Though they say I’ll be spending the next 7 days in a bathrobe and/or naked at various spas across the Czech Republic, I know that I’ll want more than just a plain white terrycloth backward snuggie. I’m ready to style the spa, but I’m also packing smart. Here’s the Czech list for what should be brought on a Spa-cation. I’ve never been on one before, so if I’m missing anything crucial, I’ll let you know at the time I need it most.

Ever thought you’d hear a first person account of cryogenically freezing? You will next week. Ever heard of Beer Wellness Land? It’s real, and we’ll be bathing there in a warm, hoppy brew. We’ll also be carbon deoxidizing in plastic bags, consuming gallons of rich mineral water in a process known as the “drinking cure”, and much more. We’re totally jazzed to try the aforementioned brow-raising treatments (especially if there’s a treatment that scientifically raises our brows), but we do also know there will be some good ol’ fashion massages and facials going down, too.

We’re going to show-and-tell you all about it. FashionIndie will bring you back both ancient and new age knowledge about how to get your body model-ready. Like this slimming program at Hotel Richmond in Karlovy Vary (aka Carlsbad), the Czech spa town we’re starting in.

Cosmetic beautification aside, the injured or ailing seek remedy in these spa towns. Spa physicians medically examines, then prescribes treatments based on indicated conditions. They can cure stubborn illnesses, ease arthritis, aide in fertility and more with these mineral treatments.

Keep in mind, a trip like this to the Czech Republic is far less expensive than a comparable trip to Arizona, our own country’s spa center. It is very common amongst Europeans to take this kind of trip – it’s not just for the über wealthy. It’s seen as medicinal, so often it may be covered by some kind of euro insurance and thus accessible to many. That’s the Euro Spa Club’s mission – to get you to understand and experience the health benefits of the spa system, as the cultured Euros do. But forget I said that, it’s really all about fierce bitches getting skinny and rubbed down. You’ll see.

The Czech Republic is the home country of Karolina Kurkova, afterall. There must indeed be something in the water.

Meanwhile, when we’re away getting dolled and pampered, you can go spa-ing for cheap this week. Spa Week is October 10th-16th, which means $50 spa treatments. So get your own! Don’t be too jealous, k?

We leave tomorrow. Follow me on FashionIndie and on Twitter for week of spa and European shenanigans. Tomorrow I’ll be showing you how to pack for a Spa Getaway. #CzechItOut 

And don’t forget to book your treatment at James Corbett Studio & Spa during SPA WEEK now! Appointments that regularly cost $75 – $500 are only $50 for a limited time. Hurry, appointments for the October 10-16 event are going fast.

James Corbett started Hair2Help in October 2010, a nonprofit organization that offers full spa experiences for cancer patients and their immediate caregivers. He believes all women deserve to feel pampered and beautiful, especially when dealing with such a life-altering situation.

“Maybe lip gloss and nail polish won’t save the world, but if it makes a woman feel beautiful and takes her mind of the hardships she’s enduring – that’s a beautiful thing,” Corbett says.

With the support of the American Cancer Society‘s Hope Lodge, his fellow colleagues and industry peers, James has held three Hair2Help holistic healing days at the spa, using only organic and non-toxic cosmetics, oils and lotions. Many women talked about how it completely changed their outlook.

“There was a reflexologist who addressed my body in a way that I can hardly describe,” one woman said. “It wasn’t just physical–she gave me a feeling of inner lightness I’ve never had before. I really couldn’t believe how much attention they paid to me. I don’t know where I would be without this kind of compassion.”

The best thing about James Corbett Studio & Spa? They treat all of their clients with the same compassion and care. Don’t forget to book your Spa Week appointment with them ASAP.

If you have questions about James Corbett Studio & Spa or Hair2Help, visit their website or ask me on Twitter @CrystlMeatballs.

Indies, de-stress.

