Seaweed Wraps and other Spa Treatments
It is important to visit a spa that uses only natural, organic, top quality ingredients in their treatments. Many spas use chemical products because they are more concerned with luxury than they are with health. When you’re looking to a spa for detox treatments like seaweed wraps, ask if they are using natural organic products. You want to rid the body of toxins, not absorb new toxins through your skin.
Many procedures claim to decrease cellulite, reduce inches of fat, and vanish away wrinkles. While these miraculous cures may not happen without a series of treatments, seaweed wraps and other spa treatments will detoxify the body and contribute to healthier skin and organs. It is possible to purchase special ingredients and kits to replicate these effects at home, but nothing can replace the rejuvenating opportunity to unwind and be pampered in a healing environment. Seaweed Wraps
The idea of being wrapped in seaweed may seem strange at first, but once you’ve tried seaweed wraps, you’ll realize why its popularity has grown. This popular spa treatment that originated in Europe usually begins with exfoliating the skin using sea salt to brush away dead skin cells. Then a paste made from seaweed is spread over the body. Next the body is wrapped in moist, hot towels and the client is left to relax for up to an hour. Afterward the paste is washed away in a hot, invigorating shower.
The process of sweating is cleansing in itself and the seaweed, being highly oxygenated and mineralized, aids in pulling toxins from the body. Seaweed wraps contains essential minerals including iron, copper, zinc, manganese, strontium, molybdenum, and boron, in concentrations up to 100 thousand times denser than seawater itself. It stimulates circulation through vasodilation - the widening of blood vessels - and breaks up fatty deposits to release toxins and impart healing. The wrap will also smooth, firm and tone the skin. Thus seaweed facials are popular as well. The typical seaweed wraps or facials are a mixture of kelp, sea algae, and concentrated, heated seawater. The kelp stimulates the metabolic system and the nutrient-rich algae serve to both hydrate and detoxify the body. The salty seawater is a natural exfoliant as well as a potent detoxifier. Salt Glow
Like our homemade salt scrubs, the salt glow spa treatment draws toxins from the body and leaves the skin silky smooth and soft. This treatment is popular for exfoliating the skin but the use of sea salts or Epsom salts also detoxifies. Oil is usually added to the salt providing moisture and nourishment to the skin and organs as well.
The treatment entails having the salt mixture massaged into the skin, usually in a wet room. You may be lying on a massage table that is covered in towels, wet sheets, or even plastic. After massaging both sides of the body, the therapist will either wash you off at the table or you will step into a shower to rinse off the salt. Don’t use soap or shower gel, instead allow the oils to stay on your skin and continue their nourishing effect. In Ayurveda, the “science of life” from India, oil baths are used to heal internal organs. So when you use pure oils such as sesame, avocado, olive or almond on the skin, the oil penetrates the skin to nourish and heal internal organs. Additional ingredients in a professional body scrub may include essential oils (citrus is popular and is cleansing), fruit and vegetable fiber (like cucumber, papaya or pumpkin), base oils (sunflower, sesame or a variety of butters), fruit oils (Jojoba, sweet almond, apricot or avocado), clay, or seaweed. Hot Stone Therapy
Hot stones warmed by the fire were traditionally used by Native Americans for healing and soothing tense muscles. The warmed stones were used to massage the body or laid on specific points to induce relaxation and healing. The heat of the stones helps muscles to relax more quickly than with massage alone.
This method was popularized in the modern culture by Mary Nelson of Tucson, Arizona, who trademarked LaStone Therapy in 1993. She developed LaStone from visions she received from her Native American Spirit guide. Her method can only be performed by a certified LaStone therapist. If you would like to find a certified therapist or a spa that uses LaStone therapists, check the database on the official LaStone website. The LaStone method uses hot and frozen stones alternatively along the body’s key energy channels. The alternating of hot and cold stimulates circulation and detoxifies the body. Her signature approach uses many stones in a very specific pattern designed to open the chakras and increase energy flow. LaStone therapists are well trained in the appropriate use of heat, cold, and pressure. A more generic use of hot stones has become popular in spas around the world and many massage therapists will use hot stones to stimulate circulation in the body. It’s important that the therapist is well trained and attuned to the stones, so the pressure and heat are administered at the right levels. Don’t hesitate to let the therapist know if you feel the pressure or heat is too strong. Before you arrive, the therapist will sterilize the stones and heat them up in 120-150 degree water. Using traditional Swedish massage, s/he will then warm and relax the body before using the hot stones. S/he will use stones to further massage the body and will place varying sizes of stones at different points along the spine, in your palms, on your belly, or even between your toes to improve energy flow.
Beyond Pampering – You Deserve to Heal!The experience of professional spa treatments is more than just pampering yourself in a luxurious setting. These therapies are truly healing and life changing. They have the power to detoxify, prevent disease and increase your health and vitality.You will live longer and live stronger by caring for your body in these special ways. Find the treatments that work best for you, at home or with a professional, and make them a part of your routine. And when you are able, treating yourself to the more exotic therapies will give your body, mind and spirit a boost towards optimal health!
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Specialized spa treatments – like seaweed wraps, salt glows and hot stone therapy - are supercharged methods for ridding the body of toxins. Treating yourself to a spa visit is the most luxurious and effective way to experience the healing benefits of these treatments.
