Tips for Instant Neck and Shoulder Relief

We’ve all heard the benefits of having good posture, but we may be doing more damage to our posture than we know, especially when sitting in front of a computer screen for hours on end each day.

The neck and shoulders are most vulnerable to stress, and when these muscles tighten, other muscles throughout the body weaken leaving the body tired and sore.

Here are a few tips to help relieve neck and shoulder pain before it becomes chronic:

1. Take short break every 30 minutes to stretch your neck and shoulders. This will help keep your body limber.

2. Position your monitor so the top of the screen is at eye level. This way you won’t have to twist and crane your neck as much while typing.

3. Check your posture regularly. Roll your shoulders back, and sit in such a way where your knees are at right angles with both feet comfortably resting flat on the floor.

Need a little help limbering up? Come in during your lunch break for a half hour Head and Shoulder Massage. This spa special combines soothing and healing elements of Shiatsu and Swedish Massage techniques that will leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated! >>

Summertime Lavender Skincare

During these hot summer days, we invite you to cool down and relax with some soothing lavender for your skin. Shop around our store for some fragrant summertime skincare treats:

Aloe Cleansing Gel – A foaming sulfate-free cleanser with a refreshing blend of Aloe Vera and Lavender that gently clarifies the skin while maintaining natural moisture.

Lavender Honey Balancing Mist – A refreshing blend of balancing Lavender and moisture rich Honey helps tone and hydrate the skin while restoring equilibrium to the mind. This can be used as a toner after cleansing the face or throughout the day as a skin refresher.

Lavender Protective Moisturizer w/ SPF 17 – This nourishing emollient cream combines micronized Zinc Oxide to help protect the skin from UV damage with antioxidant Turmeric Root to help reduce redness. Apply a liberal amount to skin 20 minutes prior to sun exposure. The SPF 17 blocks over 95% of sun’s damaging rays. (Note: this product is not water-proof).

Lavender oil, known for its antioxidant and antibacterial properties, can be found in our Shizuka New York Skincare line as well:

Shizuka NY Moisturizer – This moisturizer is a non-greasy and absorbs immediately to hydrate, condition and rejuvenate, and works to clarify and brighten the complexion.

Shizuka NY Foaming Cleanser -This Foaming Cleanser is used in most facial treatments in our NYC day spa and contains a slew of other nourishing ingredients leaving the skin renewed, softer and more supple.

5 Summer Waxing Tips from Shizuka NY

Summer’s finally here! We put together a few tips to help you optimize this season’s wax routine:

1. Wax first, tan second. Wax before getting a tan — wait at least 24 hours before spray tanning or bronzing. Since waxing also exfoliates the skin, it will strip away any color application. Waxing also tends to irritate the skin so if you have sensitive skin, it’s best to wait 3-4 days (or until your skin recovers completely) before tanning.

2. Down time. Waxed skin is highly irritable, especially to sweat, sun exposure and hot water. Wait at least a couple hours before working out or taking a hot shower. If you’re in the sun be sure to take precautions by covering up and using plenty of SPF.

3. Wait. For a wax to be successful, hair needs to be at least ¼ of an inch long. Try waiting 2 – 4 weeks before getting waxed to allow for sufficient hair length.

4. Exfoliate at home. In order to prevent ingrown hairs, wait three days then begin exfoliating the area daily. This will help the hair grow back evenly for your next waxing.

5. No more razors. Shaving can actually irritate hair follicles negating the benefits of waxing. If you stick to a waxing-only regimen, you’ll notice over time that the hair will grow back thinner and finer. In most cases, a waxing will last between 4 to 6 weeks.

If you’ve never waxed before or are concerned about how your skin may react, feel free to call us at (212) 644-7400 to schedule a consultation with Shizuka.

Reflexology for Happy Feet

Has the long winter left your feet tired and achey? Try a little reflexology foot massage to revitalize your tootsies before sandal season hits!

Reflexology is a practice that targets certain areas of the feet and hands with specialized pressure to increase circulation, relieve tension and improve organ function.

A good foot massage will help stimulate the thousands of nerve endings in your feet—keeping your feet (and body) happy and healthy!

