out the toxic waste– you know what I’m talking about.
4. 4. Add therapeutic treatments to support the body – massages and spa treatments.
5. 5. Mix in educational classes that are designed to build your character and detox your thinking.
6. 6. Experience the work of healers to detox your psyche and spirit.

What the experience is like

If you’re like me, when someone says detox, you want to run far away because last weekend you weren’t very nice to your liver. After taking a class from the founder/guru herself Susana Belen about detox and revitalizing yourself, I was put at ease. Ok, maybe it isn’t that bad. Maybe taking one day a week to cleanse isn’t so hard to do. Next was my favorite part, a thai massage, which was just what the doctor ordered, followed by a tour of the property. The treatment rooms and resort as a whole is very rustic mixed with ancient native America mixed with naturalist qualities. Every amenity has a specific function to help you. Unexpectedly, the desert really is the perfect oasis and environment. Last we enjoyed a good old-fashioned cooking lesson from Susana. Not traditional cooking! This involved education about what cooking tools are classified as safe to use and everything you can make with a high powered magic blender. This wonder machine literally made milk from almonds and sunflower seeds. With this, you’re making all of your own meals, dressings and anything else all with an easy button and natural substitutes. After fasting all day and exploring different detox methods, a little solid food and delicious salad was the perfect way to end the day.

The real lesson to take away from We Care Spa is that we were meant to live with nature and eat what nature provides you. Things that we think of as convenient like fast and pre-packaged food, not to mention our fast-paced lifestyles, will eventually break our bodies down and harm us. It’s not a matter of “will it happen?” but a matter of when. Cancer didn’t just come out of nowhere. We created it, but thankfully there are places like We Care Spa that will help us tune up our bodies. Changing your life style is right around the corner. If the benefits outweigh the bad, then why not?

September brings the beginning of fall and the start of the apple picking season. Apple picking is a great activity to spend some quality time with friends and family, allowing you to relax a little on your day off. However, not all of us have time for this leisure activity and are forced to enjoy apples in other ways. Here are two suggestions for quick ways to bring apples to your everyday lifestyle this season.

Afternoon Bliss Smoothie Recipe

You can always buy apples at the grocery store. But spice it up a little by chopping your apple up and throwing it in a blender! Smoothies are a great snack choice with its health benefits and quick preparation time. This one serving Afternoon Bliss Smoothie recipe, obviously not only for the afternoon, is super quick and tastes sooooo good.

Ingredients

1 organic apple

3 large strawberries

1 handful of grapes – either red or green will do

½ medium cup of organic apple juice

Directions

Peel and chop the apple into four pieces before placing in the blender. Then add the grapes, strawberries and apple juice. Blend for 40 seconds and then enjoy. It’s even fresher than the cider at the orchard!

Juicy Beauty Green Apple Collection

While enjoying your Afternoon Bliss Smoothie Recipe try some of these beauty products from the Juicy Beauty Green Apple Collection. The products are actually made from apples as well as other supplementary fruits, making them all eco-friendly organic beauty products.

Hydration Mask for Neck and Face

This hydration mask is actually made out of organic apples, grapes, and lemon juices as well as age-defying peptides to give your complexion a glowing look. This mask is perfect for dry skin in need of a nourishing and soothing treatment. Apply the mask at most three times a week. Set the hydration mask on your face and neck for up to ten minutes and then rinse.

$35.00

SPF 20 Antioxidant Body Moisturizer

This day sunscreen is also made from a fruit acid complex of apples, lemons, and white grapes. After continued use it helps to smooth and firm the skin, giving it a brightened appearance. The sunscreen can be used over a moisturizer or can be used on its own. Apply as often as needed.

$29.00

Cleansing Gel

Cleanse your face both morning and evening with Beauty Green Apple’s Cleaning Gel. Easily apply onto damp skin with a circular motion. The gel cleans off dirt, oil, and makeup and leaves the skin clean and soft. The gel also works to fight aging. And did I mention its natural and pure smell?

$26.00

NYX Cosmetics Fruit Basket Lip Gloss Set

To top off your apple craze, try the NYX Cosmetics Fruit Basket Lip Gloss Set that includes the flavors of apple, pear, peach, and orange. The lip glosses come in really cute containers shaped like their fruit flavor. Aside from their sweet taste and captivating scent, the glosses also help to moisturize and protect the lips.

$9.00

Summer is meant to be a relaxing time but we constantly find ourselves on the go trying to enjoy every minute in the sun. With these fun in the sun activities usually come some wrong nutritional choices such as ice cream, hot dogs, and well, who can resist a little coconut with their rum? Here are some snack ideas when you’re on the go that have that summer feel, are accessible and have fewer calories.

