Laser Hair Removal at CNY Healing Arts

I have to admit that I’d been curious about permanent Laser Hair Removal for some time- come on ladies, wouldn’t it be nice not to have to shave your legs ever again?!  I didn’t really know where to go, or even what types of questions to ask about this procedure.  Then I learned that CNY Healing Arts offered this service and since I had already had several other treatments at there I felt totally comfortable inquiring about this service.  And, as it turned out the esthetician that had done my facial was also the one who did the laser treatments.

I learned that the laser is designed to target melanin, which gives skin and hair its color.  Because of the laser’s selective absorption of photons it can only remove dark hair.  In fact, someone with dark, coarse hair with light skin is the ideal candidate for this treatment.  Hey, lucky me! Who knew that my pesky dark, coarse hair and pale skin would ever be the ideal for anything?

At my first appointment I was told that most people need 4-8 treatments about 4-6 weeks apart.  My esthetician told me that the laser does cause a stinging sensation when it’s used so for a slight extra fee we could use a numbing cream on the area that was going to be treated.  I agreed to use the numbing cream, which worked great! I didn’t feel a thing during the entire treatment.  As is customary for CNY Healing Arts, the treatment room was beautiful, warm, comfortable, with soothing music playing quietly in the background.  After the procedure was complete, the esthetician went over some after care with me.  She said that if any redness or itching occurred to put a simple anti-itch cream on the area and to avoid sun and heat on the treated area for several days, and if I had any questions to give her a call directly.

The after care went totally smoothly and I’ve been back for several more laser treatments.  I can see a huge difference in the amount of hair re growth and in its thickness.  For anyone interested in laser hair removal, I would highly recommend giving CNY Healing Arts a call and inquiring for yourself… in the meantime you can bet that I’ll be there every 4 weeks!

Contact information for all three locations:

Syracuse:
191 Intrepid Lane, Syracuse, NY 13205
315.671.5755

Rochester:
2244 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14610
585.244.1280

Latham:
38A Old Sparrowbush Road, Latham, NY 12110
518.724.5750

The Health Benefits of Vrikshasana (Tree Pose)

CNY Healing Arts Center wants you to feel balanced and stable on your journey in life and yoga is one of the best ways to achieve this. Vrikshasana or tree pose is a wonderful pose that teaches balance while toning the muscles of the legs. This elegant pose is not as easy as it looks, but over time it builds tremendous inner and outer strength and a great feeling of accomplishment as you learn to balance on one leg. Besides being lots of fun, the health benefits of vrikshasana or tree pose are worth the effort and initial challenges of falling out of the pose.

Attend a yoga class at the CNY Healing Arts Center nearest you, conveniently located in Syracuse, Rochester and Latham, and we will help you explore the healing benefits of yoga. Check out our class schedules here.

Getting into Tree Pose:
Stand in Tadasana or mountain pose with your toes and ankles touching, your pelvis perpendicular to the floor and your shoulders relaxed and open. The arms are by your side. Ground through your left foot, especially focusing on the big toes joint and then lift your right leg folding at the knee. Place the sole of the right foot up against the upper left inner thigh with the toes pointing downwards and the folded leg perpendicular to the standing leg. Make sure your hips are even- avoid the temptation to sink into the hip of the standing leg. Once you have established your balance, fold the hands in front of your chest in a prayer position. Keep your balance and stretch the arms above your head with your gaze forward. Once you are more comfortable in this pose you can begin to play with curling the chest back and looking up. Keep the balance and hold for as long as possible. Repeat with the left leg.

Health Benefits of Tree Pose

• Improves balance and stability in the legs
• On a metaphysical level, helps one to achieve balance in other aspects of life
• Strengthens the ligaments and tendon of the feet
• Strengthens and tones the entire standing leg, up to the buttocks
• Assists the body in establishing pelvic stability
• Strengthen the bones of the hips and legs due to the weight-bearing nature of the pose
• Builds self-confidence and esteem

The Beauty of Botox

Botox and fillers, both of which treat wrinkles, are the two most common cosmetic procedures across the world. The main reason for their wide popularity and acceptance is that they achieve the desired results in nearly everyone. Millions of people across the world have been treated with both Botox and various fillers. Few side-effects have been reported.

