<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">  <channel>    <title>East Day Spa Blog Updates</title>    <link>http://eastdayspa.com/</link>    <pubDate></pubDate>    <language>en</language><item>  <title>Now everyday is Spring in Queenstown!</title>  <link>http://eastdayspa.com/blog/2012/5/8/now-everyday-is-spring-in-queenstown!.aspx</link>  <pubDate></pubDate>  <guid>http://eastdayspa.com/blog/2012/5/8/now-everyday-is-spring-in-queenstown!.aspx</guid>  <content:encoded><![CDATA[Our new brand, Spring FootSpa launched in Queenstown last week. Spring is, like the name suggests, mostly focussed on foot-based treatments, like massages, reflexology, hot soaks and pedicures, and a whole bunch of packages for trampers, skier’s, shoppers and partiers. But we offer a lot of traditional spa treatments too, like facials, threading, waxing and massage...]]></content:encoded>  </item><item>  <title>Can you sleep yourself thin?</title>  <link>http://eastdayspa.com/blog/2012/5/7/can-you-sleep-yourself-thin.aspx</link>  <pubDate></pubDate>  <guid>http://eastdayspa.com/blog/2012/5/7/can-you-sleep-yourself-thin.aspx</guid>  <content:encoded><![CDATA[You know you need sleep to rest and repair, but did you know more z’s might lead to less weight gain, too? That’s according to a new University of Washington study, that looked at the weight and sleeping habits of more than 1,000 pairs of twins. 

The study found that those who got less sleep — less than 7 hours a night — were not only heavier, but also had less control over their weight than those who got more than 9 hours of shuteye.

The research team found that among twins sleeping less than 7 hours, genes accounted for 70% of the difference in body mass index (BMI), while environment accounted for only 4% of the difference. Conversely, among twins getting more than 9 hours of sleep, genetic influences accounted for 32% of the BMI difference — or less than half the effect found in the short-sleeping twins — while environmental factors like diet and exercise accounted for 51% of the differences in weight.

The conclusion? The less sleep you get, the more your genes contribute to how much you weigh. The more sleep you get, the less your genes determine how much you weigh.  

The results suggest that shorter sleep provides a more permissive environment for the expression of obesity related genes. Or it may be that extended sleep is protective by suppressing expression of obesity genes. 

More research is needed to determine which biological mechanisms are at work and exactly how much sleep is enough to override the influence of obesity genes, but the results add to the evidence that adequate sleep is crucial to maintaining a healthy weight.

