Spa Origins Co., Ltd.

1. Heart disease: Keep it pumping
“Heart disease affects men at a younger age than women and the manifestations are worse with increasing age” says Dr. Quintus L. de Zylva, a consultant physician at Epworth Hospital Richmond in Melbourne, Australia. The insidious disease tops the World Health Organization’s list as the number one cause of death and disability on the planet. It estimates that by 2030 cardiovascular disease will claim almost 23.6 million lives across the globe. In the UK alone it is responsible for one in there deaths each year.
“men who lead a sedentary life need to have a stress test to evoke changes in their cardiograph that might suggest narrowing of the coronary arteries”, Dr. de Zylva points out. A sick heart can lead to a plethora of medical conditions, the most common being coronary heart disease, which leads to heart attacks, stroke and heart failure”. Untreated high blood pressure or excess alcohol and coronary artery disease can damage the heart muscle to an extent that the changes in the heart become irreversible”.
Beating at an average rate of 100,000 times per day, the heart needs to be in good shape 24/7. Maintaining a strong heart comes down to health fundamentals such as doing exercise, eating a balance diet, reducing alcohol consumption and quitting smoking.
2. Cancer : Be Aware
“Prostate, lung, colon and rectum are the most common cancers among men”, says Professor Harshal Nandurkar, director of haematology at St. Vincent’s Hospital , Melbourne. Cancers can cause diverse symptoms or have none at all – making them difficult to pinpoint or predict. That said, certain types have identifiable signs.
“For example, haemoptysis (coughing up blood) on a smoker should herald suspicion of lung cancer. Similarly, presence of blood in bowel motions should alert to the possibility of a cancer of the colon or rectum” he explains. He goes on to advise men to use common sense, and live their lives as they want their children to do. “don’t smoke or chew tobacco, or go out in the sun without hat or sunscreen”.
3. High Cholesterol: Time to Unclog
“High cholesterol is the result of an affluent lifestyle, too much good food and too little exercise. It can lead to heart attacks and stroke if the underlying tissue damage from inflammation is not addressed”, says Dr. Alen Liaw of the Integrated Medicine Institute in Hong Kong. Cholesterol is a substance that is produced and used by the body to protect itself. There is good cholesterol know as high density lipoproteins (HDL) , and bad cholesterol called low density lipoproteins (LDL)
Unhealthy levels of bad cholesterol (which can clog the arteries)or not enough good cholesterol (which stops LDL from being lodged in the artery walls) can lead to a host of medical problems-the number one being heart disease.

4. Obesity : Size Matters
“Men are usually more ignorant about weight as their priorities in life are usually their careers. As they grow older, they spend more time working and less time on exercise, “says Sylvia Lam, senior registered dietitian at the Pro-Cardio Heart Diseases and Prevention Centre in Hong Kong Hence it’s easy to let the pounds creep on. Based on height and weight measurements, the body mass index (BMI) can help determine if someone is obese. Shortness of breath during light exercise and joint and back pain are possible signs of becoming obese.
There are countless health risks associated with obesity. Doctors can check if weight is affecting health by detecting increases in blood cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Long term effects include diabetes, heart disease, stroke , sleep apnea, gout, joint pain and cancer.

5. Diabetes: Sugar High
“Men need to gain far less weight than women to develop diabetes. Men tend to store fat in the liver and waist”, says Dr. Joshua Ko of Hong Kong East Cluster. Put simply, diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases where sufferers have high blood sugar. “Type 1 diabetes is caused when the body does not produce enough insulin, and type 2 diabetes is the result of cells being unable to use insulin properly or respond to it. Once it occurs the damage is irreversible and can lead to blindness, renal failure and lack of blood flow to the limbs”.
Obesity, lack of exercise, a high sugar and saturated fat diet as well as smoking can trigger diabetes. Frequent urination, increased thirst and hunger, fatigue and problems with vision are some of the warning signs.
Regular exercise (at least 30 minutes per session) ,eating fruit and veggies, decreasing fat intake and giving up smoking can help prevent people getting it.

It is only human to fee indestructible until a medical scare hits a little too close to home, such as one experienced by a friend, family member or relating to us directly. Scheduling regular check ups for the big five is not a sign of weakness but one of strength – nipping issues in the bud early could be the difference between life and death. Instead of just sending our loved ones to the doctor, why mot lead by example, and pay a visit too? After all, a price cannot be put on good health.

Written: Andre Cooray for Asia Spa March/April issue

As spa consultants in Asia we find it very interesting to go back in history and learn of the authentic ancient healing know-how that have been passed on from generations onward by using the palm-leaf manuscripts to record down ancient healing treatments and procedures.
Therefore when we read this article by Professor Gerard Bodeker Oxford, UK in the Asia Spa magazine we wanted to share this with our Spa Origins website readers.

