Many novice smokers have embarrassed themselves trying to smoke a cigar with the same frantic, huff-and-puff energy that goes into cigarette smoking. But cigars aren't cigarettes, any more than cheap beer is fine wine, and just as you'd never guzzle a fine Cabernet Sauvignon, you shouldn't just inhale a cigar.
The first question to consider is, of course, the quality of the cigar. Handmade...
Cigars can come in any shape or size - it's the ingredients, and the way those ingredients are handled, that makes them good or bad.
Almost all cigars (except extremely thin models) are made up of three components: the filler, the tobacco at the center which is the most important ingredient; the binder, an elastic leaf that holds the filler in the center; and the outer wrapper, which...
The smoking jacket: like the cigar itself, it's a timeless emblem of leisure, idleness, "the good life." First widely worn in England during the Victorian period, the smoking jacket has undergone a bit of a resurgence in recent years, as younger consumers turn to it - as they have to, again, the cigar - for a touch of old-fashioned elegance.
Though the term is sometimes used to mean "any...
Easily reached by air within a few hours of most U.S. cities, the Caribbean is more like another world with its azure waters, white sand beaches, and lush vegetation. It's here that visitors come to truly escape from it all. Offering many types of refuge, today's Caribbean resort spas provide guests with everything from recovery from a heady night scene in San Juan to the ultimate escape - a...
Any celebrity worth their weight in an Academy Award knows their camera-ready close-ups are only as good as the pampering, buffing, preening, and blasting treatments they receive to fade those tiny crow's feet and firm up the derriere. And where do the celebrities go to maintain their flawless beauty? To the most exclusive spas, of course, where they are happy to drop big bucks in pursuit of...
With an estimated 14,615 spas in the United States in 2007 the growth of spas is a steady one, according to The International SPA Association (ISPA). "Similar to restaurants, hotels and fitness centers, spas play a significant role in today's culture," said ISPA President Lynne Walker McNees. "One in four American adults has been to a spa and know what they want from a quality spa experience."...
When it comes to starting a family, many couples discover it isn't always as easy as they might have imagined. A poor diet, health issues, and even stress can greatly decrease a couple's ability to conceive. In response, a growing trend in spa programs is beginning to include treatments and diet regimes designed to increase fertility and provide couples with a romantic and relaxing environment...
You enjoy a good massage, but do you just grin and bear it if your therapist's touch is a bit too strong? Or what if the water is isn't quite right during your pedicure treatment? If you find the music a smidge too loud in the treatment room, do you mention it to the therapist?
"The spa is meant to de-stress, not stress you," said International SPA Association (ISPA) President Lynne Walker...
With one out of five Americans having visited a spa, chances are those who have not yet experienced the spa are at least aware of its benefits and services. To take the guesswork out of an experience that has been designed for relaxation, the International SPA Association (ISPA) has compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I find the right spa for me?
A: It's important to do...
According to a survey conducted by the American Massage Therapy Associatoin (AMTA), more people are receiving massage therapy for medical purposes than for relaxation. The survey also revealed that baby boomers have more massages than those who are younger, and are more likely to receive those massages for medical reasons.
"It's no surprise that people are turning to massage therapy to...