Mister Softee is not a Beach Bum

Who doesn’t love spending a relaxing afternoon at the beach? But after a few hours tanning or taking a dip in the water, a little snack to cool you off starts lingering in the back of your mind. The ice cream stand on the boardwalk may be tempting but those extra calories are not what a girl wants when the only thing between her and her confidence are two thin pieces of cloth.

Frozen yogurt is by far the closest snack to ice cream but with less calories and fat, it’s definitely the better option. Unlike ice cream, frozen yogurt is mostly carbohydrates, fueling your muscles instead of being stored as fat. The biggest problem people make with yogurt is the portion size. One ounce is 30 calories, so if you eat more than 4 or 5 ounces, the calories will add up.

For something a little less rich but will cool you off just the same, ice pops are a good alternative. All carbohydrates and no fat, this low calorie snack is only 15-25 calories per ounce with 4 grams of sugar per serving.

Another option, fresh fruit smoothies, have the most nutritional value, filling your fruit quota for the day. However, make sure the smoothie you order is made with a water, nonfat milk, or real fruit juice base liquid. Many restaurants use ice cream milk that makes the smoothie sweeter but adds the fat calories you are trying to avoid.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame but I’ll skip the Peanuts

Baseball is considered America’s number one pastime and looking at the food options they sell, I can see a correlation between the latter and America’s obesity epidemic. Healthy options are hard to find but with a little bit of effort you can avoid those Nathan’s hot dogs and cracker jacks.

In light of baseball’s spirit and tradition, fill your peanut craving with trail mix. Choose a mix with whole grain cereal or pretzels and dried fruit such as pineapple or raisins. This way you’ll get a serving of unsaturated fat, carbs, and fruit.

Another option, baked chips, has about half the calories as regular chips. Baked have 130 calories per serving with only 15 of those calories from fat while fried has 230 calories with 130 of those calories from fat.

The healthiest option and a summertime favorite is watermelon. Most definitely found at a little league game, it may be harder to find at a MLB stadium. (A cup of fruit salad may be easier to find.) The fruit has no fat, fulfills your fruit quota, and its large water content creates a satisfying full feeling.

Okay, a little less coconut with my rum

Warm weather activities seem to give us an excuse to consume alcohol; happy hour on the bar’s roof is an absolute must. Instead of grabbing for that pina colada or cocktail that can have as many as 260 calories per 4.5 fl. oz, substitute it for some of these other light drinks just perfect for summer.

Substitute your rum with vodka and finish it off with some low calorie tonic water. For that sweet taste, go with fruity flavors such as watermelon or raspberry.

A summer favorite is, of course, Bud Light. A light beer and only 95 calories, it’s a great choice for happy hour or a barbeque. It’s refreshing, light, and as one of America’s favorites, it’s a staple in most bars.

For a heavier beer with a summer taste, go with Sam Adam’s Summer Ale. The ale is 150 calories per bottle and a summer treat since it is only served in the summer months at the pub.

Summer brings that carefree feeling and with it, temptation feels harder to resist. Take the time to make smart decisions. Your body will be thanking you when it comes time to strut your stuff in a leotard and cat ears.

by Alison Zeidman

My feet hurt.  And yours probably do too, if you’ve also been wearing heels all day.  But what are we supposed to do, not wear shoes that make us taller, make our legs look longer and thinner, and just plain make us feel hotter?  No way.

Read on for some tips, tricks, and products that will let you walk a mile in your own severely fashionable—but ridiculously uncomfortable—shoes!

Don’t Actually Walk a Mile in Your Severely Fashionable but Ridiculously Uncomfortable Shoes

It’s a huge hassle to have to lug an extra pair of shoes in your bag, but if you have a lot of walking to do and you’re planning on wearing heels when you get to where you’re going, you need to.  That’s not to say you should ruin your look with running shoes; I’m thinking something more along the lines of a ballet flat.  Ballet flats won’t take up too much space in your bag, won’t ruin a fabulous outfit, and aren’t going out of style anytime soon.

Take Breaks

Even just standing in place for too long in your heels can be painful.  If you can sit, do.  I know you’re the most attractive woman in the room, but you don’t have to be standing on display to get people to notice that—everyone knows you’re spectacular, so just have a seat, give your feet a break, and they’ll come to you!

If you’re at work, free your feet while they’re hidden under your desk. There’s nothing so terrible your toes could have done to you that they deserve being crammed inside your stilettos all day long!

