Education

I think we can all attest to the discomfort of sore muscles after strenuous exercise. Although the pains we go through to get into shape are worth the battle, it would be nice to not have to hold our breath every time we need time we need to lift our leg above 90 degrees after all those squats, or to wince in pain when closing the car door after all those chin ups!

There is a solution to delayed onset muscle soreness- book in for an infrared sauna session followed by a massage and your muscle pain will be a thing of the past.

Infrared heat therapy has been used by physiotherapists and doctors of Chinese medicine for many years to improve circulation and relaxation in the muscles and tissues. The increased blood flow helps to purge the muscles of lactic acid which causes aches and pains in the muscle tissue. It also helps to relax the muscles, prepping them for massage therapy. Your massage therapist can then begin to work out trigger points and any remaining tightness in your muscles.

I’ve been surprised of late to find that as I continue to focus on my core muscles and proper  alignment during exercise, that formerly weak muscles are becoming short and tight in response to this change in form. This has caused aches and pains to arise where I’m not accustomed.  So even when I think I’ve gotten into better shape- there’s still plenty of maintenance to be done in order to keep my muscles healthy and to prevent injury.

So now I know I have a choice- to wince and hold my breath until the soreness subsides, or I can book in for a treatment and carry on… hmmm… that’s not such a hard decision!

Here’s a rather amusing article by Tim Dowling for the Guardian regarding his experience using an infrared sauna. Fortunately for Spruce Body Lab patrons, our sauna is a private retreat in which to relax and sweat it all out!

Botox is still uncharted territory for many people. It seems like a big step to go from a daily skin care regime and monthly facials to injecting botulism. But from my experience with clients and friends, it’s usually a positive turning point in protracting the aging process.

Here’s three reasons to Try Botox Now

1. I’m not sure what could be a better reason for trying botox than the fact that it works- and the results are noticeable. It’s not like the fine print at the bottom of an ad for an anti-aging cream that proclaims that 80% of people perceived that their fine lines and wrinkles were lessened. With botox- its not a matter of subjective microns of change- the lines melt away.

2. People will finally stop asking you if you’re okay. For those plagued by frown lines in the middle of the brow that come about on a subconscious level when lost in thought- you’ll no longer look angry to the rest of the world. Your brow will be a smooth and open vista of relaxation.

3. It lasts and it’s affordable. Unlike more drastic measures such as a face lift, there is little to no down-time with botox injections and the cost is considerably more manageable than surgery. Patients generally get anywhere from 10-50 units of botox per treatment and the effects last up to 4 months. When you do the math, that’s anywhere from $300 to $1500 per year to shed aging wrinkles.

Still in doubt? Read this amusing article featured on the Globe and Mail by converted botox skeptic Margaret Wente.

Sigh… It’s hard to believe it’s the 11th day of August. I feel like I need to cram in as much summer fun as possible before September arrives. Even though the weather is usually still quite nice, September will always have that “back to school” feeling, whether or not school is no longer my reality- can you relate?

So before heading back to the routines that govern eight months of our year- here are some end of summer specials to take advantage of in August.

Who knew stocking up on your skin care could have such lavish rewards? When you purchase $200 or more in Dermalogica products we’ll gift you a 45 minute head to toe Lab Scrub certificate ($70 value). The summer sun, sand underfoot at the beach and air conditioning can be very drying and dehydrating to your skin. Undo it all and unwind with a skin-envy inducing Lab Scrub.

There’s no rush to cover up- keep working those summer clothes without a care for any unwanted hair. Our Midday Mellow Skin Care Promotion will include waxing on ”Smooth Wednesdays” in the month of August: receive 25% off all waxing treatments when you book in between 10am and 4pm*.

*This promotion is not applicable to other promotions, discounts or store credit.

Is “Bacne” the bane of your existance? Sometimes breakouts on the back occur from ingrown hairs due to waxing, from excess oils and sweat on the skin or if we’re under added stress. In the summer time this skin concern can cause embarrassment when it comes to baring more skin at the beach or simply in the heat. Book in for an Intensive Care Back Treatment - a customized treatment for the skin on your back to reduce and clear acne break outs, leaving your skin smooth and refreshed. 60 min … $79 (savings of $20)

On that note- I hope you all get to savor some more beautiful care free summer days!

The beach has been beckoning these days- and along with it comes the unforgiving bikini.

I have to say that after getting into a very regular exercise routine of pilates, yoga, running and bike riding, I was hoping that my problem areas would become less problematic. Not so I’m afraid.