Botox injection of fine wrinkles is the most common cosmetic procedure in the U.S. Botox is designed to treat wrinkles that are caused by contraction of muscles. The main locations for treatment are the forehead, between the eyebrows (glabellar region), and wrinkles at the edge of the eyes (crow’s feet). Botox works by interrupting the muscle’s function temporarily. It takes several days for the Botox to integrate in the muscle bed to see its effects and within 2 weeks, peak results are seen.  The results will normally last 3-4 months. It can be quite amazing to see the difference. This is the simplest way to quickly look younger, more youthful without any down time or surgery.

The injections are virtually painless since a very fine needle is used. It is necessary to have this performed by a skilled provider since every person will require a different amount of Botox and too much could create that frozen forehead appearance.  Botox is less effective in persons older than 65 since the thinning muscle may not respond as well.

Fillers have no age restrictions since these just fill in the static wrinkle, the type seen in the mirror with no facial expression. The commonly used fillers include Juvederm XC, Radiesse, and Restylane. Both Juvederm XC and Restylane are structured after the most common component in the skin, hyaluronic acid. Juvederm XC will last about 1 year since it is more tightly cross-linked than Restylane and takes longer for the body to naturally break it down. Radiesse is the newest generation of fillers and is comprised of tiny calcium spheres, which allows the body to deposit collagen in the area of injection, so it lasts 18 months. Fillers are great in that results are immediate. Nearly any wrinkle or scar can be treated and softened with fillers.

At Fusion Spa, the board certified physicians will perform a complete assessment and make recommendations for Botox or which filler is most appropriate.  The physicians perform all injections to achieve optimal results. A 2-week follow-up is scheduled for all clients.

If you have ever even considered Botox or fillers, or wish to learn more about these options, then call for a free consultation at 518-250-5758 or visit www.fusionspaofalbany.com for a full menu of spa services.  Fusion Spa and Allergan the makers of Botox extend additional savings through the Brilliant Distinctions Program…ask for details during your consultation.

The Health Benefits of Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose)

CNY Healing Arts Center invites you to enjoy the benefits of one of the most popular yoga poses, adho mukha svanasana or downward facing dog pose. You’ve probably observed your dog doing this pose several times a day. It so happens that our canine friends have been on to something for some time and downward facing dog pose can benefit dogs and humans alike. We have many yoga classes available at all of our locations. View our current class schedule per location here.

Getting Into Downward Facing Dog Pose:
Start on all fours with your knees directly underneath your hip and your hands directly underneath your shoulders. The palms are firmly grounded onto the mat and your fingers are spread. Pull your stomach in and melt your chest towards the floor. Tuck your toes underneath you. Lift your knees away from the floor, lengthen your spine backwards and shoot your tailbone up towards the sky as you straighten out your legs. Push the top of your thighs back and stretch your heels towards the floor. Form the shoulder blades onto the back, release the neck and extend your heart towards your thighs. Hold the pose for 5 inhales and exhales and then rest in child’s pose with your knees on the floor, your forehead on the floor in front of your knees and your hands beside you on the floor.

Health Benefits of Downward Facing Dog Pose:

• Inverted poses are extremely important because they reverse the action of gravity on the body and get the blood and lymph flowing in opposite directions.
• On an emotional level downward facing dog helps turn everything on its head and helps us see things from a different angle.
• It helps boost self-confidence.
• Because of the increased blood flow to the top of the body, shoulder stand can help improve brain function and cognition and reduce anxiety and depression.
• Takes pressure off the heart, which has to work less to get blood flowing to the brain.
• Strengthens and tones the arms and legs
• Because of the weight bearing nature of the posture on the arms and legs it helps strengthen the bones and prevent osteoporosis.
• Lengthens and straightens the spine, helping to relieve pain in the upper, middle and lower back.
• The body gets a 360-degree stretch in just one pose.

