Kohler Waters Spa at the Old Course Hotel

…Everywhere you go……and I almost cannot contain my excitement! You know when Christmas is coming when you see the return of those festive little things like red coffee cups in Starbucks, the magical “holidays are coming” Coca-Cola advert and the launch of a new John Lewis festive TV campaign appears on our TV screens in a prime time slot on a Saturday night!  I just love this year’s ad, brings a little tear to the eye!

For many of us the Christmas shopping frenzy has already started. At Kohler Waters Spa we have just launched our brand new and simply delicious Christmas gift collection from NEOM. Each year NEOM release an exclusive range of fabulous winter hibernation treats – which are always at the top of the Christmas wish list for both me and my friends! The Christmas Wish Candle, my absolute favourite, is literally Christmas in a box! It’s packed with a variety of warm spices and soothing fruit notes of Cinnamon, Ginger, Mandarin & Tonka Bean. This glorious scent is best enjoyed with warm glass of mulled wine, a mince pie (or two) and rich chocolate truffles- truly scrumptious! And if that wasn’t enough to give you a warm, fuzzy feeling inside then I am sure this will….for every candle sold NEOM will donate £1 to Make-A-Wish Foundation, granting magical wishes to children & young people fighting life-threatening illnesses.

To view many more of our Christmas inspirational gift collections, visit our Spa Boutique and our online shopping site, Kohler at Home, and don’t forget to make your Christmas Wish….

I do hope you can join us on Saturday 26^th & Sunday 27^th November for our wonderful Christmas Emporium. The perfect opportunity to pick up a few Christmas gifts!

Take care

Victoria

Hi everyone!

I’d like to start by saying thank you to Jean Kolb for sharing her wonderful tips on achieving an inner wellbeing.  I hope you all found her thoughts to be as inspirational as I did. In the last few weeks we’ve really seen a big change in our weather and as Derek said in his Green Keeping blog, we really can’t deny that autumn is here!

Ever since I was a wee girl, autumn has always been my favourite season. It’s cold enough that I can wear my cosy knitwear – but it’s not too cold that I need to wear a coat! It also the time of year when we begin to see shorter days and cooler nights, and we watch leaves turn from green to vivid colours of gold and red. St Andrews always looks so beautiful at this time of year. I also love that autumn brings with it many changes; some would say that the change of season signifies an energetic shift in our environment. It is as these seasonal changes occur that we are most vulnerable to coughs & colds, for example, and we generally begin to feel run down with the thought of Christmas already on our minds! Making a few simple changes to your day to day life is a great way to help your body adjust to these changes. Here are my top 3 tips:

1. Work It! No health regimen is complete without some form of exercise. Whether it is taking a power walk through the park, chariots of fire run on the beach or a high impact workout at the gym; there is no shadow of a doubt that exercise can improve your mood, strengthen your heart and lungs, and reduce stress.

2. Eating fresh, local produce. Some foods we recommend include spinach, celery, dark leafy greens, dates, peanuts, onions, bamboo shoots and mushrooms.

3. It’s About Time – for you! Taking time out for about two hours per week is known to reduce stress and improve your overall wellbeing and happiness. At Kohler Waters Spa we have created a package that focuses on your specific needs, by allowing you to customise and build your own spa package, choosing  the services that are important and reflective of your needs. Please visit our website for more information.

Alternatively why not spa at home? This homemade pumpkin enzymatic face mask is so simple and will certainly make you feel truly pampered! I just love this recipe created by the co-founder of the Californian range The Body Delis. All you need is pumpkin pie puree (try goodnessdirect.co.uk) , a few other ingredients and you will have glowing and delicious smelling skin! For best results, enjoy whilst soaking in a warm bubble bath!

Ingredients:

• 1 can pumpkin pie puree (organic if possible)
• 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp. pumpkin seed oil
• 1 pinch cinnamon
• 1 pinch nutmeg

Directions:

• Place half the can of pumpkin puree in a bowl and mix in the lemon juice, pumpkin seed oil and spices.
• Apply the mask to the face and allow your skin to soak up the goodness for at least 10-15 minutes.
• Wash off with warm water.

The recipe makes two treatments, and will last up to five days in the refrigerator.

If you have any other recipes for fabulous homemade face masks then please do share them with us. Should you have any questions about the Kohler Waters Spa then please do let me know.

Best wishes

Victoria

Hello, welcome back to the Kohler Waters Spa blog.

