The Complete Spa Book for Massage Therapists

1. The Complete Spa Book for Massage Therapists ADVANCED MODALITIES: PART ILESSON L-12.0

2. SPA THOUGHT “A truly holistic spa treatment extends out from the treatment room to encompass the entire experience at the spa.” Angela Keen, National Training Manager ESPA

3. INTRODUCTION • Hundreds of advanced modalities • Only a handful are frequently used in spas. • Most evolved from global healing traditions. • Others were founded by individuals. • Many spas go beyond modalities and offer lifestyle programming.

4. ADVANCED MODALITIES Any therapies offered in spas other than Swedish massage, exfoliation, hydrotherapy, and other basic techniques

5. AYURVEDA • Ancient Indian healing system • Origin in Vedas 5,000+ years ago • Sanskrit “Ayu” = life or longevity “Veda” = system of knowledge • Means • “wisdom for living” • “knowledge of longevity” • “science of life”

6. AYURVEDIC LIFESTYLE • Treats the whole person • Maintains optimal health, prevents disease • Understand “constitution” to balance & heal • Provides path to be in harmony with nature

7. TRADITIONAL AYURVEDIC MEDICINE • powders • tablets • oils • herbs • minerals • surgery • pediatrics • psychology • toxicology

8. THE AYURVEDIC DOSHAS • Each person is a combination of 5 elements: • Space = underlying energetic source of life • Air = gases within the body • Fire = change • Water = flowing energy • Earth = groundedness and solidity • Balance of these determines dosha: • vata, pitta, or kapha

9. VATA • Means wind, corresponds to air & space • Responsible for motion/action • Health problems • gas in the large intestine • excess muscular nervous energy • anxiety, insomnia, dry skin, cold temperature • Spa products • calming, warming, hydrating

10. PITTA • Means bile, corresponds to fire & water • Thermal, transforming energy – digestion • Health problems • inflammation • overheating • irritability, skin sensitivity & rashes • Spa products • calming, soothing, cooling

11. KAPHA • Means phlegm, relates to earth & water • Electromagnetic and gravitational forces • Health problems • swelling • mucus & fluid retention • lethargy, weight gain, oily skin, congestion • Spa products • energizing, decongesting, purifying

12. PANCHA KARMA • Series of treatments & lifestyle guidelines • To cleanse & rejuvenate the body • To balance the doshas • Can include • massage, specialized body treatments, purgative therapies, herbal medicines, meditation, chanting, & other techniques

13. PANCHA KARMA (CONT.) • Traditionally given over 7 days • Practitioners believe food is the best medicine. • specific types of food treat disease • Most pancha karma programs include: • oil massage known as abhyanga • full-body steam immersion called swedana

14. ABHYANGA • Full-body massage: 2 hours, 2 therapists • Applied to 107 marma points • Marma means “hidden” or “secret” • Points have 3 receptors, 1 for each dosha • The idea is to unblock energy, or chi. • Much oil used, usually sesame.

15. SHIRODHARA • Relaxing • 30 minutes • Opens “third eye” • Shiro = head • Dhara = flow of liquid • For headaches, tension, insomnia • Warm sesame oil flows over forehead

16. SHIROVASTI • Ayurvedic head bath w/ herbal oils • Indian leaves & flowers soaked in oil • Oil poured in cap & placed on head • reduces eye strain • reduces sinus congestion • reduces headaches

17. GARSHANA • Dry lymphatic skin brushing with silk glove • All the benefits of exfoliation • Usually in combination w/ other treatments • abhyanga massage • shirodhara

18. PINDA SWEDA • Hot herbal poultices applied to skin • Similar to the Thai herbal balls • Poultices pressed over whole body • Especially for pain or stiffness in joints

19. UDVARTHANAM • Known as flower petal massage, or • Ayurvedic powder massage • Powder from dried, finely ground flowers • Applied by one or two therapists

20. LEPANA • Ayurvedic herb paste applied over body • Left to dry on skin • Removed using deep tissue massage

21. CRANIOSACRAL SYSTEM

22. CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY • Increasingly popular in many spas • Lighter touch than typical massage • Technique has helped many people. • Qualified therapists sought by top spas