Featured Tonic of the Month for November: Female Tonic

Female Tonic has a number of uses but overall it is a great hormone enhancer.  Some of its uses include fertility enhancing, painful or irregular periods, PCOS, and menopausal symptoms.  This tonic contains herbs that help to warm the reproductive organs and has a mild anti-spasmodic action on uterine muscles.   It also acts as a uterine cleanser which helps to remove incompletely flushed menstrual fluids from month to month.  One of the herbs contained in this tonic, Mexican Wild Yam, is one of the best herbs to help regulate the menstrual cycle because it contains the steroid diosgenin.  This steroid is 75% similar to the hormone molecules of estrogen and progesterone.  These in turn work to supply the ovaries with required hormones.  Additionally, the Mexican Wild Yam helps to alleviate severe hormonal fluctuations of menopause and PMS.

There are a number of contraindications with this tonic so it is very important that you speak with a Maya Abdominal Therapy practitioner so they can review each of these with you.  The Female Tonic should not be used in conjunction with any Chinese herbs, birth control, IVF related hormones, hormone replacement therapy, pregnancy or breast feeding.

Female Tonic is our featured tonic and is 10% off during the month of November. Please feel free to contact any Maya Abdominal Therapy practitioners at any of our CNY Healing Arts locations for further information.  Click here for contact information at our Syracuse, Rochester and Latham locations.

Our Tonics are now available online here.

Quitting Smoking with Acupuncture

At present, 70% of adult smokers in the U.S. report that they want to quit smoking. Millions of these people try to quit every year. They suffer from an addiction to an organic compound called nicotine. In fact, research suggests that nicotine is as addictive as many other drugs, including alcohol, cocaine, and heroine.

What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture originated in China over 5,000 years ago as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force, known as qi or chi (chee), believed to flow through channels in your body. Qi should be in harmonious balance for one to be in good health. When qi is not in balance, one gets sick. The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture states, “These energy channels, called meridians, are like rivers flowing through the body to irrigate and nourish the tissues. An obstruction in the movement of these energy rivers is like a dam that backs up in others.”

Are the needles scary?
The needles used in acupuncture are hair-thin. Typically, between 5 and 20 of them are superficially inserted into various points in the ears and body to influence the restore balance to the flow of qi. You may feel a slight prick or sting upon insertion, but should feel no pain thereafter. When a needle reaches the correct depth, you may feel a deep, aching sensation. Your practitioner may gently manipulate, move or twirl, the needles once they are in place. Another option is electrical stimulation of the needles.

So, how does acupuncture help me quit smoking?
A typical patient is treated one to two times a week for the first 4-6 treatments, then once a month for 4-6 months. These treatments last from seconds to an hour, but typically 20 to 30 minutes, and are surrounded by many theories about how acupuncture actually works. Several theories are that acupuncture stimulates the body’s natural healing powers or the release of pain-relieving endorphins and that it influences the autonomic nerve system.

Treatments take all of your symptoms into account and aim at balancing the energy within the body in order to optimize health. Acupuncturists will focus on jitters, cravings, irritability and restlessness. After a treatment, some people feel deeply relaxed, while others feel invigorated and energized.

In general, acupuncture can help you relax, diverting stress that causes you to smoke. Furthermore, it can significantly reduce nicotine cravings and balance your body, which can give you a leg up during detoxification.

If you would like more information on acupuncture or how we can help you quit smoking below are phone numbers for our CNY Healing Arts Centers in Syracuse, Rochester and Latham, NY as well as the email addresses for acupuncturists at each location. We are here to help you on your goal to quit smoking!

SYRACUSE:
Phone 315.671.5755
Donald Clarke, L.Ac. email dclarke@cnyhealingarts.com

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ROCHESTER:
Phone 585.244.1280
Shelley Szymko-Carroll, L.Ac. email sszymko-carroll@cnyhealingarts.com

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LATHAM:
Phone 518-724-5750
Rebecca Rice M.S., L.Ac. email rrice@cnyhealingarts.com

More Than Just a Facial!

