Summer is Lemongrass

LEMONGRASS...

One of my all time favourite essential oils is lemongrass! 

I love its fresh citrus aroma. It conjures images of exotic destination Spa Retreats I've had the pleasure of visiting ...massages, palm fronds, warm sunny skies, the ocean gently lapping nearby and the gentle scent of lemongrass! Paradise!

So this Summer, Cove Spa will be filled with the scent of Lemongrass as we try to recreate blissful relaxation within our urban oasis....

Lemongrass also has the following benefits:
It is uplifting and inspiring, increases mental clarity, can reduce pain and inflammation, makes a beautiful healthy hair and scalp blend, as a tonic it assists the digestive system, can kill fungal and bacterial infections and is a terrific insect repellant, not to mention adds a fabulous flavour to Asian cuisine!

I am in the process of making a beautiful lemongrass and spearmint body spray which will be available in-spa soon. As a body spritz it will lift your spirits, relieve fatigue, help with jetlag and energise you. When life gives you lemons, lemongrass is the answer! The perfect pick me up, with a bright refreshing scent.
I have also created one for you bug magnets out there who are looking for natural solutions, (rather than toxic chemical pesticides with DEET) using citronella and lemongrass. Unfortunately this natural alternative is not guaranteed, however mosquito's love my daughter and extensive testing on her definitely deterred these annoying little critters. I also find wearing this spray on my morning runs helps to keep peskie flies off my face.

So if you enjoy the natural qualities of aromatherapy and the benefits of lemongrass as much as I do, you'll love this Summer at Cove Spa and I hope we can take you on your own ideallic sensory journey, through the power of lemongrass.

Please be advised that the pure 100% lemongrass essential oil should not be applied neat to the skin and may cause skin irritations. Pregnant women, those with kidney/liver disease, anyone taking oral diabetes drugs, or anti-hypertensive medications, as well as those who are diabetic and hypoglycemic should consult their doctor before using.

Could our mobile phone be accelerating our ageing?

I was out at dinner with a group of close friends the other night and the conversation turned to mobile phones and where we leave them at night time. 

The shocked gasp of disbelief at me charging my iphone on my bedside table at night went something like this, “OMG Jos you are crazy! Do you know how dangerous it is to sleep near your mobile phone!”

But my addiction to my iphone was too great to even contemplate the idea of switching it off or housing it in another room and I laughed them off for being overly dramatic. After all, I rely on my iphone alarm to wake me up most mornings.

In bed I check the weather forecast for the following days’ most appropriate attire, I check for any last social media posts or emails. I type up tomorrow's 'to do' list in the notes section. I add in a couple of school dates I’ve forgotten to the calendar. Sometime later whilst listening to my husband snore, a wave of inspiration and work ideas swamp me like a tsunami and so again I reach for my iphone. (And when my eyes are too tired to focus on the screen, I’ll sleepily call the Spa and leave reminders on the voicemail for the staff… I'm probably sounding like a workaholic too now.)

So you see, my iphone is very much my reliable PA and the idea of leaving it in another room leaves me with major withdrawals.

That being said though... that electrical buzz that I can hear in the air when the house eventually falls completely silent has been playing on my mind. (Along with my good friends anguish at my possibly detrimental phone usage.) So last night, I googled Electro Magnetic Field Radiation in iphones, hoping that it might just say that switching to 'airplane mode' at night may be a safe enough alternative. Well it turns out that while this will lower the emissions considerably, it is still not the best solution.

EMF Radiation (Electro Magnetic Field) seems to be bad news unfortunately and the Australian Govt recommends that heavy exposure to EMF's be avoided if possible. The phone companies say their mobile phones emit radiation levels within the legal 'safety parameters' however mobile phones have several transmitters that can simultaneously emit microwave radiation, which include Cellular, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radiation. When all these transmitters are turned on, these safety levels come very close to that legal limit and that value is only tested when the phone is more than 5mm away from your body. If these levels were tested from your hand or in your pocket or worse still down your bra like I've seen some crazy ladies do, most mobile phones would fail the SAR test as the radiation absorption increases dramatically when the phone is close to the body. 

While there has never been proof of EMF Radiation causing cancer, or numerous other suggested health concerns, could you imagine if that were ever proven? If the EMF’s are really causing degradation of our biological cells, think of the accelerated ageing on every organ, including our skin! My kids are ageing me enough, now my iphone could be accelerating ageing? EEK!

