Your Heath and Wealth – Your stress filled existence is taking a toll on you and your bank account.

 Chronic stress, the kind that you experience when the demands of your life are more than you are capable of coping with, increases your risk of illness including everything from a common cold to heart disease, obesity, Type 2 diabetes and even gum disease.  “There is a hidden epidemic of stress in this country, and we are going to go broke if we don’t figure our how to manage it”, says Dr. Michael Parkinson, head of the American College of Preventative Medicine.

Your health isn’t something you’d expect to review in a financial checkup.  But what could have a greater impact on your financial security?  Your physical condition will dictate everything from medical bills to missed career opportunities (sick days, missed meetings and deadlines can wreak havoc on a career) to how long you can work and save for retirement (a McKinsey & Co. survey showed 40% of workers retired earlier than they wanted to due to health problems).Consider the following average annual budget busters linked to stress:

Non prescription drugs like pain relievers and decongestants: $300
Doctors visits and other out-of-pocket health-care costs: $5,600 (twice that of a healthy individual)
Increased life insurance premiums: $375

The good news is there is plenty you can do right now to limit the effects of stress on your body and wallet. Here are some simple and effective stress relievers:

MASSAGE – duh!

ACUPUNCTURE – duh again!

Breathe deeply for just 10 minutes

Use Aromatherapy

Break a sweat or take a quick walk

Meditate

Cut back on the caffeine and alcohol

Learn to say “No”

Take a bath

Savor a favorite daily ritual

Listen to relaxing music

Play like a kid

Spend time with good friends and family

Indulge in a little bit of chocolate

Pet your dog or cat

Make a list of 10 things you are grateful for

Laugh

You can manage your stress and save money. We can help.  Call us today at 303-571-4455.

Motherhood Event May 10th 4pm to 8pm

Calling all Moms and Moms-to-be!  Join us at Elixir Mind Body Massage at 1518 Wazee Street in LoDo for an evening to celebrate Motherhood on Thursday, May 10th from 4pm to 8pm.  Enjoy a fun evening of pampering, shopping, eating and prizes just for Mom!  Bring your pregnant pals, friends from your mom and tots play group, and of course grandma (but please leave little ones at home as this is a time for moms to relax).  Reserve your appointment now as service time and space are limited.  Of course appointments are NOT required for you to come by for the appetizers, savings and prizes.

The evening will include…….

• Specialty services at substantial savings featuring Mama Mio products (take advantage of these one day only services to try out several Mama Mio products at once)
• Divine Mother Blessings (Prem Amrita is one of only a few able to offer this service in the US and Colorado.  All funds from Blessings at this Motherhood event will be donated to The Kempe Foundation)
• FREE Private Acupuncture Consultations  (Fertility questions, easing nausea and muscle and joint pain)
  
• Bonus gift with Mama Mio purchases of $99
• Booking incentives for attendees (book a 60 minute full price service before you leave and get $15 off)
• Gift Bags for the first 50 people (samples, gift cards and discounts from Elixir and other local merchants)
• PRIZES!  (Mama Mio Skincare, Elixir Services and Healing with Prem Amrita)
• Gift Card Upgrade (purchase $100 gift card and get a bonus $25 gift card for services)
• Appetizers and a handcrafted “Divine Elixir” non-alcoholic drink

Reserve you appointment today for any of the services below either online 24/7 or by phone at 303-571-4455 between 10-8.

Baby on Board Prenatal Massage
Enjoy this relaxing treatment featuring Mama Mio skincare.  Get relief for your tight neck and shoulders with a focused upper body massage using Mama Mio Omega Oil and Boob Tube.  Mama Mio Tummy Rub Butter will be applied to your blossoming belly to help prevent stretch marks and ease tightness.  Finishing this service is a lower leg and foot massage with cooling Mama Mio Lucky Legs to improve circulation.  Good for pregnant women in their 2nd or 3rd trimester of a healthy pregnancy.
30 minute: $ 25 (value $50)

Bounce Back Post Baby Massage
This upper body massage will focus on those muscles you are using more now to carry your sweet infant around. Mama Mio Omega Oil and Boob Tube are used on your neck, shoulders and decollete.  Get Waisted Serum will be applied to help shrink your post pregnancy belly.  
30 minutes: $ 25 (value $50)
 

Divine Mother Blessings by Prem Amrita

Divine Mother Blessing is a Sacred Blessing that approximately 300 people around the globe are certified, gifted and blessed to offer.While baby is in the womb mother receives Shaktipat which is a transmission of Divine Energy. Mother and baby receive Divine Blessings, this is truly an exquisite gift to offer to our community.