23. CEREBROSPINAL FLUID (CSF) • Moves through spine – cranium to sacrum • Pulse called craniosacral rhythm (CSR) • Therapist places hands on spine, skull • Tune into natural pulse • facilitates subtle releases • realigns bones to proper positions • treats many kinds of ailments

24. DR. WILLIAM SUTHERLAND • Osteopathic doctor • Developed technique of manipulating craniosacral system • First claimed cranial bones move at sutures • facilitates craniosacral Rhythm

25. DR. JOHN E. UPLEDGER • Osteopathic physician • Set up team to study Sutherland’s theories • Developed craniosacral therapy • Includes many subspecialties • CST a main treatment on spa menus • Also incorporated into other treatments

26. INDONESIAN TREATMENTS • Focus on exotic tropical ingredients • frangipani, ginger, jasmine, coconut, aloe vera • Rice bran / fresh yogurt for exfoliation • Blossoms & petals in treatment area • Most popular Indonesian treatment = Lulur

27. JAVANESE LULUR • From 17th-century royal Javanese ritual • For 40 days, bride-to-be received “Lulur” • massage, bathing, exfoliation • plentiful flowers & oils & scents • passing on of wisdom and nurturing • Jasmine & frangipani = 2 main ingredients • Modern Lulur for both men and women • men receive ginger/spice scents

28. INDONESIAN MASSAGE STROKES • Oil application • Knuckling • Bumbu • Percussion • Compression • Thumb walk • Crab walk • Wringing • Skin rolling

29. LULUR PROTOCOL • Preparation • flower bowl under face cradle • bath mat with flower blossoms/petals • minimum 5 hot moist towels • presentation tray with products • put linens, fabric, & blossoms/petals on table

30. LULUR PROTOCOL • Procedure 1 • present tray of products to client • keep products warm • invite client to lie supine • touch palms to lower legs, offer silent blessing • compression atop draping towel right to left • 5 “dry” techniques right to left • remaining techniques in opposite order

31. LULUR PROTOCOL • Procedure 2 • abdomen optional – last 4 techniques, with oil • oil massage to head, neck, & shoulders • client turns over – “dry” massage left to right • reverse direction – oil massage • start bath if available • apply Lulur scrub to back, right to left • remove Lulur with warm moist towels

32. LULUR PROTOCOL • Procedure 3 • lotion to back (or yogurt if bath available) • client rolls onto clean sheet • lulur scrub to front, right to left • remove lulur with warm moist towels • lotion to front (or yogurt if bath available) • optional: add gel, sea salts, petals to water • client wrapped for 12–15 minutes

33. LULUR PROTOCOL • Procedure 4 • for bath only – escort client to bath • client bathes for 10 minutes • client on table prone – apply body butter/lotion • client turns – apply body butter/lotion to front • assist client into a robe • offer cup of warm jasmine/orange tea • flower behind ear and “Terimakasih” blessing

34. LULUR PROTOCOL • Cleanup • change table & launder linens • empty & wash bathtub with disinfectant • dispose of flower petals or save for next treatment

35. LOMILOMI

36. LOMILOMI • Popular in spas – Japan, Europe, & U.S. • Spa-style Lomilomi is an adaptation • Traditional Lomilomi is comprehensive • stones, bone setting, hydro, herbs, diet • whole culture used massage & herbs • prayer – “Pule” & counseling • ho’oponopono – heartfelt communication • special Lomilomi for tribal chiefs

37. MODERN LOMILOMI • Foreigners brought medicine. • Lomilomi went underground. • Massage aspect remained popular. • Hawaii legitimized lomilomi in 1947. • “Old school” healers taught outside the law. • “Auntie” Margaret Machado • “Uncle” Freddie Tira • 2001 act allows trained native practitioners.

38. SUMMARY • You now know: • Ayurvedic spa treatments • craniosacral therapy use in spas • Javanese Lulur protocol • Lomilomi use in spas