I’ve been hearing a lot of talk about post-Olympic blues, Vancouverites were high on the energy of it all, and the sudden switch back to routine had some people feeling down. Where did all the fun go? And yet there are still more people who are happy to get back into routine. Two to three weeks of partying had taken its toll on their bodies, and it was time to get back to the gym and eating right.

When I’m not feeling my best, I tend to increase my exercise, eat better and then boost it all with infrared sauna sessions. In as little as 30 minutes, I can burn up to 600 calories while sweating out toxins and relaxing my muscles. Post infrared sessions, I often feel hungry, but also very mellow, like I’ve just had a really great work out.

I wouldn’t necessarily promote the infrared sauna as a weight loss tool Anna and Christina’s Beauty Call (A W Network Series), did a feature on our infrared sauna. Anna and Christina had a sauna session everyday for 7 days. Afterwards they had both lost around 2 pounds. Hardly a weight loss miracle, but, I imagine that relieving their bodies of excess toxins and muscular strain would have had a tremendous benefit to their energy and immunity.

So if you’re feeling the need for a post-Olympic purge, I’d suggest a little time out in an infrared sauna. On a side note- here’s an interesting article from the Globe and Mail about how the Olympics has influences Canadians’ fitness levels: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/on-the-podium-sure-but-not-off-the-couch/article1496774/

With all the fun that summer brings, it also requires a little more attention to grooming, as we can’t hide our unattended body parts behind clothes as readily!

Permanent Hair Reduction is the perfect solution for such time consuming and dull activities as waxing and shaving. What’s involved and how does it work?

You have to avoid any kind of hair removal that involves removing the hair by its root (ie: waxing and tweezing) for about 4 weeks prior to treatment. After a thorough consultation during which, you will be skin typed, you’ll need to shave the area to be treated. A cool ultra-sound gel is applied to the treatment area and a quartz crystal, chilled hand piece is pulsed over the skin.

The Sciton BBLs uses energy from different wavelengths of the light spectrum to penetrate the skin and effectively target the hair germ cell. The varying wavelengths are used to reach specific depths of the skin in order to treat different hair types. Not all hair is the same; for instance, on the legs, there can be variations on the courseness of hair. The BBLs can effectively treat fine, medium and course hair growth, so that as the treatments progress, all the hair can be targeted effectively. This differs from laser hair removal which cannot adjust the depth of penetration to treat finer and medium hairs which are situated closer to the skin’s surface than course hair.

Each individual hair has three stages to it’s life span. If the light catches the hair in it’s first phase of hair growth, it will not grow back. If the hair is in its second or last stage of hair growth, there is already a new hair waiting in the wings to grow, so it will require more than one treatment to catch every hair in its first stage (anagen phase) of hair growth.

This sounds kind of complicated, but the actual treatment itself is less painful than waxing and any discomfort that does arise is swift and does not linger. It feels like a flash of heat. Some people even liken it to the snap of an elastic band.

Over the week to two weeks following treatment, the hairs seem to be growing out; however, the ones that have been effectively treated fall out as they rise to the surface. It’s quite a remarkable sight! After about three treatments there is 60-80% reduction in the hair growth and density.

Treatments are spaced 8-12 weeks apart and shaving can be done in between treatments to groom the area- but even that chore is significantly reduced in terms of how often it is necessary, as the hair growth becomes finer and less noticeable.

So if you’re looking to bare some skin without the hassles of waxing and shaving this summer, it may be time to shine a light on your unwanted hair.

Click here to read more about Permanent Hair Reduction

Stay tuned by joining our email list- we’re having a really good promotion coming up for Permanent Hair Reduction.

Dermalogica Face Mapping

I was thinking to myself this morning about how much skin care is constantly changing and evolving- yet people are still largely uneducated about what ingredients and formulations are good or bad for the skin.

A recent perusal of Fashion Magazine’s Readers’ Choice for best skin care products had me shocked. It seems that people worship fashion labels and brands that are of a premium quality, but when it comes to skin care the drug store and department store brands still dominate the ranks.

In a culture that worships youth so fervently, you’d think that the demand for quality and effective skin care would be the norm. I think that effective marketing has a lot to do with it. If people are lured in by a  strong enough message and brand, they may not question its efficacy.

