The Re-Balancing Act

For fast acting relief, try slowing down.
— Lily Tomlin, Comedienne

Did you know that only 10% of aging is related to our genetic coding? That means 90% is left in our control!

In “The Hormone Cure”, Harvard educated author and OBGYN Dr. Sarah Gottfried shares the life-changing experience that came from taking a “telomeres test”. Telomeres are the caps at the end of our chromosomes that mark our biological or cellular age. Her telomeres revealed that she had the age of a 64-year-old when she was only 44. This shocking discovery, combined with the imbalanced state of both her hormones and her life, inspired her latest book, “Younger”. Dr. Gottfried explains how she felt “fat, frazzled, and frumpy” due to constant presence of stress in her body.  She explains that our stress response was not designed to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Luckily, there’s good news. The ability to manage the body’s stress response is in our hands.

I am inspired to acknowledge the importance of stress management because it impacts our beauty, balance, mood, and ultimately how we age. Stress can also contribute to the vicious cycle of weight gain and fatigue. I see clients and colleagues alike who are suffering from a merry-go-round of stress-body-life imbalance and it robs them of the happiness and fulfillment they could otherwise be enjoying. Understanding the main components of the stress response will empower us to make better lifestyle choices.

The primary stress hormone, cortisol, is described by Dr. Gottfried as “the bad boyfriend in high school who kept you out late, eating fast food”. It may have been fun at first, but you paid dearly afterwards! Cortisol is your body’s natural and healthy response to stress, but an imbalance may result if it occurs too often.  Women with cortisol imbalances are shown to suffer from a variety of symptoms: abdominal weight gain, brain fog, disruptions in mood, sleep, appetite, a low sex drive, depression, poor memory, and accelerated aging.

It’s important to be proactive in one’s approach to stress management.  How? Embed it in our lifestyle like the Danish! “Hygge” (pronounced “hoo-ga”) is a Danish ritual for enjoying the simple pleasures in life. Hygge life is about embracing all things cozy, whether cuddling with loved-ones around the fire, wearing soft socks on your feet, or burning scented candles. One study even found that people who spent as little as 20 minutes in nature saw a decrease in cortisol levels.

Blue Zones are specific communities where people are found to live statistically longer and healthier. The common characteristics of these people were their lifestyle: a primarily vegetarian diet, regular exercise, high family and social support, and effective stress management through self-care. Ikariat, Greece, a Blue Zone, is nicknamed “the island where people forget to die”.  Can you imagine?

Thermae Center for Advanced Aesthetics is committed to helping you manage stress and bring some “Hygge” to your life.

• Cozy up to a Custom Skin Therapy Facial with Amber. Not only do facials promote healthier looking skin, they can help to mitigate your body’s stress response. Taking time out of your day to relax and get pampered may diminish the aging genes.
• Let your bedtime routine do the work while you get some much-needed rest. Add Dermalogica Overnight Repair Serum with Argan and Rose oils to stimulate cellular healing, and the new Nightly Lip Treatment to treat lip lines.
• What you see in the mirror affects your thoughts and your mood! Get a surgery-free face lift from our nurses, Tracy, Natalie, and Hannah, who can take years of stress off your face in mere minutes. Consultations are recommended to plan your own personal treatment plan.
• Fat, frazzled, and frumpy no longer! Book a consultation for Coolsculpting with Lauren and Amber.  This experienced and CSU-Trained team will guide you through the non-surgical, fat-reduction process with ease.

My hope is that each of us can feel empowered to own our beauty, manage our stress, and slow down the aging process, one small lifestyle change at a time.

With Warm Regards,

Hannah Arcega

Founder of Thermae Centre for Advanced Aesthetics
Personally follow Hannah’s own beauty and health journey on Instagram here: @AgeSmarter