Inflammation

Make it Easier for Dad to Use His Grill on Independence Day and Another Special Event
Make it Easier for Dad to Use His Grill on Independence Day and Another Special Event 1253 836 Recovery Lounge & Spa

As we head into the Fourth of July, we look at Dad being the one to count on with firing up the grill, carrying coolers, fixing things around the house, and making sure everyone has a great time. So let’s not forget to take care of Dad on Father’s Day as we head into the Fourth of July.

At Recovery Lounge & Spa, the gift of recovery is always the focus, and one of the most meaningful days on its recovery calendar is Father’s Day. Dad never thinks about his recovery or the opportunity to feel better, so if you’re in metro Denver, focus on his recovery at the Recovery Lounge & Spa.

A Better Way to Prepare for Summer Celebrations

We start early summer with outdoor activities, travel, yard work, and gatherings with family and friends, celebrating Father’s Day and the Fourth of July. For Dads, that means sore muscles, lingering aches, stress, and fatigue.

Recovery Lounge & Spa specializes in helping people recover from burnout, stress, injury, chronic ailments, surgery, and everyday wear and tear. Whether Dad wants to feel more energy before a long Fourth of July holiday weekend or recover from life this summer, there are several ways to aid Dad’s recovery from daily life.

The Father’s Day Special That Makes It Easy

First, if you’ve been looking for a practical Father’s Day gift, Recovery Lounge & Spa is offering wellness specials designed specifically for Dads. With prices ranging from $130 to $185, the Father’s Day Specials allow everyone to “Give the Gift of Wellness,” featuring recovery-focused experiences that help Dad prioritize himself.

The specials include the “Bio-Hacking Circuit,” the “Grounding Father Message,” the “Athletic Recovery Circuit,” and the “Mountain Man Facial.” Recovery Lounge & Spa designs each of these specials to focus on different aspects of Dad’s recovery, so getting him more than one special gives him a more multifaceted, broader recovery journey that positively impacts his well-being.

The Other Ways to Help Dad Recover

You can select any of these specials to get Dad started on his recovery, or use the second option to support his recovery journey by setting him up with a Recovery Lounge & Spa membership for ongoing access to recovery services. If you want to provide Dad a gift that keeps on giving, these membership programs are great to deliver Dad an ongoing opportunity to achieve recovery at their pace throughout the year.

And another way to give Dad maximum flexibility in choosing the recovery path he wants is with Recovery Lounge & Spa gift certificates. These gift certificates allow him to choose services that fit his needs and schedule, helping him define his recovery opportunity exactly the way he wants.

A Declaration of Wellness Independence, with “Pride”

This Fourth of July is very special for Dad and all of us as we celebrate our nation’s independence for the 250th time! On this major milestone birthday for our nation, there will probably be A LOT of photos taken to document this historic day.

So, maybe when you get a “Mountain Man Facial” for Dad, you might want to get a great “organic facial” or another available skincare package to make your skin look its absolute best for all the Independence Day photos coming up on the 4th of July. Now is the perfect time for you and Dad to both declare independence from chronic stress, lingering soreness, and fatigue, with some self-care your skin deserves at Recovery Lounge & Spa.

And finally, wellness independence is for everyone, so Recovery Lounge & Spa wants to acknowledge another group of people in need of recovery during Pride Month with the “Pride Happy Hour” on June 30 from 4-7 pm for a vibrant celebration of love and inclusivity featuring:

  • Live DJ Lisonthedrums,
  • Signature mocktails by Sekwel,
  • Light bites from Bowls by Ko,
  • Reiki healing,
  • Tarot readings,
  • Raffle prizes and more!

A small $20 entry fee includes:

  • Food,
  • Music,
  • An open infrared sauna,
  • Free PEMF demos,
  • One signature mocktail and a raffle ticket,
  • And exclusive service discounts. 

Connect with friends and community members while enjoying a festive atmosphere that honors diversity and pride in a perfect way to end Pride Month. This celebration is also a great way to begin a week’s worth of recovery, relaxation, and celebration of our nation’s 250th birthday.

Denver’s Self-Care Sanctuary helps all clients rest, recover, and support their bodies’ natural healing processes through innovative wellness services. So before the grill gets fired up and the fireworks begin, consider allowing Dad to refresh, recharge, and get ready to enjoy every moment of summer.

And while you’re at it, don’t forget to get ready for our nation’s 250th birthday and all the photos documenting this once-in-a-lifetime event, with self-care that delivers the recovery your skin needs so you can look and feel your best. So, join Dad and others celebrating Dad, Pride Month, and our nation’s birthday at Recovery Lounge & Spa to help you feel, function, and live better on Father’s Day, Independence Day, and every day by supporting your full recovery.

