As we roll into May, spring seems to be behaving itself better here in the mountains. A little bit, anyway.
In so many ways, those of us here in Steamboat are fortunate to be living so close to Nature. Our slow spring mud season, especially with the weather moving in fits and starts, parallels our bodies' shift as we prepare for warmer weather. As much as we may want to get out in that beautiful sunshine and fresh air, our bodies--and the weather around us!--can be phlegmatic and slow to respond to our demands.
In so many ways, those of us here in Steamboat are fortunate to be living so close to Nature. Our slow spring mud season, especially with the weather moving in fits and starts, parallels our bodies' shift as we prepare for warmer weather. As much as we may want to get out in that beautiful sunshine and fresh air, our bodies--and the weather around us!--can be phlegmatic and slow to respond to our demands.
They say that summer bodies are made in the winter, but winter is traditionally a time of rest and hibernation. Granted, this is not always so in Steamboat with all our winter activities, but our metabolism may slow with the darkening of the days, overloaded with holidays and accompanying alcohol, sugar, and refined carbs. No matter how much we exercise and take care of ourselves, winter has a way of hanging on: extra belly/thigh bulge, dull skin, or just feeling sluggish. It's no wonder that this time of year, "spring cleaning" is all around us, whether it's your house or your body.
As such, we've decided that this is the perfect time of year to launch a new treatment--with a very special introductory rate!
As such, we've decided that this is the perfect time of year to launch a new treatment--with a very special introductory rate!
We are delighted to kick off spring with our new Body Contouring series: a package of eight treatments combining lymphatic drainage with essential oils for a regimen that will leave you feeling "spring fresh" and renewed.
How it works
Okay--time for a quick and easy, down and dirty introduction to your lymphatic system. Like the circulatory system, the lymphatic system runs throughout your entire body. Unlike the circulatory system, it has no central pump (aka, your heart); instead, it relies on muscular contraction to move the lymphatic fluid around. This is why your ankles and feet get swollen on long flights; you're trapped in your seat with no way to move the lymphatic fluid, so it winds up pooling in your lower limbs due to gravity.
Lymph channels are close to the surface of the skin. Lymphatic fluid can be moved by a highly trained massage therapist via a technique that uses very light pressure called manual lymphatic drainage. Effleurage, the light strokes used in Swedish massage, can also move lymph. Light pressure is crucial; a heavier touch will close down the lymph channels and restrict its movement.
Lymph channels are close to the surface of the skin. Lymphatic fluid can be moved by a highly trained massage therapist via a technique that uses very light pressure called manual lymphatic drainage. Effleurage, the light strokes used in Swedish massage, can also move lymph. Light pressure is crucial; a heavier touch will close down the lymph channels and restrict its movement.
A perfect example of this restricted movement can be seen in the "lunch lady arms" look that frustrates so many women. Due to the pressure of bra straps around our rib cages, lymphatic fluid cannot drain from the axillary (armpit) nodes to the inguinal (groin) ones. Instead, the channels back up with stagnant fluid and increase the "fluffiness" of the breasts, upper ribs, and upper arms.
When using cups, we are utilizing vacuum. Not only do channels stay open, they are often open wider than with MLD. This means we can move more fluid to lymph nodes that aren't backed up so the body can process it. By clearing out such backlog, cupping also preps the lymphatic and circulatory systems and increases the skin's absorption rate.
When using cups, we are utilizing vacuum. Not only do channels stay open, they are often open wider than with MLD. This means we can move more fluid to lymph nodes that aren't backed up so the body can process it. By clearing out such backlog, cupping also preps the lymphatic and circulatory systems and increases the skin's absorption rate.
The treatment
We start off with dry brushing, using a soft, natural-fiber bristle brush over the entire body. Body brushing helps exfoliate dead skin and increases circulation and lymphatic drainage. When the series is over, your body brush is yours to keep.
After the dry brushing comes massage cupping. Rather than leaving the cups parked in one place, we use a gliding technique to pull stuck fluid from backed-up areas to the lymph nodes. It is also highly sedating to the nervous system, leaving the client in a state of deep relaxation.
After the dry brushing comes massage cupping. Rather than leaving the cups parked in one place, we use a gliding technique to pull stuck fluid from backed-up areas to the lymph nodes. It is also highly sedating to the nervous system, leaving the client in a state of deep relaxation.
Next is application of essential oils: after each part of the body is cupped, we administer a round of essential oils. For this treatment, we use only organic essential oils with organic coconut oil as the carrier. Normally, I don't worry too much about organic vs non-organic topicals, but as the skin has now been prepped and is ready to receive, we want to reduce the toxin load, not add to it.
After the oils have been applied, we crank up the table warmer and add a space blanket. We don't need the client to get really hot, as circulation has already been prepped. Additionally, we want the client to absorb the oils, not sweat them out. Each treatment has a different blend of oils, from anti-cellulite to diuretic and so on.
After the oils have been applied, we crank up the table warmer and add a space blanket. We don't need the client to get really hot, as circulation has already been prepped. Additionally, we want the client to absorb the oils, not sweat them out. Each treatment has a different blend of oils, from anti-cellulite to diuretic and so on.
