A Simple Tip to Reduce Stress: DO NOTHING!
There’s nothing better than scratching off that last item on a to-do list so you can let your mind and body relax. I’m sure that happens all the time right? Yea, in your dreams!
If you’re still waiting for all that free time to start enjoying doing absolutely nothing, you’ll be waiting a LONG time. With our ever-growing to-do lists and everyday stresses, you need to take action now to keep your mind and body healthy and happy. Practice the art of doing absolutely nothing. Here’s how:
1) Small Nothings to Start
Doing nothing can be a little trickier than you might think, especially when we have so much on our minds all the time. It’s important to start small by doing small nothings only 5-10 minutes at a time
Do NOTHING but breathe. Close your eyes and inhale deeply through your nose. Let your lungs drink in the oxygen. Exhale slowly and let the air escape your body. If your mind starts to wonder (which it will naturally), calm your thoughts. Focus on doing nothing and thinking nothing. It will take some practice but it can be accomplished.
If you can’t find a quiet room at your house, then visit your nearest Planet Beach location and relax in the Hydration Station or HydroMassage to do your 10 minutes of nothing for the day. Give yourself this break… you deserve it!Find the time in your busy life to do this simple task each day. I promise you will reap amazing benefits. You’ll feel more relaxed and rejuvenated and ready to take on the world.
Despite a diagnosis of Stage III breast cancer in March, Mendy Bowen remains strong and positive
Two diagnoses of endometriosis left Mendy Bowen little hope that she’d ever have a child. So when the Planet Beach franchise owner in Fort Myers, Fla., got pregnant and delivered a beautiful baby boy last February, four days before her 37th birthday, she named him appropriately: Chance.
When she felt a lump in her breast six months after his birth, she dismissed it. Lots of mothers suffered from clogged mammary ducts during breastfeeding. She went to a doctor anyway, and sure enough, an ultrasound showed what appeared to be a blocked duct.“I never thought I would ever have a child,” Mendy says. “I prayed really, really hard for him. He was my chance.”
Five months passed. Then her primary care physician ordered a mammogram.
When the results came in, they wouldn’t let Mendy leave the doctor’s office until she scheduled a biopsy.
She had Stage III breast cancer.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we celebrate Mendy Bowen, one of our franchise owners. Despite her cancer diagnosis, she continues to run her Planet Beach franchise while juggling motherhood and radiation treatments.
Letting Go
After her diagnosis, Mendy devoted herself full-time to her treatment. She underwent a lumpectomy and 18 weeks of chemotherapy. She had an emergency surgery due to a post-operation infection. Some weeks, she couldn’t get out of bed. Her staff had to handle all of the franchise’s operations during the tough moments.
“I gave it all to God,” Mendy says. “I knew there was only so much I could do. If there’s one thing this experience has taught me is to worry about the things I can, and let go of the things I can’t control.”
She says she wouldn’t have managed without her family’s support. “My family would come down from New Orleans and Texas for a week at a time,” she says. “It was their support that helped me get to where I am now.”
Mendy came to Planet Beach after working 13 years in banking. A love for the beach and the desire to be closer to her best friend, Arianne, brought her to Fort Myers, Fla. in 1996. She was looking for a change and decided she wanted to start her own business.
When her younger sister, Alex, a spa director at Planet Beach Uptown in New Orleans, introduced her to the automated spa concept, Mendy said she knew she had found her next career. She opened her Planet Beach franchise in 2007.
New beginning
Mendy Bowen continues to operate her Planet Beach location despite undergoing radiation treatments.
Today, Mendy’s daily schedule looks a lot different now than it did a year ago.
Every morning, she takes Chance to school by 8:45 a.m., then works at Planet Beach until her radiation treatment at 1 p.m. Afterwards, she either returns to the automated spa by 2 p.m. or works from her home office.
She picks up Chance by 5 p.m., then begins their evening routine — Chance’s bath, dinner and bedtime by 7:30 p.m. Then, in the quiet, she takes care of paperwork for Planet Beach.
With only five weeks of radiation left, Mendy is slowly easing back into her rhythm. She’s focusing on increasing her store’s memberships — numbers dipped during her surgeries and chemotherapy — and spending time with her son, now 19 months old.
“The way I see it, I’m at an advantage. I know what it’s like to struggle, to have a hard time. So even an ‘OK time’ is fabulous to me,” she says. “Having a positive attitude no matter what—that’s the only way to look at something like this. When your medical bills are thousands of dollars, there’s nothing to do but get your butt out of bed. Everything else will work out.”
Mendy is running a special at her Ft. Myers location in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Any woman who brings proof of a mammogram in October will receive a complimentary day at the automated spa.
The stress of today’s world can make relaxation seem unattainable. But there’s really no reason why you should let stress take over your life. If you are aware of how to cope with it by using relaxation techniques, you will be more productive (and a lot less cranky).