Immediately upon entering CNY Healing Arts for a facial I am greeted with soothing music, a warm atmosphere and a smiling receptionist.  After checking in, the cheery young lady at the front desk escorts me to the waiting room.  As I sit on a comfortable couch (not a stiff chair like in most waiting rooms!), I notice that the lighting and colors of the room are warm and inviting, with original art on the walls, and the shelves lined with books about the power of positive thinking; again this is very unlike most waiting rooms I’ve ever been to.  The young lady also offers me a cup of tea or coffee while I wait.  As much as I enjoyed this beautiful, comfortable lounge, my wait was short and soon my esthetician showed me the way to our private treatment room, which also had warm colors and soothing music.

After changing into a robe, the treatment began.  The esthetician explained that there are many benefits to getting regular facials.  Regular facials not only cleanse and brighten your complexion, but they have anit-aging benefits, and can help with skin issues like acne.  She suggested that I receive a light chemical peel as well in addition to the regular facial.  The chemical peel would help restore a more youthful appearance to skin, reduce wrinkles, uneven pigmentation, sun-damage, and blotchy patches.  My work involves me being exposed to the elements (sun, wind, etc.) as well a lot of dirt that can really clog my pores so I seemed to be a good candidate for this procedure.  The chemical peel is just a treatment in which an acid solution is used to remove the damaged outer layers of the skin (same idea as exfoliating!). Typically administered as a facial peel, a chemical peel enhances and smooths the texture of the skin.  After explaining the benefits and the reasons why she thought the chemical would work well for me, the esthetician said that it might feel “tingly” on my skin.  I honestly didn’t even notice any tingling sensation.  While we waited for the peel to run it’s course, I was treated to a hand massage.  Facial, peel, and massage all in one! A girl could get used to this!

The relaxing treatment ended with the esthetician asking if I had any questions and with her going over a few after treatment skin care routines that I needed to keep in mind.  I felt relaxed, renewed, and that the esthetician really cared about my well being.  As you can imagine, before leaving for the day I made sure to schedule my next facial appointment!

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CNY Healing Arts offers facials at all locations: Syracuse, Albany and Rochester. Click here for contact information for the center nearest you. We hope to see you soon!!

The Health Benefits of Salamba Sarvangasana (Supported Shoulder Stand)

You probably did it all the time as a kid, but for some reason you stopped experiencing the joys of hanging upside down as you got older. Inversions are amongst the most beneficial and therapeutic posters in yoga and even yogis in their 90’s are still doing it! CNY Healing Arts Center invites you to experience the magical healing benefits of the so-called “queen” of yoga inversions, salamba sarvangasana. Attend a yoga class at the CNY Healing Arts Center nearest you and we will help you explore the healing benefits of yoga. Check out our class schedules here.

Getting Into Shoulder Stand:
Shoulder stand is not for everyone and some may find it very difficult to get into. If this is the case, it is always better to have a yoga instructor help you get into it safely.

If you have a tweak in your neck, you will want to use a folded blanket support under your shoulders so that your neck is allowed to remain relatively free rather than scrunched onto the floor.

Lie down on your back with your arms on the floor, palms down and bend your knees into towards you. Flip your legs over your head so that your back is off the floor. The shoulders remain on the floor and you are using them to balance. Make sure that your shoulder blades are tucked in underneath you and that your elbows are close together (you can do this by interlacing the fingers underneath you and pulling the shoulders and elbow together). Simultaneously bend your arms at the elbow and bring them in to support your back, with your fingers facing up towards the ceiling. Activate your pelvic floor muscles to help support your neck and back.

As a beginner, you can come into half shoulder stand by placing your knees onto your forehead. For the full pose extend the legs up towards the sky, while supporting the back. Eventually, your body should be at a 90-degree angle to the floor with the balls of your feet pointing towards the ceiling. Hold for at least 20 breaths, breathing in and out through your nose.

To come out extend the legs back over your head and roll out of it vertebrae by vertebrae. Once your whole spine is flat on the floor, you can release the feet back down to the ground.

