Stress- it is a part of live we all have to deal with, but do you really know what stress does to your body? Our friends at Raw for 30 Days shared these 13 Steps of Stress with us. Sound familiar?

1. You think about something stressful; work, money, relationships, family, whatever’s bothering you.

2. Your amygdala (in your mid-brain) senses danger.

3. Your amygdala helps to initiate your body’s “fight-or-flight” response to stress.

4. In “fight or flight”, your body releases adrenaline and the “stress hormone” cortisol, diverts blood away from your digestive tract, leaving you less able to digest food and absorb nutrients AND more likely to gain weight.

5. In this physiological “crisis mode,” you’re more vulnerable to pain; from chronic illness, arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraines, stomach upset, and more.

6. In this state of heightened physiological “alert”, your brain’s creative center is deemed “non-essential” and shuts down. Down go your problem solving, your creative skills, your intuition.

7. You feel increasingly irritable, isolated and impatient. Your relationships suffer.

8. Stress affects your sleep. Your metabolism slows.

9. Your body secretes even more cortisol, wreaking more havoc on your digestion (and waist line), increasing your blood pressure, lowering your immune response.

10. After releasing too much cortisol for too long, your body goes into “adrenal fatigue”. You feel depleted, exhausted, and depressed.

11. You no longer have the energy to adhere to your exercise routine, your healthy eating, meditation, yoga. Migraines, insomnia, stress-related hair loss, chronic pain, and any number of other issues become regular parts of your life.

12. Battling low energy, you can hardly focus at work, and elsewhere. Your relationships suffer.

13. Your depression deepens. You (and your body) are STRESSED OUT.

Don’t let this happen to you. We have lots of ways to help you fight stress and avoid heading down this path. A relaxing massage in the spa, some time chatting with your favorite stylist in the salon, or soothing products like the Aveda Stress-Fix line are waiting for you at Habitude!

Plum District the leading daily offers site for moms, by moms, surveyed its members to uncover what Mom really wants on Mother’s Day. With its network of over 1 million mom subscribers across the country, Plum District learned a thing or two about Mom.

Among the findings:

• 75 percent claim they would prefer a handmade card over a necklace from Tiffany & Co.®
• Two thirds prefer to not pick out their own gift
• 54 percent would choose to spend quality time with their own mother versus 46 percent who would have her babysit the kids

“Some of the things we discovered in our survey were pretty surprising to us, like the fact that only 56 percent of husbands/significant others always remember Mother’s Day,” says Megan Gardner, CEO of Plum District. “What didn’t surprise us is that at the end of the day, moms might crave some ‘me’ time, but their families will always rank first.”

What sort of “me” time is Mom after?

• Eight out of ten moms would choose to sleep in versus a sunrise breakfast with the kids
• One third of moms secretly want the day to themselves
• 52 percent would use an hour to themselves for a massage, while the other 48 percent would go on a bike ride

So, we had it right…52% of you Moms want a SPA GIFT CARD for Mother’s Day.

The new 2012 Light the Way candles are in! These 100% naturally derived soy wax candles are infused with lavender and other plant and flower extracts. Since 2007, Aveda has offered these candles and their procedes to support Global Greengrants water projects around the world. Find out more about these projects in this Greengrants video. 100% of the $15 purchase price will be donated to this worthy cause! 

We are proud to include these wonderful candles as part of our Earth Month project. They will be available in both salons along with our Earth Month ducks! We are also raising funds for the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, can help by visiting our Your Cause site or by texting the phrase “cleanwater pd” to 85944 to donate $5 instantly.

Helping the environment has always been part of the Habitude mission, in our 15 years we have raised over $50,ooo for environmental causes. We are so proud of our staff and our guests for all the amazing work we have been able to do together- thank you!!  

As part of our Earth Month celebration we are partnering with the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance to raise funds for their important work in our region.

These cute little ducks will be available for $10 at both of our salons. The procedes from your duck will go directly to the Puget Sound Keepers, and your duck will be on display for the rest of the month. As a thank you for your support, your duck will also help you save 10% off any retail purchase in the salon! On Saturday, April 27th, we will be taking these little guys on a cruise off of Ballard’s Golden Gardens beach and one lucky duck will be drawn from the boat and that ducks owner will win our coveted Under the northern Rainforest spa package.