Sweeten any spa pedicure by adding 10 extra minutes reflexology for only $20! >>

The Art of The Bath

We reviewed in a previous blog post about effective ways to take baths. As a follow up, we’re introducing some customized bath treatments to fit your skin’s needs. Check out these creative and soothing soaks:

Milk Bath— Cleopatra was famous for her beautiful skin. Her beauty secret was that she soaked in baths of fresh milk. The lactic acid in milk is an alpha hydroxy acid, a natural material that dissolves the glue that holds dead skin cells together. Milk cleanses the skin down to its deepest layers. Soak for a good 20 minutes. Gently rub your skin with a washcloth to slough off the dead skin. Rinse your body thoroughly after soaking.

Sake bath— Sake cures dry skin issues by deeply moisturizing and reducing fatigue. Japanese Sake contains koji acids that can brighten the skin complexion and prevent skin from aging. Fill your bathtub with hot water; add two or three cups of sake, then stir.

Rice Bran bath— Rice bran, which is rich in oil, makes an effective exfoliant and contains phytic acid, a B-complex vitamin that can help improve blood circulation and stimulate cell turnover when used topically. Renowned for its skin smoothing and lightening properties, rice bran powder can be purchased at any natural foods stores. Put 1 cup of rice bran into a cotton bag and place it into hot water. Gently rub on the face for lightening blemishes, freckles and brown patches, and for elbows, knees, feet, and hard skin areas – for extra-smooth skin. Rice bran is used in our Geisha facial at Shizuka NY!!

In addition to the above, you can put your favorite essential oil or herbs wrapped with gauze into the bathwater. Also, at Japanese grocery stores, you could buy a variety of bath agents like those shown below.

From the top: Placenta bath agent, Onsen ( hot springs) bath agent and Sake bath agent.

Left : Chamomile  powder with Japanese bath agents.

Here are a few of the many other unique bath methods performed around the world: In Ireland, seaweed baths treat rheumatism and arthritis. In Korea, “Dr. Fish” baths (where fish nibble off dead skin) are considered a folk remedy for skin conditions such as psoriasis. Also, salt baths (when correct amount of salt is used) can promote the healing of psoriasis and eczema, as well as help relieve muscle strain, rheumatism and arthritic pain.

Maintaining Healthy Hair and Scalp

Sometimes we forget that the skin on our scalp needs our love and attention just as much as the skin on our face and bodies — in fact, a healthy scalp means healthy hair!

A scalp massage with nutrient rich scalp serum will nourish your scalp evenly and fully. It may even prove a great way to wind down and relax.

At SHIZUKA NY we incorporate head and scalp massages into most of our facials including: Signature Micro Facial, Classic Facial, Geisha Facial®, Lifting Facial, Lightening Facial, Microcurrent Facial, Ionizing Facial, and Omedeta Maternity Facial.

Request a facial appointment with head and scalp massage here >>

Check out the WebMD Slide show about hair health here >>

Melt Away the Cold with Paraffin Wax

Skin conditioning during the cold winter months can be an ongoing task, so we like to encourage our clients to try different treatments to find out which works best.

A Paraffin Wax treatment for your hands and feet is an inexpensive, speedy, yet luxurious way to warm and hydrate your skin while relaxing stiff muscles and joints. The wax contains paraffin oil making it softer than, for example, wax used for hair removal. Because it’s softer, the wax melts at lower temperatures, so it won’t burn or blister your skin. Add a Paraffin Wax treatment to your favorite manicure or pedicure or get it on its own for a quick and soothing treatment for your hard-working extremities!

Here’s what our Paraffin Wax treatment entails:

• First our estheticians lightly massage your hands or feet using SpaRitual Organic Moisturizing lotion, with Geranium essential oil.
• Then you will submerge your hands or feet into melted paraffin wax until your skin is generously coated (for feet, the process is slightly different to ensure that hands and feet aren’t dipped into the same wax).
• Your hands or feet are then covered with plastic and then slid into terry cloth mitts to keep the wax warm.
• After about 5 minutes, the process is complete and the wax is removed all at once.

Your skin will feel deeply moisturized and softened without being oily or greasy.

