Homepage Features

Physical Therapy Meets Pilates

“Everyone will benefit from doing Pilates,” says Varsha Pohuja, the director of physical therapy at Seaview Orthopedics, with locations in Freehold and Ocean Township (732.660.6200, seaviewortho.com). “In Pilates, you use your mind to control your muscles, and the method helps you improve flexibility and strength.”

Tea time

Most people are aware of the cancer-fighting antioxidants in tea, “but there are teas for many different aspects of health,” says Kim Widener, owner of the trendy tea and coffee shop Novel Teas in Red Bank (732.747.8800, novelteas.org).

Mayflower Inn & Spa

Nestled in the New England countryside in the idyllic town of Washington, Conn., lies a place of perfection, The Mayflower Inn and Spa. The luxury hotel offers a serene respite for those looking to get away from it all.

House tour

The Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey (VNACJ) will present its annual Stately Homes by-the-Sea Designer Show House May 3 through June 12. This year’s featured home is the historic, Georgian-style Holly Hill house, located in Rumson. The handmade brick house is set on more than 12 acres and, true to its name, features dozens of holly trees.

Raising the Bar

The Bar Method Shrewsbury is a fitness studio that teaches The Bar Method, a workout program that is popular in studios around the country. Owner Chrissy Valerio was a student in such a program who took classes regularly. Inspired by her results, she opened the Shrewsbury franchise in September 2008.

Plop, plop, fizz, fizz-aah: Bath bombs

We’re not talking Alka-Seltzer—we’re talking bath bombs, those tablets that bubble and fizz in the tub, making you feel as if you’re bathing in champagne! To make your next bath a super-soothing indulgence, why not try whipping up your own tension-taming bath bomb?

Environmental drive: Volkswagon Touareg

Love the space, power and handling of an SUV, but hate the environmental impact? Starting now, you can swap your gas guzzler for a 2011 Touareg, Volkswagen’s first hybrid, and because it’s an SUV, you can still hit the road sitting high.

Harmony at home

We all long for a harmonious home—a tempting space where color and texture blend seamlessly and each room has a visual connection with the next. A home so well-planned you can chat on the phone while stirring supper, where work lights are aptly placed, and there’s always a connection for the laptop.

Relief for new moms

Giving birth can involve its share of aches and pains, but a new service offered at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch is making the days after labor much easier on new mothers. For an additional fee, maternity patients can enjoy in-room relaxation and wellness treatments from Bavia Baby (732.403.3113, baviahealth.com), an independent Minneapolis-based company.

Combat stress with meditation

Boost your immune system, improve concen­tration, enhance creativity and decrease stress by meditating, suggests Kellye Davis, author of The Bliss Principle (theblissprinciple.com). To find your inner bliss, here are Davis’ step-by-step instructions:

Mayflower Inn & Spa

Nestled in the New England countryside in the idyllic town of Washington, Conn., lies a place of perfection, The Mayflower Inn and Spa. The luxury hotel offers a serene respite for those looking to get away from it all.

Combat stress with meditation

Boost your immune system, improve concentration, enhance creativity and decrease stress by meditating, suggests Kellye Davis, author of The Bliss Principle (theblissprinciple.com). To find your inner bliss, here are Davis’ step-by-step instructions:

Mayflower Inn & Spa

Nestled in the New England countryside in the idyllic town of Washington, Conn., lies a place of perfection, The Mayflower Inn and Spa. The luxury hotel offers a serene respite for those looking to get away from it all.

Shop Local Leader: Raising the bar

The Bar Method Mountain Lakes is a fitness studio that teaches The Bar Method, a workout program now popular in studios around the country. Owner Jennifer Curtis was a Bar Method student in Summit, and she opened her own Mountain Lakes franchise in March 2009.

Harmony at home

We all long for a harmonious home—a tempting space where color and texture blend seamlessly and each room has a visual connection with the next. A home so well-planned you can chat on the phone while stirring supper, where work lights are aptly placed, and there’s always a connection for the laptop.