A great massage goes to the core of who we are. Not only does it feel good, but massage teaches us the art of being without doing—the secret of contentment. In the right hands, massage releases much more than our muscular tension. It allows us to relinquish our fears, let go of pent-up emotions, feel our untapped joy, work through grief, and surrender the old, conditioned responses and ideas that no longer serve us. The perfect massage is a work of art, a Picasso supine on the table. With the right ingredients, a massage can ascend to the pinnacle of true perfection.

So what is the recipe for the perfect massage? Start with expertise. I want my massage therapist to have strong, confident hands that have racked up plenty of massage miles. She or he should be forthright in approach, clean and modest in person, punctual and passionate about massage. I want to feel safe and know the therapist has good boundaries—a sensitivity to where we both begin and end. The setting needs to be uncluttered and serene. I don’t mean fancy, and I don’t rule out those singular touches that reflect the personality of the therapist. After all, a massage shouldn’t be robotic and distant. It must have a heart, but at the same time be free of emotional attachment. In a way, it is the perfect relationship.

Massage is a team effort. I miss out if I’m distracted, not breathing in synchronicity with the movements of the therapist’s hands or neglecting to focus on the waves of body sensations. I retrieve my wandering mind when I catch myself planning and problem-solving, whereas I turn myself loose to journey freely in the dreamy, restful states that spontaneously arise as I relax more deeply. Here is an opportunity to release stresses long buried in my body, mind, and spirit.

I like to know a little about my therapist, but I try to discourage conversation during the session, as tempting as it may be. An overly chatty massage therapist is the worst. Might as well have a thousand ducks waddling around the room in full quack.

Communication is paramount. I need to convey my likes and dislikes in a gentle, non-bossy way. Sounds like a primer for living well in all of our day-to-day interactions. And what better training ground?

Many years ago, I took the plunge and purchased my own massage table. I love being at home, greeting the practitioner in my caftan, and having my dog, Mumbles, sleeping nearby (and on occasion, licking my nose through the hole in the headpiece). Sometimes I want background music, but I also prize silence and the soothing sounds of nature—rain, crickets, songbirds, the fountain flowing, the wind chimes blowing.
I haven’t always enjoyed this luxury. Many a massage has taken place in unusual, exotic, dull, even seedy locations.

When I am in pain and unable to exercise or move freely, massage is a panacea for my ills. In grief, the massage table has proven to be a safe place to let the energy of sadness and longing break up and flow through me like a purification. After open-heart surgery, when only my scalp, face, neck, legs and feet could be touched, massage helped me to heal. When I have writer’s block, a good rubdown often coaxes my muse out of hiding. Massage has been an antidote to depression. I am always a happier and nicer person after a good massage.

We all need to be touched in a loving way. Massage is the art of loving touch—truly a spiritual experience. Maybe that’s the answer to peace on earth—a proliferation of massage tables. What better journey on which to embark than the search for the perfect massage?

Courtesy of Body Sense ~ Spring/Summer 2010 by Mari Gayatri Stein

I just had the “Head to Toe Relaxation” at Body Therapy.  I’ve never had such a great spa treatment.  The massage was the best ever and the facial left my face so radiant!  It was a cold, rainy day and the warm booties and mitts were so appreciated!  Thank you, Laurie; I’ll be back!

Jan B., Sacramento, CA

Men and woman alike share a common desire to have healthy, youthful skin. Exposure to the sun and the elements, in combination with adverse lifestyle choices, contribute to the aging of our skin. Advanced chemical peels can enhance your appearance by reducing blotchy and uneven pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, freckling, age spots, sun-damaged skin, and acne scars in a relatively brief measure of time. Enjoy fresh, smooth skin immediately after your first treatment.  A chemical peel is not limited to the face, but can be performed on the neck, chest, hands, arms, shoulders, and legs; just about anywhere!

Chemical Peels are topically applied acids that aid in the restoration and rejuvenation of the skins’ surface by the uniform and controlled shedding of old skin and the accelerated production of new cells. Depending on the nature and depth of the peel, a significant number of layers can be exfoliated, allowing new growth to be exposed, creating a fresh, vibrant appearance.

Your skin type and the results you are aspiring to achieve will determine if you are a candidate, as well as which class of peel is most appropriate.

Chemical peels have become increasingly popular because of the array of advantages and relative lack of complications. Side effects are rare and usually temporary. Side effects include uneven pigmentation, redness, and very infrequent scarring if the skin is not cared for appropriately. Sun protection is crucial to minimize these risks.

The over-all success of an aggressive peel is dependent on having control over the aggression.  The beauty of this Advanced Peel Program is that it takes you to your desired level of exfoliation gradually and safely, with no down-time due to redness, scabbing, or unsightly peeling.  Best results are obtained by doing a series of three peels, three weeks apart. The condition of your skin will determine the type of peel administered, which will be gradually increased in intensity in order to achieve optimum results. A program of individually suited products and sun protection will be recommended to enhance your skin’s ability to maintain the results of the peel.

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• Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily with an SPF of at least 15. Apply the product liberally, uniformly and frequently.

• Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours when participating in outdoor activities, even on cloudy days.

• Avoid “peak” sunlight hours when the sun’s rays are the strongest, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

• Wear protective, tightly woven clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt and pants.

• Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses when outdoors.

• Stay in the shade whenever possible.

• Avoid reflective surfaces (water, sand, concrete, snow), which can reflect up to 85 percent of the sun’s damaging rays.