Get Some Inserts

Now that Stacy London (a notable stylist in her own right, plus co-host of TLC‘s What Not to Wear) has a commercial endorsing Dr. Scholl’s insoles, it’s no longer just cruel to your feet not to try some—it’s downright unfashionable.  The Dr. Scholl’s For Her line has insoles and inserts for a variety of shoe styles and foot needs, so you can find something that’ll work for every pair you wear.

Do Something Weird

The Today Show recently had a segment that included an odd trick for wearing high heels: taping your third and fourth toes together!  Supposedly, binding those toes will make your heels completely comfortable.  The idea is that a muscle in your foot will align, making the ball of your foot “much more steady.”

I’m skeptical, and I’ve heard that the effect isn’t lasting (at least not all day), but anything that could lead to happier feet is worth a shot.

Learn to Love Wedges

Wedges give you everything you love about how you look in heels, but they’re far easier to walk in, and their structure ensures that no part of your foot is forced to support a grossly disproportionate amount of your weight.  You won’t even notice you’re not really wearing heels!

Unfortunately, wedges can be tricky in their own right.  They might not work for certain outfits or events (e.g. espadrille wedges by Tory Burch are iconic, classic, and ridiculously cute, but they’re definitely a more casual summer shoe).  You also want to make sure you avoid wedges that look more disco platformish than wedgelike, unless you’re really committed to a retro look.

Have a Back-up Plan

You might have to accept that you just can’t wear your heels all day long, no matter how great they look.  If you’ve spent the morning and afternoon trudging around in the same impractical footwear, by the time you’re heading out at night your feet might no longer be willing to cooperate.

If you’re totally, absolutely, completely against putting on flats, at least consider changing into a different pair of heels.  Giving your feet something new from what they’ve had on all day might alleviate some pain, or at very least, give you pain in new areas that will distract you from the pain you’re already experiencing!

Practice Makes Perfect

Above all, the best way to be more comfortable in your heels is to keep wearing them.  If you get in the habit of wearing heels regularly, soon they’ll just feel natural!

Flickr User: Keira-anne

For better support (yup I’m talking about the twins) you’ll want to choose something that isn’t so skimpy. This will make your shoulders look less broad and provide the support for your bust that you need. Mind you, this means that choosing a teeny string bikini won’t work in this case.  The ideal swimwear tops for this are halters, built in underwire bra tops, or molded bra top. Any straps that don’t tie around your neck are also a good choice, so you aren’t putting any strain on your spine or neck.   One of the tops I love for this summer season that’s perfect for support is Betsey Johnson’s Hello Cupcake Underwire Top. It’s sexy, chic and will have the men drooling on the beach.

For someone that needs a little something extra in the top to enhance the bust there are many options available. Lucky for you, you can choose something with less fabric, because you don’t have weights pulling you down. Adding a top with a little padding can do wonders. If you really want to add some glam, spice up that top with embellishments. Beach Bunny’s Class Act from their Goddess collection is perfect for anyone wanting to accent the bust. I’m completely obsessed with the razorback bikinis that are uber hot right now. Bandeau tops are also a great and can be adorably sexy and are very much in style. Patterned triangle tops are also a great choice. My favorite right now is Luli Fama’s Bars Teeny Bikini in lime green.  On a smaller bust, this bikini will catch attention and flatter the figure. (Bar Rafeali wore it in Sports Illustrated this year)

To hide the tummy, on the contrary to many beliefs there’s a ton of gorgeous swim suits to flatter your figure. A one piece swim suit happens to be one of my favorite types to wear and they are magical. If you’re self conscious about showing off the tummy, a tankini or one piece is great and helps to keep it held in.  With rouching and ruffles, there’s something flattering for any size. Magic suit is known to get you looking like you’re 4 sizes smaller in their swim suits and is definitely well worth the price and are super cute. This one piece plunge by Magic Suit (left) is sexy and comfortable for any day at the pool. A one piece swim suit is stylish, a great fit and fabulous. Flattening the tummy can be as easy as a tankini and who says you can’t look great in them either? Tommy Bahama’s 2010 summer line is also a great choice for the season.  If you’re going for a sexier one piece, check out Kenneth Cole’s plunge monokini for a sexed up style.

There are hundreds of ways to go with a swim suit. Think about what colors look great with your skin tone and color, what kind of support you need and the most important part; don’t get down on yourself when you’re shopping. Bring a friend with a positive attitude to ensure that you aren’t shopping with any Debbie downers. Let the sales person help you. They’re experienced with matching suits to body types so take advantage. You’re going to look fab in your new swim suit top; all you need is a little extra support.

Dr. Christina Grant

My entire orientation to health and wellbeing is from a holistic perspective so it astounds me to see the majority of our population allowing themselves to be “treated” by a system run by insurance companies and pharmaceutical giants. These industry giants dictate scientific study and treatments geared toward the ultimate goal of selling us something, not healing us.

