Almost Instant Beauty Treatment

Redlands Daily Facts Health Section
Staff Writer

Q: I know that stress is making me look old and haggard. However, I can't go get massages as often as I'd like. Other than taking a bubble bath, do you have any recommendations for me?

Mimi: Stress is the number one beauty thief. When you learn to control tension, you will find your inner peace and beauty. Simple practices that you have heard repeatedly are worth repeating again and often: Take a deep breath; close your eyes and dream of a tranquil setting; have a cup of tea; chat with a friend; pet your cat or play with the dog. These are proven stress busters along with exercise, gardening, relaxing while listening to soothing music and filling the air with aromatherapy scents.

Everyone knows that the best way to relax is with a massage. Now the cries go up, "My husband says that his hands hurt;" "My wife doesn't know how;" "I don't have the time to go to the spa;" " I don't have the money for a professional massage;" "I'm too embarrassed to take off my clothes." And so the stories go.

Solution? Learn how to do simple massages at home, and have a friend learn too. Then you can trade. You don't need to spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours in massage school to learn. Be taught by someone who HAS spent the money and time and can train you in a simple, Do It At Home Massage.

Call various massage practitioners. Ask if they have been taught how to teach a simple Swedish American massage so they can teach you. The class is restricted to just 3 people in the room: you, your friend, and the massage therapist. First, you lie on the massage table (of course modestly covered) and the massage therapist spends one hour massaging you and training your friend how to give a massage. Then the therapist leaves the room while you and your friend change places. You will now be taught how to give a massage while massaging your friend. The therapist will teach you tricks of the trade and how to use your body so you don't get tired. It's all in body mechanics and not massaging with your fingers and thumbs. The charge for all this wonderful 2 hours of massage and training should be only the cost of the regular 2 one-hour massages.

Now that you and your friend, child, husband, or significant other can trade massages, you will have no excuse to go around tense and stressed. Now you will let your natural beauty shine through.

Mimi Barre is the owner of International Day Spa, 325 Cajon St., Redlands. Send your skin care questions to her at MimiB@INTLdayspa.com. She and her estheticians are available for personal consultations, (909) 793-9080.