Poseidon Spa at The Mansion on Forsyth Park

Poseidon Spa at the Mansion on Forsyth Park in Savannah, GA unveils a brand new menu inspired by the oceans and enhanced with modern antioxidant rich products to restore and rejuvenate. Poseidon Spa is part of the Kessler Collection of Hotels, part of Marriott's new Autograph Collection and provides guests a welcome respite from the stresses of everyday life.

Under the care of ISM, this new spa menu is quickly gaining in both local and national attention, with services signature to the Poseidon Spa brand and indigenous to the unique geographical location of the spa. A particularly special treatment at The Mansion on Forsyth Park is the Tranquil Sea Odyssey. This luxruiously pampering treatment includes a facial, massage and body cocoon in one restorative experience.

To prepare for the new menu launch, ISM partnered with Privai Academy, the east coast's premier spa training facility and developed signature protocols and treatment standards unique to the Kessler Collection. Trainers from around the world were brought in to provide the five star training that ISM is known for delivering. For over sixty hours, therapists participated in elevated training classes to prepare for the launch of the new menu. Ilana Alberico, Founding Partner of ISM oversaw the transition and is staying on property until the welcoming of new spa director, Lindsay Neeley, formerly with Disney's Grand Floridian Hotel and Spa where she served as Assistant Spa Director.

At The Mansion on Forsyth Park, guests of Poseidon are pampered in style and enjoy full resort amenities including the Marble Courtyard, Pool, Fitness Center, and Spa Cuisine from 700 Drayton, home of the world class cooking school.

A doctor or a Fool

My grandmother said “By the time you are 40 you are either your own doctor or a fool.”  Start practicing these five simple health habits today and find a healthier you, soon.

1.  Keep a Health Journal.  This one habit can fundamentally change the relationship that you have with your body, mind and energy.  If you hold yourself accountable to writing everything that you eat down, you are more likely to monitor more closely what goes in your mouth.  If you start writing down your water intake, chances are you will start to drink more water.  Start by purchasing a journal that can easily fit into the bag or purse you keep with you at all times.  Write food down directly after you eat it.  Do not try to remember your entire day at once.  This allows for errors and selective memory to kick in.  Remember that everything counts.  That after dinner mint?  Write it down.  You will start to see patterns.  My health journal also serves as my water, sleep, exercise, energy, weight, and waking heart rate journal.  Because I track my energy, emotions and nutrients,  I can see the effects of my daily activities on my overall attitude and health.    
2. Eat Clean.  Reading food labels is confusing.  Don’t bother.  You have started a journal and most likely found that it is much simpler to eat clean.  One of the ways to eat clean is to eat foods with as few ingredients as possible.  My personal grocery rule is that if there are more than six ingredients on the back of a food, I don’t purchase.  Eating clean means eating fresh and this means changing up your diet with the seasons.  Shop for vegetables at your local farmer’s market as this practice not only supports your local economy, but it also provides you with the freshest and most nutrient rich vegetables available.  If you have to eat out, make sure you order items that are steamed, broiled, or grilled.  Ask for no butter or oil and no sauce.  This will save you from needless sugar, salt and fat. 
3. Drink More Water.  Like to the tune of a gallon. A hydrated body is a happy body.  Also, by committing to drinking more water, you may find that you end up eating less!  Your brain doesn’t really know the difference between full from water or food.  Your brain just turns on to being “satiated”.  Sometimes people eat food when really they need to rehydrate.  Staying hydrated will also have a desirable effect on the appearance of your skin.  I recently trained and competed in my first bodybuilding competition and part of the training included drinking large volumes of water, sometimes two gallons per day!  The more water you drink, the more efficient your body becomes in using the water for hydration and flushing out your body!  You will feel wonderful!
4. Be Present.  Being present is part of the journey to optimal health.  Multi tasking can actually be a counterproductive action.  Do you check emails while being on the phone?  Do you “mind talk” when you should be listening?  Staying in the moment with people will create deeper connections with them and deepen trust.  Try breathing consciously to bring you back into the moment.  In fact, if you can develop a habit of daily breath work (think simple: take ten slow deep breaths) you can start to “listen” to your body and focus your presence.  My father, who recently survived a pulmonary embolism, only realized there was something wrong when he sat to take his daily “meditation breaths” and felt a tightness and shortness in what he was used to experiencing.  Learn to “listen” to your body.  Close your eyes and take a “self scan.”  It could save your life.
5. Sleep More.  Your body needs rest to restore and replenish.  Give yourself permission to sleep.  Sleeping is the time that your body produces human growth hormone which supports vitality.  Operating on too little sleep can affect your ability to concentrate, make you depressed and cause more stress in the body.  Commit to powering down your tv, phone, laptop or any other electronic device at least two hours before bed.  Use your bedroom as a sleep room.  Reading, watching TV, working on your laptop, surfing the internet should all be activities for outside of the bedroom.

With a little discipline and a consistent commitment you can improve your overall health.

By:  Ilana Alberico, Chief Operating Officer of Innovative Spa Management, a Spa Design, Consulting and Management Firm and Founding Partner of Privai Academy which offers licensure programs and advanced training for Estheticians, Massage Therapists and Spa Managers.  To open a spa or learn about education, visit www.ismspa.com. Ilana may be reached at ilana@ismspa.com or 828-713-5240.

Scrub Island Spa Villa Opens!

Scrub Island in the beautiful British Virgin Islands opens its Spa Villa offering indigenous treatments including Massage, Facials, Nails, Baths and Body Scrubs. Inspired by the Age of Discovery when Christopher Columbus named the Island during his voyages at sea, the resort boasts an impressive Marina, two Dining options, a Boutique and Market.

ISM has trained two spa therapists through Privai Academy (www.Privai.com) and these therapists will be spending one magical year of their lives living and working at this Five Star Resort!

The Spa Villa is a 6,000 square foot exclusive venue for relaxation and pampering. With limited access and a private beach, infinity pool and attentive treatments, the Spa Villa offers incredibly personalized service in the privacy of a cliff-side location.

Anti-aging products rich in Antioxidants, Botanicals and Essential Oils provide treatments with effective results and authenticity.

ISM has facilitated the pre opening consulting of this phenomenal Spa and will continue to provide ongoing management.