Our system of medicine is excellent in emergencies and immediate life-saving procedures. If there is an emergency, I want conventionally-trained doctors on my case. However, beyond emergencies, there is nothing done to heal the whole person or address the root cause of an ailment. We are separated into little parts, our humanity cast aside. The incredible power and influence of the mind, thoughts, beliefs, and emotions to make us sick, and help us heal, is ignored.

When we arrive at a hospital or doctor’s office we are most often viewed as a file folder, an insurance card, and someone who needs to be dealt with as fast as possible because there are just too many other important things to do, like get on to the next patient (i.e. bring in more money), make sure to avoid being sued for malpractice, and bill insurance.

My mother is in her 70’s now. She said when she went in for a physical exam the doctor seemed puzzled that she wasn’t on any prescription drugs – not that she would be, since she is in great health, exercises daily, and eats well. I wonder why a doctor would be surprised that a 70-something person is not on a drug. Is this because almost everyone over a certain age has multiple bottles of prescription pills sitting in their cabinets?

I would like to see more holistic-oriented doctors coming out of medical school. The training for doctors is heavy on left-brain proof and scientific method, very light on heart, intuition, and what it means to be in service to others: the human side of healing. To be more holistic would require a different orientation from doctors: less devotion to needing everything proven by linear, limited science before it can be acknowledged, and more of an open mind to the mysteries and complexities of how a human being can heal; less of a need to get rich while fostering a desire to serve and be a healer.

Our training in this society is to trust science and refute intuition and inner knowing. I understand this, being trained in the system myself. It is valuable to have facts and figures we can see and know. It was drummed into me that you don’t say a word about anything unless there have been studies to back it up. But I’ve learned in practice with real, live human beings the deeper value of keeping the heart open and engaged, the mind flexible to human mysteries – to keep active within the thought, “Although I am well-trained and understand the value of science, I don’t have all the answers and am willing to entertain the improbable.”

Demonstration of a Reiki treatment

What we now call “alternative” medicine is traditional medicine, used far longer than the very recent advent of a multi-billion dollar industry with profits on the mind. (Note that Americans seem less healthy now than ever before.) Only lately has it begun to make its way into conventional medicine. Reiki, acupuncture, massage, prayer, and energy healing are inching their way in – thankfully so – to help patients get something deeper that can touch the core of who they are, where true healing exists.

In my community there are multitudes of holistic healing resources including medical doctors that are aware of holistic practices and utilize these resources with their patients. My own conventional medical doctor is holistic in his approach. His office is quiet, comfortable, and warm. Not overwhelmed by frenzy, nor the standard tacky medical office furniture, or white, stark walls and artificial light, the environment itself puts people at ease. I appreciate that he is very conscious of the fact that a real, live, human being has sat down in the chair next to him. He sits, leans back, relaxes, looks at the patient as if he has all the time in the world to listen. And that he does, with his heart. He is gentle, wise, and not the least bit arrogant, rushed, or too busy. He never gives the impression that he is on a higher plane. Consequently, he is revered in the community – a beloved figure.

One of the ways we can foster more doctors like this is to balance the male-dominated medical system (left-brain, linear) with the ancient, traditional healing arts of the feminine (right-brain, intuitive). And that is another subject for another day, because there is much to say about it. But keep it in mind. The only reason we’ve lost our connection to extremely powerful, nurturing, effective, and deeply healing practices is because we pushed the feminine underground. She’s on her way back, not to dominate, but to integrate. Meanwhile, seek out holistic, heart-centered practices to complement your healing the next time you have the need to see your doctor. You just might find the whole medical system works better for you when you have options and various healers devoted to your well-being. 

Dr. Christina Grant is a holistic healer and spiritual counselor who helps people attain well-being, greater insight, and inner peace in their lives. Her writing is published nationwide. To send a message, schedule an appointment, or sign up for her e-newsletter, go to www.christinagrant.com.

Dr. Christina Grant

We don’t get much training in dying, being with the dying, or what to say to those who have just lost someone very close to them. The subject is generally feared and met with much resistance. We often hear the standard line, “I’m so sorry,” while people languish in their discomfort.

I am interested in how we can approach the subject of death with more reverence and respect. How can we treat it with the sacredness it deserves, rather than something terrible to quickly move beyond?

I’ll not forget the time I spent in the hospital with my dying friend whose body was being ravaged by a rare blood cancer. I sat on her bed, listened to her concerns and life stories, and did myriad tasks at her request. Just before she passed her cousin came to say hello. The cousin stood about 6’ away, purse over shoulder, arms crossed in front of her chest. She had brought her husband and they both had the same look on their faces – a look that said, “Good God, get me outta here.” They scrammed after about seven minutes. This as well as other encounters I witnessed during that time revealed much about how uncomfortable we are with death and dying.

