Top 10 Reasons to Get a Massage on Sunday

 

 Did you know we have five massage therapists available at Urban Sanctuary on Sunday? It is one of our post popular days for massage, so we present to you our Top 10 Reasons to Get a Massage on Sunday:

1. Because Urban Sanctuary is open on Sundays!

2. Because your to-do list is shorter on Sundays… We hope.

3. Because Sunday should be a lazy/happy day, and we are a happy place!

4. Because you threw your back out on the dance floor Saturday night.

5. Because you deserve a reward after your weekend chores are done or you need help procrastinating.

6. Because the world is so quiet and peaceful and you’d like to be quiet and peaceful on Sunday along with the rest of the world...

7. Because Monday will be here any minute now and that may not be a very relaxing day.

8. Because massage is a great way to detox from Saturday night festivities.

9. You have the day off  and can come in with a friend.

10. Because Sunday is a bad day to endure a headache, stiff neck, sore muscles or tired feet. However, it’s a great day to be kind to yourself.

Unwind at Urban Sanctuary whenever you'd like 7 days a week. Gift Certificates are available online.

What's your top reason for getting a massage on Sunday? Drop us an e-mail at info@urbansanctuaryspa.com. Call 706-613-3947 to schedule your Sunday spa service. We have facials, microdermabrasion, waxing, manicures and pedicures, and make-up also.

Waxing Wisdom from Urban Sanctuary

Waxing is a semi-permanent method of hair removal. It removes the hair by the root, so an area is hair-free anywhere from 2-5 weeks depending on your hair type and how long you’ve been waxing.  Any area of healthy skin can be waxed, but some of the most common areas for women include the eyebrows, upper lip, bikini line, and legs. The most common areas of waxing for men include the brows, chest, and back. 

There are two types of waxes used to remove hair. The esthetician will determine the right kind of wax for you, unless you already have a preference. Soft wax is applied in a thin layer and removed with a fabric strip. Hard wax is applied in a thicker layer and removed when set.  Both are warm when applied to the skin. Your esthetician may test the wax on his or her wrist before applying to make sure it is the correct temperature.

A little discomfort and a mild reddening to the area waxed are normal. Subsequent waxes will generally have a decrease in discomfort and reddening.  Following some simple do’s and don'ts will help you have the least irritation and pain.

Do’s and Don’ts:

Do:     

Schedule your wax when your hair is at an appropriate length:
o   Hairs need to be a least 1 quarter inch long (about the length of a rice grain).
o   If your hair is longer than an inch, you may want to trim it. Longer hair can be uncomfortable when waxed. 

Tell your esthetician if you are taking any medication.  Some medications alter how the skin reacts to waxing, and can make your waxing more painful or increase the risk of skin tears.

Exfoliate between waxes to avoid in-grown hairs. There are lots of different exfoliants – ask your esthetician to help you pick what’s right for you.

Don’t:

Tan the area to be waxed (in the sun or artificially) 48 hrs before or 48 hrs after a wax - this can sometimes cause discoloration.

Workout or do anything that causes excessive heat or sweating the same day as your wax. This can introduce a more than normal level of bacteria to the area and possibly cause an angry reaction.

      To set up your waxing appointment at Urban Sanctuary, call 706-613-3947.

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Hot Oil Massage -- Abhyanga

  Abhyanga is an ancient East Indian massage style employed for thousands of years to ground the restless energies of the body and mind. The deeply relaxing, centering effect makes this type of massage a good choice for people experiencing insomnia, anxiety, travel lag, frazzled nerves or scattered energy.
    
 Scattered, fragmented or depleted energy over time can lead to lack of presence and comfort within our own beings. This is classified as an air element imbalance or "Vata" imbalance, according to Ayurveda. Ayurveda is the ancient science of India. It is the science of beauty and the study of life.

 Abhyanga massage is described in the ancient Ayurvedic texts. It aims to balance the air element of the body by creating warmth, connection, comfort, and deep relaxation. Abhyanga massage allows for release of amma (sticky toxins), release of negativity, and release of excess nervous energy, bringing one back to a balanced and grounded state. People are usually quite clear-headed after receiving this type of massage. It is profoundly healing, and one of the massage styles that I personally love the most.

