Improving your health and wellness, both physical and mental, may seem like a daunting task. We associate improving our health with major lifestyle changes, inconvenient exercise routines or complicated dieting plans, but this doesn’t have to be the case!

There are some surprisingly simple ways to feel and look better that can slot right into your current lifestyle, making them easier to adapt to and maintain. You can’t always find the time to pop into the spa for a massage to break your routine or get advice from our therapists, so this blog will outline possible additions or minor changes to your diet, lifestyle and the products you use in your own home. Not all of them may be perfect for you, but that’s ok! You can adopt as many tips as you like, or use them as a first step into making bigger changes.

Your diet doesn’t only affect your skin and body, but your mental wellness as well. Eating well helps you feel and look better, but we often try to change our diet dramatically; cutting out the foods we love and eating only carefully meal-planned dishes. This can make diets hard to maintain, and demotivate you quickly.

Instead you should start with smaller diet changes first, that can benefit you a great deal on their own, or help transition you into more major changes. For example:

Herbs and Spices
Herbs and Spices don’t just make your food taste amazing, they also have some major health benefits:

• Sage: True to its name, sage is a medicinal herb that’s great at boosting your brain function and memory. It’s also great at fortifying your immune system since it contains antioxidants and is suggested to help reduce blood sugar levels. Sage retains its flavour when dried, so fresh or dried sage can be incorporated into pasta sauces or in meat dishes to give an earthy flavour.

Side Dishes & Fermented Foods
Adding a side dish or small addition to your existing food favourites can also be a great way to boost your diet. I’ve focused on sides that require very little preparation, to have as little of an effect on your routine as possible.

Western Diets are lacking in foods that support your gut health. Fermented Foods contain beneficial bacteria that help with digestion, immunity, weight and mental health, so including them in your diet is a great idea. But what are these probiotic boosting foods? Kimchi, for example, is a popular Korean dish that goes well as a side dish or with dishes that are a little bland. It’s usually made from fermented cabbage, garlic, ginger, spring onions and seasonings. It can be found in any Asian food store in containers of various sizes, so it’s easy to pick up a small packet if you’re not sure if you’ll like it. 

Yoghurt is definitely a familiar food, but it has many benefits you may not be aware of. It can reduce your risk of heart disease, contains a great deal of nutrients and like kimchi, boosts your gut health. Adding Yoghurt to baked goods or breakfast dishes is a great option if you prefer not to eat yoghurt on its own.

Kefir is another fermented drink that’s great for you. It’s common in Eastern Europe and Russia, but you can even make it at home by adding grains to a glass of milk and letting it sit for 24 hours. The grains will prevent it from spoiling and ferment the milk, leaving you with a smooth drinkable yoghurt smoothie! You can strain out the grains before drinking, and they remain healthy and ready to make more Kefir!

Adding or making little changes to your routine can dramatically help your physical and mental health. In this section we will take a look at a few simple tips you can adapt to your lifestyle:

• Epsom Salts: Epsom salts are readily available (and low cost) from pharmacies. By adding them to your bath, they can break down and be absorbed into your skin. The health benefits are endless; reducing swelling, bruising and sprains, helping with insomnia, reducing muscle soreness and chemotherapy discomfort and soothing pain from sunburn.
  
  
• Getting a Regular Amount of Sleep: Sleep can make or break your health, and can really bring your mental wellness down. Setting aside at least 8 hours of sleep at the same time each day is especially important. Many people tend to stay up later on their days off, and this can throw off your body’s natural rhythms. Of course getting to sleep may be easier said than done if you have sleeping problems like insomnia, so you may want to consider our blog post on getting good, restful sleep.

Planning Your Meals: Planning your meals in advance can save you last minute stress or problems with missing ingredients. You may want to set a little time aside each week to plan a few meals, or even make meals in advance if the food can be stored in the fridge or frozen. This also helps you avoid eating takeout or unhealthy snacks when you are too tired to cook at the end of the day.