We have much more planned for Earth Month at Habitude so stay tuned to the Habi-blog and our Facebook and Twitter feeds for more information!  

This month we are unveiling Aveda’s newest product line, Stress-Fix. This revolutionary formula is centered on a clinically proven stress reduction aroma. The formula is infused with French lavender, lavandin and clary sage from organic farms. 

Stress-Fix is ECO-CERT certified organic, meaning that:

• 95% of the product is natural in origin
• 95% of the plant materials are certified organic
• 10% of the total ingredients are certified organic
• the product is manufactured in a facility that meets ECO-CERT’s standards

The Stress-Fix healing aroma can be found in a wide range of products that we are very excited to share with you! Come in to Habitude to learn more and discover this breakthrough formula for youself.

Take a look at our new Bridal Packages!

We believe that the year you spend planning for your most important day should be as exciting and stress free as possible. Let us partner with you as you celebrate this life changing rite of passage.

Our amazing 8,000 foot urban rustic facility is a warm, inviting, and award winning environment. The perfect venue to host an event or bring a tight-knit group of friends together.

The Shower
Gather your friends to celebrate your engagement in style. Pedicure or spa  together, laugh a lot and enjoy this special celebration.
Express Manicure & Pedicure, Chair Massage (20 min), Cosmetic Application and Spa Smoothie
$ 160.00 and up

The Bachelorette
Gather your girlfriends for your night out on the town. Enjoy custom up-dos, manicures and glamour make-up. following your mini-photo shoot, why not let us add a town car to travel in style?
Ultimate Manicure, Shampoo & Style, Cosmetic Application and Town Car
Service
$ 260.00 and up

The Groundwork
Let’s get you a Skin-Perfecting series of facials on the books as well as a body and back treatment to have you clear and radiant on your special day!
Illuminating Facial, Seaweed Body Masque, Essential Pedicure and Essential Bikini Wax
$ 367.00 and up

The Rehearsal
Enjoy this consultation and practice with your hairdresser and make-up artist to minimize any big day stress.
Pre-Wedding Day Doo, Pre- Wedding Day Make-up Application, Finger Polish Change and Spa Smoothie
$ 135.00 and up

The Day to Remember
Arrive early and sip tea with your manicure, and rollers under the dryer. Bring Mom, the maids and your little flower girls for a day to remember.
Wedding Day Up doo, Wedding Day Make-up Application, Veil Placement and Chair Massage
$ 135.00 and up

The Pre-Moon
Bring your groom for some much needed alone time. Start with a togetherness massage, followed by a trip to our luxurious rainforest shower for two. Add a Caribbean pedicure or body treatment and relax with this perfect wind down pre-honeymoon.
Togetherness Essential Massage, Hot Rocks Sauna, Caribbean Body Wrap and
Caribbean Manicure & Pedicure
$ 283.00 and up

The Full Gathering
Rent out the entire 4,000 square foot Spa Facility or our Private Loft Event Space for an exclusive event—complete with catering, champagne and the run of the house for you and all of your wedding party and family. It will be one of the most memorable days of your year.

Contact one of our Group Coordinators at Questions@Habitude.com. We will email you our party information and customize a blissful array of Spa and Salon Experience just for you! Oh, and congratulations from the Habitude Team!

Find your very own personalized hair color. Fade-resistant. Essentially damage-free. Up to 96% naturally derived*—using plant power instead of petrochemicals. Created with an environmental and social conscience you can feel good about. Book your appointment today!
Be inspired by the new Full Spectrum here…

We want to help our Habitude community love and amaze each other so we’re going to help with the hardest part-introductions. Come in and once we’ve got your look ready to go, we’ll add it to either our Habi-Dudes or Habi-Gals album. Then you tag yourself in the picture and you’re all set. Look through the albums to find other Habitude fans looking for love and make a connection! You can also post your pics to our Facebook page  or tweet them to us and we will add you to the HabiMatch database!