Despite the Valentine’s Day hype, we know that love is not all about heart-shaped chocolate boxes and diamond rings.  Love is both an action and a sensation.  Loving is that indescribable feeling of bliss and euphoria that comes from letting yourself go and existing in a space of complete comfort and intimacy.

Sharing a relaxing experience such as a couples’ massage or spa package with your loved one can enhance these feelings.  Taking the time to indulge in yourselves and each other will create a stronger bond between you and your partner.

Loving yourself is equally important and not to be forgotten!  For all of you single ladies and gentlemen out there, make sure you take some time this month to pamper yourselves.

You deserve it.

With temperatures dipping to down to -7C, Vancouverites are pulling our their woolies. We can still all be thankful we’re not on the prairies where temperatures reached -54C with the windchill. Brrr! This bone chilling weather is expected to last a few more days. Here are 2 ideas to help you heat up from the cold:

Infrared Sauna

Warm your bones with an Infrared Sauna session. Temperatures stay significantly lower than a traditional sauna so you may sit comfortably for 45 minutes and burn up to 600 calories at the same time! Bring a book, relax and warm up!

Hotstone Massage

What better way to soak up some heat than have skilled hands massage warm basalt stones over your entire body. Close your eyes, bliss out and imagine yourself under a palm tree on a tropical beach far, far away!

Since we all tend to over-indulge during the holidays, our body’s natural state of homeostasis is thrown off balance by toxic substances such as refined white sugar, red meats, alcohol and cigarettes. In order to return the body to its balanced state, a detoxification program is a safe and healthy method of eliminating these unwanted toxins.

And so, just as the old year will be swept out with the last scraps of wrapping paper, so we would like to start afresh in 2012 by clearing out those toxins our bodies have accumulated over the celebratory season. The resolution: to reach a renewed sense of balance and good health. And pHresh can show you how.

Infrared Sauna Therapy

Infrared Sauna Therapy is a great tool for detoxification as it effectively maximizes the body’s sweat response to produce up to 3 times the elimination of waste products than a regular sauna. The infrared-waves that the sauna produces can penetrate skin and muscle tissue up to several inches, expelling toxins deep below the surface, including heavy metals such as lead, mercury and aluminum.

Tired and stiff muscles are relieved, and congested skin is freed from impurities, revealing an improved complexion. Cellulite and toxins stored in fat cells are broken down, and up to 600 calories can be expended in a single 30-minute session. All while you lie back and relax in a tranquil environment.

Acupunture / Cupping

In Chinese Medicine, there are many ways to help the body rid itself of toxins. One of the most effective ways is through Cupping.

Cupping involves applying glass cups to the body. This is done by waving a burning cotton ball, that has been soaked in alcohol, through the cup quickly to create a vacuum. You do not feel the heat, but you will feel the cup pull up on the skin. Once attached, the cups will be left on for approximately 15-20 minutes minutes, and removed by pressing down on the skin to let the air out. They may leave a mark on the body, which could last between 2-12 days depending on the condition. This is a useful diagnostic tool! Depending on how dark the mark is, it indicates how much stagnation/toxins there is within the muscles.

Pain and other illnesses stem from the stagnation of circulation in the muscles and body tissues. Cupping improves the circulation in these areas and pain is alleviated and underlying health issues are often helped.

But we need your help!

From now until December 22nd, bring in any 3 items on the Food Bank’s Most Required List and receive a $25 pHresh gift card* or a free session in our infrared sauna!

(* Please note that gift cards can be used towards spa services only, not on products or boutique items.)

Most Required Items:

• Canned meat/fish
• Peanut butter
• Bags of whole wheat pasta/rice
• Pasta sauce
• Canned fruit/vegetables
• Cereal
• Baby formula
• Baby food

Please note, the Food Bank is not able to accept the following items:

• Homemade items
• Expired baby food
• Products containing alcohol
• Open packages of food

Donations can be dropped off at:

pHresh Spa + Wellness Club

3rd Floor – Sandman Suites Hotel

1160 Davie Street

http://www.theprovince.com/life/Food+bank+critical+need+Christmas+miracle+donations/5832330/story.html

Her specialty is Advanced Constitutional Facial Rejuvenation™, which is a holistic therapy designed to organically treat the aging process.

The basic concept is that by inserting needles locally on the face, circulation is increased, flooding the area with red and white blood cells and allowing collagen and elastin to form. Depending on the individual constitution, acupuncture points are chosen either to relax or strengthen muscles along energy meridians, or at the meeting point of a muscle and nerve. The focus is normally on two to three areas of concern at a time keeping the energy contained and focused.