Set and Track Your Goals: Staying motivated is hard sometimes, so track your progress and reward yourself! You can write down your goals and milestones, and set rewards when you achieve them. Achieved your daily goals? Reward yourself with some self-care time like watching a movie or taking a long bath instead of a shower. Achieved a major goal? Treat yourself to a trip to your favourite restaurant, or a relaxing afternoon at the spa on your day off. Rewards can be as large or as small as you want, but remember that it’s healthy to keep your motivation up.

Many people use skincare and body care products that are popular, or recommended to them by others, without first ensuring that the products are suited to their unique needs. It is important to use products suited for your skin type, otherwise these products can do more harm than good.

Identifying Your Skin Type
Determining your skin type is straightforward if you know what characteristics to look for. First, wash your face with a cleanser and dry your skin. Take note of any of these features that may occur after 30 minutes:

• Dry Skin: You may have dry skin if your skin feels tight and parched. Throughout the day, people with dry skin may also notice a little flaking. Moisturising soon after washing your face, with an intensely hydrating moisturiser, is therefore very important for this skin type.
  
  
• Oily Skin: If you wait an extra 30 minutes and you can observe a slight shine all over your face, your skin may be oily. Identifying oil is easier if you have sheets of skin blotting paper that you can use to test for oil. It is still important to nourish your skin with products, so you may want to use products that are not greasy or oily. Exfoliants or peels will also help get rid of any clogged pores that oily skin is susceptible to causing.
  
  
• Combination Skin: If you only observe shine on your nose, chin and/or forehead, you may have combination skin. Your cheeks, on the other hand, may feel a little dry. To meet the needs of all areas of the face, you may therefore prefer to use gel products, so as not to dry out dry areas and over-hydrate oily ones. It is still important to moisturise after you strip your natural oils away when washing your skin.

​Improving your health doesn’t require a complete change to your lifestyle. It’s better to take small steps, and build upon them, than take a giant leap and struggle to maintain it. But at the end of the day, making small changes for yourself can lead to better physical and mental wellness.

Getting into the routine of maintaining good skin is important, but it’s even more important to book regular sessions at your local spa. Not only will this provide your skin with a plump look and feel, but it will also ensure you protect your body’s largest organ: the skin. One of those treatments is a facial.
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The term facial was previously considered just a treatment for skin conditions, such as acne. However, it is now more broadly used. Today the term includes steam, exfoliation, extraction, creams, lotions, facial masks, peels, and massage - all of which are usually performed in a spa for both men and women.

Until we experience a facial treatment, we don’t realize how much of a positive impact it’s going to have on our faces. With thorough cleansing, deep down into your pores, get ready for glowing, shining skin after your next facial.

It’s Relaxing 
First and foremost a facial is by far one of the most relaxing treatments. Whilst you’re here, sit back and enjoy the pampering session. Especially in the days after leaving the spa, when your skin feels its softest.
 
Reduces Stress
By taking an hour out of your busy life to relax for a facial, you will experience its amazing capability to reduce stress levels within the body. The facial will help to not only increase blood circulation but also allow the blood to transport more nutrients to the skin, creating that glowing look and feel.
 
Anti-Aging 
Through regular facials, your skin muscles will become tighter which ultimately slows down the aging process. By experiencing regular facials, the muscles will be exercised, creating a perception of more lifted, toned, and firm skin.
 
Protects against Environmental Factors 
Your pores fill with dirt and dust while you simply live your everyday life. Within a facial, the therapist can exfoliate deep into the skin removing dead cells, improving skin tone appearance, and reducing pore size.
 
Treats Acne (and other skin issues)
If you’re suffering from acne, and/or other skin conditions, then facials help to reduce redness and inflammation, therefore minimizing the chances of future outbreaks. Extraction, if needed, is also great for removing blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, and preventing breakouts. Anyone struggling with acne can benefit from a facial, alongside a facial scrub, as it clears out the skin and has a purifying effect.
 
Improves Circulation 
As the technician provides a facial massage, the increased blood flow will carry more antioxidants, oxygen, and nutrients into your face. This subsequently creates a healthy glow and radiant look.
 