It poses the question, will the big tech companies in the future find themselves in the same boat as cigarette companies now and be served with law suits and forced to label everything they sell with warnings? 

I am certainly no expert and I'm only sharing what I've read, however I am allowed to have my opinion and that is that the heat and buzzing produced by my iphone and ipads cannot be beneficial for my family, nor myself and after surfing the net for information on EMF Radiation it leaves me feeling concerned and I’m quite sure I’m not alone. So from now on I am definitely making some changes and hopefully if you haven't already made some, you will too.

I have decided to invest in a very unstylish but supposedly ‘EMF safe’ iphone case and I will be doing away with my night time PA and replacing it with a good old fashioned notepad and pen and a tick tock wall clock... because really, who needs a pretty diamond studded iphone cover and the soothing sounds of a harp to wake up to, when you can look after your health with a safe but dreary phone cover and wake up to loud, crazy children like I have!! …. coffee anyone?

Cove Spa: The Beauty of Lemons

Cove Spa: The Beauty of Lemons

The Beauty of Lemons

I recently received a huge bag of lemons from my Great Aunt who is lucky enough to own an enormous lemon tree in her beautiful garden.

At this time of year, lemons are in abundance… and I like to think that this is mother natures way of looking after us at a time when colds and flu's are prolific!

The good old lemon is a great source of Vitamin C and does wonders for our immune system.

First thing in the morning I squeeze half a juicy lemon into my water which I drink before I’ve even thought about breakfast and the long list of ‘to-do’s’ that come with getting 3 kids out the door to school and running a small business.

So far, touch wood both I and my family have avoided any dreaded lurgies going around, so I'm feeling very enthusiastic about lemons!

So what does lemon juice do, other than give a good hit of natural Vit C? 

Lemon is also very alkaline in the digestive system which is a great way to ward off a myriad of other health issues. Problems like arthritis, cystitis (most of the ‘itis’ words) stem from inflammation within the body which can sometimes be caused by an acidic system. 

The other great thing about lemon in water is that it helps the kidneys to assimilate water better so that you stay rehydrated for longer.

The production of collagen in the skin requires Vit C so lemons are a great source of anti-ageing!

Antioxidants are abundant in lemons so they help repair damage caused by free radicals.

So next time you go into the beautiful Cove Day Spa and wonder why we ALWAYS have lemon water on offer on our buffet, you will understand why J beauty starts from within!

Perth Day Spa Packages for Mothers Day 2015

Being a mother to 3 spirited children myself, I speak with experience when I say I know what most Mum's would love for Mothers Day!

Jet, Saxon & Latysha (pictured right), are loud and fun, so some occassional 'quiet time' is totally welcome anytime!

My ideal scenario would be some quality time spent with loved ones over a delicious breakfast and a little time to myself to recharge the batteries... (a housekeeper for the day would be nice too!) and a recharge of the batteries is exactly what Cove Spa is offering this Mothers Day.

With three great value offers, professional experienced therapists and an award winning ambiance you can be assured you've made the right choice.
On the day of your Mum's booking, she will be invited to change into a fluffy white robe and slippers, and relax in the lovely quiet relaxation lounge, sipping on Cove signature mixed Spice Tea whilst she await
s her Spa Therapist. You can trust the experienced professionals at Cove to totally pamper and look after your Mum.
Gift Cards are available for purchase for either of the 3 indulgent spa packages below up until Monday 11th May and are valid for up to 18 months.
And if you'd like to get that quality time in with Mum, then buy 2 of these packages together to receive a 10% discount and enjoy these decadent packages side by side in the duo suites.

$159 Cove Renew

(Allow 1hr 20mins+)

Relaxation Body Massage

Replenish Facial

$219 Cove Harmony

(Allow 2hrs+)

Hot Stone Back Massage

Evoke Facial

Ginger & Orange Hand Scrub & Massage

$259 Cove Balance

(Allow 2hrs 40mins+)

Relaxation Back Massage

Evoke Facial

Ginger & Orange Hand Scrub & Massage

Peppermint & Lavender Foot Scrub & Massage

Click here to buy a gift card online today!

More information at http://covespa.com.au/special-offers/ 

Written by Jocelyn Derecourt