Body wraps: Take the wrap!

First, understand this: your body is quite like a machine. The more you subject it to wear and tear, the more it will give you trouble. The signs will be seen and felt by you everywhere - on your waistline (it will spread like butter at room temperature), on your skin (it will mimic last year's Christmas foil), in your metabolism (which will behave like a battery running on low), on your mind (that will look like a nimbus-packed sky) and in your general demeanour (boring). And just as you would take the non-human machine to a workshop to get it running again, you need to get your human machine to one too. Call a friend, scream for help or simply play possum till your spouse gets alarmed enough to stop watching the football game and come to your rescue.

And where should you head to? Nowhere near the ICU, relax. Just to the nearest, swankiest body wrap treatment centre. Body wrap treatments, the relatively new entrants in the world of feel-goodness are a versatile lot - essentially, they are shortcuts that put back the energy in you, the spring in your step and clear the cloud from your mental skies. They also do other super effective jobs like body exfoliation, deep detox, total relaxation, and so on in probably less time than it takes you to navigate the rush hour through Shaikh Zayed Road to reach home.

What is a body wrap?

"It's a generic term for a treatment that provides exfoliation. The treatment involves enveloping the body with ingredients to either nourish, hydrate, detox or rid the body of excess water or weight instantly," says Salina Handa, founder and director of SensAsia Spa, Dubai. "A body wrap offers different benefits and effects depending on the choice of treatments. Wraps instantly eliminate toxins from the body via metabolic stimulation." They improve the skin's condition by restoring the body's lost moisture content.

Davina Patel, spa manager at the Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, prefers to describe a body wrap as "a facial for your whole body.''

Jing Roldan, head therapist, Willow Stream, Fairmont Dubai, is happy to go along with that definition. Just as you cleanse, tone, lymph drain and hydrate your face, you must provide the same benefits to your body. "Combined with a proper diet and fitness regime, a body wrap treatment can contribute to a great sense of general well-being and give your body a more defined and taut outline."

According to Roldan, body wraps have been in use for centuries as a ritualistic part of well-being treatments before they became the Next Big Thing recently. "There is evidence of the use of poultices, which helped draw out toxins and poisons even in prehistoric times. Hieroglyphics found in Egypt indicate that Cleopatra used Nile clay poultices as skin treatments, in addition to her famous milk baths.

"The modern-day version of the body wrap was first introduced during the 1960s in the US. It claimed to provide instant and visible weight loss to any part of the body within an hour or two." (The weight loss was in actual fact the loss of excess water that led to a drop in total body weight. However, it didn't mean that there was any loss of body fat).

How a body wrap is applied?

Says Handa, "The treatment begins only after a complete consultation with an expert. Having cleared the client for the body wrap experience, the therapist gently cleanses and soaks the client's feet in an infusion of milk, peppermint, fresh mint and warm water for about 10 minutes. Following this, a full body ‘polish' is done with a dry loofah for about 10-12 minutes to loosen and slough off dead skin cells to allow better absorption and penetration of the body wrap ingredients. Before the body is encased in the specific-to-your-needs wrap, you are asked to take a shower and gently pat dry your body.

The body wrap paste is now slathered on. Over it goes a thin plastic or foil (depending on the type of wrap) and the client is covered with towels to seal in the heat.

"A wrap is normally left on the body for 20-30 minutes, depending on the client's tolerance levels. If there is any discomfort felt any time during the treatment, the wrap is immediately removed but as the wrap is designed after a complete consultation, such cases are very rare," explains Handa.

Once the wrap time is up, the client is asked to take another shower to clean up and then the body is lavished with emollient and hydrating creams to soften and nourish skin.

Many clients also opt for a gentle massage after the body wrap treatment to enter the total relaxation zone. Plus, says Handa, massage boosts the benefits of the treatment.

What's in the wrap?

"Anything from herbs, spices, caffeine, cocoa, seaweed, algae to mineral mud can be used in the wraps," says Patel.

However, it is advisable to let the therapist choose the right ingredients, says Roldan. "A skilled therapist will carry out a detailed consultation to ensure the client is provided with a treatment that matches his/her specific areas of concern, keeping in mind her medical history and other health-related issues.

"The body wraps can be for water loss, detoxification or simply to relax, unwind, nourish and hydrate the skin. The consultation also helps determine if the client is sensitive to any ingredients used in the wraps."

