2013 Top Spa Trends - Authentic Ayurveda and Other Ancient Revivals

Authentic Ayurveda is an ancient, 'science-of-life' wellness system based upon the three doshas;
1. vata (air and space) - cool, thin body, dry skin, circulation issues, active lifestyle, sensitive to stress
2. pitta (fire and water) - warm, healthy body style, active mentally and physically, even balance
3. kappa (water and earth) - larger body, weight issues, smooth skin,  inactive lifestyle

Ayurveda practitioners work on the theory that we are a combination of all three doshas, with one of two dominating the other(s). An imbalance of doshas is believed to cause an overall imbalance that greatly contributes to problematic health issues. During a consultation, your dosha will be determined and a diet and lifestyle consultation will be prescribed. Many Ayurveda spa treatments are available to help achieve great self awareness with respect to personal wellness such as; Indian Head Massage, Rhythmic Herbal Oil Treatments, Lymphatic Stimulation and Drainage, Deep Tissue Massage, Facials using ayurvedic herbs and oils, Muscle Detox, Eye Soothing Treatments, Dosha Balancing Massage, and a variety of Sinus Treatments.

Ayurveda and other ancient wellness systems are definitely finding their way onto spa menus with treatments ranging from Chinese medicine to address medical issues, Turkish Hammam BathTreatments with massage treatments offering steam and a combination of jasmine, mint and lemon essential oils, and Russian Baths with differing temperatures of hot and cold used to ease the throat and feed the skin. Yes, ancient spa rituals around the world are definitely making a comeback.

THE POWER OF MASSAGE

According to a recent report, the massage industry is worth in excess of $16 to $20 billion . . . and it continues to grow despite the downturn in the economy. In fact, more than 250,000 massage therapists provide more than 140 billion massages annually in the United States. The key to success is highlighted by the fact that 85% of those surveyed agree that massage therapy is conducive to a person's overall health and wellness. Not surprisingly, spas are where consumers are heading to get their massages, and with this type of interest, employment for massage therapists is on the rise and increasing faster than most occupations.

An interesting study published in 2010 followed a number of healthy adults who received one of two types of touch treatments. After the treatments, blood tests confirmed that those who received a Swedish Massage utilizing 'moderate pressure' exhibited signs of a decrease in stress hormones, an increase in white blood cells, and a positive boost to the immune system. The participants who received a 'light touch' treatment exhibited higher levels of oxytocin, a 'love' hormone associated with the ability to maintain a bond with others and create healthy interpersonal relationships. It is clear that massage helps the healing process while reducing stress and bringing about feelings of being a more centered and calm individual.

Watsu Massage

What's Watsu? The answer is within the word itself. Watsu is a combination of two words, water and shiatsu. This type of aquatic shiatsu therapy is practiced in a serene, shallow pool of warm water. Since water offers the body a whole different level of freedom and a much wider range of motion, the Watsu practitioner can easily manipulate your limbs and spine with greater fluidity. Once in the water and fitted with a pair of ankle floaties, the therapist will gently guide your body through a series of stretching movements and rhythmic sequences.

Clearly, trust plays an enormous part of this intimate type of treatment. A bond between you and your Watsu therapist is critically essential because you will be required to surrender control of your body's movements in order to maximize the benefits of the treatment. For this reason, Watsu may not be for everyone, but for those who are not 'touch timid', this treatment is one of the most relaxing wellness therapies for pain management. It is also tremendously effective for those suffering from arthritis and back pain. Water is the magic ingredient that enourages the body to accept a more peaceful path resulting in a major reduction in tension, pain, stress, blood pressure and sleeplessness, while boosting energy and greatly promoting healing.

Grab your swimsuit, a pair of ankle floaties, and give it a try. It may be a little harder to find a spa that offers Watsu since this treatment requires a pool. As a specialty massage, it is generally found offered at destination resorts. A one hour treatment ranges from $75 - $125.

Stone Therapy Massage

Stone Therapy is a great specialty spa treatment offered as a solo massage, or is incorporated with other types of body treatments and massages to boost their effectiveness. The most popular stones used in hot stone therapy are basalt. Basalt is a fine-grained volcanic rock with a high iron and magnesium content, which allows them to maintain heat and slowly release the warmth during the massage.

Generally, some of the warmed stones will be placed on the treatment bed to heat specific points on the body while you gently lay on them. Others will be strategically placed on other points of your body, such as along the spine, palms of your hands, etc. A warm oil blend is used as a massage medium to help the stones easily glide over the skin. The therapist will hold a stone in each hand to use while working over the skin, usually incorporating the basic techniques of Swedish Massage. Stone Therapy Massage, or Hot Stone Therapy, helps promote relaxation, reduce stress, relieve pain, release toxins, promote physiological and spiritual healing and awaken the spirit.

Oh, and in case you wondered, the stones are thoroughly sanitized prior to your appointment. Typically, a hot stone massage is 60 to 90 minutes in length and costs anywhere between $60 - $150

Prenatal Massage

Ah . . . pregnancy. Exciting, exhausting, and the baby isn’t even here yet. Prenatal massages are designed to help new mom's-to-be to get through those uncomfortable periods while the body adjusts to your growing treasure. Many of the techniques used are the same as for relaxation massage, but they may be adjusted slightly for the stage of your pregnancy. Prenatal massage can help your body relax, relieve lower back pain, help reduce that “heavy leg” feeling, improve circulation, increase mobility, promote well being and help the body to be less stressed.