As a trained skin care professional, it’s my job to know ingredients, but it’s hard to keep track of everything that’s out there. I can only imagine how overwhelming it must be to the average consumer.

Then there’s the advice from dermatologists who prescribe soap as a cleanser for the skin. Yikes! It boggles my mind. And most people are not going to question this advice.

One of the most important factors in skin health is pH balance. If you use a product that is alkaline, it will alter the pH of your skin to become less acidic, which leaves it vulnerable to dehydration, sensitivity and acne bacteria. Soap is generally very alkaline- this applies to traditional shave creams as well. At the Dermalogica Shave launch last spring, they tested the pH of a drug-store brand shave cream and it was the same pH as a cleaning fluid. Ouch! No wonder men get such irritation from shaving.

In the end, I hope that through continued education and building client relationships, as skin therapists we can cut through the cosmetic industry rhetoric and get people investing in products and ingredients that will actually do them some good. Fashion Reader’s Choice here we come!

Here’s a great link to check out when researching ingredients. If you’re curious about what’s in your products, I’d suggest doing some research here to see where your products rank. http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php

Need some product or treatment advice? Book in for a complimentary consultation and we can help make sense of your skin through face mapping.

One of which is the roving media that could catch you at any moment. I hate to sound vain, but I also feel more self conscious with all the visitors from around the world wondering the streets. Am I representing a positive image of the modern Vancouverite? Half the time I’m wondering around either on my way to or from a yoga class with my hair thrown up into a messy pony tail  and the archetypal Kitsilano yoga-gear look. It’s embarrassing to admit- but at least I AM doing yoga!

Fortunately I can say that my skin looks good.  Something I’ve become quite fond of to give my skin a healthy glow while allowing it’s natural health to shine through are the Colorescience Suncanny treatment cosmetics. A light application of pure, unadulterated minerals reflects light, so your skin has an added luminosity. In addition to this effortless glimmer, there is a subtle evening of the skin tone and an SPF 20 to secure against sun damage. I like to use the Suncanny bronzer “It’s Only Natural” to create contouring and add more dimension to my skin tone.

The greatest thing about these minerals is that they are fool proof and they don’t have the cakey, powdery look of a foundation. So flash and tape away this Olympic Season- my skin is ready to be bared- even if the rest of my attire could use some polishing!

I hope you’ve all had a chance to enjoy some of the events. Check out the Cultural Olympiad for a list of free events.

• Did you know that film and television make-up artists are turning to mineral cosmetics for their ability to cover imperfections, even tatoos, while maintaining a natural look to the skin?
• Cameron Diaz has endorsed (without solicitation) that Colorescience’s Sunforgettable SPF 30 products have helped her to conquer the acne associated with chemical based sunscreens.
• Click here to learn more about Colorescience Suncanny Mineral Cosmetics
• Book in for a complimentary Colorescience consultation

But, that was also what attracted my to this city- a more active and health-conscious lifestyle. They say your environment influences you- and 10 years later I’m happy to say that I’m a much more able-bodied specimen than I once was.

With all the boot camps and Grouse Grinds at our disposal, it would seem that the average person is pushing themselves to higher performance level than ever before. Perhaps, we aren’t at the level of an Olympic athlete, but at least participation is no longer reserved for elites. When you are pushing yourself to achieve your fitness goals, massage therapy can play an integral part in injury prevention and improved performance.

Regular visits to a  Registered Massage Therapist can make a world of difference to your work-out recovery. RMTs can apply sports massage techniques to flush out aches and pains from lactic acid build-up in the muscles; they can also help loosen the muscles fibers to prevent muscles strain and improve flexibility. And let’s face it, it’s a lot easier to face a grueling work out when your muscles aren’t fatigued or sore.

If you’ve never had a treatment with a B.C. Registered Massage Therapist- it is well worth it. With three extensive years of study, an RMT will be able to assess and evaluate exactly what your body needs- this applies to postural alignment as well. Whatever your concerns may be, your therapist will also prescribe home-care exercises and stretches to help you maintain the results of your massage treatment at home.