Sadly, you can’t sleep yourself thin, but you can sleep yourself to a point where environmental factors, like diet and activity, are more important in determining your body weight than genetics.]]></content:encoded>  </item><item>  <title>Staff profile: Hani</title>  <link>http://eastdayspa.com/blog/2012/4/24/staff-profile-hani.aspx</link>  <pubDate></pubDate>  <guid>http://eastdayspa.com/blog/2012/4/24/staff-profile-hani.aspx</guid>  <content:encoded><![CDATA[East Day Spa Auckland staff member Hani, is another of our multi-cultural staff members, hailing originally from Bali. We quizzed her on her favourite things to do in Auckland, her beauty tips and more!]]></content:encoded>  </item><item>  <title>Spread the news: East in the Media</title>  <link>http://eastdayspa.com/blog/2012/4/19/spread-the-news-east-in-the-media.aspx</link>  <pubDate></pubDate>  <guid>http://eastdayspa.com/blog/2012/4/19/spread-the-news-east-in-the-media.aspx</guid>  <content:encoded><![CDATA[East has been in the news a bit lately - for all the right reasons!]]></content:encoded>  </item><item>  <title>Recipe for Success: Green Smoothies</title>  <link>http://eastdayspa.com/blog/2012/4/17/recipe-for-success-green-smoothies.aspx</link>  <pubDate></pubDate>  <guid>http://eastdayspa.com/blog/2012/4/17/recipe-for-success-green-smoothies.aspx</guid>  <content:encoded><![CDATA[Green Smoothies have been a big health trend for a while, and they show no signs of diminishing in popularity. Not sure what a green smoothie is? It’s a smoothie with greens blended into it - greens as in lettuce, kale or spinach, for a infusion of extra nutrition. Sounds gross? They might look a bit weird, but they taste great - a well made green smoothie will mean you can’t taste the greens. Smoothies are reportedly great for weight loss, digestive health, supporting the immune system, plus they’re a healthy and filling snack. Advocates attest that they notice a massive increase in energy, clearer skin, better hair and nails, decreased cravings for junk food and lots of other positive effects. ]]></content:encoded>  </item><item>  <title>Meet Kathleen from Studio by East Day Spa</title>  <link>http://eastdayspa.com/blog/2012/4/13/meet-kathleen-from-studio-by-east-day-spa.aspx</link>  <pubDate></pubDate>  <guid>http://eastdayspa.com/blog/2012/4/13/meet-kathleen-from-studio-by-east-day-spa.aspx</guid>  <content:encoded><![CDATA[Originally from the Philippines, Kathleen Benitez works at our newest spa - Studio by East Day Spa, based at Auckland’s SKYCITY Grand. She lists some of her favourite activities as giving herself beauty treatments  “as a way to give back to myself” and cleaning - “it is my form of de-stressing. I need to keep my own house in order first so I can fully relax &amp; I can be present when I look after my clients.” A love for beauty treatments and cleanliness? Some might say she was made to be a therapist!
]]></content:encoded>  </item><item>  <title>We’d like you to meet...Studio by East Day Spa.</title>  <link>http://eastdayspa.com/blog/2012/4/5/we’d-like-you-to-meetstudio-by-east-day-spa.aspx</link>  <pubDate></pubDate>  <guid>http://eastdayspa.com/blog/2012/4/5/we’d-like-you-to-meetstudio-by-east-day-spa.aspx</guid>  <content:encoded><![CDATA[There&#39;s been a lot going on at East HQ lately, with soon-to-be-revealed renovations at EDS Auckland and a little thing called Spring occupying some of our time, too. But in case that wasn&#39;t enough to look forward to, this week we&#39;re opening &quot;Studio by East Day Spa&quot; - a pop-up salon located behind the lobby of Auckland&#39;s SKYCITY Grand Hotel. ]]></content:encoded>  </item><item>  <title>The Science of Sex Appeal</title>  <link>http://eastdayspa.com/blog/2012/3/22/the-science-of-sex-appeal.aspx</link>  <pubDate></pubDate>  <guid>http://eastdayspa.com/blog/2012/3/22/the-science-of-sex-appeal.aspx</guid>  <content:encoded><![CDATA[Women may strive for size-zero bods – but the science proves men prefer curvy women … when men seek women with hourglass figures they are unconsciously seeking healthier and more fertile women. This and other surprising laws of attraction are all to do with our ‘cave man past’….]]></content:encoded>  </item><item>  <title>The Beauty Benefits of Pumpkin</title>  <link>http://eastdayspa.com/blog/2012/3/21/the-beauty-benefits-of-pumpkin.aspx</link>  <pubDate></pubDate>  <guid>http://eastdayspa.com/blog/2012/3/21/the-beauty-benefits-of-pumpkin.aspx</guid>  <content:encoded><![CDATA[They’re not the world’s most attractive vegetables, but pumpkins are a surprisingly effective addition to your beauty regime and with autumn in full swing and harvest approaching, we’ve unearthed some DIY home spa recipes using pumpkin that will brighten your skin, calm breakouts, and soften the appearance of fine lines and sun damage…]]></content:encoded>  </item><item>  <title>Do you need a digital detox?</title>  <link>http://eastdayspa.com/blog/2012/3/20/do-you-need-a-digital-detox.aspx</link>  <pubDate></pubDate>  <guid>http://eastdayspa.com/blog/2012/3/20/do-you-need-a-digital-detox.aspx</guid>  <content:encoded><![CDATA[Dublin’s luxury Westin Hotel has come up with a new detox plan to liberate guests from  technology overload.  Guests booking in for the Digital Detox package surrender their iPhones and gadgets while the hotel’s spa offers massages designed to iron out knots from hunching over a computer keyboard all day, and to alleviate texting thumb or internet elbow…]]></content:encoded>  </item>  </channel></rss>