1 Treatment: Thai Yoga Massage, AKA “The Lazy Man’s Yoga”

3 Spas:

Erika Bloom Pilates Plus (see Thai Yoga Live Spa TV)
795 Madison Avenue, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10065
212.288.3410

Graceful Services
1095 2nd Avenue, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10022
212.593.9904

Thai Sabai Traditional Thai Massage (read about their Thai-Swedish massage)
5261 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90027
323.485.2800

5 Reasons Why:

1.   RECEIVE MULTIPLE THERPAIES AT ONCE: Thai Yoga Massage combines energy work, massage and stretching into a unique treatment with benefits ranging from improved circulation to stress relief. It’s one of my favorite spa experiences!

2.   BE FLOORED: Table the idea of laying on a table – this massage takes you to the versatile floor. A large mat will allow your therapist to twist and turn and stretch you, even balanceon top of you. Yeah, that happened.

3.   AWAKEN YOUR INNER LAZY YOGI: By stretching your body in positions drawn from Yoga practice, this massage improves alignment, flexibility and range of motion. Ohhhm my god, you’ll love.

4.   FEELING A LITTLE SHY? For those who don’t like getting fully naked (really though!?), in Thai Yoga Massages you wear loose, comfortable clothing.

5.   FIND BALANCE AND STOP MOPING: Dating back more than 5,000 years, Thai Yoga Massage is known to unblock and balance your energy flow, leaving your mind and body energized and your mood improved.

Did this get you in the mood for a spa day? Check out Spa Week’s spa deals to quench your spa thirst!

24K Gold Facial

Wanderlusts in the Sauna

Hot Vase Massage

When you're a blogger, the iPhone knows no bounds.

Wearing Ra Mana La Rue over wine.

The glorious spa you see is Spa Martier, the master of the 24K Gold Facial. They also have a high-end boutique upstairs, Martier which accomodated the Wanderlusts with lovely apparel.

See more at Spa Week Daily.

1. Soak feet to soothe and prepare: Soaking feet will soften and prepare them for the pedicure ahead. Adding bath salts to warm water will soothe feet and relax tired muscles. Carol’s Daughter Body Aches Bath Salts include essential oils of tea tree, lavender and peppermint for an aromatic and pampering experience.

2. Scrub-a-dub-dub: Before your feet can be at their very softest, you need to remove all those dead skin cells. The easiest way to do it is on the side of your tub before getting into the shower. Caudalie Merlot Friction Scrub uses crushed grape seeds, essential oils and sugar to buff away dry skin and make your feet glow.

3. Moisturizing is key: All of that dead skin buffing will be thrown out the window if you don’t lock in moisture with a good foot cream. Use a liberal amount from ankles to toes after showering. L’Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream is enriched with lavender essential oil to relieve tired, inflamed feet while shea butter soothes and softens skin.

4. Buff and file toenails: If you don’t want to polish toes, this can be your last step in the sandal ready feet process. File nails straight across, not round, to avoid ingrown toenails. Buff and shine nails to get that salon pedicure glow. The Sephora Collection 4-Step Nail Buffer has the instructions written on the tool to get beautifully shiny nails with no effort at all.

5. Soften and nourish cuticles: Even if you don’t want to cut your cuticles, it’s important to moisturize and pamper them. Apply a dab to each fingernail and gently rub into your cuticles. Butter of London Handbag Holiday Cuticle Oil contains tons of vitamins and natural oils that smell great and will make your fingers feel even better.

6. Polish time: You’ve primped your feet, so now it’s time to polish those toes. Make sure to swipe a cotton ball soaked with nail polish remover over toenails to eliminate oils or lotion that could prevent polish from sticking. Start with a base coat, like OPI Natural Nail Base Coat, then apply your favorite spring color. Finish with a top coat like Essie No Chips Ahead Top Coat to preserve that gorgeous pedicure for days!

DIY is wonderful, but if you’re really yearning for a pampering spa pedicure, many salons and spas have extended their Spa Week $50 treatments. Check out the website for more details.

