Attention all dog lovers. If you’re thinking about a trip to Europe this year, care about animal welfare, and want to take part in something really great that helps the lives of dogs, check out this great new trip being offered by Inside/Out. Their 2010 Greece Humanitourism Volunteer Adventure is built around helping Greece’s homeless street dogs. Besides helping to ease the suffering of animals that have been abandoned, neglected, abused, or starved, participants will assist with shelter improvements and help to educate local residents about sterilization and feeding programs. And no, you don’t have to be a vet student to make a real difference.

After the voluntourism portion of the trip, participants will have the opportunity to take part in a number of eco-tourism adventures including sea kayaking, hiking, and river rafting. Click here to see the itinerary.

Winter may be winding down in many parts of the country, but we’re looking at around two more months of snow and blustery weather up here in the mountains. My never-ending quest to stay warm has had me experimenting with strategies to keep my toes toasty, especially for those long daily walks I just can’t seem to do without.

My newest favorite thing is a line of ski and snowboard performance socks from Under Armour. I adore the Women’s ColdGear Toro Snowboard Sock and ColdGear Palma Ski Sock, which are vented, odor and wetness resistant, seamless — and come in fun patterns, like the chocolate and raspberry patterned knee-high pair I’m wearing right now. I just found out that Under Armour also has a line of short, running-style socks, too, and I’m planning on stocking up for spring and summer — seasons that I’m told will arrive eventually, even here. It’s healthy to be an optimist.

Red Mountain Spa, an HL&S favorite, recently shared with us their news, offering guests (through the end of April), the Signature Room package starting at $189/night. (Based on double occupancy, per person rates.) The Signature Package includes:

Daily Guided Hikes

Three Meals daily

Deluxe Accommodations

Unlimited Fitness Classes

Healthy Life Classes

Cooking Demonstrations

Use of Resort’s Amenities

You can also book the A la Carte package starting at $149/night, which includes breakfast.. but why skip out on all of the amazing activities and cuisine Red Mountain is known for?

Book fast spa goers.. Click here for more information.

We were just made aware of several great offerings at Canyon Ranch—both their Lenox and Tucson locations—and wanted to be sure to share them with you. Canyon Ranch is an HL&S fave- so if you can, visit!

Promotion for Tucson and Lenox:

Event for Tucson:Gotta Dance – Catch the Beat and Have a Ball

When: From May 02, 2010 to May 07, 2010 all day

Where: Tucson

Category: Fitness/Movement

Catch the beat, and get ready to groove. By popular demand, the smash-hit Gotta Dance! returns to Canyon Ranch.Are you a dancin’ demon already or just getting started? Exciting classes for all levels will be led by Ranch staff and professional dancers including Broadway veteran Russell Warfield, ballerina and ballet teacher Tracey Katona and choreographer Todd Wilson. They’ll show you their best moves and help bring out your star quality. The big finale comes with the fabulous guest recital, when you can dance with the stars! Gotta Dance!

Event for Lenox:Yoga and Vibrant Health

When: From Apr 24, 2010 to Apr 30, 2010 all day

Where: Lenox

Category: Fitness/Movement, Spirituality

Yoga is a discipline that unites mind, body and spirit. Whether you’re a beginner or practice yoga daily, our experts will give you caring hands-on guidance.In the latter half of this amazing week, our own Nina Molin, M.D., and guest speaker Dr. Shekhar Annambhotla will show you how to integrate ayurveda, the “sister science” of yoga, into your life, and will help you use this ancient paradigm of health to support your practice and enhance your joy, health and vibrancy.

Which oil is best?

In a clinical study conducted by The Centre for Nutritional Studies, Barlean’s Omega Swirl, a lemon flavored, emulsified fish oil product was found to be 90% more bio-available than standard fish oil.

In the study, the total percentage of oil that reached the blood stream was 10-times greater with Omega Swirl than the same dose of fish oil. Theoretically, it could take up to 20 standard fish oil gelcaps to equal the amount of Omega-3 delivered to the bloodstream by just one, two tsp. dose of Omega Swirl.