An Ancient Tale
Unlike many cultures, where generational knowledge passes by word of mouth, Bali has a scholarly tradition of recording important knowledge in manuscripts fashioned from the leaves of tropical palm trees. Known as the Lontar Usada, these ancient palm-leaf manuscripts are n invaluable part of Bali’s history and are now part of a large, Asia-wide preservation project.
Bali’s Tradition f Healing
Grounded in ancient Balinese beliefs and practice, influenced by Ayurveda, as well as Javanese and Chinese practices, the traditional healers of Bali are known as Balian. Balian group themselves into such specialties as manipulation and bone setting; midwifery; spiritual healing; and herbal therapies.
Similar to other Asian healthcare traditions, illness is viewed as the result of disharmony, or disease. The concept of harmony and balance, pervasive in Balinese culture, is grounded in the philosophy of Tri Hita Karana – literally, “three causes of wellbeing”
The three fundamental relationships which must be in harmony for health are the relationship between the individual and the Divine, the social environment (human to human) and the physical environment.
The Balian’s role was to identify the source of the disharmony and to re-establish harmony in the life of the patient. This was then recorded on lontar, strips of cured palm leaf which were etched in Balinese script with a steel sylus. After rubbing with ash from the waxy candlenut to highlight the text, they were bound into bundles and fastened with twine between slats of insect-resistant wood.
Bali’s highest knowledge has been stored in these palm-leaf books for centuries. Poetry, religious ritual ,art and literature are all recorded on lontar, but it is the medical manuscripts known as Lontar Usada, that are beginning to attract worldwide attention.
Ancient Origins
The use of palm leaves as a record for the written history of a society, its codes and guiding legends, has ancient origins in South and Southeast Asia. Palm-leaf manuscripts constitute one of the oldest media of writing in India as well as in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia.
India’s influence on Southeast Asia especially on the island of Bali, clearly included the introduction of the palm-leaf manuscript tradition of writing. Historians speculate that palm leaf was used as a medium for writing long before the time of Ashoka the Great (ca. 304-232-BCE) As far back as the 4th century CE, Buddhist texts record housewives reading palm-leaf texts in the light of oil lamps in the evenings. Records also indicate that the ripithaka, or Buddhist scriptures, were written on palm leaves in the First Buddhist conference (1st century CE).
On account of their perish ability, there are no palm-leaf manuscripts in India dating before the 10th century. Despite this, they are mentioned as a writing material in a number of literary works and can be seen in several sculptures and monuments. Indeed, the patroness of knowledge in both India and Bali. Saraswati, is classically depicted holding a set of palm leaf manuscripts or lontar.
From Palm Leaf to Lontar
The tropical palms of Bali offer a perfect medium for writing materials. While methods of processing differ throughout Asia, in Bali the basic method of palm leaf preparations starts with the half-opened young shoot of palm leaves being cut before they become dry and brittle. The leaves are then cut into the required sizes and then soaked for up to several days in an herbal solution that includes turmeric, an antioxidant, and lemongrass, an insect repellant.
After the softened leaves have been dried in the shade or light sunshine, the spine is removed from the main leaf and the remaining portion is pressed, polished and trimmed to size. Holes are made on either side of the eaves, typically with a red-hot wire or special knife. Then a cord is passed through the holes to hold the leaves together.

Due to a fire in our former office building, we have relocated our office. Effective immediately our new office address and contact details are:

Spa Origins Co.,Ltd.
10/167 The Trendy Office
Floor 20A, Unit 20A02A, Sukhumvit Soi 13
Klongtoey-Nua, Wattana,
Bangkok 10110, Thailand
NEW Tel: + 66 (0) 2 168 7095
Email: info@spaorigins.com

The Thailand Health & Beauty Show 2011 which was rescheduled from 2011 to 2012 due to the flooding of central Thailand is about to kick off.

New Dates: 25th - 29th January 2012
Venue: Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC), Bangkok
Organizer: Department of International Trade Promotion

Spa Origins Booth: F10

Spa Origins - for all your Spa Consulting, Spa Management, Spa Training, Spa Auditing needs

Click here for all HBS details including full exhibitor listing

Looking to celebrate New Year a little differently this year? Spa Consultants and Spa Managers have come up with pretty amazing options for spa treatments. Some with questionable health benfits, but seems it does matter how strange the idea seems at first - their is a market out their for just about everything. From a massage with golf balls through to a super indulgent 20 hand duo massages and even crude oil baths - seems to be something for every taste and budget. For one of the most indulgent, a travel company in Russia are offering Champagne baths. Not just a glass of champagne, but a soak in a whole bath of bubbles. Sounds like a good time to drink the bath waters so as not to waste too much. Not sure how it goes in terms of temperature, but indulgent - absolutely. According to them, you will not only feel 100% like a Russian oligarch, but also will have an SPA treatment since natural carbonic gas stimulates the immune system nicely, causing the blood to flow to the heart and head because an extract of grape skin, contained in champagne, is a magnificent antioxidant. At a quoted price of EU1,580 is not for the faint hearted - but it includes a bucket of caviar to nibble on, and they will even include a photograph of you in the Champagne bath if you want. Seems that the Spa Consultants and Spa Managers of the world are going to have to be even more creative to top this!