Relaxing mentally, physically and emotionally is not something people automatically know how to do. It is a skill that must be learned and practiced…often.
Here are just a few ways you can reduce stress:
1) BREATHE
The way you breathe affects your whole body. Deep breathing is not only relaxing, but it has been scientifically proven to affect your heart, brain and immune system. Breathe slowly and regularly. Inhale feeling your entire belly, sides and lower back expand. Exhale sighing as you drop your chest. Repeat this 10 times, relaxing more each time.
2) LISTEN TO MUSIC
Believe it or not, music can have a profound effect on you physically, although you might not even realize it. How many times have you played a song on repeat to help get you through that hard workout? Aside from energizing you, music can help you relax. Soothing music decreases your heart rate and provides distraction from external tension. So next time you’re stressed, listen to a Pure Moods track on your ipod.
3) DRINK GREEN TEA
Green tea contains an amino acid called Theanine, which is proven to reduce mental and physical stress and promote feelings of relaxation. When Theanine is taken in conjunction with low levels of caffeine such as those found in tea, Theanine actually improves your mood.
4) GET A MASSAGE
Getting a massage regularly is one of the most effective methods of combatting stress. For some people, getting a massage by a therapist is actually MORE stressful than helpful. That’s where we come in… Our massages at Planet Beach are all fully automated so it takes away that awkwardness. You’re all alone in your room with no distractions.
Try these four techniques and I know you will see a world of difference in your life. Don’t let the everyday stress of the world weigh you down. Learn to let go of the worry and anxiety. Just breathe.
“The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.” – Sydney J. Harris
After months of searching across the globe, having 1000s of models compete at regional casting calls for our TOP 100 model positions and then compete for online competitions and formal interviews; we have selected our TOP FIVE Cover Models for 2013!
We are excited to introduce the 2013 Cover Models who will be representing the Planet Beach brand over the next year! These lucky ladies truly encompass the values of Planet Beach and believe in the services and products available at our automated spas. Our Cover Models will have the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to exotic destinations for photo and video shoots and be spokes-models for Planet Beach at our Annual Convention, tradeshows, and other special events. Each of the ladies chosen will represent one of the amazing results Planet Beach customers can benefit from using our spa services that include skincare, weight management, total wellness, sunless tanning and relaxation. We’d like to congratulate these ladies. We look forward to having them as the faces of Planet Beach for the upcoming year!
And NOW for the 2013 Cover Models…
BRITTANIE WILLIAMS – Glow Representative
Brittanie is 21 years old and lives in Marrero, LA. She is a full time student studying Business Administration and has danced for the Arena Football league, the New Orleans Voodoo. As a former Spa Consultant for Planet Beach, Brittanie feels that she would make an excellent spokes-model because she is a true believer in the services and products that Planet Beach offers. Her goal is to make people aware of the brand and share her experiences as a Planet Beach member.
She loves to take on new challenges and ultimately would love to own her own Planet Beach spa.
Her favorite spa service is the Hydration Station because it prepares her skin for the Mystic service to prolong her tan.
SAHER UDDIN – Skincare Representative
Saher is a 26 year old mom and Geo-science Tech. She graduated from the University of Houston and works for an oil & gas company. She feels she will be a great Cover Model for Planet Beach because she is already an avid spokesperson for the brand and understands the benefits of escaping for a while. She signed up for a membership before she even went into the spa!
She enjoys modeling because it gives her the opportunity to act out anything she wants to be.
She loves Planet Beach’s hi-tech services, especially the Hydration Station to keep her skin soft and smooth.
LAUREN MEROLA – Weight Management Representative
LauRen is 28 years old and just moved to North Carolina from Miami where she did sports broadcasting for the Miami Dolphins. She started modeling when she was 14 and has loved it since. She even competed for Miss USA!
She feels she would make the perfect spokes-model because although she enjoys modeling she wants to be more than just a face. She’s a believer in the Planet Beach brand and uses the spa 2 to 3 times a week.
She loves detoxing and using the Planet Beach Saunatox to stay healthy and fit
LINSEY TOOLE – Relaxation Representative
Linsey is a 28 year old Certified Nursing Assistant and lives in Plant City, FL. She began her modeling career when she was 19. She has since modeled for popular brands such as Nike, Sketchers, CMT, and the Outdoor Channel.
She has a thrill for life and feels her positive personality and ability to adapt to all sorts of environments makes her the perfect Cover Model for Planet Beach.
Her favorite spa service is the HydroMassage, which she uses to relax and de-stress after a long day.
JENYA MOUGEL – Total Wellness Representative
To achieve Total Wellness she enjoys using her favorite service, the Saunatox.
Congratulations Ladies!