global brief

Pod Spa & Wellness Opens in Long Beach

Long Beach is now home to Pod Spa & Wellness, a stunning, brand-new facility that boasts 7,000 square feet of aesthetics, wellness and fitness, including the Rooftop Studio, a sanctuary with floor-to-ceiling windows, delivering a sun-drenched studio that spills into a spectacular sodded outdoor rooftop where classes take place during pleasant weather. Pod Spa & Wellness caters to both men and women, from adolescence to mature adult individuals or groups. Skin rejuvenation features the most revolutionary lasers, including TriLift, the first facial muscle stimulating machine, providing “a face-lift without the surgery,” says owner Jason Polete. The clinical staff consists of experienced registered nurses and estheticians that expertly guide clients through a personalized aesthetic journey. A Himalayan salt cave—often featuring sound healing meditation classes— three lavish private infrared sauna suites with in-room rain-head showers, cryotanks to reduce inflammation and provide pain relief, relaxing massage treatments and IV drip services in a candle-lit recliner lounge are some of the other services that promise to reinvigorate the weariest of individuals, whether from travel, illness or an epic night out. The space provides a variety of classes such as Pilates, yoga, prenatal yoga, infrared hot yoga, rowing, Zumba, total body fusion and interval training. Convenient Zoom classes allow for exercise at home. Monthly workshops focus on stress management and addressing the unification of mind, body and spiritual needs. The studio also entertains corporate and professional groups looking to put a twist on the usual meeting, inspiration trip or bonding retreat.

Location: 221 E. Park Ave.,Long Beach. For more information or to schedule an appointment or free consultation, call 888-766-8889 or visitPodSpas.com.

Sea Soundscapes Help Regrow Oyster Reefs

In new research published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, Australian scientists amplified the natural sounds of the sea via underwater speakers, inducing baby oysters to swim toward desirable locations for regrowing oyster reefs. Thousands more larvae swam to those locations than to control areas to settle on bare rocks. Oyster reef restoration in Australia and globally is viewed as a way to re-establish healthy ecosystems. Shellfish filter and clean large volumes of water as they feed, and shell piles provide habitat for fish.

Many marine animals use sound to communicate over long distances, because it can carry more information than sight or smell underwater. Healthy reefs emit crackles and pops from shrimp and fish as they feed, and that makes oyster larvae aware of a healthy habitat for them to settle on a rock and begin growing their shell.

The researchers recorded sounds from the healthy Port Noarlunga Reef and played them underwater near two large reef restoration sites offshore from Adelaide and the Yorke Peninsula. They attracted up to 17,000 more oysters per square meter to these sites and close to four times more large oysters grew in the test areas over the next five months, further accelerating habitat growth.