Susie Ellis has been hard at work, and has released her forecast for the Top 10 Global Spa Trends in 2012. Whether you agreed with her or not, at the very least it is food for thought. Some of the forcast trends are not new - but others are, reflecting the reality of a spa & wellness industry that is continuing to evole. So for those traditionalist - wake up or get left behind!

1. Healthy Feet Treatments

2. Cold and Ice Are Hot

3. Wellness and Beauty Coaching

4. Online Wellness Gaming

5. Pairing Fine Dining and Spa-ing

6. Vibration, Sound, Music, Light and Color Therapies

7. The Glam Factor

8. Spa Evidence: Showing the Science Behind Spa

9. Spas Become a Family Affair

10. Spas Go for the “Wow”

Or click here for a summary.

No, we do not mean its time for a Turkey Massage or an Eggnog Facial (but they also may be worth a try!), but rather to encourage you to take the time during your spa treatments this festive season to think a little more about what it is that you get out of your spa treatment. Yes, we know that your spa therapist is the “best that there is”, and you would “not go to any other spa” because she is so good, but is it all just about indulgence and pampering to your hearts desire, or are you just comfortable with the location, price and standard of service offered, without thinking anything more about it?

Many spa treatments promote detoxification and a greater level of wellness or well-being than many given them credit for. Well trained Spa Therapists who are intune with the human body and have a sound knowledge of anatomy and physiology should be able to deliver even greater health benefits to spa consumers. A Lymphatic Drainage therapy will obviuosly help remove excess fluids from the body, while a salt scrub will draw out toxins from the body, but even the most basic of massage therapies will start the detoxification process. Why is it that one of the first things given post treatment is a glass of water or sugarless herbal tea? Whether acknowledged or not, it is not just a ‘nice post treatment touch’ (thought it is also that!), but it has a practical application as well as it helps flush toxins from the body.

So this festive seasion, when spa cuisine tends to sit on the back burner for a couple of weeks, be kind to your body and choose spa treatments that perhaps offer a great level of detoxification than you would normally take to at least try and counter some of the festive season excesses.

Congratulations to all winners at the recently announced HAPA Awards Regional Series 2011 - 2013. Awards are given in 33 categories across the hospitality industry, including Spa of the Year and Signature Spa Treatment. The HAPA Board of Directors gave out awards for Best in Asia Awards, Platinum and Gold Awards. Competition was fierce between participating ASEAN countries - Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand in all categories.

In what is seen as confirmation of the rising standards of the ASEAN spa industry, there were a total of 10 spas that acheived Platinum awards Standard in the Spa of the Year category inculding Anatara Spa, Anantara Phuket Villas, Thailand and Coqoon Spa, Indio Peral Phuket, Thailand. For the Signature Spa Experience, there were also 10 Platinum winners including Coqoon Spa, Indigo Pearl Phuket, Thailand and Luxsa Spa, Hansar Samui, Thailand

For a complete list of all winners visit Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards or to find out more about HAPA, visit www.hapa.asia

Most often, spa cuisine is described as a healthier preparation of the usual spread. However, there are certain guiding principles that can be said to define spa cuisine. The cuisine is characterised by low-fat, low sugar and low-oil intake and includes plenty of raw ingredients and complex carbohydrates into the food. Some chefs also call for usage of lesser amount of salt in the cuisine. Andrew Jacka, Chairman, Asia Pacific Spa & Wellness Coalition said, “Along with the basic principles of low-fat, low-sugar and low-oil intake, spa cuisine is noted for its diversity that varies from place to place. To read the full story click here or visit www.hospitalitybizindia.com

Intelligent Spas forcast the Asia Pacific Spa industry to grow by 16% in 2011, but this rate of growth does not seem to be so evident across some of the support sectors. While there is multiple spa media both consumer and trade in the US and Europe; Asia Pacific seems be being left behind. There are a few notible exceptions with such industry publications as - AsiaSpa (Hong Kong); AsiaSpa India (India); Spa China (China); Spa Mantra (India); Business of Spa, Beauty & Fitness (India); and Spa Life (Australia), but few beyond this. Given that Asia represents some 60% of the worlds population, and approximately 33% of the worlds spa, one would that thought that we deserve more publications for a burgeoning industry, or is it another case where the industry seeks credibility and consumer awareness, but continues to be too shy to too afraid to share industry knowledge for fear of being copied, or told you are doing the wrong thing? Food for thought!