Go to Spa Week Daily to find out which spas in your area are still celebrating Spa Week. Then call and book an appointment. It’s that easy! Because if you’re doing things like pilates in heels, your body is in need of some good spa lovin’.

Link Love: Spa Week Daily

Credit: TimeOut NY

Graceful Spa Organic Massage: Environmentally friendly organic jojoba oil and organic shea butter combined with organic chamomile botanicals provides skin nourishment along with soothing and healing properties in this 50 minute treatment.

Spa Butterfly Organic Facial: This 45 minute facial is designed to deliver a powerful dose of natural vitamins and anti-oxidants that help tighten pores and fight the free-radicals that damage and stress our skin.

Magnolia Beauty Spa Organic Facial with Customized Mask: This 60 minute facial uses organic products to improve skin concerns such as premature aging and wrinkling and acne. The cures come from nature with ingredients good enough to eat.

Jurlique Organic Facials: Choose between a 45 minute brightening or purifying facial at the Jurlique Concept Store on Madison Avenue. Originating from the lush, unpolluted environment of South Australia, Jurlique strives to raise and produce the purest, most potent ingredients while providing skincare efficacy for all who use their products.

Euphora Medi-Spa Salon Organic Colombian Coffee Body Scrub: This 50 minute anti-oxidant rich scrub includes an all access pass to the sauna, steam room and use of facilities at this high-end European salon.

Aroma Day Spa Organic Cool Seaweed Facial: This 60 minute purifying, enriching, French-born seaweed facial is a healing, detoxifying and nourishing treatment that gently firms and tones at the same time.

The Green Spa & Wellness Center Go Green Vegan Spa Pedicure: Pamper your tired feet with this soothing 60 minute spa pedicure that uses eucalyptus aromatherapy and certified vegan nail lacquers.

Not finding what you’re looking for here? Visit the Spa Week website for all of the $50 treatments available near you.

Bonus! You can get this $120 treatment for $50 during Spa Week, April 11-17th!!

Sasha’s recommendations for treating Sensitive Skin:

- #1 recommendation: Cetaphil. Or try Avené – a French brand sold at drugstores. No need to buy expensive products, as long as it’s labeled for sensitive skin.

- Moisturize every day, especially at night.

- Use room temperature water to cleanse – not hot or cold.

- Don’t exfoliate everyday. Twice per week is ideal.

- CLEAN YOUR CELL PHONE! It’s a touch screen. It gets gross. Wipe it clean to prevent cheek breakouts.

Ideal Sensitive Skin Facial:

With a series of gentle Dermalogica products, she started with Ultra Calming Serum Cleanse, and followed with professional Colloidal Masks, one of which was made from oatmeal. She used a High Frequency Facial machine, which emits a low level of electrical current that stimulates blood flow and thus rejuvenates. In betwixt the masks and massages and cleanses, Sasha began the painstaking process of extraction. As a picker myself, it was a relief to finally have a professional squeezing spots I didn’t even know needed to be squeezed. She. Got. Everything.

It was part ultra relaxing, part mildly painful, but totally cleansing.

**** I want to take this moment to remind you – if you’re planning on going to an important social event, get your facial at least a week ahead of time! You never know how your face will react. Mine did indeed get a little spotty and red afterward, but now it’s smoother than ever.

More about Chelsea Piers:

After the facial, chilling in the Spa Lounge I was given a cup of tea and invited to further relax. I found out that when you get a treatment at The Spa, you can spend the rest of the day in Chelsea Piers – complimentary. That means use of facilities for 15 different sports, 125 fitness classes to choose from, hundreds of cardio machines, indoor swimming pool and, my personal favorite, NYC’s only indoor sand volleyball court.

Go to SpaWeek.com to see what spas are participating in your area! It’s going on all across the country, so if you can’t make it to The Spa at Chelsea Piers, you can still get yourself pampered for just $50. April 11^th – 17^th! Book your appointments now!