• No shadow… seek the shade! If your shadow is shorter than you are, you’re likely to sunburn.

• Avoid tanning beds.

• Examine your skin head to toe at least once every three months to check for signs of skin cancer.

When I ask first-time skincare clients what their main concerns are, most reply that the signs of premature aging: lines, wrinkles, sagging skin and hyperpigmentation (age spots) are what bother them most.  When they ask what they can do about these conditions, we get into a conversation about good hydration, technologies and active ingredients in product to stimulate collagen and suppress melanin production, aggressive exfoliation to remove dead and pigmented skin cells, and adequate protection from UV radiation, the primary cause for all of the above conditions.  When I then inquire about their use of sunscreen, most reply that they rarely use it or use it only when they are out in intense sunlight.  My clients are in good company; research indicates that 70% of consumers believe sunlight causes sun damage and premature aging, and yet only 18% use a daily sunscreen.

If you’ve had an opportunity to look closely at the skin of most elderly people, you’ll see that the skin that has been covered with clothing for decades is still soft, finely textured, and unblemished.  Only those areas that have been in contact with sunlight are dry, wrinkled, and pigmented.  Skin damage is cumulative; it happens gradually and the destruction only becomes visible with age.  Since UV radiation responsible for most premature aging, we’ll center discussion around protection.

The UV wavelengths we’re most concerned with are UVA and UVB.  Let’s begin with UVB (the “Burning” rays).  UVB is only partially absorbed by the ozone layer, and the UVB rays that do penetrate the atmosphere are responsible for sunburns.  UVB peaks between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., making it less dangerous in the early morning and late evening.  Also, UVB can be blocked to some extent by very dense clouds, layers of clothing and glass.

UVA (think “Aging” rays) comprises about 95% of the UV that reaches the earth.  UVA penetrates deeper into the skin than UVB, causing damage into the deeper dermal layers, which has been linked to premature aging and wrinkle formation.  UVA can penetrate cloud cover, light clothing and untinted glass, as well.  UVA radiation is a concern year-round and at any time of day, not just on hot, sunny days.

Research has shown conclusively that sunscreens are effective at protecting the skin from this damage. Both UVA and UVB have also been linked to cancer (one in every five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime), so daily use of a good sunscreen is imperative for good health and as well as younger-looking skin.  The primary function of a sunscreen is to reduce the dose of UV the skin receives by absorption or reflection before it can penetrate into the skin and damage key components such as DNA, collagen and elastin, much like an umbrella shields you from the rain.  Sunscreen ingredients reduce the dose of UV to varying degrees, so it is important to use a product containing an effective combination of ingredients in order to truly get broad-spectrum protection.  But how do we know if we’re getting adequate protection?

SPF (sun protection factor) is a number that indicates protection against skin effects such as redness, inflammation and sunburn, which are all effects of UVB.  The SPF number indicates how much longer one can stay out in the sun without getting sunburned compared to NO protection; 30 times longer when wearing an SPF 30, 15 times longer with an SPF 15.  However, don’t get the idea that SPF 30 blocks twice as much UV as SPF 15.  SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB, while SPF 15 blocks 93%.  Applying half of the effective dose of an SPF 30 does not result in an SPF 15, but something closer to an SPF 7 or 9.  Applying two layers assures more even, continuous coverage, and more than doubles the SPF on the skin.  In addition, it is important to reapply every two hours for an SPF 15 and every four hours for an SPF 30, even if your skin darker, to give yourself complete protection whenever you are exposed to UV radiation.

Each sunscreen ingredient absorbs or reflects UV across a specific wavelength range, so it’s important to use a product containing an effective combination of ingredients in order to truly get broad-spectrum protection.  At this time there is no standard test or product label to indicate the level of UVA protection in sunscreens; sunscreens are evaluated in terms of their ability to block mainly UVB via the SPF test.   Even though many claim to protect against both UVA and UVB, in one study, 44% of those labeled “broad spectrum” did not even contain one FDA-recognized UVA sunscreen ingredient. In order to get protection from UVA, look for the ingredients Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, and Avobenzone.  These ingredients can now be formulated to feel great on the skin AND offer optimum protection.

The trend today is to use higher SPF sunscreens, but high SPF has been associated with sensitivities.  Chemical sunscreens change structure at the molecular level when they absorb energy from the sun; this can result in photochemical end products, which can react in or on the skin.  A better solution for those who develop sensitivities is to use two layers of a lower SPF.  Cosmetically formulated products with a lower SPF that are applied more generously, more often, and more consistently will protect as well or better than the higher SPF products.  These cosmetically formulated products are not waterproof or sweatproof, however, meaning that the sunscreen will not wash off with 80 minutes of exposure to normal swimming, so be sure to use the appropriate product for the conditions under which it will be used.

Dermatologists and scientists throughout the world agree that the daily use of at least an SPF 15 broad-spectrum sunscreen product will help to diminish acute and chronic damage to the skin—and fewer of the lines, wrinkles, and spots we’d like to avoid.  Research shows that people who understand that they are at risk from skin cancer and premature aging are more motivated to protect themselves and take necessary steps to reverse the damage.

We can attenuate the effects of years of sun damage with good skin hydration, technologies, and active ingredients in product to stimulate collagen and suppress melanin production, and aggressive exfoliation to remove dead and pigmented skin cells.  If you have questions or concerns about your skin, call me for a complementary consultation.  We will discuss your personal goals and devise a plan to achieve healthier, younger-looking skin.

Body Therapy Skin & Body Care
707-799-6651