Barlean’s Fruit Swirl resembles the texture of a fruit smoothie and has a fruity flavor to match. According to Barlean’s, this texture allows the oil to more efficiently pass through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream.

Barlean’s Omega Swirls have won multiple “Best of Supplement” and “Tasters Choice” awards and the company has captured national media attention, including our attention here at HL&S! (We also like their OliveLeaf complex oil, which has a nice minty flavor.)

Which oils are your fave?

For the week of February 21st to February 25th, the Suddenly Slimmer Spa, in Phoenix, Arizona, is offering the following specials:

1 Hour Hot Stone Massage or Aromatherapy Massage, $65!

Deep Pore, Acne Facial, or Rejuvenation Facial, $75!

These specials must be booked this week. Mention the HL&S special when you make your reservation.

“Hearts for Haiti” Natural Balance Massage & Wellness Center in Brooklyn, New York, has been spreading the love throughout the entire month of February with its’ “Hearts for Haiti” campaign. A portion of all Natural Balance Gift Card sales will go to benefit the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and Doctors Without Borders. A minimum of $1000. has been pledged by Natural Balance towards this effort, but their goal is to exceed the pledge by 100%. So, as you give a spa gift of health and love, we will pay it forward to help those in dire need.

Visit Healing Lifestyles website today, and the first twenty-five entrants will each win a $25 gift card to Satya Jewelry, a unique line of gorgeous jewelry, inspired by healing elements found in nature as well as different spiritual symbols.PLUS, one lucky winner will also win a $500 gift certificate! Act fast!

Having worked in film off and on for a long time, I love a good movie—but I’m usually extremely disappointed by over-hyped product, and had put off seeing Avatar for that very reason. And, frankly, except for True Lies and the first Terminator movie, James Cameron has never been especially high on my list of creative talent (I actually fell asleep during Titanic). That said, I was pleasantly surprised—and rather moved—by his latest film, Avatar, and its strong underlying message of respect and honor for the natural world (despite the huge profits it stands to make).

I initially got talked into going because my husband loves animation and special effects, and because I adore the work of Sigourney Weaver. But as the story unfolded, I was struck not only by the beauty of the distant world the film portrays, but also by the apt depiction of modern society’s overwhelming greed and willingness to destroy things for a profit. Money and profit at the risk of anything and everything seems to be the motto of the Western world, sadly played out by the fact that corporations are given the same rights (and in many cases, more rights) as individuals. How that happened, and the fact that more than one Supreme Court ruling here in the US has guaranteed that gigantic corporations can make decisions that effect you, me, and our children in devastating ways, remains a matter of huge significance for us as a species. And, while some of us may be morally damaged beyond repair here on Planet Earth with regard to what’s important, what’s not, and how we treat the environment, at least we’re currently unable to damage other planets and their ecosystems.

I’ve always believed that if the moon really were made of cheese, the surface would be covered by now with huge corporate factories, all digging away at the direction of their CEOs, CFOs, and shareholders until there was simply no moon left at all. Perhaps the enormous number of children who have seen, or will see, Avatar will come away with their eyes opened, just a bit. It’s worth a hope, and a sincere thank you to the film’s creators. And yes, that includes you, Mr. Cameron.

with my hubby of course…

But, I’ve also fell in love with The Organic Pharmacy, an exquisite line of skincare based in the U.K. To be honest, I’ve heard of The Organic Pharmacy for several years, but never ventured out to actually try it. When I received a sample of their new Mommy & Baby Line, I immediately went to test it out on my daughter’s dry skin. My poor daughter inherited my dry (technically keratosis pilaris) skin condition, that leaves little red bumps all over her cute complexion. Their Apricot & Chamomile Baby Lotion almost instantly erased the redness. And, although she naturally smells sweet, this lotion smells incredible.. I wanted to bathe myself in it. But, alas, it is for her. I’ll have to go and buy my own bottle.

The entire line is free of petrochemicals and parabens, and highlights nature’s best ingredients from herbs to plants and flowers. And if you’re so lucky that your travels (or your life) take you to London, be sure to look for their spa.