Have you ever noticed that the only difference between “in balance” and “imbalance” is the letter “M”?  I find it interesting as we sometimes think of imbalance as something that happens suddenly.  Like a gymnast who is walking the balance beam – one small move and they tumble off the side and feel defeat.  The road to imbalance is a very subtle road – it usually doesn’t happen suddenly.  Rather, we allow things to build up over time until we feel out of whack. 

At the Kohler Waters Spa, guests come to us and tell us about their aches and pains.  They are physically out of whack.  It might be their lower back, their neck is stiff or their shoulders are carrying a lot of stress.  Through massage and other body work, we bring their bodies back in balance. In fact, Kohler Waters Spa offers a wonderful water treatment – Body Balancer an avocado body masque is applied under the enveloping Vichy shower. The treatment is completed with a moisturising application and a gentle rocking to sooth, guaranteed to leave your body feeling totally renewed.

For those of you who are regular visitors to my blog will know that I’m not only concerned with your physical health but also your mental wellbeing. A fabulous water treatment is certainly a step in the right direction but making choices to regain mental balance is key to optimal health.  What choices are you making?  Are you out of whack, physically and mentally?  Make decisions to take care of both.  Get a massage.  It is not a luxury.  Health is not a luxury.  It is a necessity.  Taking care of oneself physically through regular exercise, eating right and body work, such as massage, is essential to optimal health.  Taking care of ourselves mentally through regular sleep habits, time for oneself, reading inspirational thoughts, catching up with friends for a gossip and giggle are all ways we can regain the balance in our lives.

Where are you right now, this very moment, on the balance beam of life?  Are you in balance?  Take an honest assessment and remember it is the small differences that make the largest impact.  It’s not just the “M”, it is so much more. 

If you would like any advice on choosing the perfect treatment to help you rebalance your life or if you have any other questions then please do get in touch.

With warm regards

Jean

Hello everyone, lovely to speak to you all again.

 Just for fun, the other morning as I was going through my regular, daily routine, I counted how many products I used when getting ready for my day. I began with shampoo and other soaps in the shower, followed by my make up in the vanity area and ending up with all my hair care products (you’ll notice from my picture…I have very short hair). In all, I counted 26 products used from start to finish. All you listeners must be thinking, wow….she must have been in rough shape! I want to remind you, I am in the Wellness profession with Kohler Co. so I pride myself in taking pretty good care of me. And of course, I come across all kinds of wonderful lotions and potions that I continue to add to my collection.

That day was like any other day, just doing my daily morning routine of getting ready for work. I told my husband and he was amazed. He is a shampoo and deodorant kind of guy and I must say, he looks and smells great! It made me really think about how over time, we really do complicate things. We take the very simple, such as getting ready for our day and turn it into a 26 step routine! You may think I am the exception, but for all you ladies out there, just try it one morning. Count the steps you take when getting ready, I think you’ll be surprised. I’m not advocating going through your day not looking and feeling your best. I am asking you to raise your awareness and ask yourself, is this step in my daily routine necessary. Can I simplify and still get the same results?

More than any other time, when we are on holiday, my husband remarks on how nice I look; however it is when I am on holiday that I make a point of simplifying my routine. Why not incorporate this mentality each and every day? That is my challenge to myself…and you! What part of your daily routine has taken a simple task and made it into a complex situation? If you raise your awareness, you’ll find them. Make some minor modifications and you’ll be amazed at the beautiful results!

 If you do manage to successfully streamline your day then please do share it with us, we can all learn from each other. A tip to help you on your way…try the Carita Perfect Cream available at the Kohler Waters Spa, this fabulous product will moisturise while firming and smoothing, banishing all signs of aging…all in one wonderful little pot!

Warm wishes

 Jean

Hi everyone, Jean here.

 Have you ever had one of those days where you just want to give somebody a piece of your mind? It could be a perfect stranger in the right hand lane of the motorway who is driving below the speed limit, or heaven forbid, THE speed limit! Or that person at the express till in the supermarket with a full trolley. It takes all your strength to not blurt out exactly what you think of their inconsiderate behavior. But wait a minute, slow down. What is causing this sudden increase in blood pressure? What is causing you to think this way? It is judgment.

 We are judging people based on our thoughts….can’t they read….don’t they know I am right on their tail…. Judgment can be a very destructive behavior. With judgment there is no room for compassion and, therefore, no room for your own peace (P-E-A-C-E) of mind. Finding the gift of being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, will bring care and compassion to your heart, will physically keep your blood pressure in check and will lead to a positive outcome.