The Benefits of Shoulder Stand:

•    Inverted poses are extremely important because they reverse the action of gravity on the body and get the blood and lymph flowing in opposite directions.
•    On an emotional level shoulder stand helps turn everything on its head and helps us see things from a different angle.
•    It helps boost self-confidence.
•    Because of the increased blood flow to the top of the body, shoulder stand can help improve brain function and cognition and reduce anxiety and depression.
•    It takes pressure off the heart, which has to work less to get blood flowing to the brain.
•    Helps with lung function by improving blood flow to the area, making it useful for people suffering from respiratory tract disorders.
•    After a yoga class, inversions help to divert blood from the legs into the abdominal region, which means a fresh flow of oxygenated blood to the organs. This has applications in improving both digestive and reproductive functions.

The Health Benefits of Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose)

CNY Healing Arts Center is presenting you with a series of yoga poses to help boost your health and well-being. Bound angle pose, also known as baddha konasana, is a therapeutic hip and groin opener that can also help boost your fertility.

Getting into Baddha Konasana:
Sit with your legs straight out in front of you. Raise your pelvis with a block or a blanket if your hips are tight. Bend your knees and pull your feet towards as close towards your pelvis as you can, with the soles of the feet touching each other. Drop your knees towards the floor and push the feet together.  With your index and middle finger and thumb grab the big toes of each foot. Lengthen through the front of the torso to the sternum as you pull your body down towards the floor.

The aim of the posture is to get your knees on the floor and your head in front of your feet with your torso flat over your legs. There is no need for this to happen overnight; you will get benefits from every stage of this pose. As you fold forward in this posture, lead with the heart until you reach the edge of your flexibility then let the back round and drop the head. Never force your knees down. Instead release the heads of the thighbones toward the floor. When this action leads, the knees follow. Stay in baddha konasana for 1 to 5 minutes or at least 20 breaths, breathing constantly in and through the nose and you gently release into the pose.

The Benefits of Baddha Konasana:

• Strengthens and improves flexibility in the inner thighs, groins and the knees
• Helps prepare the hips and groins for meditative seated poses, which require more flexibility in these areas
• Helps to sooth menstrual discomfort and digestive complaints
• Stimulates the abdominal organs, potentially improving the health of the ovaries, prostate gland, kidneys and bladder.
• Alleviates fatigue, according to traditional yoga texts
• Helps open up the lower back and relieves sciatica
• Metaphysically opens up the groin area helping to relieve sexual inhibitions and guilt.

We have full yoga class schedules at all of our CNY Healing Arts Center locations. Click here to view them and we hope to see you soon!

Meditating to Start and End Your Day

Early morning is a great time to meditate.  Before you even rise out of bed, when the house is quiet before other activities, energies, anxieties, etc. start to vibrate around you, you should use the opportunity to put out your positive energy, intention, and vibration for the day.  Laying quietly in bed and visualizing how you’d like your day to go is the best way to start your day in a positive way.  Imagine your warm cup of coffee waiting for you, your drive to work going smoothly, accomplishing each task at work perfectly, and coming home to a comforting loving atmosphere.  If you have a significant event taking place that day, like a presentation at work for example, picture yourself performing that perfectly.  The more positivity you put into your intentions for the day the more likely your day will go just as you’d like it to.

At the end of your day, when you are getting ready to go to sleep for the night, you should meditate once more.  Let your mind relax and be at ease with how the day went.  Accept any challenges that presented themselves to you as positive, new learning experiences that you will grow from.  After your mind has come to peace with the day’s events let your mind drift into how you’d like tomorrow to go.  Think of all the great things you have going on the next day and how, ideally, you’d like them to play out. Have fun with this! It is your fantasy, your desire, which in turn creates your reality!  Own it! Make it YOURS! Don’t worry about the “how” (the specifics of exactly how each tiny detail will work itself out) just enjoy the thoughts of what you’d like to have occur and the universe will work out the how. Sometimes the how comes in the most unexpected ways!

When you enjoy your thoughts you are attracting them to you in a very powerful way.  Meditating each morning and each night can be a very powerful tool in creating your reality from your own thoughts and desires.