Beauty & Fitness

Feel better, look your best
Make your inside better and your outside will follow suit. Looking great depends on feeling your absolute best and feeling your absolute best could depend on the ancient Japanese energy work of Reiki.

According to Pamela Zino, Reiki provider at Hudson Valley Community Reiki, people feel peaceful, refreshed and more closely aligned to a positive sense of self after just one Reiki session.

She explains, "There is a divine energy that is always present in the body. Sometimes it gets out of kilter
and disease sets in."

Reiki is a hands-on form of energy healing. A practitioner places their hands over and on someone's body as a gentle way to restore balance to her mind, body and spirit. It has been proven safe and effective for reducing pain, sleeplessness and stress.

Zino insists, "The Reiki energy traveling through one's hands seems to communicate with the energy resonating from the other person's body and helps to balance that person's sense of well-being, relaxation and wholeness."

While Reiki can begin working in as little as one 20-minute session, according to Zino, it is also cumulative.

"The more one receives or gives it - to oneself or others - the greater the effects."

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Make 2018 Ultra Violet
Even though the long, cold Hudson Valley winter may have you feeling gray, 2018 is looking like it's going to be Ultra Violet.

Each year, based on trends in fashion, cars, food and even housewares, color "experts" at Pantone decide on the color that sets the pace for the rest of the year. This year's color? A vibrant popping purple that will knock the gray out of any day.

Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute insists that the color of the year choice has much more to do with the future than the trends of the past. She says, "The Pantone Color of the Year has come to mean so much more than 'what's trending' in the world of design; it's truly a reflection of what's needed in our world today."

What is needed in our world today is a unique and powerful color that will inspire people to be original and express themselves.

Add a little Ultra Violet to your life, and see the difference some color can make! Grab a sassy scarf, a new matte lipstick or how about a fancy new pair of pumps to wear to date night? Our editor added some Ultra Violet to her life, using only purple pens at the office. She's feeling more expressive and artistic already.  

According to Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, "Ultra Violet lights the way to what is yet to come."

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Revitalize your skin with a facial
After months of lounging in the sun, your skin is tired and damaged. Take some time just for you and get your skin feeling smooth, rejuvenated and healthy.

Paula Fidanza, owner and licensed esthetician at C'est La Vie Spa & Salon in Middletown, says a facial can be just the boost your skin needs.

For moms specifically, she suggests a series of six facials to revitalize the skin and reverse any damage that has been done during the summer.

She says, "For moms and women over 30 we suggest trying one of our clinical facials. Our aging treatments, microdermabrasion or hyper pigmentation treatments can only be done in the winter because you shouldn't be in the sun after you have had one."

Fidanza insists that only licensed estheticians perform facials, and they are gentle and focused on each woman's skin type.

Feel great between facials with Skin Ceuticals full of antioxidants and anti-aging properties. "We always send you home with products to keep your skin feeling great between treatments. The product regimen is tailored to you, just like the facials."

Looking to turn back the clock, erase sun damage or just take care of your dry winter skin? Treat yourself to a facial.

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Take a hike
People recognize the Hudson Valley for its gorgeous fall foliage but our beautiful community turns into a snowy wonderland in the winter.

Keep your heart healthy and your family active on a hike fit exactly to your fitness abilities. With so many great hiking spots in your county, you don't have to wait until the summer to hit the trails.

Clear your head and breathe in the crisp winter air and spend your Me Time doing something good for your body and mind.

There are trails that ramble through rocky outcroppings for the more experienced hiker or strolls through paved rail trails or walkways.

Whatever your ability, we have the perfect spot for you. Hudson Valley Parent has rounded up some of our favorite hiking spots and compiled them into a list for you. Lace up your favorite boots and head to HVParent.com/Cold-Hiking-Spots to pick a hike just for you.