The benefits of Facial Acupuncture are both internal and external. If a patient has symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, constipation and anxiety, this will be addressed, treating the patient holistically. Some of the external benefits include improving muscle tone, eliminating fine lines, as well as reducing bags and sagging jowls.  FRA is also very esthetically effective in tightening the neck, lifting drooping eyelids, tightening the pores and improving facial color. Significant findings are that it can reduce symptoms of Bell’s palsy, TMJ, neuropathies, and helps stroke patients.

As an alternative to Acupuncture, Julie offers a unique treatment, Facial Soundscapes – harmonic renewal (a tuning fork facial)™. It is a specific sound-healing protocol using tuning forks on acupuncture points to correct imbalances throughout the body and improve facial tone. It is a method of toning and firming the skin using tuning forks in tandem. The face, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, reflects both the body’s overall health and the equanimity of spirit. When a face is clear, it allows the spirit to shine through.

Soundscapes offers an option to those who seek the benefits of facial acupunctur without the needles. It improves circulation of the blood and lymphatic system which accounts for its firming effect. Tuning forks is an extremely unique therapeutic treatment which relaxes the body, mind, and soul.

For more information or inquiries please go to our website, or call pHresh.

As an introductory offer, if you book before Nov.1^st you will receive 20% off your first treatment!

All services (except Facial Soundscapes) are covered by Extended Health if applicable to you!

What is Sun Damage?

Sun damage is basically the gradual changes in our skin caused by an accumulation of sun exposure throughout life. Evidence is strong that ultra-violet (UV) light is the cause of most of the changes we consider to be associated with aging. UV rays trigger the release of free radicals in our skin. This process also breaks down collagen and elastin fibers, eventually turning faint, barely-there lines into full-fledged wrinkles. Not a pretty picture! So how do we stop this breakdown

Sun Damage Prevention

Try glycolic acids. Glycolic is arguably the most effective form of Alpha Hydroxy Acid. It is derived from the sugar cane plant and can also be found in citrus fruits, grapes and the lactic acid in milk. It refines the texture of skin by softening fine lines and wrinkles. Another benefit is its ability to lighten discolorations and acne scars while shrinking the appearance of pores.

Cover up! If you aren’t already doing so, make sure your facial moisturizer contains broad spectrum sunscreen which blocks UV rays. Choose a product with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 or higher.

Try skin resurfacing. Procedures like microdermabrasion can help even out skin tone, get rid of dark patches caused by the sun, minimize pore size and most importantly, rejuvenate skin.

Book a Photo Rejuvenation Facial – IPL Photo Rejuvenation is a successful treatment for acne, acne scars, broken capillaries, age spots, enlarged pores, fine lines, wrinkles, rough skin, hyperpigmentation and sun damage. It is also an effective treatment for rosacea. Treatments may be administered to the face, neck, chest or hands.

• Relatively painless

• Diminish age spots

• Even out skin tone

• Sunspots gradually fade

• Pores become less noticeable

• Fine lines and wrinkles become less apparent

• Restore youth and vibrancy to the skin.

Get expert advice. To ensure healthy, beautiful skin, you should schedule regular appointments with your esthetician. They can offer education and information about skin care and explain the numerous sun damage prevention and treatment options available to you.

We get a few sunny days in February and pretty soon you start hearing things like “spring is in the air” or “summer is right around the corner”. For most of us blue skies and warm weather phrases put smiles on our faces or add a little get up to our day. For a fair percentage of us though, spring elicits an entirely different feeling – dread.  Time to rededicate ourselves to the gym, hoping this will be the year that bathing suit shopping doesn’t send us into a tail spin in the dressing room that leads us to consoling ourselves at the bottom of a chocolate milkshake.

Yes, I’m talking about cellulite, cottage cheese thighs and jiggly bottoms.

What is cellulite? And why is it so hard to eliminate?

Cellulite is not a symptom of being overweight. In fact, many thin women who work out regularily complain of cellulite. Poor blood flow, genetics, hormones and a sedentary lifestyle as well as the amount and distribution of body fat all influence the presence and visibility of cellulite.

Cellulite begins in the subcutaneous fat level.  Upright chambers of subcutaneous fat enlarge and push against the strands of linked connective tissue. In women this linked tissue is very inflexible and  as we age the outermost skin can become thin showing the orange peel  appearance of cellulite even more. Think of a really tight pair of fishnet nylons with your skin pushing through the squares. The nylons represent the connective tissue straining against the chambers of fat. Keeping this connective tissue supple by eating foods rich in bioflavinoids and staying well hydrated is an important step in reducing the appearance of cellulite.

Can I improve the appearance of cellulite?

There are many creams and serums on the market boasting improvements in cellulite. While some may contain ingredients, like caffeine to increase circulation,  at best these items provide temporary results by dehydrating the skin  which  temporarily firms it.