1. Cleanse the skin thoroughly. Before you can achieve an even-looking tan, you need to remove all excess dirt and oil from your pores. This goes for both face and body. Skin by Monica Olsen Restore MSM Facial Cleanser stimulates cells while cleansing and is conveniently sold at Duane Reade in NYC as well as her website. Jurlique Purifying Cleansing Lotion is great for re-balancing oiliness. As for the body, both Hugo Naturals Grapefruit Shower Gel and Organic Surge Citrus Mint Shower Gel are invigorating options.

2. Exfoliate the skin. Use a gentle exfoliator on the face while concentrating on rough areas, like knees and elbows, on the body. DDF Pumice Acne Scrub eliminates dull surface skin and Borghese Esfoliante Delicato Gentle Cleanser and Exfoliant does double-duty as a cleanser and a scrub. Crabtree & Evelyn Naturals Cocoa Butter, Nutmeg & Cardamom Body Scrub smells good enough to eat and improves skin tone and texture.

3. Mix face tanner with moisturizer for even application. The face has so many contours and textures, blending self-tanner with your favorite moisturizer will deliver a more natural appearance when complete. STEAMCREAM is perfect for face and body if you decide to blend for both applications. As for tanners, TEMPTU AIR pod™ Face Tan delivers an innovative, flawless glow and Guerlain Terracotta Sunless Luxurious Self-Tanning Balm is great for both face and body.

4. Apply self-tanner to the body, part by part. Don’t become overwhelmed when you begin. Start with one leg and completely finish before moving on to the next. Only use excess product from the rest of your body on knees and elbows. Make sure to carefully wash your hands when finished, and let yourself dry completely before putting on clothing. St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse is easy to apply and dries in 60 seconds. Kate Somerville Somerville360°™ Tanning Towelettes are paraben-free and promise a streak-free application.

5. When in doubt, consult a professional! These are tons of great spray tan salons in the city, and next week, you are really in luck. Spa Week is April 11-17, and you can get amazing services for only $50 a piece. Check out the Spa Week website to find out which salons near you are offering discounted treatments. There is no better way to beat the chilly spring weather blues with a sexy, glowing tan that won’t do any permanent damage to your precious skin.

First Place: Emily, Lovely Wanderlust

Wearing: Topped and bottomed in Topshop, she makes the full sheer top chic by layering the deep crimson over a rib hugging cropped camisole. Gathering the tucked blouse are a pair of double side zipped leather shorts over black hose. She winterizes the look with a long fur clutch. We LIKE!

Spa Week is awarding the best dressed blogger a $100 Spa Week Gift Certificate. “Emily had my vote from the beginning with her badass high waisted leather shorts, demure Valentine’s Day colored blouse, and sexy tank peeking out from underneath that revealed just the right amount. On behalf of Spa Week Daily, I’m excited to send this Wanderlust a la mode to the spa with a Spa Week gift card—whether it’s a massage, a facial, pedicure, scrub, eyelash extensions or something else she chooses, I know she’ll make it look damn good.” - Michelle Joni, Editor of Spa Week Daily

Italian Wine Masters is granting the winner a bottle of one of Italy’s finest wines: Fattoria del Cerro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2006. With notes of dark berries and a long polished finish, it is in its prime right now, just like Emily’s look.

Lookbooks is furnishing Emily’s sweet feet with a pair of exclusive Manolo Blahnik heels. CONGRATULATIONS!

Second Place: Christina, Trop Rouge

Wearing: The black and white orgy of textures tousles with her hair. Her look is the ultimate High-Low blogger’s delight with a dress by Givenchy and faux fur vest from Forever 21.

Italian Wine Masters is proud to present Christina with a bottle of Fanti Tenuta San Filippo 2007 Sant’Antimo Rosso. This red is as crisp and completely fresh as her style.

