Weekdays
1:00 pm
The Activities Deck

Increase your energy and strength while promoting health, agility and balance with this low impact, gentle exercise. Often referred to as “Meditation in Motion” because of its graceful appearance, the smooth, flowing movements of Tai Chi can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and improve mental calm and clarity, regardless of age or physical condition. 

Master Shao Pen Wang began his career at the Beijing Dancing Institute where he studied ballet under Gusev Petz and others from the Kirov Ballet.  Shao Pen moved on to be the principal dancer, teacher and choreographer for the National Ballet Company of China.   He discovered Tai Chi after doctors told him he would not recover from a debilitating back injury.  Upon receiving the diagnosis, Shao Pen returned to his native China to study with a Tai Chi Master.  After fully recovering from the injury Shao Pen began teaching Tai Chi to his ballet students.  He now finds joy in sharing the healing movements of Tai Chi with everyone.

Thursday, May 31
12:30pm in Rancho Las Uvas

Glen Ivy’s Floral Designer Shannon Ballew teaches us how to make beautiful, seasonal floral and herbal wreaths.

As we move into summer, Glen Ivy welcomes more and more people who are seeking to relax and renew.  They come here to “get away from it all” in hopes of alleviating at least some stress from their lives.  We have all read the articles, seen the news reports, and heard warnings from health care professionals about the dangers of stress.  At this point you are probably thinking that this article will be about how you can feel less stressed after a day at Glen Ivy, thus improving your health, mood, and general disposition.  It is not.  Instead, I’d like to explore what stress is really about – not about our over scheduling ourselves, being overworked, having a spouse, child, or co-worker who doesn’t talk, act or otherwise respond in a way that makes us feel ok.  Not even about the fact that we’re always “plugged in” to iphones, blackberries, and tv’s or that we don’t take time to meditate or exercise enough or eat the right foods.  All of these things are said to cause stress.  I don’t agree.  In my view, all of these things are symptoms of the real cause of stress, which is this:  a disconnection with your authentic self.  You may call it your soul, spirit, higher self…whatever.  The title doesn’t matter.  Whatever name you choose to assign to the part of your being that makes you uniquely you – the part that holds the gifts and talents that you are meant to share and express in this life – is using stress as a cry for help.  The cell phones, relationships, long hours, bad food, and lack of sleep are tools we use to numb ourselves from that cry.  Often, this is simply because we are afraid of what we will find when we look at ourselves as we truly are. Most of us think that our mistakes are who we are, and that when we look inside we will only see ugliness.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  If you could see the beauty of who you are, you would understand that your life is not about getting more money, a promotion, the right car, shoes or bag.  Your life is about sharing your own uniqueness with the world.  You are not here to get anything, you are here to give.   This can be a difficult concept to grasp in a world that has taught us that we are flawed, that we are not enough and that we do not have enough, but i promise you it is true.  You have within you everything you need.  Who you really are is beautiful, and that beauty is crying to express itself.  But only you can set it free.  Start by walking away from the things that numb you to the pain your authentic self feels from being repressed for so long:

• Turn off the tv and the cell phone
• Take a break from Facebook
• Step away from the chocolate cake, and, yes, put down the Starbucks
• For just a moment stop expecting other people to speak and behave the way you want them to
• Go outside and walk barefoot on the grass
• Walk through the illusion of being the mistakes you have made and see yourself as you really are.

This process can take time, or it can happen instantly.  It’s up to you.  Whatever time it takes or how it happens, it will be worth it, because nothing can compare with seeing the beauty of your own soul.  I promise.

-Director of Guest Experience Programming
Glen Ivy Hot Springs

Weekdays
Begins at Tiempo Lounge at 12 p.m.

Revel in the beauty of Glen Ivy’s gorgeous gardens during an interactive guided tour with Glen Ivy’s horticultural specialists. The 30-45 minute tour will introduce guests to the globally-inspired gardens and plant collection - sure to stimulate all of your senses! Learn about the history and origins of the gardens and meet some rare and interesting plants while you get an in-depth look at the forests, alcoves and islands of Glen Ivy Hot Springs.

Daily
11:30 a.m. in Rancho Las Uvas

Discover Glen Ivy’s working garden, friendly livestock, Garden Shop, and sustainability efforts in this interactive presentation.  Rancho Las Uvas operates in time with mother nature, so the class topics and offerings vary with the season.  It’s a different class every day!

Thursday, May 31
11:00 am & 2:15 pm in the Lap Pool

Aqua Aerobics at the Hot Springs

 Thirty minutes of energetic music, fitness and fun come together for Glen Ivy’s popular Water Aerobics class in the Lap Pool.  Join us – all levels welcome!

Make your spa day complete and join us for a farmers market featuring local organic produce and artisan gifts. Bob Cat Properties, 3 Hart’s Grove, and Unity Farms have long been supplying Chef Bill Wavrin’s kitchen with everything from honey to avocados, to citrus and squash and will have their booths set up in the Hot Springs parking lot every Wednesday from 3:30-6:30pm. Stop by to fill your bags with healthy, colorful veggies, fruits, earth soap, soy candles, and more!

Waxing is a great way to remove the hair and its follicle for up to six weeks, and hard wax and soft wax are both very efficient. Deciding which type of wax is best for you depends on the area being waxed and the density of the hair. In my professional opinion, soft wax is better used to remove fine hair in areas such as face, arms, legs, chest, and back. Hard wax removes course hair more efficiently than fine hair, and is a better alternative to soft wax when you are using facial products that contain any type of acid exfoliant. Hard wax only adheres to only the hair itself— not to your skin—lowering the possibility of redness and inflammation, whereas soft wax must adhere to the hair and skin to be removed with the fabric strip, leaving slightly more sensitivity in the area.

Before receiving a waxing treatment it is recommended to exfoliate the night before, and to wear loose clothing before and after your treatment. It is also recommended not to immerse a waxed area in hot water for at least twenty four hours after a waxing service. Most people will need to use an ingrown hair serum after a waxing service, as ingrown hairs are very common. We offer amazing pre- and post-waxing products such as exfoliants, pre-numbing serum, ingrown hair serum, and inhibiting hair gel (thins the hair by 26% and slows the growth by 35% after one month of use!).

We look forward to providing you with a professional, hygienic and comfortable waxing treatment, and if you have any questions, please be sure to ask your esthetician.

Carissa Zylstra
Primary Esthetician, Glen Ivy Spa, Brea

Weekdays at 1:00
The Pavilion Terrace

Increase your energy and strength while promoting health, agility and balance with this low impact, gentle exercise. Often referred to as “Meditation in Motion” because of its graceful appearance, the smooth, flowing movements of Tai Chi and Qi Gong can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and improve mental calm and clarity, regardless of age or physical condition. Craig Steven Phillips has been a devoted student and teacher of the ancient Chinese tradition of Tai Chi and Qi Gong for the past 12 years and will share the timeless wisdom, physical rejuvenation, and practical application of these arts with you each week at Glen Ivy.

Wednesday, May 30
12:30 p.m. in Rancho Las Uvas

An interactive class with Glen Ivy’s Animal Caretaker Nadga Shelton and the friendly hens of Glen Ivy.  Nadga shows us the important role that the chickens play at Glen Ivy, as well as revealing fun facts about eggs. 

Nadga is an avid health advocate for all animals. She studied Animal Science at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and has spent her life surrounded by horses and other animals. Since bringing her love and care for animals to Glen Ivy in 2012, Nadga has been known to treat the Glen Ivy chickens with aloe skin treatments!