And that might be the most meaningful gift you can give. Contact us at info@RecoveryLoungeandSpa.com or 303‑242‑6938 to share in our recovery self-care wellness ritual to achieve the recovery and wellness goals everyone deserves.

How Recovery Lounge & Spa Improves Circulation, Reduces Stress, and Supports Inflammation Recovery
How Recovery Lounge & Spa Improves Circulation, Reduces Stress, and Supports Inflammation Recovery 2160 1440 Recovery Lounge & Spa

If you live in the metro Denver area and want to feel better, you want proven answers that boost circulation, lower stress, and relieve inflammation. There are many places that “talk the talk” of possible answers to help you feel better, but most offer a typical spa day.

Recovery Lounge & Spa stands out by offering science-based recovery services that can help you feel better. Here’s how the data supports these services and the real benefits they offer for your health.

Why Circulation, Stress, and Inflammation Are So Important

Most people don’t realize how much these three aspects impact their daily well-being. Poor circulation slows healing and energy delivery, while chronic stress increases inflammation markers that contribute to pain, fatigue, and long-term health issues. Treatments focused on blood flow, nervous system balance, and cell repair can make a real difference in your overall health.

What Does Science Say About Circulation and How It’s Addressed

Better circulation means your body gets more oxygen and nutrients, and you recover faster. Using an infrared sauna helps widen blood vessels and boost blood flow, much like moderate exercise. Heat therapy links better heart health to more efficient circulation.

How this shows up at Recovery Lounge & Spa

Treatments such as foot reflexology stimulate nerve endings and increase blood flow throughout your body. This therapy leads to better circulation, quicker recovery, more energy, and improved overall health.

The Nervous System Reset of Stress Reduction

Stress affects both your mind and body. Heat therapy and relaxation treatments lower cortisol levels, which boosts your mood and well-being.

Sauna sessions can reduce anxiety levels, improve sleep quality, and clear your mind. Here are some services focused on stress relief:

Sharing wellness experiences with others can help reduce stress more quickly and support better emotional balance. This process helps your nervous system move out of ‘fight or flight’ and into real recovery.

Inflammation Support is Where Recovery Becomes Measurable

Chronic inflammation is one of the biggest drivers of pain, fatigue, and slow healing. So, Recovery Lounge & Spa’s Paige Helin, the team’s expert on inflammation, says the following about chronic inflammation:

“The facials at Recovery Lounge & Spa are intentionally designed to support the three systems that most influence the skin’s appearance: circulation, nervous‑system balance, and inflammation. Throughout the extended facial massage in each treatment, we deliver fresh oxygen and nutrients to the skin, supporting healing and a healthy glow.

“When the nervous system is supported, the skin can shift out of ‘defense mode’ and into ‘repair mode,’ allowing it a chance to rejuvenate itself literally. And when we reduce inflammation through grounded touch, lymphatic movement, and soothing botanicals, the complexion literally becomes clearer, calmer, and more radiant. 

“This holistic approach doesn’t just treat the surface; it creates the internal conditions where true beauty can emerge. By increasing blood flow, calming the system, and easing inflammation, your outer glow becomes a reflection of your inner landscape: grounded, nourished, and luminous.” 

Recovery Lounge & Spa targets inflammation with:

These therapies mean you have less pain, recover faster, and get better long-term health support. Using several therapies together can further boost your results.

Programs like Deep Stress Reset, Pain Reset, and Massage and Detox packages combine multiple modalities to amplify results. And current specials, even when bundled, are designed to target circulation, stress, and inflammation simultaneously.

What Does This Mean for Denver?

If you’re in Denver, this is about functional recovery, so our bodies get physically better through:

  • Better circulation, which produces more energy and faster healing
  • Lower stress that produces clearer thinking and better sleep
  • Reduced inflammation means less pain and improved mobility

When your circulation, stress, and inflammation all improve, you feel better and function better in your daily life. Recovery Lounge & Spa stands out because it combines proven recovery methods into one complete system, not just a single trend.

The most important result is that when your circulation improves, stress goes down, and you manage inflammation, your whole body works better. Recovery Lounge & Spa is a spa that enables you to feel, function, and live better by supporting your full recovery.

And that might be the most meaningful gift you can give. Contact us at info@RecoveryLoungeandSpa.com or 303‑242‑6938 to share in our recovery wellness ritual to achieve your recovery and wellness goals.

