Giving “Hot Yoga” a Whole New Meaning… Naked Yoga Gains Popularity

If you’ve ever felt even mildly embarrassed with your butt in the air as you move into downward facing dog, then this new trend in yoga practice is probably not for you. However, if you’re a yoga-pro and don’t have a shy bone in your flexible body, then perhaps we can interest you in yoga’s new trend: nudity.

Ask Susie

I have one word for you. Ananda. Well, four – Ananda in the Himalayas. This fantastic destination spa has been a SpaFinder consumer favorite for years, having won several Readers’ Choice Awards, including the 2009 country award for Best Spa in India. SpaFinder Sallie Fraenkel paid a visit to Ananda last spring and here’s what she had to say:

Top Spa Getaways for Mom & Me this Mother’s Day

Celebrate this Mother’s Day with a bit of spa-ing, re-connecting, and treatments à deux with your best friend—mom, of course! Spas catering to a mother-daughter clientele, from adults to teens alike, are increasingly becoming more common (find an extensive list here), and promote the importance of overall wellness at an early age. Whether you’re a mom, daughter, grandmother, niece, or confidant, these destination spots offer getaway packages or amenities (and a non-stressful atmosphere!) that honor mom this Mother’s Day weekend—and throughout the year. Here’s a sample of just some of SpaFinder’s top picks we’d like to share.

Spa Cuisine at The Huntington Hotel and Nob Hill Spa

The Big 4 Restaurant at The Huntington Hotel and Nob Hill Spa, and its chef Gloria Ciccarone-Nehls are known in San Francisco for their award-winning contemporary American cuisine. Known for specializing in wild-game, Ciccarone-Nehls may not be the first person that you would associate with “spa cuisine”. However her expertise does not end at delicacies for the carnivorous, the kitchen at the hotel and spa prepare menus seasonally, making full use of the local, Northern California agriculture. The Huntington Hotel has an excellent, light spa menu that perfectly complements its meaty menu.

Spa Like a Celeb, at a Fraction of The Price!

SpaFinder has teamed up with People Magazine’s very popular new sister publication, StyleWatch to bring you awesome savings at two spas that celebrities love. Whether you’re on the east-coast or the west-coast you can treat your skin the way stars treat theirs, with some of the best luxury skincare treatments and products.

New to SpaFinder! West Coast Gems

Every week several new spas join our network, bringing you ever-growing options when it comes to your spa experience. We would like to welcome four new west-coast spas to the SpaFinder family…

Say "Happy Earth Day" with Eco-friendly Spas!

Happy Earth Day! Being environmentally aware is important to SpaFinder and is a huge part of wellness in general. How can you have internal balance and wellness if the environment around you isn’t healthy and balanced itself? In honor of Earth Day we are pleased to bring you some eco-friendly spas that have made it their goal to bring relaxation and health to spa-goers, while monitoring their carbon-footprint and environmental impact to ensure that our planet stays beautiful and balanced for future generations.

Enter our Mother’s Day Twitter Contest and Win!

Mother’s Day is around the corner, and we know that moms LOVE spas. We also know that every mom deserves a day of pampering and TLC, so here is your chance to give it to her! We are giving away five $100 gift certificates through Twitter, so that you have the chance to give back to mom all the comfort and tenderness that she’s given to you all those years with the gift of spa!

Spa Recipe from Rancho La Puerta: Grilled White Corn Soup with Leeks and Roasted Peppers

In Mexico, fresh corn is roasted or grilled until smoky-sweet and deliciously chewy. For this classic chowder, the corn is pan-roasted, then cooked to a golden velvet with leeks and aromatic vegetables.

Founder Deborah Szekely and Chef Jesus Gonzales like to give food a quick last touch as it is served. It might be as simple as a quick sauté of leeks, corn and peppers for this corn soup, a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil over tomatoes and basil or a dash of fennel powder on grilled fish. That last touch always lifts each fish a notch, adding freshness and flavor, a hint of texture or temperature contrast and eye appeal.

Pregnancy Without the Pause

When I got pregnant, I was prepared for the nine-month moratorium on sushi, margaritas, and unpasteurized cheese. Modern American pregnancy, as everyone knows, comes with a long list of dietary no-nos. What I didn’t realize is that the list of spa prohibitions is just as punishing. Hot baths were a daily de-stressor, and the news that I’d have to give them up, along with saunas, steams, and a handful of spa treatments, dismayed me. Frankly, it’s hard to imagine a more welcome time for any spa treatment than when your lower back and shoulders are aching from your newly recalibrated center of gravity, your feet feel fat as flippers, and your supposed pregnancy glow is mottled with new freckles.