This month’s Featured Article:

Americans are obsessed with trying to be thin.
Many spas and skin care facilities want to offer treatments that assist people in their quest for wellness and weight loss. A body wrap is an economical treatment that can deliver immediate visible results. The inch-loss body wrap is just that: it takes inches off of a person’s physique while detoxifying the body at the same time.

Many spa goers have experienced wonderful results with inch-loss wraps. While exercise helps to release toxins through sweat, a wrap helps to extract and flush out toxins by absorbing them. A beneficial wrap also induces increased urination and a bowel movement, usually within 24 hours. Some wraps stimulate increased circulation so that the client perspires, but they fail to provide a deeper internal detoxification. Inch-loss body wraps greatly increase toxin removal and help reduce the amount of stagnant fluids in the body. Clients should notice a significant reduction in puffiness after a proper body wrap. The therapeutic action of an inch-loss body wrap is based on gentle constriction of the skin to mobilize internal fluids and the absorption of body toxins by a solution in which the bandages have soaked.

The goal of detoxification is to clear the body of such toxins in order to promote health and wellness on many levels.

Different kinds of body wraps provide different results. With inch-loss wraps the constriction or compression is simply the process of squeezing the tissues together. As fluid is extracted, puffiness is reduced and the intercellular space becomes more compact. The result is a rejuvenating effect through the tightening of the skin. In targeting a specific area and bandaging it, you are, in essence, shaping the body, which is the intent of inch-loss wraps that use bandages. Cloth bandages are pre-soaked in a solution, warmed in a roaster and then applied onto the client’s skin. The therapeutic value of a body wrap is much higher than simple weight loss by water removal. The inch-loss wrap provides more than just water loss—it is a method of helping the body flush out immobile toxins.

Offer multiple options

There is a great variety of bandages available. The materials vary from basic cotton to those that have an elastic lining, which aids in a tighter compression. It is a choice determined by the preference of the therapist. The bandages come in an assortment of colors and sizes. Many body-wrapping specialists have their clients get into a sauna suit with vinyl booties covering the cloth bandages to help keep the client warm. The booties also catch any “leakage” from the soaked bandages.
Remember to keep a variety of sizes for your clients to choose from, since each cloth cannot be used on the next client until they are properly washed and sanitized. Be certain that the client is comfortable and does not become overheated. If vinyl sauna suits are not available, consider purchasing a heat blanket, steam canopy or any other type of sauna. The more options that are offered in conjunction with the body wrap, the better the results and the happier the client.

KEY INGREDIENTS

When considering which products to use in a wrap it is essential to review the ingredients. The following ingredients are effective for conducting inch-loss wraps:
• Clay
• Mud
• Seaweed/kelp
• Essential oils such as grapefruit, orange, juniper, rosemary, cinnamon, cypress, geranium, lemon and thyme
• Herbs such as gota kola, horse chestnut,
green tea, sweet clover and dandelion
• Niacin
• Caffeine
• Aloe vera

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Contraindications are conditions that may preclude the administration of a specific treatment or service. Contraindications for body treatments and wraps include:
• MRSA or any Staphylococcus (bacteria),
open sores, boils and abscesses
• Pregnancy
• Recovering from an illness
or under a physician’s care
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Varicose veins
• Phlebitis
• Cancer
• Herniated disc
• Ingredient allergies

The conditions on the list below are not always contraindications—it depends on what service is being offered but it is wise to keep the following suggestions in mind:
• For claustrophobics, offer partial wraps
• Have asthmatic clients keep their inhaler with them during the service in case breathing becomes labored
• Clients who are in their menstrual cycle may experience a heavier menstrual flow
• Clients who are nursing should not receive detoxification treatments, as toxins may be passed on to the baby through the milk and make the baby sick or prematurely stop milk production

Define poison

Toxins are agents that are capable of causing the body harm. External or exogenous toxins come from sources outside the body such as car fumes, tobacco smoke, drugs, pollution, heavy metals and poor dietary habits.
Endogenous toxins come from viral or bacterial infections and autogenous toxins are created by the body itself due to its metabolism.
The goal of detoxification is to clear the body of such toxins in order to promote health and wellness on many levels, including increased energy, mental clarity and function, improved digestion and elimination, enhanced immune system and resistance to infection or illness, proper blood circulation, healthy skin, body toning and cellulite reduction.

Wrap away!

Peter Yamill recently became a licensed body wrapper in Florida, but he was dubious of the treatment at first. After taking a Florida Licensing body wrapping certification class on inch-loss wraps, however, he was impressed by the information he learned and surprised at the immediate results that he saw on his own body from the wrap he received in class. Now a firm believer, Yamill is the first to say that inch-loss wraps work and everyone should be receiving them!
Body wrapping is a great source of additional income for any skin care facility or spa. Check state guidelines and verify what is required to provide the service at your spa. With an educated staff to promote the benefits of body wrapping, clients will be very excited by what an inch-loss wrap can do for them.

Denise R. Fuller is a licens­ed esthetician, certified body wrapping instructor for the state of Florida, beauty ther­apist and author in the esthetics industry. She is the owner of International Spa Importing Specialists and founder of the National Aesthetic Spa Network. She may be reached at 888.566.4747 or visit www.denisefuller.biz.

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