Divine Blessings is also an exclusive Sacred Blessing offered to all women honoring the divinity and beauty within you, opening your heart to loving and nurturing your soul,mind and body. Bringing inner peace and calmness to your soul. These Blessings are individual and private and you are gifted with sacred items from India. Please reserve your time to experience this beautiful gift of Love.

15 minutes: $18 (value $25)
All money from the purchase of a Divine Blessing will be donated to The Kempe Foundation for the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect.

Acupuncture Consultation
Reproductive health is the fastest area of growth for Chinese Medicine.  Acupuncture is effective for regulating a woman’s menses and assisting her to become pregnant.  It can also moderate morning sickness and nausea as well as relax muscle and joint pain.  Acupuncture can even help induce labor and turn the baby in utero.  Reserve your consultation now.
15 minutes: FREE (value $15)

Chair Massage

Focused on the upper body including arms, hands, shoulders, neck, scalp and back, a chair massage is the ideal reprieve. You will remain fully clothed and no creams or oils are used.  Good for pregnant women in their 2nd or 3rd trimester of a healthy pregnancy.

15 minutes: $10 (value $18)

Mama Mio Featured Products
Mama Mio wrote the book on pregnancy skincare – so you are in good hands. Safe and effective for the nine month s t r e t c h is so important because pregnancy is the biggest challenge your skin will ever face. Think about it… you’re going to grow 30+ inches and then speedily shrink back down – that is tough! Mama Mio is your secret weapon to strengthen and protect your skin so you feel gorgeous and special throughout your pregnancy and regain your former glory after baby arrives.

FREE gift with every purchase of $99 or more (in store day of event only).

Tips for making the most of your Elixir Experience – Part One

Parking

Sunday parking is FREE but it does require extra time to find a spot, especially later in the day. Be sure to allow extra time to find that spot.

Parking is more abundant most mornings. Start your day right with a massage in the AM.

Can’t find a spot nearby and your appointment is about to start? Try parking closer to 16th Street in midtown and ride the free 16th Street Mall shuttle to Wazee St.

Downtown Denver Partnership has a link that will show you the available parking lots and garages in the area with their corresponding prices.  Updated frequently for accuracy but may not reflect special event pricing.  http://www.experiencedowntowndenver.com/splashmap/tdm_splash_map/bin/tdm_splash_map.html

Rockies games, Pepsi Center events, LoDo parades and races can all play havoc with parking. As often as possible we will alert you to these events upon booking or confirmation so you may plan ahead.

“Zuni Hub” Grand Opening in Highlands April 6th

Grand opening party to showcase environmentally-friendly design and businesses

The owners of Zuni Hub announced the grand opening event for their new community resource and gathering place in the Denver Highlands neighborhood which will take place on April 6 from 3-8 pm at 2900 Zuni St. The building houses several organic and environmentally-conscience businesses including Tea Bar by Teatulia, the mother ‘hood, Uptown 6, Teatulia and Green Garage.

The grand opening of the building is a free event that will offer “Teachable Moments” from all Zuni Hub businesses for attendees to learn about topics including yoga, tea tastings, eco-driving basics and more. There will also be food provided by local restaurants, drinks from local breweries and bars, live music and more. A fundraiser will be held to benefit UrbiCulture, which provides food to people of all income levels by sustainably growing fresh produce at Highlands-area schools.

