Autumn can be a time when many of us feel drained, tired, overworked, and unappreciated.  This could be for many reasons.  If you are like me, summertime is the happiest time of year – waves, warm water, friends, parties, and fun – and the only thing shining brighter than the smile on my face is the sun in the sky.  Accustomed to a northern climate, my body takes the slightest hint of a chill as a signal that frosts and snowstorms are just around the corner and unless I’m riding down a slope, I want no part of sub-freezing temperatures.  There’s a reason I moved to the beach!  Another reason we might feel wiped out is that family and community events tend to monopolize our free time in the Fall, and we forget to take a moment to focus on ourselves.
Many people let go of routines during the summertime – either we are too busy with work, too busy having fun, or perhaps the longer days throw off our ability to stick to a normal schedule.  With the Fall rolling around, you may find it difficult to return to your customary agenda.  While you are settling back into the program, be sure to plan some personal time for yourself and use that time to nourish your body, your mind, and your spirit.  If you are a reader, take an hour in the morning or in the evening to dive into a good book or article, and don’t allow work or stress to enter your thoughts. If you need to sweat out your frustrations, set aside a regular time, and hit the gym. If you don’t have a gym membership, check out our specials page  for information on our Fall Membership Drive!
Yoga is another excellent way to diminish stress and focus on yourself and improving your perspective. Yoga is a healing practice which is not only great for the mind but excellent for the body.  Check out our yoga schedule  or stop into the Spa to pick up a fitness class schedule.  If exercise isn’t your idea of quality “YOU” time, consider a massage or Spa treatment to relax you from the outside in, while you meditate and unwind from the inside out.  Don’t let the changing seasons wear you out – taking personal time for yourself will not only help you adjust to new schedules and daylight hours, but it will refresh your energy and your spirit. Spiral up!

Fall has arrived and so have some spectacular specials at Spa Koru! In the month of October Spa Koru is giving back by having a “Pink” sale. We are putting various pink items on sale and donating a portion of the proceeds to the Breast Cancer Foundation. The products range from shampoos and conditioners to clothing and skin care products! The specials don’t stop there!  Prior to checking out our “Pink” be sure to schedule a seasonal facial and receive a free gift bag as part of October’s “Trick or Treatment” giveaway!  Experience a Pumpkin Peel facial with our renowned organic skincare line “Eminence” and take home an eco-friendly Spa Koru bag filled with goodies!  For more information on Spa Koru’s specials for October please visit our website at www.spakoru.com.

Green tips of the month:
October’s “green” tip of the month is: How to Become a “Green” Consumer!
Purchase a re-useable organic tote, like Spa Koru’s new organic canvas tote sold in the Koru Boutique. By purchasing one of these re-useable totes you can cut down on consumption while saving the natural environment. For more “green” tips on how to become a green consumer please visit our website, www.spakoru.com, and visit our “Spa News” section.

Global Mala SKY Restorative Yoga Class
Spa Koru Yoga had a great turnout on Sunday, September 21 for Global Mala SKY Restorative Yoga Class.  SKY offered a two-hour Restorative Yoga Class to create inner-peace and recognize world peace through Global Mala.  Global Mala is the yoga world’s offering to further the UN International Peace Day.  A HUGE thank you to all that attended this SKY class and making it a success!

Spa Koru is hosting or participating in a number of activities throughout the month of October.

Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation Fun Run!
Saturday, October 11
Come join Spa Koru’s Running Club and participate in the 5K to support HICF.  Registration forms are available at Spa Koru’s Front Desk.

The Outer Banks Hospital Health Fair
Saturday, October 18 at Cape Hatteras Secondary School
Spa Koru is participating in The Outer Banks Hospital Health Fair.  We will be joined by our Acupuncturist, Trafford Hill.  If you are interested in learning more about Acupuncture or Spa Koru, please visit our booth!

Skirt! Away to the Outer Banks Yoga Retreat
October 25-26
Spa Koru is hosting a weekend-full of adventure and yoga for the ladies of Skirt! Magazine.

Monster Mash
Wednesday, October 28 at 7:00 pm
In the spirit of Halloween, come dressed in your favorite Halloween costume and learn the Michael Jackson classic,” Thriller,” from Kristi Davidson.