Twice in my life I faced my own mortality – experiences that forever changed the way I look at both life and death. I’ve felt the cutting harshness when friends’ lives ended abruptly, and have helped people heal from painful losses they weren’t ready to accept. Perhaps it is because of these experiences I delve further into this subject, to explore it more deeply, to step into a much-needed role: that of being fully present in the face of dying.

Yesterday, I learned of the death of a sweet friend. He was 80, had lived a long, colorful life, and was fortunate to be at home among the people who love him most as he passed. My heart feels the pang of this loss. In the last several weeks, three people came to me after losing their beloved dogs. One of these touched me so deeply, my tears flowed out mid-session. When we are in relationship with others or when we are serving them, our human side must lead. How can we be fully engaged otherwise?

Two weeks ago I went to a daylong retreat led by Joan Halifax Roshi, a woman who has devoted much of her life to the importance of conscious awareness around dying. She teaches how we can evolve ourselves beyond the current reflex of avoidance to a place of having what she calls a “Strong back, Soft front.” Most of us have this reversed. Our hearts are quite armored and guarded, our backs are slumped and weak.

We can practice being present with a soft front to benefit those passing, those who have just lost someone close to them, and to deepen our wisdom around our own passing. The question is how? How can we put into practice something we know very little about? We begin by being aware of the desire to escape or avoid the inevitable. We can be more aware of our discomfort around this very normal human condition. We can recognize the inclination to say rote things such as, “I’m so sorry,” instead allowing our human side to lead.

When we allow our human side to lead, we have no choice but to have a soft front. We must give the dying or their loved ones the gift of having our full presence with them, not in fear and anguish, but with compassion. This is no easy task, but if you can enter a room with no expectations, setting your own fears aside for a time, with no attachment to the outcome, then you’ve got it. If your arms are crossed over your chest and your purse is hanging on your shoulder, keep practicing.

We are not taught to honor the aging, to bear witness to the suffering of those we love, or to be with death with a strong back. We must learn to do this on our own. So the next time you have the opportunity, go in with a strong back and a soft front. Be fully present in that atmosphere of death, whether it be your own loved one or the loved one of someone you know. When you say something, speak from your heart, leaving behind the canned clichés we know so well. Stop thinking you don’t know what to do or what to say. You aren’t being asked to walk barefoot across hot coals. You are being asked to listen to your soft front and go with that.

Dr. Christina Grant is a holistic healer and spiritual counselor who helps people attain well-being, greater insight, and peace in their lives. Her writing is published nationwide. To leave a comment or contact her, go to www.christinagrant.com.

Joe Jonas picking up Dearfoams Slippers

Yesterday was a busy one—first I stopped by the Montage in Beverly Hills for the Kari Feinstein gifting suite to celebrate the MTV Movie Awards. Nicky Hilton stopped by Infinity Sun (me too!) to pick up some products, including their amazing self tanner. (Her sister Paris actually has the spray tan machine at home!) I toured around at the same time as Joe Jonas, who was very appreciative of each goody he was gifted. Other brands represented were Montage Hotel, Cesar Canine Cuisine, V-Moda, Super Dry, Infinity Sun, Dearfoams, Capella Pedregal, Mitchell & Ness, Retro Sport, Paleta, Britax, Zico, Vivitar, Sweet Lucie’s Ice Cream, The One Group, Nature Babycare, Dr. Loretta Skincare, Yogen Fruz, dekkori, Jewels by Park Lane, Isagenix, Kamal Letterpress, Nail Garden, Preferred Group Inc., All Star Travel, Vivitar, Happy Joy Sticks, Tres Glam, Sedona Rouge Hotel and much more.

Next stop: Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills for a La Mer event. (I’m a La Mer addict, btw.) Keri Selig and Oceana Board Chair Keith Addis hosted the event. Oceana’s mission is to protect the world’s oceans, so they partnered with La Mer (who is donating proceeds) and created the limited edition blue Crème de la Mer to celebrate World Oceans Day.

Then I cruised over to West Hollywood to the SLS Hotel for another gifting lounge, where I heard about Mesoesoteric skincare, which has drinkable collagen(!) and picked up some adorable doggy socks for my cat and some Body Shop products (for my mom, who loves Body Shop!), including their new deodorant.

Then I met friends at Animal restaurant on Fairfax for a VERY filling meal and some sparkling pinot noir, which is now my newest obsession.