I’ve heard great things about the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and had to find out what it was like for myself!
Read moreAggressive Self Care with Dr. Jenna Valentine on the Lisa Alastuey Podcast
Dr. Jenna Valentine joins Dr. Lisa Alastuey on The Lisa Alastuey Podcast.
Dr. Alastuey has been teaching Health and Kinesiology for over two decades, and she hosts a podcast that features a variety of inspiring and informative videos focused on wellness, providing viewers with valuable tips and essential life skills to live their best lives!
Read moreBeen There for Self Care: Continuous Glucose Monitor
I tried a 3 month subscription with a continuous glucose monitor and had a few thoughts on this self care tool.
Read moreBeen There for Self Care: Cryo Therapy
Soooooo, cryotherapy - where you immerse most of your body into a frigid standing tank/booth type structure - was already something I was skeptical about. BUT, in the name of science, I had to give it a go.
Read moreBeen There for Self Care: Colonic
I’ve been super curious about the whole colonic thing for several years now, but just couldn’t bring myself to try it. BUT, as always, when my clients began asking me about my thoughts on this type of treatment, I decided to take one for the team and bring back my knowledge for you.
Read moreDry Brushing & Magnesium Spray: Ouch In A Good Way
A friend and I recently went to Deer Lake Lodge on a wellness retreat/girls’ getaway trip and had an incredible time. One of the spa services we booked was a dry brushing appointment followed by a magnesium wrap.
I had tried a dry brushing experience over a decade ago
I remember thinking, “Ouch, why am I paying to do this?” Then my skin felt so soft that I happy handed over my money. I did not, however, incorporate this into my (mostly nonexistent) skin care routine.
Read moreValentine Care at Illumma
Jenna Valentine & Allison Waddell’s Facebook live fun video talking about the new home of Valentine Care!
Read moreBeen There for Self Care: Watsu Therapy
I had the most incredible experience today receiving a Watsu Therapy session from Leigh Downing at Austin Watsu. My best guess is that the term Watsu comes from a hybrid term of water + shiatsu because that’s basically what it is - an amazing massage while floating in a 94-96 degree pool of water.
Read moreBeen There for Self Care: IV Drip Therapy
I always tell my daughter that my super power is finding people that are better at me than things and then letting them shine. This power has guided me to the most badass group of friends who always seem to expose me to new ways to thrive. One such friend told me about MSW Lounge in Austin, TX. This hidden gem offers IV drips, chiropractic work, nutritional supplements, and so much more. The owners are a dynamic duo of kind, friendly and passionate men who are super pleasant to chat with and ooze competence.
The set up is funky and comfortable and you feel like you’re hanging out in someones professional back yard treehouse. They have a series of options to choose from and I opted for the immune-boosting IV drip which is a concoction of awesomeness to keep my body healthy — even more important during pandemic times. I chose a comfy couch and pulled out a book. The IV insertion was painless and the bag happily dripped nourishment into my veins as I read, relaxed and chatted with various other friendly clients.
There is no attempt to upsell clients and the overall vibe is a focus on community health and wellness. The owners offer weekly lunch & learn opportunities and are committed to educating the public on true holistic health options.
I’d recommend wearing an extra layer as I got a bit chilly towards the end, and be sure to not schedule yourself too tightly because the IV drip speed is dependent on your body. Mine took around 45 minutes give or take.
I felt incredibly relaxed for the remainder of the day, but also had plenty of energy and wasn’t even tempted to drink my forbidden -yet common- afternoon cup of coffee. Prevention is often harder to track, but my body felt fantastic and my brain felt clearer than normal. It was a very pleasant experience and I will be back for sure.
Definitely a GO THERE for self care!
xo,
Jenna
Been There for Self Care: Float Spa + Sauna
As many of you know, I’m pretty obsessed with self care. I love finding new ways to show myself love and firmly believe that the better I take care of myself, the better I can take care of you! My ultimate goal is to show up for all my clients with full presence from a place of abundance. When my cup is overflowing it will naturally get all over you, so I keep my cup filled to the brim or more with loving, healing, and interesting experiences.
I’ve been getting more questions around what I do for self care, so I thought I’d share as I journey into the varying modalities of care that our world has to offer. At some point, I’ll backtrack and write about former experiences, but for now, you will get the real time moments and my unfiltered thoughts. At the end I will either recommend you GO THERE for self care or that you GO ELSEWHERE for self care. And, as always, I am available to you for self care support through acupuncture, herbs, bodywork, and coaching.
So, let’s start. Last night I went to The Ocean Lab in Austin, TX for a 30 minute sauna and 60 minute float. I got a fantastic deal on their website, invited a special guy who’s always down for a new experience and we booked an appointment.
The place was easy to find, parking was easy, and we brought bathing suits to sweat in during the sauna. These turned out to be unnecessary as they provide robes, but may be more comfortable for some. There were individual and group sauna option, but don’t expect to be nude. Chad greeted us super warmly, gave us some soda waters and oriented us to the space. Expect to remove your shoes upon entering and put your items in a little cubby (unless you want to take them with you). The sauna was comfortable, hot, and definitely made us sweat a ton. Chad checked on us and brought water as needed and we felt really spoiled. When it was time to transition to the float, we opted for individual ‘cabins’ -which means the whole room is filled with water versus having a ‘pod'. The cabins are a way better option for us tall humans plus there aren’t any seams in the lid of the pod which can develop condensation and drip cold water on to you during the float which is pretty uncool.
Fun fact: The Ocean Lab also has float cabins that can accommodate couples which is such a cute date idea.
There is a shower area to rinse off prior to entering the float room, but be aware the floor gets pretty slick so walk carefully! Chad was so thorough in explaining all the details to make our float experience amazing. I got into the cabin and immediately turned out all the lights and cut the music to keep the sensory deprivation vibe. The warm salt water is so soothing and for some chemistry reason I don’t understand the body doesn’t get pruney from the water, but rather ends up feeling incredibly soft, silky and almost slimy. I got a little turned around and, at one point, had a little freak out about not knowing where the exit door was, but I just sat up and ran my hand along the wall until I felt the dip where the door was - I’d recommend noting this before you relax so you can easily find it if you are prone to ‘how the heck do I get out of here if I need to” moments like I am.
I had a beautiful time forgetting I had a body, remembering I had a body and feeling really happy about both. I slept a little, I thought a little, I played around with different arm positions. It was relaxing, rejuvenating and I will definitely be back. When time was up (eg, music comes on, the lights turn on and then the filtration system kicks on), I showered (again careful of slippery floor!), felt really glad I brought a brush, and walked out to be met with a cup of delicious tea that I drank while chatting with Chad and relaxing on some extremely comfy couches.
GO THERE for self care. Maybe we will cross paths.
xo,
Jenna