Miami Beach Wellness

When we received news that Lace Nail Lab was opening a second location on South Pointe Drive, we were overjoyed. Then, we found out that Anna Elizabeth wasn’t just duplicating her chic (and extremely successful) nail shop; she was going “full service” (hooray!). Opening this past Wednesday (November 5th), Lace Beauty Lab combines all the glamour and comfort of their original space, with the added perks of hair salon, makeup application, facials, waxing…you get the idea. The best part: its also a clothing and accessories boutique carrying only the most high-end of designs (perfect for their A-list clientèle).

The salon’s interior is decorated with colors ranging from Tiffany&Co turquoise, Kelly green, and hot pink, with silver snake-printed and lace-lined walls. The warm atmosphere, friendly staff and plush leather seats were a welcoming end to our long day. We were scheduled for a Lace Signature Mani/Pedi with two licensed professionals who looked more like RNs than the technicians we were used to (cleanliness and professionalism are of the utmost importance to Anna Elizabeth’s establishment). Working efficiently and simultaneously, the two ladies began buffing, smoothing,
soothing, and massaging our tired (and extremely callused) hands and feet. Although Lace describes this service as a “must-have maintenance”, the luxurious treatment we received made us feel privileged. Just imagine what their other services are like!

Lace Beauty Lab is the iconic South Beach boutique for Miami A-listers (such as yourself!) and jet setters alike. With spa packages ranging in type from Girls Night Out (perfect for your mom, sister, or BFF) to The Dubai (the most extravagant on the menu, priced at $1150) and everything in between, Lace Beauty Lab offers patrons the chance to stroll in from the beach and leave red-carpet ready.

500 South Pointe Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, 305-532-0190

No, not Yogi the Bear! Yogi is a term that defines a male practitioner of various forms of the path of Yoga.

If you were to ask me, yoga is the practice of funny poses. But then again, I am not an expert on yoga, which means that this perception is completely flawed! (Unless Yogi the Bear decides to practice yoga… now that would be funny!)

The centuries-old practice from India may have a significance that goes beyond funny poses. There are different types of yoga that exist for a variety of reasons. Whether your reasons are to reach Moksha, for concentration and relaxation, or religious purposes, reality is that many people “do yoga” for practical reasons, such as helping pregnant women before and after giving birth.

If you are curious about yoga and happen to be around the Miami area between November 14 and 17, 2008, then the Yoga Journal South Florida Conference at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in 3555 South Ocean Drive, Hollywood, FL is the place to be. Throughout the long weekend, there will be a yoga marketplace, a diversity of conferences and over 100 classes in all levels and styles taught.

The conference costs from $225 to $965 (depending on number of days). Day passes available for the Friday and Saturday main conference.

November 14:
TBA: Continuing Education for Teachers; Special Seminar, Business Success for the Wellness Industry; Yoga and Golf Intensive; All Day Intensives and Eight-Limbs of Yoga Intensive
12:30- 1:30pm: Lecture, The Yoga of Money with Brent Kessell
8pm: Opening keynote by Trudie Styler. Donations will benefit The Rainforest Foundation Fund and Water Project/Ecuador Amazon Rainforest

November 15:
TBA: Yoga and Golf Intensive; Main Conference; Beginner's Conference; Continuing Education for Teachers
1:30- 2:30pm: Panel Discussion, The Power of Women in Yoga

November 16:
TBA: Main Conference; Beginner's Conference; Continuing Education for Teachers
1:00- 2:00pm: Lecture, Better Parenting Through Yoga with Marsha Wenig
1:30pm: Keynote by Matthew Sanford, paraplegic yogi

November 17:
Yoga as Medicine Intensive
Closing remarks by Seane Corne

For more information, visit www.yjevents.com or call 800-561-9398

I'll be honest. I'm not really a yoga person. I've done some classes in the past, but only because I wanted Madonna's arms. I never really bought into the whole "shakrah" thing. So when I found out that I was going to be taking photos at The Global Mala Project's International Day of Peace event, I was excited about the anthropological aspect of the assignment. I certainly didn't think I would end up barefoot in downward dog position sending my energy and hopes for peace to Mother Earth. But that's exactly what happened. And to tell you the truth, it felt really good.