Halloween!
Friday, October 31
Spa Koru welcomes all Trick-or-Treater’s from 6:00-8:00 pm.  Come dressed to impress!

For more information on all of the happenings at Spa Koru, please visit our Fitness and Event Calendar at www.spakoru.com/eventcalendar

As many people know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.  A staggering number of women and men are affected by this disease each year. The American Cancer Society estimates that breast cancer ould result in 40,480 deaths this year, which will include both women and men.  Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women next to lung cancer and the number one leading cause of death in women ages 30 to 50. A healthy diet and regular physical activity can help reduce your risk of Breast Cancer. Here are some early detection guidelines from the A.C.S. :

• Annual mammograms are recommended for women in their 40’s and continuing every year for as long as the woman is in good health.
• A clinical breast exam should be part of a periodic health exam about every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s
• Women at high risk should get an MRI and a mammogram every year. Women at moderately increased risk should talk with their health care providers about the benefits and limitations of adding MRI screening to their annual mammogram. Annual mammograms are not recommended for women whose life risk factor is less than 15%
• Although there are no known causes of breast cancer in men, men should take the same preventative measures as women to detect early stages of breast cancer

Spa Koru is joining the effort to raise awareness about this devastating disease. There are several locations within the Spa to deposit Yoplait “pink” lids, which we will be sending to Yoplait at the end of the month. Yoplait donates $.10 to Susan B. Komen for the Cure for every lid collected! Spa Koru is also hosting a “pink” sale in the retail boutique - recieve 20% off all “pink” items! To see what you can do to help raise money andawareness for breast cancer, visit www.breastcancer.org

As the cold weather starts to blow in, your fitness routine doesn’t have to blow out!  There are many indoor alternatives that you may incorporate into your routine as Fall approaches.  Spa Koru offers a variety of group exercise classes that appeal to men and women of all ages and fitness levels.  Hatha Yoga Levels 1&2 is on Mondays and Thursdays at 5:30 pm.  Yoga of the Day is on Tuesdays at 9:00 am, Wednesdays at 5:30 pm and Fridays at 8:30 am.  Yoga is the perfect exercise method to release stress, while increasing strength and flexibility at the same time.  Spa Koru also offers many other group exercise classes that you have to try, especially when the weather forces you indoors.  Spa Koru has a variety cardio equipment, weight-machines and free-weights in our state-of-the-art fitness center.  We have certified personal trainers on staff if you need that extra push to get motivated for Fall.  If you still have the itch to get outside, by dressing properly and by following the cold-weather safety tips below, you can still exercise outdoors. (Tips courtesy of The Mayo Clinic)

Dress in layers. Start with a thin layer of synthetic material such as polypropylene, which draws sweat away from your body. Next try fleece for insulation. Top this with a waterproof, breathable outer layer. To warm the air you breathe, wear a face mask or a scarf over your mouth. Remember to wear a hat and gloves, too.

Choose appropriate gear. If you’ll be outdoors when natural light is poor, wear reflective clothing. To stay steady on your feet, choose footwear with enough traction to prevent falls. Wear a helmet for skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling.

Remember sunscreen. Snow reflects the sun’s rays, so sunburn is possible even if you’re cold. You might want to wear lip balm, too.

Head into the wind. You’ll be less likely to get chilled on the way back if you end your workout — when you may be sweaty — with the wind at your back.

Drink plenty of fluids. Drink water or sports drinks before, during and after your workout — even if you’re not thirsty.

When it’s cold outdoors, there’s no need to give up and hit the couch. With a little planning and creativity, you can step up to the challenges of Fall exercise.

Spa Koru Yoga hosted a Global Mala SKY Restorative Class on Sunday, Spetember 21, 2008. The two-hour event celebrated the changing of the season and aimed to create inner peace while recognizing World Peace through Global Mala. After the class, participants enjoyed an “Around the World” catered tapas lunch prepared and provided by chef Tracy Morris.

The purpose of Global Mala is to unite the global yoga community from every continent, school, or approach to form a “mala around the earth” through collective practices on September 21st, as the yoga world’s offering to further the UN International Peace Day.

Check out photos from the event by going to our Yoga Page.