To get a simple idea of how everyday ingredients can work in a body wrap under expert supervision, take the Warm Honey and Milk Wrap. The honey nourishes the skin, while the milk, which contains active amino acids rebalances the pH of the skin and hydrates it. Handa mentions the Coconut and Milk Ritual Wrap containing coconut and ‘mung' beans. The ingredients naturally and gently polish the skin, even as the aromatic oils and milk improve the skin's condition leaving it feeling silky soft.

"In our Detox treatment, we use freeze-dried seaweed and a blend of pure essential oils to promote detoxification, ease muscle tension and get rid of excessive fluid retention. This is an incredibly powerful wrap and is most beneficial prior to a massage.

"Detox wraps use seaweed, minerals and can be combined with aromatherapy to increase or balance the metabolism, improve lymphatic flow and eliminate toxins that accumulate in the body due to the overindulgence in carbonated drinks and salted or processed foods. A build-up of toxins can cause cellulite, lowered immune systems, congested skin, dehydration and even headaches," she says.

How a body wrap actually works

"Body wraps can be chosen depending on your body's condition. For example, if you'd like to reduce cellulite, opt for a wrap that incorporates full-body brushing and a vigorous massage aimed towards bringing on hyperemia at targeted areas. This promotes blood circulation and breaks down fatty cells. But if you're on a detox plan, go for a wrap that promotes lymphatic drainage to aid the elimination of toxins. Montmorillonite green clay helps to detox and absorb minerals in your body. Fucus powder stimulates micro circulation, and induces perspiration helping the body rid itself of toxins and waste products," Roldan says.

How often is too often?

"For optimum results," says Roldan, "body wraps should be used twice a week or on a weekly basis." Handa thinks, "It all depends on your level of commitment, lifestyle and budget

"For instance, if you're considering a course of detox treatments, I'd suggest you take it up to three times a week, along with a healthy eating plan and exercise for a month. But if you've very dry skin and want to hydrate it, you should treat your body to a moisturising wrap twice a week and follow it up with appropriate skincare at home to get the best results!"

Ingredients and skin suitability

"When speaking about skin types," says Patel, "your therapist will usually go by how much oil or sebum your skin produces. For normal to dry skin types (that suffer from lack of sebum), nourishing or remineralising body wraps will be suggested. Remineralising wraps can also be used to hydrate the skin as these are gel-based wraps. This followed by a moisturising body milk, is very nourishing to the skin. For combination or oily skin types, clay-based body wraps are helpful in absorbing excess sebum. They also help prevent break-outs or infections. Clay is highly absorbent and is used to draw out impurities and excess moisture from the surface of the skin. This ‘drawing' action stimulates circulation and lymphatic flow and purifies the skin.

"To target combination skin a thorough assessment is a must. When a client has combination skin, two conditions are usually present: oversecretion of oil as well as dehydration. In this case, the therapist has to speak to the client and determine which condition should be tackled first.

"If the client has more of a problem with dehydration than with oiliness, a gel- or cream-based body wrap is applied first. That way the water level is balanced and the skin feels more supple and comfortable."

"For sensitive skin," she adds, "any wrap that increases body temperature should be avoided. Usually that would be a clay or a mud wrap. Another precaution would be to avoid any type of brown algae, since it is known to increase the temperature of the body. In case the client is blessed with normal skin, any type of body wrap can be applied."

It's done. What next?

After the treatment, take it easy for the day. Indulge in light activities, eat light, well-balanced meals in small portions, drink plenty of water and avoid fizzy drinks. Try to get an early night's sleep (the television can wait) so your body can complete the process of energising and balancing itself.

However, a word of caution from Patel: pregnant women should not undergo any sort of body treatment without seeking permission from their doctor first. If you are a first-timer, Handa suggests you be open and honest with the therapist. Don't be afraid or ashamed to ask questions.

Roldan adds: "Have a detailed consultation with your therapist who will determine your specific needs and assist you to get the best results. You will benefit the most it the body wrap treatment is tailored to your specific needs.

Sometimes, due to the experience of being cocooned, some clients tend to panic or feel claustrophobia. Check with the therapist the various options available to counter the feelings or other ways of keeping anxiety at bay and enjoying the experience.