I REALLY don’t want to have to sacrifice enjoying food and the occasional glass of wine in order to improve the appearance of my dimpled zones. Life is just too short! Besides which, I wouldn’t be able to keep that up for long, so I decided to give Pro-Derm’s Prodermafiline Body Cream a try.

Apparently after 6-8 weeks of daily use I should see an improvement. It will “help eliminate dimpling of the thighs and buttocks.” and “You will quickly see its firming effects on your whole body…”

It’s only been a week and while the dimpling is still there, I do notice an improvement in the firmness and texture of my skin. This is due to Pro-Derm’s high concentration of active ingredients. The company makes all of it’s products at pharmaceutical levels. Prodermalfiline contains 5% lactic acid (AHA) to smooth the skin texture, pure retinol (vitamin A) to stimulate the re-growth of skin cells for a firming effect and a concentration of 5% pure caffeine which accelerates the elimination of excess fats to fight cellulite.

So while I’m still a skeptic, and I don’t think that I’ll be rid of the cellulite entirely- thus far I’m pretty impressed with even the small improvement I’ve seen. The catch is that I will have to use the Prodermafiline continuously in order to reap the benefits, but that’s a small price to pay if you ask me. I don’t think twice about applying serums and masks to my face, how hard is it to put some attention and focus on other areas that need it?

Other simple tools that I’m planning to integrate into my routine are:

dry body brushing: using a soft natural bristle in a circular upward motion- dry body brushing is an excellent way to promote lymph drainage- our body detoxification power house

hydrotherapy showers: by turning the shower from hot to cold for about 30 seconds at the end of my morning shower- not only will I get an energy boost- but a boost to my metabolism, detoxification and circulation.

infrared sauna: an infrared sauna session once a week will help rid my body of excess metals and toxins and stimulate my metabolism- you can burn up to 600 calories in 30 minutes!

Here’s hoping that in 7 weeks the only dimples present will be on the cheeks located above my waistline!

• Buy Prodermafiline On-Line here
• Other uses for Prodermafiline: this is a superb treatment for areas where kertosis pilaris occurs- such as the back of the arms
• Areas of accelerated aging due to sun damage such as the chest, neck and hands. The lactic acid and vitamin A in this concentrated body lotion will have a rejuvenating effect on photo-damaged skin.

While we need the sun- it’s plays a crucial part in our bodies functions through vitamin D absorption, it helps our mood and our sense of well being- over time  the signs of sun damage to our skin begin to show.

Photo-damage that start to show up are things like dilated capillaries: small  blood vessels  filled with stagnant blood that show up just below the skin’s surface, leading to a look of flushing in the cheeks and chin area, around the creases of the nose  and sometimes on the forehead. Hyperpigmentation: brown freckles and large spots that show up on the nose, the orbital bone and eventually all over the cheeks and forehead. These are also commonly called age spots. Wrinkles that are due to sun damage look like fine criss-crossing lines- these are not wrinkles that are due to facial expressions, but specifically due to the break down of the supportive fibers that keep the skin firm and taught. Loss of volume also occurs and manifest in sagging of the skin and ill-defined facial contours around the chin and jawline.

This is all a little bit disheartening- however, thanks to advancements in medical aesthetic technology, we can slow down and prevent a great deal of the aging process. One of the best treatments for photo-damaged skin is Broad Band Light therapy or photorejuvenation. By pulsing wavelengths of light into the depths of the skin, we can target pigmented cells and dilated capillaries to even out the skin tone. As the light scatters in the skin, it has rejuvenating effects on the collagen fibres, stimulating collagen synthesis. This improves skin firmness, refines pores and softens fine lines.

By combining photorejuvenation with microdermabrasion, we can improve the skin quality even more by retexture the epidermis. Microdermabrasion sloughs away the upper layers of the skin to reveal fresh hydrated skin and stimulate cell renewal from the bottom layers of the epidermis, effectively softening and revitalizing the skin.

It’s best to begin this series of treatments earlier on- before the signs of sun damage really take hold. Integrating a series of photorejuvenation and microdermabrasion treatments every few years after 30 is a good time to start. This way, the degradation of the dermis can be effectively prevented and heavier pigmentation and redness can be avoided  all together.

In the mean time. regular facials and effective home-care keep the balance in place to maintain healthy and beautiful skin for life.

As the fall approaches, it is a good time to plan ahead to begin Broad Band Light therapy for your skin and work on reducing and reversing sun damage in your skin. Keep your eyes out for upcoming specials, promotions and pop-up specials via our Facebook group page and Twitter posts.

Here’s an excellent article I found on Gwyneth Paltrow’s web site GOOP about approaching sun exposure from a balanced and healthy place.