At Kohler Waters Spa, we have many clients who come in extremely stressed when they first check in. We do not judge them if they are quick to snap or in a hurry, but rather treat them with compassion knowing they are here for a much larger reason than getting a spa service. They are with us to find that inner peace of mind so they can go out and face the world once again….to be a better friend, a better mate or parent. The Aromatherapy Massage at Kohler Waters Spa is the perfect treatment to help relax and ease the worries of the word away.

 The next time you have the urge to give someone a piece of your mind, ask yourself am I judging too quickly without merit? If so, change your perception and give yourself the best gift…your own peace of mind. It is priceless!

If you would like any advice on how the treatments here at the Kohler Waters Spa can help you to relax or revive then please do get in touch.

With warm wishes

 Jean

Good afternoon, welcome back to the Kohler Waters Spa blog.

Watching a re-run of one of my all time favourite classic, the Wizard of Oz inspired me to write my latest post…

As I am sure you can all attest to, we learn so many life lessons from our parents.  One that my parents have taught me and has stayed with me all my life is that of fear.  When we are young, we fear little things, falling off our bike, the new boy next door.  Then we grow up and those little things become bigger.  Fear of job loss, fear of rejection and the big one, fear of failure.

 Fear has a way of getting a very tight grip around us, so tight at times, that we cannot even move or breathe and we freeze in time and place.  My parents taught me the opposite of fear is courage.  When confronted with fear always choose courage instead.  It is equally as strong and if chosen, can lead to much better outcomes.  It is easy to say, however — when we are actually in a certain situation and you do have a choice, fear can seem like the stronger of the two. Know you have all the power and strength inside of you to stand tall, to face any perceived obstacle with courage and grace and in doing so, will realise more about yourself than you thought imaginable.

This is where the Wizard of Oz comes in…Yes, we all have to have a brain to make decisions, a heart for our moral compass, but without courage to act, we fall short.  So think of the cowardly lion the next time you are in a fearful situation.  All he needed was courage.  All you need is courage; it will help you in your quest to live a balanced life.  It is amazing the inner strength you gain when you make the choice of courage over fear.  It can literally change your life.  What are you fearful of today?  Do you have a choice to change this fear into courage?  Yes you do.  Choose courage today and live your best self. 

I do hope that these words inspire you to find the courage that you have inside. If you have any questions or thoughts on living a healthy lifestyle then please do leave a comment.

Warm regards

Jean

Good morning, thanks for joining me. It’s wonderful having the chance to share my thoughts on how we can all live a healthier lifestyle.

With the prime location in the Home of Golf, we at the Old Course Hotel have many guests coming to take advantage of the Kohler Waters Spa and also our stunning heathland golf course, The Duke’s, or one of the 10 links courses around St Andrews.

In golf, as in life, the same lessons apply: Golf is not a game where you will one day realise perfection and the same applies to life.  You also learn in golf that when you focus on the obstacles, whether it is the bunker in front of you or the water on your left, whatever your last thought is, is probably where you are going to hit the ball.  If you keep your head down and focus on the goal that is in front of you, concentrate on it hard, make sure it is your last thought before hitting the ball, your chances of getting it closer to the hole improve greatly.  The same philosophy applies in life.

 Whatever goal you choose to focus on, keep your eye on it, no matter how short term or long term.  Do not get distracted by the many obstacles that will come into play.  Keep your head down and focus.  Make good choices that will get you closer to your ultimate goal.  One of the most important lessons both on the golf course and off is practice, practice, practice.  You can’t expect to be good enough for the Pro Tour if you only golf on Sundays.  The same rule applies to your pursuit of goals in life.  When thinking of your goal, what do you have to do to prepare?  Goals are not achieved in an instant, but rather over time.  What you do today and how you prepare, will get you closer to your goal tomorrow. 

At the Kohler Waters Spa, our goal is to educate our guests on the value of taking care of oneself and living your best life.   I encourage you to keep your head down, focus on your goal, practice and above all – don’t give up. 

I hope that these thoughts inspire you to achieve a lifetime goal; they might even help to improve your game of golf!

With warm wishes

Jean

Hello and welcome back to the Kohler Waters Spa blog.

I want to share a thought with you today that is vital to your life.  There are essential things we as human beings cannot live without such as the basic necessities of food, water and shelter.  Our bodies are amazing, complex machines whose true miraculous ways we are still just discovering.  However, our bodies need something so essential that is it the first gift we come into this world with and the last one we leave with.  It is our breath.  At birth the very first thing the doctor wants to ensure is that the baby is breathing.  When parents hear that first breath of their newborn child….it is truly a gift and they know their baby has life. When we reach the end of our time in this world the very last thing our bodies do is to take a final deep breath.