Eliminates Dark Circles and Bags Under Your Eyes 
Dark circles around the eyes are caused by weakening muscles. The breakdown in collagen causes the fat to shift to the lower eyelids causing dark shadows and puffiness. By experiencing regular facial massages, you can ensure that this skin becomes tighter, therefore preventing any under-eye bags.
 
Treat Yourself
There’s nothing more satisfying than sitting back and letting the professionals get to work on deep cleaning your skin. Not only will it feel fantastic but it will provide lasting softness for the days that follow.

​If you can, having a regular spa facial near you, at least every six weeks, will do wonders for your face; brightening the skin, creating a fresh, glowing look.
 
Here at Carisma Spa, depending on your requirements, we have the desired facial treatments for the need. From face firming to city life shielding - regain brightness, and bring back your natural glow with a Carisma Facial Experience.
 
Our ultimate treatment, however, is the Carisma Signature Facial. Providing instantly visible results, this facial combines biotechnical efficacy with an outstanding anti-aging massage. The outcome is instantly smoother, firmer, and more radiant skin. 
 
To make your experience even more relaxing, some of our treatments include a complimentary relax back, hand, and eye perfection treatments. So you can leave feeling fully refreshed and restored.

​A good time to book yourself in for a facial is as the seasons change. The elements in the air also start to change and this can have effects on your skin. So if you’re not up for a regular 6-week appointment, then quarterly facials each year might be your best option.

In the meantime, if you want to look your best and maintain the youthful appearance of your skin,  regular washing, moisturizing and applying sun protection is what matters most.

Next time you are heading to our spa in Malta, our spa technicians will be more than happy to offer consultations on the products that might work best, for ensuring your skin retains its glow all year round.

A hot stones massage is a form of massage therapy where either heated or cooled stones are placed on the body for the purpose of pain relief, relaxation and therapy.

Dating back to ancient civilizations, hot stone massages were considered a form of healing therapy to provide physical and spiritual ease. Having evolved over time, the stone massage emerged in the late 1900s and quickly became one of the most popular massage techniques of the modern world.

But what does it entail, and why has this massage therapy become so important to our health, reaping many benefits?  

The hot stones massage incorporates techniques of a more regular massage alongside the heated stones. By resting these hot stones on top of your body, therapists can open up the muscles and work into the tissue to remove any tension.

In comparison to a deep tissue massage, through long strokes and circular motions, hot stones subsequently provide a deeper, more relaxing massage experience, with each stone known to pass on its unique energy to you.

The stones used for this massage are usually basalt stones. This is a smooth black rock or river rock made out of iron, helping it retain heat. These hot stones are then placed on different areas of the body, including your spine, stomach, chest, face, palms, feet, and toes.

The therapist will then use Swedish massage techniques to gently rub these stones into your body, subsequently creating what we know as a hot stone massage.

There are an overwhelming number of benefits that make hot stone therapy one of the most relaxing of its kind. Although it calms the muscles, this massage therapy takes us far beyond the spa and uncovers many numerous health benefits. Such benefits include:

Reduction of Stress and Anxiety
Through a hot stone massage, stress, and anxiety - especially among those with cardiovascular problems - is known to be improved as it is the ultimate relaxation massage. A study from 2001 showed that a ten-minute hot stones massage improved cardiovascular responses such as stroke volume, which is usually provoked by stress. 

Relieves Muscle Tension and Pain 
Hot stones therapy is also known to assist with pain, especially with patients experiencing autoimmune diseases. This is because it relaxes the body, reducing muscle tension and spasms. As the stones help to remove tension around the body, the blood flow and circulation further improve, there assisting with previous tension and pain.

Boost Immunity
It seems strange to think that a stone massage can help to improve immunity but it’s proven to be true. With its clear signs of increasing blood flow and stress reduction, a hot stones massage can further increase immunity levels; therefore helping your body fight off any diseases. In fact, according to a 2010 study, a single session of Swedish massage therapy had a positive and acute impact on immunity. 