“From the rooftop solar to the values of the businesses that we house, the focus of the Zuni Hub is community and sustainability,” said Linda Appel Lipsius, co-owner of the building and founder and CEO of Teatulia. “We feel that this is the prototype of how buildings should be modeled and how businesses should be run. While these companies differ in services and offer everything from video production to baby supplies, they share the same ideals to improve the environment through sustainable business practices.”

This building as well as the businesses it houses, are a perfect addition to the historic Highlands neighborhood. The rooftop solar offsets approximately 50 percent of the energy consumption for the entire building. The Highlands neighborhood has changed dramatically over the years and continues to grow rapidly with environmentally-conscience residents.

Food will be provided by Linger, Elway’s, Fuel Cafe, Masterpiece Deli, Wooden Spoon, Rise & Shine, Spruce Confections, and Haute Touch Catering. Local band “The West” will play live music during the event.

Spring Serenity Package – April 2012

Soothing Scents of Spring

Celebrate that seasonal feeling of renewal and awakening of the body and spirit with this spring package. Stimulate circulation and reap a rosy glow with our Dry Brush service. Savor our Elixir massage with a special blend of Honeysuckle and Jasmine Aromatherapy specifically formulated to create a sense of happiness and peace. The therapist will then send you to a place of contentment with a gentle face and scalp massage. Our moisturizing Hand to Heel treatment will eliminate the last vestiges of any of winter’s ill effects. The brush is yours to keep to use as a daily indulgence at home.

90 minutes: 150

Members upgrade your monthly massage to this package and pay only….

month to month members – 67.50

6 month members – 63.75

12 month members – 60

Available during the month of April only

INSTANT GIFT CERTIFICATE

ONLINE APPOINTMENT REQUEST

Spring Serenity Package – April 2012

Soothing Scents of Spring

Celebrate that seasonal feeling of renewal and awakening of the body and spirit with this spring package. Stimulate circulation and reap a rosy glow with our Dry Brush service. Savor our Elixir massage with a special blend of Honeysuckle and Jasmine Aromatherapy specifically formulated to create a sense of happiness and peace. The therapist will then send you to a place of contentment with a gentle face and scalp massage. Our moisturizing Hand to Heel treatment will eliminate the last vestiges of any of winter’s ill effects. The brush is yours to keep to use as a daily indulgence at home.

90 minutes: 150

Members upgrade your monthly massage to this package and pay only….

month to month members – 67.50

6 month members – 63.75

12 month members – 60

Available during the month of April only

INSTANT GIFT CERTIFICATE

ONLINE APPOINTMENT REQUEST

It’s National Napping Day!

Upset that you lost an hour of sleep from Daylight Savings? Well, now you can remedy that because today is officially National Napping Day. National Napping Day was started in 1999 by Dr. William Anthony, a professor at Boston University, and his wife, Camille, as a way to encourage everyone to make napping a regular part of their lives in order to stay healthy and productive.  In a BU press release, Dr. Anthony and his wife stated that they chose this particular Monday because they thought Americans were more “nap-ready” than usual after springing forward for Daylight Savings.

There may be a couple of great reasons to listen to the good doctor and his wife.  “The Monday and Tuesday after moving the clocks ahead one hour in March is associated with a 10 percent increase in the risk of having a heart attack,” the University’s Associate Professor Martin Young said, according to Science Daily.  “The opposite is true when falling back in October. This risk decreases by about 10 percent,” Young said.  He says that the increase could be attributed to sleep deprivation as well as the body’s circadian clock being thrown off.

In addition to the rise in the risk of heart attacks, some have found that there is an increased rise in traffic accidents on the Monday following the beginning of DST. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the change lead to an eight percent increase in traffic accidents.

Using U.S. Department of Labor and Mine Safety and Health Administration data, Christopher Barnes and David Wagner, both doctoral candidates studying industrial and organizational psychology, found that the number of workplace accidents spikes after Daylight Savings Time changes.  In two separate studies, they found that the switch to Daylight Savings Time resulted in 40 minutes less sleep for American workers, a 5.7 percent increase in workplace injuries and nearly 68 percent more work days lost to injuries every March.

So be sure to take some time today to get in a cat nap or better yet come relax at Elixir Massage with a great massage to get you back to pre-DST form.