Lookbooks has decided to give up a SECOND pair of Manolos to the fabulous Trop Rouge. That fur under leather over lace strikes a loving chord in our fashion soul.

Third Place: Jinna, Grease and Glamour

Wearing: Atop Yves Saint Laurent booties, she pulls off strings of pearl necklace-as-belt over an H&M drape skirt. The touch of baby blue elevates the look sky high.

Italian Wine Masters is bestowing upon the super chic Jinna a bottle of Chianti Classico from 2007. It is ruby red with bursts of cherry and makes for a fine long drink, classic like Jinna’s style.

Congrats to all! And a big thank you to all the bloggers for coming to the FashionIndie & Lookbooks Loft for a day of mid-Fashion Week pampering by Spa Merge, NK Salon, B Bronze and Completely Bare.

It’s no mistake that this is taking place on Valentine’s Day. We love our fellow bloggers and want to pamper them on a day when they should, first and foremost, love themselves. And it’s a free way to beautify for the romantic evening to come. Also, with charging stations and free WIFI, we’ll be keeping the non-stop blogosphere spinning forward, drinks, massages, and popchips included.

We want to introduce hot bloggers to fantastic spas and salons: Spa Merge is the spa at the Hilton on 57th St. With its technologically advance treatments and seriously strong and talented specialists, even the concierge at the Waldorf sends their guests there. Those specialists will take care of our aching backs, chipping nails, and straying brows. NK Salon, famous for their winter weather skin treatments, will bring their skin care expertise to the party.  Completely Bare are coming armed with vajewels. In the salon, they wax and vajazzle the whole shebang. Here, they’ll be giving us a sample. B. Bronze is bringing more than just a sample. Bloggers can get a free top quality full body spray tan. No orange ever, we promise.

We’re also proud to showcase two accessory designers: Louise Manna creates jewelry with innovative chain work, weaving beautifully together and all across the body. Koza creates goods of leisure, bags with prints historically inspired and fabulously executed.

Louise Manna

Koza

Each blogger in attendance will be competing in a Best Dressed Competition. We’re snapping their picture as they walk in the door and posting them to Lookbooks Streetstyle and the blogger with the most “Likes” by YOU wins a Spa Week Gift Certificate. And eternal glory.

Bloggers, can’t wait to see you there! Readers, you should consider blogging so we can invite you to events like this!

Written by Jill Lambiase, LookBooks.com

As obsessed as we may be with fashion here at FashionIndie, we know there’s nothing quite like relaxing in our birthday suits (which never go out of style!). That’s why we are super psyched for National Spa Week (October 11th – 17th), when hundreds of spas across the country offer select spa treatments for only $50.  Between the acupuncture, body scrubs, deep tissue massages and cellulite reduction treatments, you’ll look and feel so good you won’t want to cover up again.

And even when cold weather and social norms require you to once again don your new fall wardrobe, at least you have that relaxed mentality and new vatoo to help you look your best.

Our L.A. girl Courtney Fortune took a one of the Spa Week spots, Spa Xanadu for a spin and we’ve got her tale after the jump. Be sure to book a space sometime this week to get amazing packages at just $50.

Mark your calendars! This April 12-18 come celebrate the 12th Bi-Annual Spa Week®, a week of guiltless relaxation in which premier spas, salons and wellness centers across the country will be treating their customers signature services.

Usually ranging anywhere from $75 to $500 these packages will be made available for just $50! Because there’s no reason a grim economy should make you feel any less gorgeous. And just to ensure that you receive the finest quality treatments, Spa Week® is sending me out to try them first hand (I know, tough job right?) Like many of us I’m someone who, if I’m going to pencil in time to relax, I have to put it on my to-do list. So luckily this weekend I received a treatment that targets stress in one of our body’s most revealing and over-worked places, our face.