Reduce Cancer Symptoms
A study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management examined how stones massage affected pain, fatigue, stress and anxiety, nausea, and depression in 1,290 people with cancer. In many cases, hot stones massage therapy provides cancer patients with some sort of comfort during their medical treatment, decreasing anxiety, and depression, and promoting sleep.

Encourage Better Sleep
Body massages are known to promote more restorative sleep. However, a hot stone massage has been even more helpful in promoting this, especially amongst the older generations and those suffering more serious sleep disorders.  Through experiencing a hot stones massage, not only will patients be able to sleep better, but the quality of sleep will also increase. This allows patients to wake up feeling more restored and fully energised.

With all these benefits to experience, there is no better reason to enjoy a hot stones massage today. Sink your body into relaxation and indulge in a Hot Stone Massage at Carisma Spa.

Looking to pamper yourself even further? For a fully indulgent and luxury experience, we recommend you combine your Hot Stones Massage with our exclusive Indian Head Massage for a complete soothing treatment.

Following these two calming treatments, you will leave the spa feeling fresh and fully revitalized inside and out - and ready to face whatever 2020 has left to throw at you.

Book your Hot Stone Massage in Malta Today.

Are you too scared to visit the spa because of your nails? Spent the summer biting, chipping, and ultimately ignoring those nails of yours? 

Well, you’re in luck - as many nail conditions can be avoided through proper fingernail care. We are here to offer some guidance on how to ensure stronger nails that will stay healthier in the long run.

There is something refreshing about having strong, pretty nails - it’s like it unveils a new level of confidence inside of us. So check out our steps to regain that nail confidence, so you can stroll into the spa for your next manicure in a tip, top shape.

Use Cuticle Oil
As part of your regular routine to maintain healthy nails, it has been suggested that moisturizing cuticles will help to retain strong and beautiful nails. If your nails are prone to breakage then using cuticle oil to add some moisture could help prevent damage.

Moisturise Often
If your hands are prone to damage as well, it could be that they just need some extra moisture too. Try to ensure you have both cuticle oil and hand moisturizer at your desk to use daily. When you are also applying hand lotion, make sure to rub just a little bit extra into your nails so they are fully moisturized.

Cut Nails Appropriately 
When trimming your nails, ensure to use sharp manicure scissors or clippers. Trim your nails straight across, then round the tips in a gentle curve. Similarly, don’t try and bite your nails when you don’t have time to cut or file them. Always cut them carefully and this will help them retain their strength.

Try Biotin
Medical experts have suggested that the nutritional supplement biotin might help strengthen weak or brittle fingernails; Including Dr. Kleinsmith, who commented that people with especially weak nails may benefit from the B vitamin.

Wear Gloves
Avoid washing clothes or dishes without wearing gloves, as you will be exposing your skin to hot water and harsh chemicals that can irritate or dry out your hands. Most detergents contain chemicals that help to remove grease from your dishes or stains from your clothes. If you use these liquids without gloves, the chemicals will remove the natural oils from your skin, subsequently making your skin dry out. 

Outside of the kitchen - and come winter - our hands are prone to being cracked and battered by the changes in elements and winds. The best solution here is to wear leather gloves that act as an additional layer in terms of protection.

An additional way of getting your nails done is by leaving it to the professionals. The primary goal of having a manicure or pedicure is to ensure you are maintaining healthy hands and feet. If they are lacking in moisture and your nails are starting to go brittle, then book yourself a spa visit and let the professionals get to work!

By visiting your nail spa often, you will help to enhance your nail health and keep your hands looking young. As the skin on our hands is quite thin, it doesn’t age as well as other areas of our body.

Finally, as well as just keeping your nails strong and healthy, a manicure or pedicure is also good for your own personal well-being. After having a manicure, your feet and hands will both look and feel amazing. These treatments will also help to reduce stress, as your body will calm down, relax and blood circulation will increase whilst you undergo the treatment session.

Are your nails in need of a little tender loving care? If so, leave it to us and we’ll let you relax and unwind whilst we tidy up those nails.