At pHresh , we work with Alma laser’s  Accent XL and radiofrequency to improve the appearance of cellulite and tighten lax skin.  By gradually heating the dermal and subdermal tissue Radio Frequency accelerates the speed fat and water molecules are moving within the body. These rapidly moving cells eventually burst releasing the water and fat stored inside. Due to an increase in circulation these retained fluids are then eliminated through your bloodstream. This induces a temporary shrinking of the cells, production of collagen fibers for firmer skin and relaxes the rigidity of the connective tissue improving the skin’s contour and texture. Treatments are safe, non- invasive   and effects continue for up to six months after the last treatment. Generally 6-10 treatments spaced two to three weeks apart are required. Diet and exercise play an important role in maintaining optimum results along with possible maintenance appointments, usually one or two per year.

Call us for your complimentary consultation today!

As we get older, our faces start to reveal the effects of passing time.  Exposure to the sun, extensive usage of our facial muscles, and even gravity all contribute to the breakdown of facial muscle tissue.  The resulting unwanted lines and wrinkles are found particularly around the eyes, mouth, and nose where muscles have been moving for a lifetime.

Cosmetic facial fillers work by temporarily plumping up the skin just under the surface where they are injected, smoothing out these lines for an overall younger appearance.  These injectable fillers are synthetic plumping agents, generally used for wrinkles and lines that are present even when no facial expressions are being made.  Other fillers are ideal for plumping up lips that have lost their pout over time.  Cosmetic fillers are a low-risk, short-term solution to alleviate the signs of aging, and are effective between a few months to a year.

Botox is used for the treatment of wrinkles resulting from the repetitive muscle movements that make up our daily expressions.  Botox is a muscle-paralyzing agent that helps to diminish these creases and delay the signs of aging.  It is used most commonly for the forehead, for between the eyebrows, and for crow’s feet around the eyes.  The procedure is very quick, leaves no trace behind, and skin appears noticeably younger, firmer and smoother.  The effects take about a week to start showing, and for most people will last around 4 months, although with continued use over time many patients report seeing results for much longer.

Photorejuvenation facials are accomplished by using intense pulsed light (IPL) to reduce skin imperfections caused by blotchy pigmentation, age spots, freckles, redness, and tiny veins.  IPL is safe, non-invasive, and comfortable.  Our experienced esthetician at pHresh Spa will first assess your individual condition and skin type and make a treatment plan.  Several sessions are required to provide the best cosmetic results.

The IPL photofacial can be combined with cosmetic fillers for full facial rejuvenation.  While IPL treatments promote the growth of new cells and leave skin with improved clarity and texture the cosmetic injectables act to plump and lift areas of the face that have started to wrinkle and sag.  Used in combination, IPL treatments and injectables can make your face appear more rested and youthful.

Call for your complimentary consultation today!

The Christmas season is upon us and with that comes a flurry of opportunities to feast and drink. Enjoyable though it may be, at Christmas we put our bodies through a lot of physical and mental stress. We eat too much, drink too much, and generally over-indulge.  How does a health-conscious person enjoy the festivities without compromising their overall health and wellbeing? Here are some tips to help you fully enjoy the Christmas season.

1. Pick Your Battles.Only attend functions that promise either great food or great company. Choose your food wisely and listen to your gut!

2.  Purchase a bottle of Udo’s Choice Enzymes at your local health food store. The recommended dose is for everyday eating, if you have second helpings double the dose, and dessert to follow, triple the dose. It works like magic to avoid bloating and indigestion!

3. Use The Power of Thought: When serving food, repeat the mantra “Less Is More”. Start with half of what you normally would take, and give yourself time to be satisfied before going for seconds. You might be surprised!

4.  Share meals and desserts with a spouse or friend.  Start now to reduce your portion sizes, particularly when you’re eating out.

5.  Eat something healthy beforehand, such as veggies or soup.  Filling up on a few healthy things will ensure that you don’t arrive at the buffet table starving and tempted.

6.  Take time to exercise.  Create a fitness schedule for yourself that you can commit to follow over the next few weeks.  And, do an extra 10 minutes of cardio and throw in some exta pushup and ab crunches.  Imagine how great you’ll feel come January when all of your clothes still comfortably fit!

7.  Spend time in an Infrared Sauna.  Not only is it an amazing way to release toxins but just 30 minutes in an infrared sauna can burn up to 600 calories!

8.  Attend a Yoga Class.  Take an hour to unwind and become centred.  Your body and mind will thank you for it.

9.  Reward Yourself! Drop by your favourite spa for a relaxing massage or a refreshing facial.