For those of us who live downtown and find venturing outside the city limits in LA traffic groan-worthy, making it out past Pasadena is a rarity. But I’ve found a worthy reason. Tucked in among the quiet city beneath the Foothills of Arcadia, California, Spa Xandadu is a charming secret of LA’s surrounding neighborhoods.

As I arrive at Spa Xanadu I am greeted by friendly service and a dark, calm ambience as I’m lead through a hallway of different service rooms for couples and specialty massages. Guest’s pre-session preparation includes two steamy saunas and private whirlpool. Voted “Top Ten Spa in LA” by Spa Living Magazine, Xanadu specializes in marrying select practices from China, Japan and Korea, and feature a number of intriguing treatments that aim to rejuvenate the mind as much as the body. I’ve come to try their special “Oriental Acupressure Facial”, an intimidating title but one I am more than willing to experience (I am, of course, here for research purposes…).

Featured the August ’09 issue of Day Spa Magazine and created by spa director Donna Kan, this facial targets stress points and promotes freshness while eliminating signs of fatigue. It combines super hydrating green tea and rose elements to restore and energize, and pressure point massage to release toxins and stiffness accumulated in the face. I could feel my muscles getting a full-face workout. Our everyday, habitual movements tighten our muscles and skin, causing fine lines and a dim complexion from slowing blood circulation. Think about it, our faces express emotion almost 24 hours a day, and I learned in our session that our jaws and eyes harbor most of the strain because of daily speech, concentration and awareness. Just like the rest of our body, our faces need to be stretched and worked on to relieve the build up of stress.

With use of fragrant essential oils and stimulation of the chin, upper lip, cheek bones and forehead, the acupressure facial tones the skin and rouses blood flow. This combination balances the complexion in all skin types for a younger, healthier look. This treatment also includes a relaxing neck and hand massage with reflexology. Afterward Donna and I discussed ways to combat amassing stress throughout the day, she suggested simple elongating stretches (especially in the morning). Herbal teas, multiple vitamins, short walks, drinking lots of water and pressure point exercises you can do yourself help promote circulation.

If you’re looking for a day spa with character, charming atmosphere and a change of pace from the busy Los Angeles cityscape, I highly recommend the fine services at Spa Xanadu. For the great anticipated Spa Week® event, Xanadu is offering this amazing 50 minute Oriental Acupressure Facial, a 50 minute Aromatherapy Massage with Anti-Stress Massage Oil, and a 75 Min Xanadu Manicure and Pedicure including Eucalyptus, Tea Tree & Wild Marjorica Foot Soak, all for only $50 a piece. Book your next couples appointment or treat yourself to a number of other unique packages including a brand new luxury nail salon! With an opportunity like this, you can afford some well-deserved pampering and believe me LA-goers, it’s well worth the drive.

To learn more about Spa Xanadu visit www.spaxanadu.com

To learn more about Spa Week visit www.spaweek.com, www.spaweekdaily.com

Tweet with us @SPAWEEK

Or be our friend facebook.com/SPAWEEK

Photos courtesy of Donna Chen Kan

About a month ago I was drowning in jealousy of the West Coast spa week, but now it’s time for East Coast!  Pick up your phone and book an appointment, because on October 12th east coast’s spa week will be in full throttle.

If you live in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Toronto, or Canada you can count yourself in!

LINKAGE: Allure

Okay West Coast people, you finally got me. Here’s my one stint of jealousy, savor it because I doubt it’ll will come around to often. News has dropped of a West Coast spa week, which runs from September 14th to the 20th. Yes, a full week during which all the top spas are offering up their best treatments for just $50. Appointment booking for the spa treatments starts today, and we hear the slots are going pretty fast, so if you live in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Las Vegas, Arizona, or Chicago get your hands on a phone and dial.

So us East Coast people are a bit concerned. Where’s our spa week? We deserve it! We’re hearing some whispers of an East Coast version taking place sometime in October, but nothing definite yet. I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

LINKAGE: Allure