The Road to Recovering Better Circulation, Stress Reduction, and Inflammation Support Using Multiple Therapies
The Road to Recovering Better Circulation, Stress Reduction, and Inflammation Support Using Multiple Therapies 1264 830 Recovery Lounge & Spa

If you live in metro Denver, you may have noticed that wellness isn’t just about gyms or doctor visits anymore. It’s becoming a connected system focused on recovery, science, and daily performance.

From contrast therapy studios to recovery spas, Denver is turning into a center for people who want to feel better every day, not just when problems arise. The key idea behind this change is that recovery is now about being proactive, not just reactive.

Denver’s Wellness Scene Wants Daily Optimization

Across Denver, more people want to experience a blend of science-backed methods into simple daily routines. Treatments like infrared saunas, cold plunges, compression therapy, and red light therapy, once reserved for elite athletes, are now available to anyone looking to feel and perform better.

Contrast therapy, which uses heat and cold, is a top trend in the area. This trend shows a growing focus on more intentional recovery, but why is that?

That’s because these services do more than make you feel good. They offer real health benefits like:

  • Circulation
  • Stress response
  • Inflammation levels
  • Sleep quality
  • Energy and focus

Where Recovery Meets Real Science

When you use these services, what’s happening in your body, and why is this important?

Circulation is at the Center of Everything

Infrared sauna therapy differs from traditional heat therapy by penetrating deeper into soft tissue to increase blood flow and cell activity. Circulation improves, promoting faster muscle recovery, delivering nutrients faster, and supporting heart function.

Cold exposure, such as cold plunges, causes blood vessels to constrict, then quickly dilate when you warm up. This pumping effect helps oxygen flow and speeds up recovery. It’s especially helpful in Denver’s dry, high-altitude air.

Training Your Nervous System in Stress Reduction

Contrast therapy, also known as “intentional stress,” is a controlled way to train your nervous system to better handle everyday stress. Together, it helps:

  • Improve mental strength
  • Reduce anxiety and burnout
  • Increase focus and clarity

Heat relaxes your body and activates the parasympathetic rest-and-digest system. Cold exposure triggers a spike in adrenaline and endorphins, which trains your nervous system.

Inflammation Support is the Silent Game-Changer

Inflammation lies at the root of many common discomforts. Fatigue, soreness, and brain fog can cause long-term health risks. Cold Therapy does:

  • Reduce inflammation
  • Relieve pain
  • Improve recovery speed

Therapies like compression and lymphatic drainage help move fluids through your body. These therapies reduce swelling and support detoxification, and mark the shift from reactive to preventative recovery.

The Role of Recovery Lounge & Spa in the Ecosystem

What sets Recovery Lounge & Spa apart is its ability to combine multiple therapies into a personal experience that goes beyond simple relaxation to support your body on a deeper level:

  • Infrared Sauna – supports detoxification, circulation, and inflammation reduction
  • Lymphatic Drainage and Massage – improves fluid movement, reduces swelling, and boosts immune response
  • PEMF Therapy – stimulates cellular repair and energy production
  • CranioSacral Therapy – calms the nervous system and relieves tension patterns

This aspect is where the idea of a “wellness ecosystem” really comes to life. Instead of focusing on just one solution, you support several systems at once:

  • Circulatory
  • Nervous
  • Lymphatic
  • Cellular

The ‘Consistency Beats Intensity’ Paradigm

You don’t need extreme routines, just consistent ones. Recovery Lounge & Spa memberships encourage regular visits because recovery results depend on how frequently you practice:

  • One session seems great
  • Consistent sessions produce measurable change

If you do recovery consistently over time, you notice that you get:

  • Better sleep
  • Less daily soreness
  • Enhanced mood and energy
  • Faster recovery from workouts or stress

How This Improves Daily Health Metrics

Here’s where it all connects to improve:

  • Circulation – better oxygen and energy
  • Stress response – better focus and mood
  • Inflammation – less pain and faster recovery

You’re not just “recovering,” you’re improving your overall health. That means:

  • You wake up feeling better
  • You recover faster from workouts or long workdays
  • You handle stress without burning out
  • You maintain consistency in your lifestyle

Recovery as a Lifestyle

Denver’s wellness scene is growing as more people realize that feeling good is a daily habit, not just an occasional thing. Recovery Lounge & Spa is shifting the mindset from “Fix it when it breaks” to “Support it every day,” where real, lasting wellness happens.

If you’re in metro Denver and want to feel better physically, mentally, and energetically, the path is simple. It’s all about consistent, science-backed recovery.

