New Year's Resolutions

The New Year always brings with it a cultural tradition of new possibilities. We see it as a chance for renewal.

And when we think of possibilities, we put ourselves right in the middle of the picture. We begin to dream of new possible selves. We design our Ideal Self, fashion an image of ourselves that is in various ways different from what we are now.

For some of us, we roll that dreamy film in our heads just because it's the beginning of a new year, but we aren't serious about making changes. The cultural atmosphere simply prescribes such fantasies at that time of year, but they don't resonate with any impulse deep within. We make some half-hearted resolution and it evaporates after a week or two.

For some of us, however, the intentions to enact change are driven more from within, and we use the season of new beginnings as the gatepost to which we hitch our good intentions. Should these falter, we walk away a bit damaged. The experience registers on us, chips away at our sense of self and makes us feel less successful. We think we aren't very good. It leads us to discount our ability to change in the future.

The difference between good intentions and failed intentions comes down to one thing: the recognition that self-change is one of the most difficult things we can do. Between us as we are now and us in the image of our ideal self stands the bulldog fact of our ingrained habits.

It's not that change is impossible, it's that it isn't likely to last unless our resolutions are fortified with lesson plans for implementation. We have to detail exactly how we are going to achieve things. We have to make our intentions manageable by detailing the specific steps that will carry us to our goal.

New price structure for your favorite massages and products

Sanctuario Spa is now implementing a revised pricing policy. The new prices will be VAT inclusive. We have reduced the prices of the massage but this time you will have to purchase a 100 ml bottle of the massage oil blend of your choice. A normal massage consumes about 25 ml do you may either take home the unused oil or we can keep the bottle for you for your next visit.

Sanctuario in the news

Read about Sanctuario Spa in the January issue of Asia Spa Magazine. Cathay Pacific’s in-flight magazine Discovery also chose Sanctuario together with Chi Spa of Shangri-La Mactan as its featured and recommended spa in the Philippines. The review says, “In an increasingly homogenous industry, it’s refreshing to see a spa that is proud of its surroundings and heritage.”

Biodroga Men’s Sensation (P1,355)

A man’s skin is 20% thicker and produces about twice as much sebum as a woman’s. Daily shaving causes micro nicks on the skin and deprives it of oil and moisture day after day. Men’s most frequently encountered skin problems are blackheads, impurities, dry skin areas, irritations caused by ingrown facial hairs, or even oily skin or combination skin. The latter often affects the younger target group. Biodroga has developed a facial treatment for the man that is both easy to use and highly effective. A light masculine, tangy fragrance rounds out the care concept.  The treatment re-vitalizes men’s stressed skin, clarifies and cleanses with deep-pore action, counter’s the inflammatory process, assures a fresh and revitalized look, relaxes and firms facial features and delivers a targeted response to a man’s skin needs.

BIODROGA is a German company that has remained true to the idea of offering top quality bio-technological skin care products. Today as always, a premium is placed on assuring that the active ingredients of every product are of biological origin.

Body Scrubs (P555, 250 grams)

Now you can take home with you your favorite body scrubs:

Seaweed Detox Body Scrub

Ingredients: seaweed extract, eucalyptus extract, Virgin Coconut Oil, apricot scrub and moisturizing base body scrub lotion with Vitamin E.

Coconut Moisturizing Body Scrub

Ingredients: premium desiccated coconut, Virgin Coconut Oil, apricot scrub and moisturizing base body scrub lotion with Vitamin E.

Coffee Antioxidant Body Scrub

Ingredients: premium ground organic coffee, Virgin Coconut Oil, apricot scrub and moisturizing base body scrub lotion with Vitamin E.

Chocolate Aphrodisiac Body Scrub

Ingredients: premium cocoa, Virgin Coconut Oil, apricot scrub and moisturizing base body scrub lotion with Vitamin E.

Lulur Whitening Body Scrub

Ingredients: yellow ginger, coriander seed, Virgin Coconut Oil, apricot scrub and moisturizing base body scrub lotion with Vitamin E.

Tropical Fruits Anti-aging Body Scrub

Ingredients: banana extract, papaya extract, placenta cogic, Virgin Coconut Oil, apricot scrub and moisturizing base body scrub lotion with Vitamin.

10 Weight-Loss Myths: Don't Be Fooled!

1. “Lose 30 pounds in 30 days.” Or any other gimmick that pledges massive weight loss at breakneck speed. It’s not healthy, and it’s not true. Permanent weight loss requires lifestyle change, not a quick fix, he adds.

2. Fat is bad for you. The truth is that some fats are unhealthy, and some are good – indeed, necessary – for your health. Just avoid trans fat.

3. Carbohydrates are bad for you. First it was fat, now carbohydrates are the bad guy. When trying to lose weight, make a distinction between unhealthy carbohydrates, such as white sugar, and complex carbohydrates, such as vegetables and whole grains, which provide vital vitamins, and fiber to aid digestion.

4. Lose weight by not eating. Starving deprives the body of the nutrients it needs for life and can lead to serious illness. Plus you lose muscle mass, not fat. Even if you do lose pounds, you gain them back almost immediately when you raid the fridge again.

5. Don’t eat after 6 p.m. It’s not what time you eat, it’s what you eat!”

6. Salad bars are healthy. Bacon, cheeses, fried chicken, oily dressings…The apparent allure of salad bars means they probably require as much of your considered attention as ordering at a fast food restaurant. You have to choose the foods at a salad bar wisely.

7. Diet sodas aid weight loss. There isn’t a single study that shows diet sodas help you lose weight.

8. You shouldn’t step on a scale. Checking your weight on a regular basis, say once or twice a week, is an obvious way to gauge your progress and alter your diet accordingly. But keep track of hip, thigh and tummy inches, too. If you are building muscles, you will actually gain weight and lose fat.

9. You can lose weight with a pill. You can’t replace healthy eating and exercise with a pill. Pills aren’t a new thing, they’ve been tried for decades…[with] horrible side effects.

10. You have to join the gym. Actually, the most recent research indicates 30 to 60 minutes per day of moderate physical activity is all it takes to balance healthy food intake. It doesn’t have to be strenuous exercise, “just move your body!”