Paraffin Wax treatment by itself:

Reminder from Shizuka

Hello Clients,

I would like to remind you that our excellent massage therapist, Gary, is offering his time to SHIZUKA new york.

Experienced massage therapist Gary’s healing hands have been featured in Sports Illustrated for his work on US Open athletes. Gary offers the following specials:

Lunch Time Shiatsu Massage 

Mon – Thurs / 11am – 2pm (this service must be finished by 2pm)

25 Min – $50 (reg. $65)
35 Min – $60 (reg. $85)
50 Min – $80 (reg. $105)
TGIF Swedish Massage /3pm to 8pm on every Friday

25 Min – $50 (reg. $65)
50 Min – $80 (reg. $105)

Please take advantage of this promotion.  More information about our newest promotion, please find at Spa Deal.

From Shizuka

Shizuka New York Day Spa in Time Out NY

Shizuka New York Day Spa is featured in the current issue of Time Out New York in “Convenient Pampering.”

TONY lists the best spa deals that can easily be squeezed into a busy NYC schedule, including Shizuka New York Day Spa’s lunchtime spa deals on Japanese-style shiatsu massage and Brazilian bikini waxing.

You’ll want to inhale your turkey sandwich at your desk, so you can sneak off to this midtown haven for a mind-numbing shiatsu massage…The golden-hued space is run by aesthetician Shizuka Bernstein, who incorporates elements from her native country of Japan—for instance, you’ll be provided with a yukata, or lightweight kimono, to wear, and receive herbal green tea and rice snacks posttreatment. The latter should help you avoid experiencing afternoon slump later on at your desk.

More spa deals like these >>

[Time Out New York, August 11-17, 2011]

Father’s Day Deals

Father’s Day is June 19, 2011.

Treat Dad to relaxation and rejuvenation with a soothing treatment from Shizuka New York Day Spa and take 15% off all men’s facials and massages June 13-26.

If you make an appointment for yourself with Dad, you can also enjoy 15% off any of our spa facials and massages.

Also, enjoy free shipping on all Shizuka New York Day Spa gift certificates when you order online.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dedicated dads out there!

Learn more and request an appointment >>

More spa deals like this one >>

Get a Half-Priced Bird Poop Facial

Get our famous Geisha “Bird Poop” Facial at 50% off the regular price April 11-17, 2011.

The Geisha Facial® has been featured on television programs internationally as well as People Magazine, PerezHilton.com, and more, for using powdered nightingale droppings to cleanse and brighten the skin.

Normally $180, Shizuka New York Day Spa is offering the Geisha Facial® for $90 (50% off!) during a week of spa steals that also include deals on Shiatsu and Swedish massage, and 10% off the treatment of your choice when combined with a spa steal.

Get your appointment for a half-priced bird poop facial today by using our online request form (Promo Code: Spa Steals) or calling (212) 644-7400.

More spa deals like this one >>

4 Hours of Spa Bliss for $250

This March, we at Shizuka New York Day Spa are pleased to offer one of our most popular spa packages at an even better deal than normal.

The Total Body Spa Package, valued at $285, is available for $250 March 1-31, 2011.

Including a detoxifying Infrared Sauna session, a 50-Minute Swedish Massage, Classic Facial, Classic Manicure & Pedicure, this spa package is the perfect break from your hectic life.

Use our convenient online appointment request form (use the Promo Code “Spring Forward”) and you will soon be on your way to 4 hours of relaxation and rejuvenation!

11 Spa Deals for 2011

If you’re still recovering from the holiday season, take advantage of these awesome spa deals to ring in the new year. Shizuka New York Day Spa is offering 11 spa deals on our most popular facials, massage, body, eyelash and nail treatments through January 31, 2011.

Learn more about our 11 spa deals here >>

1 Hour of Spa for $55 Through October 3!

Give yourself the gift of relaxation this fall and treat yourself to 1 hour of spa for $55 through October 3, 2010!

Your hour will begin with a detoxifying 30-minute infrared sauna session (or steam shower) followed by an invigorating body scrub in which the aroma of lemongrass awakens the senses as finely ground bamboo sloughs away dead skin to reveal a body that is smoother, softer and more relaxed.

Get your hour of spa for $55 today by requesting an appointment online or calling (212) 644-7400.