Education

The concept of a body wrap has always been an alluring and romantic ideal representation of ’spa’ to me. I envision entering the treatment as my usual (perhaps tired and stressed) self and exiting entirely renewed and refreshed. That is the very essence of detoxification. To purify and cleanse, not only physically, but mentally as well.

That being said, I think that the ‘body wrap’ is an oft misunderstood and unappreciated element of the spa. With a myriad of choices and fads to follow, it’s no wonder that spa-goers aren’t sure of what to partake in, let alone whether or not they really need it. The recent consumer trend seems to be moving away from the traditional “inch loss” and “cellulite reduction” marketing, as people are more educated about the reality of these ineffective methods. The trend is now moving towards supporting optimal health.

I think that in Vancouver, we’re fortunate to have a culture that has a health-based foundation which has led to more sophisticated choices for maintaining optimal health. So, like our Eurpean counterparts, we’re making detoxification a part of our lifestyle and not so much an aesthetic choice.

Why Detox?

Toxins accumulate in our bodies for many reasons. Stress, pollution, lack of exercise and poor nutrition create an accumulation of toxins that our body is unable to fully process without a little help. When we’re toxic we can experience fatigue, head aches, general aches and pains as well as mental sluggishness. Not to mention that we have more oxidative stress in our system.  This oxidative stress leads to the degradation of healthy cells in our body, which contributes to the aging process. And for a culture obsessed with age-prevention, detoxification programs offer us an opportunity to help our body defend itself from the aging process.

Ways to Detox

• infrared sauna therapy This technology has been around for over 42 years and is exceptional for eliminating toxins from the system by activating circulation and perspiration. It is purported that you can burn up to 600 calories in the sauna within a 30 minute session.  I’ve found that the sauna not only cleanses my body, but my mind as well.  I get deeply relaxed and I feel like endorphins have been released, giving me that post-work out euphoria.
• body treatments Ingredients like fresh sea weeds and glacial clay have a direct link to our blood plasma (ie: our skin recognizes them and invites them in) and have been proven to eliminate toxins while replenishing the body with nutrients such as minerals, vitamins and amino acids.  In addition to the health benefits of purifying our skin, these treatments also improve us on an aesthetic level. Smoothing away dry rough skin cells and hydrating the epidermis reveals fresh and youthful skin. I know that I always feel like a new person from head to toe after a body treatment.