Thank you to all participants! Stay tuned for updates on our next SKY event!

Are you an optimist or a pessimist? How you view the world can have a profound effect on your health and longevity. If you tend to see the glass half empty, learning how to put a positive spin on things can drastically reduce stress and improve your quality of life. Studies have proved that positive thinking impacts your health in a number of ways including:

• decreased negative stress
• improved ability to cope with problems
• greater resistance to the common cold
• reduced risk of coronary artery disease

There are several ways that individuals misinterpret and perceive situations as negative.  Negative thinking people often get “tunnel vision” and can see only the bad aspects, while blocking the good. They also have a tendency to blame themselves for problems instead of objectively seeing the cause.  Catastrophizing and immediately anticipating the worst is another way individuals can harm their outlook. Negative thinkers also polarize, or see things as either good or bad, black or white. When you lose the ability to see and accept a middle ground, you can severely harm your reasoning faculties.

All of these habits can overwhelm you and hinder your ability to logically assess a situation. However, there are planty of ways to turn negative thoughts into positive thinking. Negative thinking after all is a habit, and habits can be unlearned! Here are a few examples of negative thoughts tat can be given a positive spin:

“I’ve never done this before” becomes “This is an opportunity to learn something new”

“There’s not enough time” becomes “Let’s re-evaluate some priorities and make time”

“No one communicates with me” becomes “I will try to open the lines of communication”

Any new skill takes practice, so while learning to think positively will significantly improve the quality of ones life, it will not happen overnight. Fortunately, the outcome is well worth the effort. So begin thinking positively, and start managing your stress and your health i a constructive way. Your life will change for the better!

            Are you an optimist or a pessimist? How you view the world can have a profound effect on your health and longevity. If you tend to see the glass half empty, learning how to put a positive spin on things can drastically reduce stress and improve your quality of life. Studies have proved that positive thinking impact your health in a number of ways including:

·    decreased negative stress

·    improved ability to cope with problems

·    greater resistance to the common cold

·    reduced risk of coronary artery disease

            There are several ways that individuals misinterpret and perceive situations as negative. Negative thinking people often get “tunnel vision” and can see only the bad aspects, while blocking the good. They also have a tendency to blame themselves for problems instead of objectively seeing the cause. Catastrophizing and immediately anticipating the worst is another way individuals can harm their outlook.  Negative thinkers also polarize, or see things as either good or bad, black or white.  When you lose the ability to see and accept a middle ground, you can severely harm your reasoning faculties.

            All of these habits can overwhelm you and hinder your ability to logically assess a situation. However, there are plenty of ways to turn negative thoughts into positive thinking.  Negative thinking after all is a habit, and habits can be unlearned! Here are a few examples of negative thoughts that can be given a positive spin:

“I’ve never done this before” becomes “This is an opportunity to learn something new”

“There’s not enough time” becomes “Let’s re-evaluate some priorities and make time”

“No one communicates with me” becomes “I will try to open the lines of communication”

            Any new skill takes practice, so while learning to think positively will significantly improve the quality of ones life, it will not happen overnight. Fortunately, the outcome is well worth the effort. So begin thinking positively, and start managing your stress and your health in a constructive way and change your life for the better!

We have many new and exciting activities and events for the coming month to celebrate the end of Summer and the beginning of Fall.  Fall is the perfect time to adjust your exercise routine and try something new!

Spa Koru Running Club:
Spa Koru Running Club will meet every Monday and Wednesday morning at 6:00 am in the lobby of Spa Koru.  Running distances and paths will vary from week to week, but we will always meet first at Spa Koru.  Spa Koru Running Club was formed to train for the OBX Mara1/2thon.  Gateway Bank Half Marathon is Sunday, November 9, 2008.
This is FREE and open to the public.
If you would like to become a member of the Spa Koru Running Club, please sign-up at the front desk.
To learn more about the OBX Marathon, please visit www.obxmarathon.org

Spa Koru Yoga Presents:
Global Mala
SKY Restorative Yoga Class

Sunday, September 21, 2008
1:00-3:00 pm  Restorative Yoga Class at SKY
3:00-4:00 pm  “Around the World” Tapas

$40.00 per person

Space is limited, so please sign-up at the front desk.