Try to find therapists specifically trained in prenatal massage as they will know where the aches are and how best to make you feel better. Some prenatal massage therapists have special beds and/or cushions that facilitate lying face down and allow for tender breasts and a growing tummy. Generally the weight of the uterus makes lying on your back uncomfortable, in fact, this position is not advised because it can affect the blood flow of the lower extremities. If your massage therapist doesn’t have a special bed, a massage can be done while lying on your side using a body pillow for support.

Remember, the more comfortable you can be during your pregnancy, the happier mommy 'n' baby will be. The cost of prenatal massage is about the same as standard massage ranging from $60 - $90 for an hour massage. BTW, check with your health insurance as some insurance plans will cover it.

Reiki Therapy

Reiki is the term given to a non-invasive healing technique similar to that of 'laying on of hands' based upon the premise that a life force flows within all of us. This treatment is built upon the belief that a universal life force nourishes and supports all of the organs and cells within the body. A Reiki practitioner's hands are used to channel energy from the universe through to the body to assist the healing process using pathways called chakras and meridians. It is also believed that any negative thoughts or feelings bind to our life source causing physical and emotional disturbances. Reiki begins the healing process by charging and replacing this negative energy with positive energy to strengthen and heal the life force in a powerful way.

The overall objective of Reiki is to treat the whole person . . . the body, emotions, mind, and spirit. The reported benefits relieve pain, reduce stress, boost the immune system, speed up the healing process, reduce the side effects of medication, assist in the healing of bad habits and addictions, increase spiritual awareness offering a deep sense of relaxation, peace and harmony.

*Since Reiki is a more spiritually based treatment, it is highly recommended that time is taken to carefully select a Reiki practitioner to ensure a harmonious and fruitful outcome. One hour treatments range between $75 - $90.

Shiatsu Massage

Shiatsu is a traditional hands-on massage therapy based on the anatomy of the human body and the energy that flows through its muscles, organs, tissues and cells. This energy flows through 12 specific channels and pathways called meridians. Massage techniques are applied by tapping, squeezing, rubbing and applying pressure to clear the energy blockages that cause pain and a general sense of malaise.

Although the word shiatsu means finger pressure, it is so much more. Using the fingers, thumbs, palms of the hands, elbows, knees, forearms, and feet, a Shiatsu practitioner is able to release toxins from the body, increase flexibility, improve blood circulation, reduce blood pressure, reduce anxiety due to stress, increase mental awareness, increase a sense of spiritual well being and balance the flow and energy of the body, otherwise known as chi. One hour treatments typically range between $50 - $70.

Facial Massage

What are the five classical massage manipulations mentioned in the Signature Facial post?

No matter if it is a hand, facial, foot, or body massage there are different manipulations used to achieve different results. Most beauty therapists use a structured massage format and will vary it depending on the needs of the client and the result they are after. Almost every massage will include the five classical massage manipulations, used in different rhythms, different pressures, different depths and different order depending on the client’s needs, tissue condition, therapist and the goal of the treatment. Some are gliding manipulations to soothe, relax, aid circulation and help the body to detoxify, while others are kneading, vibrating or tapping movements done to stimulate circulation, stimulate and detoxify deeper tissues, improve tonus, and promote cell regeneration. The movements can be done with finger tips, whole fingers, or the entire hands, depending on the area being treated. The pressure applied will depend on the goal, depth of tissue being treated and the comfort of the client. Five classical massage manipulations, . . . five more reasons to visit your beauty therapist on a regular basis.

The Customized Facial Massage

Have you ever gone for a facial and found it to be absolutely incredible and on another occasion thought it was alright, but nothing special? A good spa menu offers so many different facials to choose from that it would be a shame to just have a product rubbed on your skin, or settle for a basic facial massage. There are so many modalities of massage, Thai, Swedish, Reiki, Lymphatic Drainage, Reflexology, Pressure Point, Shiatsu, . . . to name a few. While the fundamental massage is fine, incorporating different massage techniques is far more specific and targets skin care problems more efficiently. This is as important as choosing the correct products for your skin type. Keeping all of this in mind, the beneficial effects of the products will be drastically increased, not to mention your overall well-being.

For example, what if your skin is dull, stressed, has uneven color and circulation, congestion under the surface (asphyxiated), and if there is a history of medication, poor eating habits, lack of water intake, elimination irregularity, sun damage and/or smoking damage? The massage you should choose incorporates some classical Swedish massage techniques for de-stressing and improving circulation, but must also include some lymphatic drainage techniques to detoxify the skin and pressure point techniques to promote elimination and improve nourishment to the cells.

If, however, the focus is primarily anti-age the goal is to improve cell nourishment and regeneration, as well as the tone, color, hydration, and vitality of the skin. The facial massage choice should incorporate classical massage manipulations that relax, improve circulation and de-stress, but also one that focuses on massage techniques that stimulate cellular activity of the skin and the muscles of the face and neck, perhaps combined with Shiatsu and/or pressure point techniques to trigger regeneration.

How do you choose the right facial? The best advice we can offer is to have an open discussion with your skin care professional about your needs and expected results. Ask about incorporating different facial massage techniques during your appointment and how it may improve your treatment. Take a trip away from the 'same old, same old' and imagine the results when a customized facial massage is combined with a superb product. Incredible!


*Do you need help figuring out what type of facial you should choose? Write to us and we would be happy to make some personalized suggestions.