 Being aware of our breath is extremely important to distressing and maintaining a sense of balance in our lives.  With increased stress, comes a decrease in deep breathing.  In its place is rapid, shallow, sometimes erratic breathing.  If our newborn child had this type of breathing, we would be concerned; however, for many of us, this is the majority of our day.  It is essential to take time to deep breathe throughout the day.  It does many wonderful things to the body and the mind.

 Taking deep “belly” breaths where you place your hand on your abdomen and breathe in very slowly until your lungs are completely filled and your abdomen is raised, then slowly releasing the breath until your lungs feel empty and your abdomen deflates, help to rebalance the body, increases oxygen throughout the body, providing that essential oxygen to your vital organs, your tensed muscles and your taxed brain.  Take 2 minutes, 3 times a day for deep belly breathing.  You will be amazed at how it makes you feel.  Remember, it is the gift of life.  Use this precious gift to live your best self.

I truly believe that a healthy mind and a happy heart are the key to a healthy body. I would love to hear your thoughts so please do leave me a comment.

With warm wishes

Jean

Good afternoon everyone, it’s lovely speaking to you all again.

In my job as Wellness Director for Kohler Co., I read an awful lot of self-help books. I remember one in particular. The name of the book was “Slowing Down to the Speed of Life” by Richard Carlson and Joseph Bailey. Well, I don’t know about you, but my speed of life is usually about 110 miles an hour until my head hits the pillow around 10 p.m. anyone you ask would agree their speed of life is pretty similar.

We live in a world of multi-tasking, we are reading e-mails, texting, talking on the telephone, making breakfast, paying bills, taxiing the kids around…and that’s just the first 30 minutes of our day! Why is it that life is so fast paced? I can’t help but wonder how hectic it was in the very early days of civilisation when man didn’t have the luxuries of life….dishwashers, microwaves, electricity, washers and dryers. Shouldn’t life have become easier?

 The truth is there has always been 24 hours in a day and I’m afraid to tell you that it is not going to change. So it boils down to our choices. We choose to be involved in whatever groups or organisations we want to belong to. We choose our careers, how many children we have and all the other choices that make up our life. When I feel like I’m at the 110 mile mark and I’m about to crash, I apply the brakes. I don’t often slam on them because it can cause major injury to those around me. Applying the brakes, slowing down, gives one an opportunity to assess their surroundings to ensure they want to continue to move forward on the path they are on. What is your life speed? Does it feel comfortable? Is it getting dangerously out of control? Take time to slow down, assess your surroundings and find the balance – or in this case, the speed with which you are most comfortable so you can live your best self.

I do hope that you find my blog posts insightful and inspiring. Please do let me know if you have any questions about any of the topics, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Warm wishes

 Jean

Good afternoon

 It’s lovely to meet you all, my name is Jean Kolb and I am the Director of Wellness for Kohler Co.

Based in Kohler, Wisconsin I work with the Kohler Waters Spa in Wisconsin, Chicago and of course in St Andrews. After 15 years in the spa industry I would love to share over the coming months some of the tips on wellbeing and living a healthy life that I have picked up along the way.

CHECK OUT SO YOU CAN CHECK IN

 Sometimes when I’m in a queue at a supermarket, I can’t help but think my head is in a similar situation. Our minds are processing all day long, beep, beep… information continuingly flowing through our internal scanner. We can’t wait until the end of the check out (or in this case our day) for the transactions to be complete. The trick is to find small bites of time in your day to mentally check out, so you can check in with yourself emotionally. Are you making decisions based entirely on processing of information? I firmly believe that the best decisions are made with both your head and your heart. By taking a little time out (checking out!) you have the space to let your ideas and thoughts flow freely to allow yourself to make conscientious decisions and to be at your best. This doesn’t have to mean a 15 minute break 4 times a day before I receive any complaints from your boss! Five minutes is all you need.

 When I’m at work at the Kohler Waters Spa, I have a sign on my door that I use when I need to check out. It simply states “deep in thought” enter if you need to. Everyone at work knows these little 5 minute mental breaks, help me to be a better leader at work. The same principle applies to our homes. If you are a parent, you know how hard it is to find 5 minutes of quiet time. Sharing with your family that you need these moments in order to be a more relaxed, level headed, loving parent will get your kids signed up right away! All you have to do is take the first step. Commit to 5 minutes at a time that is good for you and check out so you can check in with you – it will not only make you feel better – you will feel balanced, re-energized and ready for whatever challenges you may face that day. 5 minutes. Beep….beep….Start today.

I look forward to speaking to you all again soon.

Warm wishes

Jean Kolb