The results
Speaking of cellulite, this treatment will temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite but not the cellulite itself. Cellulite is nothing more than fat; the textured "orange peel" look is a result of adipose tissue pressing up against a webbing of connective tissue. Cellulite shows up on a lot of people, no matter how skinny they are otherwise. There's really no "cure" for it, and any improvements made on how it looks are always temporary.
However! Sometimes, temporary is Just. Fine. Got a special event coming up and want to look your best? A wedding? Reunion? A beach-based vacation? Maybe you've been busting your butt exercising and eating right, the damn pudge still isn't coming off, and you'd just like a wee bit of validation for all your hard work and is that too much to ask, dammit?!
Ahem. Not that I have ever had a horse in that particular race at all.
I will say this: because I never offer anything to my clients that I haven't experienced myself, I had Chelsea do this series on me this spring. And holy crap did I see a difference!
Ahem. Not that I have ever had a horse in that particular race at all.
I will say this: because I never offer anything to my clients that I haven't experienced myself, I had Chelsea do this series on me this spring. And holy crap did I see a difference!
I misjudged the amount of carrier oil vs essential oils I would need, so I went through the process with the oils at about half-strength. Even so, the results were noticeable. My waist slimmed down dramatically, I lost half an inch off of each upper arm, and a good 1.5 inches off my hips. It felt great, I loved what I saw in the mirror, and I felt motivated to continue to work out and eat better.
. . . Of course, immediately after all of that, I went on vacation. This had the charming effect of undoing everything, because a) I bloat and retain water like a hippopotamus when I travel, and b) hello, VACATION!
. . . Of course, immediately after all of that, I went on vacation. This had the charming effect of undoing everything, because a) I bloat and retain water like a hippopotamus when I travel, and b) hello, VACATION!
The dirty deets
As mentioned above, this is a package series of eight. In order for it to work, sessions must be held at least twice a week; in my experiment, Chelsea and I were a bit pinched for time, so we ramped it up to three sessions a week. Each session runs about 2.5 hours. These treatments are not available on an a la carte basis, so please make sure that you have the time to commit to the series prior to purchase.
Total cost for the series is normally $1600. Payment may be made once at the start of the treatment or split into two halves, with one payment due at the beginning of the series and one halfway through.
But I mentioned a special intro rate, didn't I? Yep, you're correct. Start your series any time between now and May 31 and receive25% off the total price, dropping it down to $1200.
Love to have some of the benefits here and there but not up to committing to the entire series? Never fear, add-on spot treatments will be available soon, along with a non-surgical lymph drainage facial
Total cost for the series is normally $1600. Payment may be made once at the start of the treatment or split into two halves, with one payment due at the beginning of the series and one halfway through.
But I mentioned a special intro rate, didn't I? Yep, you're correct. Start your series any time between now and May 31 and receive25% off the total price, dropping it down to $1200.
Love to have some of the benefits here and there but not up to committing to the entire series? Never fear, add-on spot treatments will be available soon, along with a non-surgical lymph drainage facial
One final note
I learned how to do this series a couple of years ago, but have resisted adding it to my menu until recently. The main reason behind my reticence is the amount of pressure women in particular are under to look fabulous and perfect and nineteen forever.
Okay, maybe twenty-nine, but you get the point.
I am a firm believer in loving your body unconditionally. As a massage therapist, I hear a lot of people expressing fears and insecurities about how they look. As a human being, I share those fears and insecurities from time to time. But no matter what we look like, we are all deserving of love--especially from ourselves.
Sometimes, though, it can be a little difficult. I know how looking like a million bucks on occasion can make you feel like a million bucks, especially at a fancy shindig. I debated long and hard about adding this service, but I know the difference it made in how I looked at myself. I know what a difference it made for the mother of a two young children, struggling with stress weight and water retention.
I know what a difference it can make, but I don't want anyone to rely upon it for their self-esteem. As a result, I have decided to limit this series to three times a year per person. There's no medical reason for it, but I don't want to exacerbate the idea that people must be slim and firm at all times and feeling bad about themselves when they're not.
We're only human, after all, in all our glorious shapes and colors and sizes. Love yourself for who you are, but if you need a little help, we'll do what we can.
Okay, maybe twenty-nine, but you get the point.
I am a firm believer in loving your body unconditionally. As a massage therapist, I hear a lot of people expressing fears and insecurities about how they look. As a human being, I share those fears and insecurities from time to time. But no matter what we look like, we are all deserving of love--especially from ourselves.
Sometimes, though, it can be a little difficult. I know how looking like a million bucks on occasion can make you feel like a million bucks, especially at a fancy shindig. I debated long and hard about adding this service, but I know the difference it made in how I looked at myself. I know what a difference it made for the mother of a two young children, struggling with stress weight and water retention.
I know what a difference it can make, but I don't want anyone to rely upon it for their self-esteem. As a result, I have decided to limit this series to three times a year per person. There's no medical reason for it, but I don't want to exacerbate the idea that people must be slim and firm at all times and feeling bad about themselves when they're not.
We're only human, after all, in all our glorious shapes and colors and sizes. Love yourself for who you are, but if you need a little help, we'll do what we can.
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