With numerous nail treatments here at Carisma Spa - from manicures to pedicures to gel nails or french manicures - we’ll let you choose your preferred style and we’ll get to work on treating those nails of yours. 

Once your nails are in tip-top shape, why not extend your spa day to a day by the pool, or relax and unwind with one of our massage treatments?

Thai Massage is a traditional healing system that combines assisted yoga postures with acupressure and Indian Ayurvedic principles to relax the body.  It is an ancient form of healing that has been practised alongside other traditional medicines in Thailand for thousands of years. Its origin can be traced to oriental medicine and yoga.

Thai massage therapy is based on the concept of an invisible energy body surrounding every human being. An individual’s energy body consists of over 72,000 individual energy lines. This energy body is divided into ten main energy lines called Sen that supply the organs with vital energy, the life force. Traditional Thai Massage focuses on manipulating the energy on the ten main Sen Lines.”

Getting a massage, especially for the first time, can be intimidating and raise questions like; Is this going to hurt?  Do I keep my underwear on or go buff? But even for those familiar with other types of massage, a Thai massage is completely unique. 

The technique that Thai massage therapists use is very different from what people are used to. Unlike hot stone or deep tissue massages, where a person passively lies on a bed, the client lies on the floor and participates more actively in the massage. Thai Massage is known to relax the whole body. It helps relieve pain by increasing relaxation response and reducing defence arousal response. It is famous not only in Thailand but in other countries as it promotes relaxation, reduces stress, and increases parasympathetic activity in patients with back pain. It also increases blood circulation, decreases blood pressure and heart rate, reduces pain, and promotes relaxation.  Unless you try it yourself, you will not understand why it’s arguably the most approachable of the types of massages. Here are 5 significant things you need to know before your Thai massage therapy.

Thai massage was developed by monks centuries ago. It is said to have been founded by Chiwaka Komaraphat who is said to have been the Buddha's physician over 2,500 years ago. He was known to have extraordinary medical skills and extensive knowledge of herbal medicine.

Among the towering spires and ceramic inlaid stupas of Bangkok’s Wat Pho temple are a group of inscriptions from the 19th Century. Shaded by the wooden eaves, these large marble plaques, known as the Epigraphic Archives of Wat Pho, divulge the secrets of the Thai way of life and are one of the earliest recordings of the techniques of Nuad Thai (Thai massage).

“Unlike more “Western” massage styles, Thai massage’s rich history has been passed down for generations.  As a result, Thai massage has been developed over time and its benefits well researched.” 
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While you might not believe in the energy lines that Thai massage therapists believe circulate throughout the body, you will certainly benefit from the years of experience that has gone into their techniques.

Thai Massage techniques are based on the belief that tight muscles diminish the flow of energy. When your body’s energy is immobile,  its stiffness and inflexibility create discomfort and pain. This practice lends itself to be sustainable for both giver and receiver, and is often  described as “Thai Yoga Massage” and the “Lazy Yoga.” Traditional Thai Massage uses two major techniques. They include:

The Royal Thai Massage Technique (“rajasamnak”)
The Royal Thai massage technique affects the deep organs and tissues by increasing circulation of blood and increasing nerve function. Massage therapists must have the anatomical knowledge and a wealth of experience to be able to perform this type of massage correctly. This technique requires the use of only hands and fingertips for acupressure the whole time without exhaling over the patient.  For this massage treatment, the patient will either lay on their back, their sides or sit-up. There is no laying face down like the common Thai massage technique.

The Common Thai Massage Technique  (“chalosiak”)
The Common Thai massage technique helps to relieve overall muscle strain, tightness, and tension. It stimulates blood and energy flow throughout the body.  This technique requires the use of hands, feet, knees, elbows, etc. If the therapist does not have the expertise it can cause the loss of bone joints or is likely to cause bruising of the muscles or capillaries, so it is important to go to a spa that has skilled & experienced therapists.

