7 Tips To Help Protect Your Skin From The Sun

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Archive for March, 2017

7 Tips To Help Protect Your Skin From The Sun

Posted on: March 27th, 2017

With many traveling to warm, sandy beaches for spring break and with sunny weather just right around the corner it is important to know how to protect your skin from harmful, damaging rays.

Why it is important to protect your skin from the sun

It does not take much time in the sun for your skin to soak up the Vitamin D needed. Repeated unprotected exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause skin damage, eye damage, immune system suppression, and skin cancer. According to skincancer.org, about 90 percent of non melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

 7 tips to help protect your skin from the sun

  • Wear sunscreen. We all know this one! Choose a sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before heading outdoors. Make sure your SPF says ‘Broad Spectrum”.
  • SPF your moisturizer. Choose a hydrating moisturizer with an SPF of 30 or higher.
  • UV filters in sunglasses. One of the first areas to show signs of aging, the skin around the eyes needs extra hydration even if the rest of your face doesn’t. Sunglasses help shield the skin around your eyes from skin-aging UV rays.
  • Wear protective clothing. Sunglasses, oversized hats and protective outerwear can help protect your skin.
  • Seek shade when possible. Between the hours of 10:00am – 4:00pm the sun’s rays are the strongest. Seek shade during these times to minimize your sun exposure.
  • Moisturize your lips. Your lips soak up the sun too! Protect your lips by applying a lip-protection balm at least every hour.
  • Extra skin protection. For extra protection against sun-induced free radical damage, apply a vitamin C serum after cleansing.

Click to find out more about our aesthetics and massage therapy curriculum and how to enroll. Financial aid for all who qualify!

St. Patrick’s Day Smoothie

Posted on: March 17th, 2017

healthy shamrock green smoothieTis the season for St. Patrick’s Day shamrock shakes, but what if there was a healthier smoothie you could whip up that tastes great and is incredibly good for you?! There is! The ingredient that makes this healthy smoothie green is kale. Kale is known as one of those super foods with amazing benefits. What makes kale so great? Keep reading!

Benefits of adding kale to your smoothies

Just one cup of kale contains:

  • 3 grams of protein
  • Vitamins A,B,C & K
  • Minerals including phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and zinc
  • 2.5 grams of fiber
  • Folate, Manganese, Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium
  • Alpha-linolenic acid and omega-3 fatty acid
  • Lutein and Zeaxanthin, which gives kale its dark green color.

Convinced that kale is a superfood yet? Kale is among the most nutrient dense foods on the planet. It is packed with powerful antioxidants help counteract oxidative damage by free radicals in the body. Kale is also much higher in vitamin C than most other vegetables, containing about 4.5 times much as spinach. In honor of everything green, we want to share a healthy green ‘Shamrock’ smoothie recipe.

Healthy ‘Shamrock’ Smoothie

1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk or coconut milk
2 hand-fulls of kale
1/4 cup pineapple chunks
1/2 a ripe avocado
1 scoop protein powder
1 cup ice cubes

Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend away!

At our nationally accredited Chicago area massage therapy and aesthetics school, nutrition and juicing is an important part of our programs. We believe it is not only important what types of products you use on your skin, but also what you put in your body. It is essential to have good health from the inside out. Our massage therapy classes start April 25th and our Aesthetics classes start April 24th. Learn more about our programs, our financial aid assistance and how to apply here —> Learn How To Enroll 

10 Tips To Quiet The Mind With Meditation

Posted on: March 11th, 2017

10 tips to to quiet the mind with meditationWhether you are looking for more peace in your life or ways you can de-stress, meditation could be exactly what you need!

10 tips to quiet the mind with meditation

  1. Make time for meditation daily. Find the right time that will work for you and when you are able to fit it in daily.
  2. Find a quiet space. Consider having dim to no lights and diffuse essential oils to help your mind and body relax. For example Lavender oil can help you feel at ease.
  3. Find a relaxing position. During meditation it is important to find a position where your body can completely relax. Whether it is sitting ‘indian style’ or laying on your back, find what works for you!
  4. Close your eyes and breathe. Begin every practice by breathing deeply, slowly inhaling and then exhaling and focusing solely on your breath.
  5. Put on some relaxing music.
  6. Let go of all expectations. Do not have any expectations of what you need or want to happen. In the beginning, just learn how to quiet the mind and relax. There is no right or wrong when it comes to meditation.
  7. Be present throughout the day. Do not be concerned with what you should have done or what you still need to do during the day. Be completely present during each moment and it will helps silence any other thoughts or distractions.
  8. Turn off all electronics. No distractions!
  9. End your meditation slowly. When you are finished, do not stand up quickly. Ease yourself in standing up and opening your eyes. Let your body become aware of your surroundings and then slowly open your eyes.
  10. Stay committed. Stay the course and stay committed! Over time you will learn how to relax your mind and dive into a meditative state quicker with each practice.

At USTA, we understand how important it is to incorporate meditation into your daily life. For all of our aesthetics and massage therapy students, the meditation room is FREE to all students who wish to use it.

5 Reasons To Schedule A Massage This Spring

Posted on: March 5th, 2017

5 reasons to schedule a massage in springThere are many benefits to receiving regular massages but if it has been awhile, Spring time is the perfect time to schedule your next appointment! Winter can take a toll on our bodies and Spring brings more outdoor and physical activities. From muscle recovery to allergy relief, a massage can make all the difference in helping your body get back and keep the best health and wellness shape.

5 Reasons to schedule a massage

  1. Seasonal allergy relief. Massages may help in dealing with allergy symptoms like congestion, puffy eyes, sneezing, coughing and headaches. While massage can’t eliminate the specific allergy, it can be very effective in managing the symptoms. A facial massage has also been known to help with sinus drainage and pressure relief!
  2. Help with injuries. Massage helps relax and soften injured and overused muscles. This helps to increase circulation to shorten recovery time which is necessary for tissue repair.
  3. Pain and stiffness. Spring is the perfect time to start activities outside but these activities can cause muscle fatigue, pain and stiffness. Help keep your body more fluid and active with regular massages.
  4. Brightens mood. Massage increases the levels of serotonin and dopamine, which are both neurotransmitters that help stabilize your mood. So kick those winter blues with a regular massage!
  5. Reduce stress. Experts estimate that 80 percent to 90 percent of disease is stress-related. De-stress and relax with a massage.

As a Chicago area massage therapy school, we believe that true effectiveness and profitability for a massage therapist begins with self discovery, personal growth and understanding the power of touch between therapist and client. Understanding the power from within ensures the most effective, well rounded, therapists upon graduation and it is what sets us apart from other massage schools. Learn more about our nationally accredited massage therapy school and the techniques you will learn in our program!