Education

Touch- unlike our other main senses which are confined to specific regions, can be felt all over our body.  Touch is more specifically referred to as our somatosensory system as it is a diverse system that responds to stimuli from touch, temperature and pain.

Is it any wonder then, that such a multifarious sense would lead us to massage therapy?  Ancient civilizations of Rome, Greece, Japan, India, China and Egypt have been found to practice massage and these practices have contributed to the dozens of different modalities of massage therapy that are practiced today.

Massage relieves pain, reduces blood pressure, heart rates, depression and anxiety.  If you’ve ever had a massage in any form, you can attest to these benefits.

The massage therapy and spa industry’s massive growth in past 10 years can be attributed to increased stress levels due to our busier lifestyles and higher demands at work and home. People are looking for an outlet to relieve stress and the deal with repetitive strain, aches and pains without the use of medications or surgery.

Part of the increase in massage therapy’s popularity is also due to the advanced education and recognition of massage therapists in the medical community.  In British Columbia we have one of the most highly regarded education systems for massage therapists in the world.  With over three years of training and mandatory post-graduate studies, registered massage therapists in B.C. are a cut above in the industry.

With this recognition in the medical profession, comes the ability as a client to write off massage therapy as a medical expense. More and more people are requesting to see a Registered Massage Therapist when they book in for a spa treatment.

It’s sounds like Utopia- a prescription for massage!  Now there’s very little excuse for not seeking out massage as a way to maintain mental and physical health.

Spruce Body Lab currently has a staff of several registered massage therapists to meet this demand.  Check out our staff bios and book in. It’s time for some touch therapy!

• Massage Therapy

Excuse my ignorance, but I never really considered the lengths and pains that men go through to avoid five o’clock shadow- that is until I attended the launch of Dermalogica’s new Shave line.  

I’ve seen other brands bring out product lines for men, and to be honest, there really isn’t anything very innovative out there. They all seem to be blue- blue packaging, blue cream, blue gel, and they all have that exhausted cologne scent.  Not to mention that most of these products contain ingredients that create irritation for a process that’s irritating to begin with.  Traditional shaving products, although marketed to help with shaving are in fact a hinderance by causing razor burn and sensitivity. 

At the Dermalogica’s Shave launch, a shocking example how the ingredients in a product are so important, was a pH test that showed a common shave gel to have a pH of 8- the same level as a household cleaner. This is what men are putting on their faces almost everyday.  It’s no wonder they don’t look forward to shaving!

The Shave line from Dermalogica breaks down these hackneyed models of men’s skin care and stays true to their brand vision. Using refreshing essential oil blends, omitting alcohol, dyes and artificial fragrance, while creating products that make shaving better for men.

I was won over at the launch, but the true test was for the man in my life to try them.  The verdict- the best shave he’s had in years.  

Two products that I think are big winners from this new line are the Pre-Shave Guard, which softens and cushions the beard used in combination with the Soothing Shave Cream.  To quote one of the Dermalogica educator’s experience- “It’s like cutting through butter.”

Ladies don’t need to feel left out- the shave products, although targeted to men, are good for anyone to shave with.  I personally tried the Invigorating Shave Gel on my legs and found them looking and feeling smoother than with anything I’ve used previously as a shave medium.

Curious about the new shave products? Do you want to learn how to best take care of your skin? Book in for a Face Mapping or Skin Bar session and get introduced to a new way of shaving and better skin!

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