Spa Koru Yoga is offering a Restorative Yoga Class to celebrate the changing of the season.  Relax and renew, while creating inner-peace and recognizing Global Mala.
The purpose of Global Mala is to unite the global yoga community from every continent, school or approach to form “mala around the earth” through collective practices on Sept. 21st, as the yoga world’s offering to further the UN International Peace Day.

Great Strides Walk for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation:
As a member of the Outer Banks Wedding Association, Spa Koru has donated a gift basket to be raffled for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Great Strides Walk.  GREAT STRIDES: Taking Steps to Cure Cystic Fibrosis is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s largest national fund-raising event. Tens of thousands of co-workers, friends and family come together each year as one community for one cause…to help find a cure for CF.  Great Strides Walk will take place at Dare County Family Recreation Park in Kill Devil Hills September 13, 2008 at 9:00 am.  If you are interested in participating in Great Strides Walk, please visit www.cff.org for more information.
New Group Exercise Classes:
With the changing of the season, our fitness calendar has also been updated.

Dance Cardio
Saturdays at 9:00 am
Instructor:  Kristi Davidson
High-energy cardio workout incorporating basic salsa and swing dance movements.  This class is geared towards all levels!

Salsa
Tuesdays at 6:30 pm
Instructor: Kristi Davidson
Come and learn to Salsa, Rumba, Cha-Cha, Mambo and Tango.  In this dance class, you will learn how to dance Latin hip motion, how to lead and follow, turns, dips and fan movement.  Alone or with a partner, come and learn to Salsa!  This class is open to all ages and levels.

Ju-Jitsu
Thursdays at 6:30 pm
Instructor: Ryan Dawson?Adults (18 & over) only! (Strictly enforced)?An introduction to the martial arts form of Ju-Jitsu. We recommend wearing long pants, ?and avoiding clothing with buttons. Your clothing may be stretched during this class - ?please be advised!
Happy Hour
Fridays at 5:30 pm
Instructor: Terri Mohnal
High energy total body workout combines athletic aerobic movements with easy to follow choreography and strength exercises to improve your overall fitness.  Have fun and get your weekend off to a great start!

Yoga of the Day Levels 1-2
Tuesdays at 9:00 am, Wednesdays at 5:30 pm and Fridays at 8:30 am
Instructor: Tami Thompson
A beginner/intermediate class that uses a variation of asanas and themes each week to completely stretch and relax the body.

Visit the Spa Koru Event Calendar for the schedule and descriptions of all our great group exercise classes.

        If you haven’t already noticed Spa Koru has been progressively changing its ways over the past couple of months to become a “greener” company. We use all organic products in several departments of the Spa. Miss Bonnie has been using organic cleaning supplies to make Spa Koru sparkle! The salon at Spa Koru uses the “Pureology” line which is organic and has many different products ranging from shampoo to everyday styling products. In our spa treatments we use all organic products ranging from our massage oil to our fresh lavender for our body treatments. Those are just a few of the steps we are taking to become a “greener” company, and we have so much more to come!
A new month means new specials! Just because the season is winding down and the sun is soon to be in the shadows of the clouds does not mean your summer tan has to fade away. Spa Koru is offering a sunless tan special of buy two sunless tans and receive one free! Also our personal training sessions went so well in the month of August that we decided to keep it around for another month, so book a personal training and receive the other for only $10! Please check out our website at www.spakoru.com for more information.

Green tips of the month: How to lower your Utility Bill
There are many ways to lower your utility bill but here are just a few suggestions Spa Koru came up with to save the earth and for you to save some money!

• Unplug all appliances when not in use. Even if the appliance is not on but still plugged into the outlet, it is using energy.
• Turn your thermostat up 2 degrees in the summer and down 2 degrees in the winter. This will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2,000 lbs. per year! Additionally, heating and air conditioning generally accounts for the biggest portion of your electric bill, so it’s a great place to target your energy-saving efforts!
• Washing your laundry in cold water will reduce your carbon emissions by 5,000 lbs. per year as well as save you up to $110 per year on your utility bill! Many companies are now featuring cold water detergent that works just as well in cold water as in warm!