Infrared heat blankets and saunas are a great addition to spas and wellness centers- for weight loss, pain relief, detox and total body relaxation. As a matter of a fact in 1998 the FDA approved the use of infrared therapy as a means for pain relief and muscle aches.  The reason why it is so productive for detoxification is the same reason why it is good for pain relief and circulation….oxygen and blood flow nourish, cleanse and give a better metabolism. In fact, a Seattle-based neurologist conducted a study to find out just how dramatic the difference is between conventional and infrared saunas. Lab test results showed that the sweat of people using a regular sauna was 95-97% water while the infrared sweat produced 80-85% water, and the non-water portion being cholesterol, fat-soluble toxins, toxic heavy metals, sulfuric acid, sodium, ammonia and uric acid!!!

 

Cleansing the body is so vitally important for health, wellness, and mental clarity. I cannot stress this enough. If we acquired the diets of the people  in the 1800’s-fresh meat with no hormones or antibiotics, pesticide free vegetables and fruits, raw foods with no preservatives or chemicals, no plastics emitting xenoestrogen gas, no pollution in the air, no hydrogen- ated MSG’d junk foods, no artificial anything we would most definitely be a healthier, more cancer free, disease free society. Yes they may have died from diseases that had no cure or vaccination at the time, but I bet they were not nearly as toxic as we are today!

FYI- There has been tests conducted on mother’s umbilical cord blood revealing hundreds of toxic chemicals present in the newborn baby.  Today it is getting harder and harder to stay toxic free. You can only do the best you can to keep the body clean without going insane. So where can we start?

The infamous cardiologist and anti-aging guru Dr.Oz recently appeared on Oprah stating that “infrared helps support health and longevity”.  Doctors and health experts tout infrared for weight loss, pain relief, relaxation, chronic fatigue syndrome, detoxification and so many other health benefits.  Dr. Oz also stated that “infrared saunas increase blood circulation and that one session can burn up to 700 calories.” He also seemed ecstatic on detoxification these invisible wavelengths of light delve out of the body, not to mention the cardiovascular benefits for anyone, including those that may be disabled or simply could not exercise.

 

Infrared is one favorite treatments I utilize on my clients- the use of infrared heat for various treatments gives outstanding mental and physical benefits. Europe, Asia and South America have been using this method of detoxification and wellness for many years. Seems we are always the last to know!  What have we been waiting for? There are various infrared devices being used.  The good news is you do not have to spend thousands of dollars on a device or have a large space to offer infrared treatments and wraps.   Oprah and Dr. OZ lead consumer markets by their influence, now lead us to Emerald City-where good health and longevity is just a heels click away. Infrared treatments and wraps will be here to stay, and you won’t have to look any further than your own backyard to find the day spa that is offering this modality. We will see more and more of these healthy modalities creeping into wellness centers and spas very soon.                                                                                             

Infrared heat blankets and saunas are a great addition to spas and wellness centers- for weight loss, pain relief, detox and total body relaxation. As a matter of a fact in 1998 theFDA approved the use of infrared light therapy as a means for pain relief and muscle aches.  The reason why it is so productive for detoxification is the same reason why it is good for pain relief and circulation….oxygen and blood flow nourish, cleanse and give a better metabolism. In fact, a Seattle-based neurologist conducted a study to find out just how dramatic the difference is between conventional and infrared saunas. Lab test results showed that the sweat of people using a regular sauna was 95-97% water while the infrared produced 80-85% water, and the non-water portion being cholesterol, fat-soluble toxins, toxic heavy metals, sulfuric acid, sodium, ammonia and uric acid!

Because the heart is pumping the blood more quickly and efficiently, infrared is a good option for those who cannot exercise.

 

I prefer the Sudatonic method of infrared treatments at my day spa. I have been to spas myself where they have the “sit down” style of  infrared sauna that is a little hard to relax in due to the hard surface and lack of position friendliness and I am not fond of breathing in the hot air-makes me get anxiety. With the horizontal thermal sudation method you can lie down, relax, close your eyes and drift off, with the heat enclosed around your body not your head.  Other treatments can be performed while you are in the horizontal cozy heat heaven device- facials, facial massage, reflexology etc. This means a better profit center and a multi-faceted treatment option. No wet rooms or showers are needed! I lay the client in a room with candles, play soothing music, and place aromatherapy on their towels. I set the heat at different levels for different treatments-but for all treatment methods I do like creating a calming ambience. A 25 minute session on heat level 46-48 Celsius is for relaxation prior to a massage or facial. It puts them in a warm sedation, relaxing the muscles and creating a light sweat. I always give a 10 minute facial massage during the session. I charge $40 for that upgrade and the client almost always wants to receive a more intense detox session in the future.  The detox treatment is a little more intense at 40 minutes. It delves deep into the toxin release and often time I see the end result being beige or darker colored sweat left behind on the plastic.  I charge $70 and simply place client into the blanket for a longer length of time and on a higher heat of 48-50 Celsius (adjusting according to client’s tolerance). I give an aromatherapy facial massage and make sure the fan is blowing gently on their face. I offer a cool towel for the forehead as well. They feel calm but energized.

Then there is the SUDATONIC TREATMENT (Thermal Sudation) which is just wonderful. A much more intense detox with more steps involved. This treatment involves analyzing your fat percentage, weigh in, and application of proprietary blends of creams and essential oils. These help break down cellulite, fat and toxins by forcing the action of sweating to utilize the fat as the energy (Thermal Sudation).  I charge $125 for a single treatment and less for a series (prepay discount) of the treatments. The client is re-weighed and fat is re-analyzed. To my surprise I always see a reduction.  Before I brought this treatment into my facility I researched other centers utilizing the Sudatonic all over the US and they all said, “it is one of their best sellers.” With repeated treatments a client can get desirable results both physically and mentally. The detox and cleansing is intense but the benefits are amazing. The skin feels so incredibly soft and clients gain many other benefits such as pain relief, cellulite appears smoother (the movement of toxins and excess water, circulation and blood flow gets energy into the sluggish area), arthritic joint relief, headache relief, stress relief, cleansing of circulatory system, and a healthy glow that is unreal.  The nice feature about this system is that it easily stows away under a massage or facial table and has low maintenance. For those with limited space, this is fantastic. I do explain that if anyone is trying to lose weight, the body needs to rid itself of excess toxins. The two go hand in hand. Many experts on the subject will state detoxification  as a pre-requisite to weight loss. I have clients that are addicted to the feeling of the endorphins flowing throughout their body all day long! Although almost everyone is a candidate for the treatment, a health history and consent form is ALWAYS advisable for any and all contraindications. There are treatment guidelines as well which is supplied with the accompanying manual and training.

 In closing, utilizing infrared technology can be very satisfying and amazingly profitable. Consumers are more and more health conscious and the baby boomer market wants “feel good, look good” treatments.  It is satisfying to the therapist to offer infrared because of the health benefits.   The latest in infrared technology can boost sales but also offer remarkable means to a healthy detoxification, which in itself leads to health and well being!