Thai massage benefits your mental and physical health in numerous ways. It stimulates all organs of your body and balances all systems of the body, making it a powerful therapy for your physical and emotional problems. During a traditional Thai massage, gentle pressure is applied to the internal organs of the abdomen with the different Yoga postures and the abdomen-massage.

Studies done on these Hatha Yoga positions have shown the stimulation to cause the internal organs to begin functioning at their highest capacity. This improves digestion, nutrient absorption, waste elimination, and the circulation of blood and lymph.

The 6 proven health benefits of Thai massage include:

1. It can help ease your migraines or tension headaches. In several small studies, researchers found that Thai massage therapy can reduce the intensity of both migraine and tension headaches. They also concluded that the benefits of Thai massage could last anywhere from several days to around 15 weeks.
2. It reduces back pain. Studies show that Thai massage reduces low back pain associated with trigger points — tight, painful muscle clusters — in the upper back.
3. It can relieve joint stiffness and pain, especially for people with knee arthritis. Studies say that three weeks of Thai massage provides the same pain relief as three weeks of ibuprofen 
4. It increases flexibility and range of motion, which is especially great for athletes. Research has shown that Thai massage improves speed and agility as well as your ability to move around easily. Thai massage enhances blood flow and oxygen supply to muscles; this may help reduce pain and decrease muscle adhesions.
5. It eases anxiety.  One of the most appealing aspects of Thai massage therapy is the sense of calm and relaxation it can bring. Although Thai massage is more energetic than types of massages, it has shown to lower anxiety and increase a systemic feeling of calm.
6. It revives energy. Thai massage integrates whole-body movements, especially yoga-like postures. This is why people leave Thai massage sessions feeling not only relaxed but also rejuvenated.

If you want a change from your traditional types of massage, or you are particularly stiff or sore due to exercise or arthritis, Thai massage may be just what you're looking for.  You can Book a Thai Massage session now, with one of Carisma’s Thai Massage experts.

All types of massage, including Thai massage, can help people relax, temporarily relieve muscle pain, and boost a person's mood.  While it has many health benefits, Thai massage also has its side effects.

“Although a person of any age can get a Thai massage, it is not appropriate for everybody”.  Thai massage may not be safe for someone with the following health conditions:

• Disk herniation
• Osteoporosis
• Heart disease.
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Cancer

You should not get a Thai massage if you are pregnant or have just undergone surgery, as the technique could pose health risks. The physical intensity of this massage technique could lead to health complications or worsen pre-existing injuries.
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If you're considering trying Thai massage but are concerned with your medical history,  it's a good idea to check with your health care provider first before getting massage treatment.

The Thai massage treatment unlike other types of massages requires you keep your clothes on throughout the massage. You can either wear your own loose-fitting clothes, or your therapist may have you change into scrub-like garments — a loose cotton top and drawstring pants.

You will lie on a mat or massage mattress on the floor whilst your massage therapist slowly moves your body through multiple stretches, using the weight and pressure of their body to assist you. Unlike Swedish massage, oil isn’t used and your muscles typically aren’t kneaded. Instead, your therapist will use their hands, thumbs, elbows, and knees to stretch and pull different parts of your body.  Through this stretching, you’ll relieve muscle tension, increase muscle flexibility, add to your muscle tone, and improve joint mobility. 
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Some of these stretches may involve going through yoga-like movements with your therapist holding or pulling you to maintain a pose. As the therapist draws attention to each part of your body, you will recognize previously ignored sources of tension and can release them. “Thai massage keeps you more present within your body throughout the process, so you’ll discover that you’re better able to identify those sources of tension following the massage and prevent them from coming back, rather than simply being relieved that they’re gone”.

If your muscles are sore or tense, you may feel some discomfort. If you do, let your therapist know so the pressure and stretching can be reduced. Also, if you have an injury, or if some part of your body is sensitive to pain, let your therapist know before they start the massage session.

​Without using oil, this vigorous massage is orientated around energy flows and points on the body. It is an energetic technique that triggers well-being while relieving tension and stiffness. Enjoy a relaxing Thai Massage Experience at the best massage spa in Malta.