The method is simple. Abhyanga uses warmed sesame oil and rapid rhythmic strokes to coax and lull the body into a deep state of letting go. The warm oil is soothing for cracking joints and dry skin, making it a great fall or winter massage. The rapid back and forth strokes get the entire body rocking and rolling, inducing a pacified state for both the nervous system and emotional body. The heat and friction boost circulation more than other types of massage, creating a powerful detoxifying effect for the skin, muscles, and joints. The long rapid back and forth strokes are made along your spine, arms, and legs, providing very thorough and complete coverage. The short rapid back and forth circular strokes around the shoulder girdle, hips, sacrum, knees, and elbows releases pent-up energy in the joints beautifully, returning them to a state of energy and flexibility. This massage is deeply satisfying for both the giver and the receiver.

At Urban Sanctuary, we use a Vata balancing herbal infused oil with lemon, geranium, and cardamom. The effect is marvelously grounding. People have experienced, as a result of Abhyanga massages, improved sleep, expanded capacity to breath deeply. relief from aching knees, increased energy, and complete revitalization.

Once you have received an Abhyanga massage from a professional, it is easy to develop a practice of doing some self-massage at home or at the gym utilizing this technique. I like to use slightly warmed sesame oil to massage my ankles, knees, legs, low back, and hips in the winter-time before going  for a long walk or run outside. It is easy to do in the bathroom or  kitchen without making an oily mess. I have several friends and clients who enjoy a habit of self-massage before exercise or long car trips. Another occasion to employ self-Abhyanga massage is during times of insomnia or high anxiety. A little  bit of warm oil applied in rapid heat-producing strokes to the chest, hips, legs or feet has a very grounding, centering and comforting effect. This can induce sleep or calm when needed. A ten or twenty-minute routine used one to three times per week creates amazing flexibility, increased energy, and decreased clumsiness and injury. Self-massage is often recommended as an  important part of personal health care in both modern and ancient East Indian health texts.

At spas, where Abhyanga is available, it usually costs $10 or so more than other massages on the menu, due to the additional oil required. It is worth it. If you have not gifted yourself a chance to experience this type of massage, do it soon. You can imitate the technique at home for years to come, reaping many benefits.
If you'd like to book an Abhyanga massage, contact Urban Sanctuary.

The Benefits of Body Brushing and How To Do It

                   

Body brushing provides an instant boost to energy and circulation.  A weekly or daily body brushing routine can reduce aches and pains and enhance to overall health and well being.

  Body Brushing: 

•     Eases Joint Pain
•     Relaxes the Body
•     Boosts Circulation
•     Stimulates Release of Your
       Body's Natural Pain Killers
•     Pacifies the Nervous System
•     Exfoliates Dead Skin Cells
•     Opens Pores so Skin can Breathe
•     Strengthens the Immune System
•     Increases Lymph Flow
•     Helps the Body to Detox
•     Improves Muscle Tone
•     Improves Skin Tone & Color
•     Helps Improve Balance & Coordination  
•     Evens Skin Texture

     We recommend including body brushing (dry brushing) in your weekly self-care routine. This is highly recommended for people experiencing joint pain, muscle aches or sluggish circulation.   

                             How To Dry Brush Your Skin:

• Dry Brushing takes 2-10 minutes a day 
• Use 2 natural bristle brushes 
• Brush the whole body, starting at the toes and working up
• Brush circles & crisscrosses on all of the joints & long sweeping strokes up towards the groin & then up towards the underarms
• Brush until your skin becomes rosy, warm & glowing 
• The best time to dry brush is before a shower or before a massage

  Pick up some natural boar's hair bristle dry brushes at Urban Sanctuary. We are open 7 days a week, so stop in and we'll give you a  body brushing technique demonstration. Be kind to yourself; when in Athens, Georgia, unwind at Urban Sanctuary.