On that note- let’s recover like an athlete! I’m off to enjoy the snow in Whistler. In reflecting on how I felt after my last day of riding, I should probably book my post- snowboarding massage now

I have to admit, that I usually only do things for my health when I am in desperate need- so massage therapy was the one thing I kept up with last year. Whenever I had aches and pains or was feeling like I needed some healing touch, it was the first thing I would turn to.

With acupuncture, I tried it, but because the needles are addressing unseen and unfelt organs, and the treatment involved less sensory stimulation, I don’t think that I appreciated it in the same way that I did massage therapy. That was until my first treatment this year…

Since I got back from my Holidays, my partner and I have made a concentrated effort to eat really healthily- salads for lunch with shredded beets, carrots and ground flax seed, lots of lean proteins and vegetables with dinner. I have also been going to yoga regularly. These steps had me feeling like I was right on top of my health.  Then I had my acupuncture treatment and a whole lot of ’shifting’ occurred.   I won’t get into detail, but I apparently needed some balancing out internally and the acupuncture facilitated that.

This experience really gave me a strong appreciation for the understated nature of acupuncture. It made me realize how I take my body for granted and assume that everything is functioning optimally, unless I feel something drastic. I now have a whole new respect for the needle and this will be a habit that I keep up.

If you’re curious about acupuncture- make sure to come to our Whole Health Event February 4th. Our doctor of Chinese Medicine, Mahsa Ahmadi, will be discussing the benefits of regular acupuncture.

I do however think that doing a periodic seasonal detox is healthy. I’ve personally tried the Wild Rose Cleanse twice. The first time I did it, I cheated quite a bit and didn’t really see the full benefits. The second time I did it, I met with greater success. I really noticed a difference in how I felt. My eyes were clearer, I had better energy and I felt lighter. Unfortunately, I celebrated a little to intensely after finishing that cleanse, undoubtedly undoing the restoration of my organs!

In spite of this, I think that I’ve benefited greatly from the experience of changing my eating habits and learning to appreciate food for it’s nutritive quality, rather than it’s satiating character. From having to abstain from things like sugar and flour for a few weeks, I learned that I could indeed live without it and eating becomes more of a choice rather than an urge.

That being said, I think that making big changes in diet doesn’t come easy- and the more supportive a detox can be, the better.

I’ve become a big fan of the GliSODin Advanced Detoxification Formula which has a less extreme approach to detoxification. You simply drink a sachet of the formula twice a day, once in the morning, 30 minutes before breakfast and then at night before going to bed. There is a diet plan that you can choose to follow, but its a suggestion rather than a rule. The formula will still aid in detoxification, even if you’re still eating cheeseburgers.

Along with the potent antioxidant qualities of GliSODin, the formula uses berries and chardonnay grapes which provide a full-spectrum of nutritious antioxidants for optimal health and radiant skin; alpha lipoic acid to chelate heavy metals and neutralize several types of free radicals; milk thistle which contains a mixture of flavanoid complexes that protects and promotes liver cleansing; nutraflora (sc-FOS) as an excellent source of soluble fibre to aid in digestion and elimination which assists in weight loss; and finally broccoli, which is high in sulforaphane that induces phase II detoxification enzymes for enhanced cleansing.

No running to the bathroom with this cleanse- thankfully! So if you’re looking for a fresh start to the new year, why not cleanse your system and give your organs a helping hand?

You can learn more about detoxification at our upcoming Whole Health Event, February 4th. Stay tuned for more details. For a direct email invitation, join our mailing list or facebook group page.

I’m a little late getting back to my blog- the Holidays and the New Year have flown by and I find myself struggling to get back into routines. I’m sure I’m not alone in this.

The Holidays impose a total shift in lifestyle that throws most people off- mainly in the areas of excess. ie: lots of drinking, eating and not so much exercise.  To make matters worse, if one dares not to take part, the scrooge moniker is rapidly applied.

Then we have the New Year welcoming us after all of our Holiday extremes. Back to reality- or perhaps an unrealistic version of reality for some- I’m speaking of New Years resolutions of course!  Weight loss, not drinking, not eating sugar, running a marathon- these are all common resolutions that people set for themselves. I wonder if peoples’ zeal for the fresh start of the year sets them up for failure.

This in turn, creates the ‘anti-resolutioners’. People that see no point in resolutions because they’re never really actualized.