On Sunday morning, September 21st, The Global Mala Project formed a "mala around the earth" in honor of the United Nations International Day of Peace 2008. Composed of 108 beads, the mala is the prayer for peace, hope, and charity. Yogis and yoga-lovers of all ages, and even a few enlightened canine friends, came to Bayfront Park to attend the five-hour spiritual celebration. The event began with an adorable kid's yoga class, followed by a meditation session, which I reluctantly joined but was surprised to find incredibly calming, despite my usual inability to relax. Next came a whopping 108 sun salutations (By number 59, I was hooked.), accompanied by the hypnotic sounds of the Kirtan Group, a really cool bunch of young musicians dressed head to toe in traditional Indian garb. The program ended with Indian dancing and other colorful and inspiring performances.

To all of you who may have thought that an event like this would be for the peace and love people only, you seriously missed out on something beautiful. Even I, a complete yoga novice and recovering skeptic, felt connected to the cause. But don't worry, you'll have another chance next year.

All proceeds of the event went to benefit Trees for the Future and Youth Health Alliance. For more information, please visit www.globalmala.org.

To view photos from the event, click here.

Christopher of flickr.com

Everyone knows at least something about yoga. Most can do at least one yoga pose or tell you some of the benefits of practicing yoga. A good example is a good friend of mine who does the “crane” whenever the word “yoga” is mentioned!

Or they can tell you that Madonna, or some other celeb, does yoga. There’s even a place simply called “Yoga” right across the street from the Plum office and it probably offers yoga classes.

Although tai chi has been around for about 2000 years, this soft-paced Chinese martial art just started to become popular in the Western world… or maybe I just became familiar with this new way of ridding stress and maintaining balance.

Whenever I tell people that I’ve been taking some tai-chi classes, they immediately ask me if I am going to kick their butt.

Tai chi may be a Chinese martial art; nevertheless it is a soft-form of martial arts and the learned moves are not primarily to “kick someone’s butt.” Instead, it combines flowing movements with meditation. But if you want to relax AND kick some butt, tai chi is good training as well. Applying force to the forms can make them a self-defense weapon.

Here in the Western world, tai chi is mainly used as way to encourage a healthy lifestyle. Many use its benefits for balance control, flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, to reduce the risk of falls in elderly patients, and to fight off insomnia. Tai chi has also been proven effective in preventing and improving the control of diabetes.

Another study found that adolescents who practice tai chi have reduced the symptoms of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

So if you start seeing people practicing tai chi at the beach or in parks… don’t be surprised!

Perhaps the day is near when people will start naming their businesses “Tai Chi!”

Some schools offering Tai Chi in Miami:

• Beijing Wushu Academy YMCA
3161 Taft Street Hollywood, FL 33021

  Instructor: Master Rafael Qian

  Phone: 954-456-3636


• Kung Fu Connection
 690 N E 125 Street Miami, FL. 33161

  Instructor: Sifu Gustavo Rubio
  Phone: 305-895-8326

• Open Gate Martial Arts
 5804 Sunset Dr. 2nd Floor
 Miami, Fl 33143
  Instructor: Shifu Paul Vieira
  Phone: 305 753 6736

• Wing Lung Kung Fu Tai Chi Association
 11155 SW 112 Ave, bldg. #5
Miami, FL. 33176

  Instructor: Sifu Steve Chin

  Phone: 305-773-4305


Something we can all agree on is that green is definitely the “new black” and the color of the decade. “Going green,” however, means so much more than a color, money, or "Irish luck". It has become a lifestyle. Mixing some blue into the equation, a public event hosted by Fertile Earth Foundation (FEF) will be further educating chamber members, government officials, businesses & community leaders on how to apply more “green” into their lives… and their water.

The event, properly named Water, Water Everywhere will expose One Water, a film produced, co-directed and written by Sanjeev Chaterjee (Executive Director at the Knight Center for International Media and the Vice Dean of the School of Communications, UM). One Water will take the audience into a journey around the globe (15 countries) over the time span of 5+ years. Already screened at the United Nations conferences, One Water depicts the ways different cultures obtain and utilize water.

While sipping some complimentary drinks served by VeeV Acai, attendees will also be experiencing an “eco-fashion show” featuring Meadow’s display of her organic bikinis and Ecoist handbags and accessories. They will also have the chance to win one of the bags and an undisclosed product that constitutes one of the main water consumption products in homes and businesses.

Water, Water Everywhere, will take place at the “green-going” Raleigh Hotel in Miami Beach on September 27th at 7pm. The Raleigh happens to be one of the two Miami Beach Boutique Hotels managed by the Andre Balazs Properties that follows the guidelines of the Florida Green Lodging Program.

FEF hopes this will be one of the many “green” events with different themes to come... next time maybe even incorporating more colors.