It makes me sad to think that because people set unattainable goals, they give up on improving themselves all together.

I personally love the New Year. I feel like it’s an opportunity to reflect on what worked for me in the year before  and what I’d like to see come to fruition in the year ahead.

When it comes to more long-term lifestyle changes, I’ve learned that I need to make a commitment to whatever it may be, create a plan and stick to it.

This year, my goal is to use my extended benefits- chiropractic, acupuncture and massage therapy, to their fullest. In 2009, I used a fraction of my benefits. Why? My only excuse is that I didn’t prioritize it. So my goal is to book regular, repeat treatments, so that I get into a routine and it becomes second nature.

I think the same can be said of any goal you may have- enlisting the help of a professional who can steer you in the right direction and keep you accountable is going to set you up for success.

I’m resolved to be realistic about my goals. It makes life a lot more fun and I can actually accomplish something.

Do you have any health-related goals for 2010? What’s your plan to get there?

If you’re still in search of gifts- but you’re running out of time- visit our web store where you can order gift certificates on-line in dollar denominations and for treatments. We also have a phenomenal gift certificate promotion happening right now. For every $100 you spend on gift certificates, you’ll receive $25 in credit, either on your account or towards the gift certificate you’ve purchased. How can you go wrong with that?

This year, Dermalogica has come up with some beautiful Holiday promotional packages.  One of the most popular offerings, is the Body Therapy Favorites- a combined package of  Conditioning Body Wash (250 ml) and Body Hydrating Cream (250 ml) for just $52- whoever gets these will definitely feel spoiled. The Conditioning Body Wash is super refreshing with it’s sandalwood, lavender and citrus essential oils, while the aha’s infused into the uplifting Body Hydrating Cream, keep your skin soft and smooth without any heavy residue.

This time of year also means the soy Stress Relief Candles are back! Dermalogica’s stress-relief blend is one of the nicest aromatherapy blends I know of- sandalwood, lavender, tea tree, lemon and eucalyptus are all combined for a calm and refreshing experience. Single votive candles are $18 each.

I can hardly believe that Christmas is just over a week away and I still have much mailing and wrapping left to do!

I’ll be off to New York for the first time as of Wednesday- so I’ll wish you all well over the Holidays and I hope that you get back as much as you give in love and friendship over the festive season!

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?

Something that came to mind for me when I was thinking about the Holidays is how nice it is to receive a gift certificate for a spa treatment. In fact, that is how I got started in the industry. When I was in my teens, my Dad started the tradition of buying everyone in my family gift certificates for a massage and facial every year at Christmas, and the rest is history. It was like nothing I had experienced before. I felt so taken care of- not just on the surface. What was I experiencing? The benefits of touch.

This year, the staff here at Spruce Body Lab, have had the pleasure of treating an elderly couple who have exemplified the benefits of the spa experience to me. The woman, who is in her mid seventies, started coming in to see one of our Registered Massage Therapists who was referred to her by her physical therapist.  She had been injured in a car accident, and her therapist had plateaued in the results they could give her, so they recommended proceeding with massage therapy.  While she was at it, she decided to try a facial.

This lady has since become a regular client, coming in bi-weekly for massage and monthly for skin treatments. She has raved about how her treatments have restored much of her vitality and health. She has significantly reduced her pain and improved her mobility. People have commented that she’s looking more youthful.  I believe that the therapeutic benefits of touch and the feeling of being cared for, are due as much credit for how good she looks and feels, as the science behind the treatments she has received.

As a special treat, she gave her husband a gift on his eightieth birthday, of a massage and facial.  He just came in again for his second massage this week.

It is one of the gifts to us as a therapists to see people getting so much out of the work that we’re doing. And it’s a good reminder to me that sometimes people need to be given these gifts, as they are not always likely to “treat” themselves to a spa experience.

I think in part, it’s about shifting how we view going to the spa; it needn’t be a rare treat. I think that culturally we could stand to start thinking of the spa as a resource for enriching our health and our lives- much like European cultures.

Do you think of spa treatments as a luxury, or have  they become part of your lifestyle and self-care?

Be sure to join us at our Holiday Party- gift certificates are 10% off!