When your circulation improves, stress decreases, and inflammation stays in check, everything else in life feels easier. Take advantage of our Introduction to Recovery Lounge & Spa Special, where you choose three services from Sauan, PEMF, Foot Detox, Neurofeedback, and pay only a total of $99 for all three services.

You can also access more specials to connect with our great team and start your recovery path. Contact us at info@RecoveryLoungeandSpa.com or 303‑242‑6938 to share in our recovery wellness ritual to achieve your recovery and wellness goals.

Gifting Balance, Care, Recovery, and Value with “Recovery Lounge & Spa”
Gifting Balance, Care, Recovery, and Value with “Recovery Lounge & Spa” 2160 1440 Recovery Lounge & Spa

Everyone is thinking about gift-giving season, but have you considered a gift of balance, care, recovery, and value that’s more profound than a candle and a bottle of wine? A gift card to “Recovery Lounge & Spa” delivers recovery from the year’s stress and travails, especially for the women in your life who deserve more than “just pampering.”

Why “Recovery” Can be the Most Meaningful Gift

We live in a go-go world where juggling work, family, errands, kids, and the stress of everyday life is constant. Over time, that load quietly builds up.

That load may surface as neck tension, achy limbs, brain fog, scattered thoughts, sleepless nights, and even chronic pain. Here’s where “Recovery Lounge & Spa” shines.

The mission of “Recovery Lounge & Spa” is to undo that accumulation of stress, inflammation, nervous-system overload, mental clutter, and the subtle exhaustion that drifts in after months or years of ignoring the signals. Giving someone a “Recovery Lounge & Spa” gift card isn’t about indulgence or “treating yourself”, it’s about giving space to heal, rest, and reset before everyday wear and tear steals more health and peace.

The “Recovery Lounge & Spa” Offer, and Why it Matters

“Recovery Lounge & Spa’s” offerings go way beyond a typical spa day. We design services to support the mind, body, and nervous system.

This gift is about balance and renewed well-being.

 

 

  • Holistic care for body, mind, and spirit isn’t isolated “pampering” with “Recovery Lounge & Spa”. Our philosophy centers on restoring communication among the mind, body, and spirit through clearing toxins, calming the nervous system, and giving the body what it needs to heal itself.

We provide flexible, shareable, lasting value through packages that offer credit-based options (3-, 6-, 10-, 20-session packs) and a la carte options that don’t expire and are shareable among friends or family. That flexibility is key, since it means this isn’t a “one-and-done forehead rub,” but an opportunity for ongoing care that adapts to real life.

Why This Resonates with Gift Buyers

If you’re thinking about all the stressed-out people in your life, like your spouse, sibling, friends, and co-workers, chances are high that they carry more than their fair share of unacknowledged self-sacrifice that needs a health and wellness recovery. For many, the idea of self-care itself feels indulgent, unnecessary, or even selfish.

That’s why framing a gift from “Recovery Lounge & Spa” as intentional care rather than indulgence is powerful. It sends the message, “I see you. I know you tend to give, support, and hold it all together, but you matter. Your health, your nervous system, your inner calm matters, too.”

A gift with this message is significant for the women in our lives who do everything everywhere, all at once, for everyone but themselves. Purchasing a gift card becomes an act of love, support, respect, and a genuine commitment to their well-being.

Why Now is the Right Moment

December is here, so now is the time to show those you care about how much they mean to you by providing the gift of recovery using our holiday promotions:

Experience radiant skin with our Facial Glow Getter Package, which includes four rejuvenating facials to enhance your natural glow. As a special bonus, enjoy your fifth facial free of charge to ensure your skin stays luminous and refreshed for longer.

Bundles a 60-minute massage and a 60-minute facial with one enhancement with Adaptogen Tonic & Chocolates, through December.

  • Head to Mistle Toes Holiday Special

Head to Mistle Toes is a rejuvenating experience that combines 30 minutes in an infrared sauna, a 60-minute massage of your choice, and a 30-minute ionic foot detox. To enhance your relaxation, enjoy an adaptogen tonic and delicious chocolates, available throughout December. Safe footbath options are available during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

  • Share the Infrared Sauna Love
    • Buy 10 sessions and receive two add-a-friend passes.
    • Buy 20 sessions and receive four add-a-friend passes.

Provide a thoughtful gift without stress. You avoid the last-minute shopping scramble by taking care of this critical item now.

Provide your recipient with ample time to use it, even during the holiday season, when they may have time off, to schedule a carefully paced recovery routine instead of cramming a “treat-yourself” day into a hectic week. When you give your gift of recovery through the “Recovery Lounge & Spa”, you’ll have the opportunity to frame the gift as, “I want you to have space to breathe, rest, and heal in a way that supports your body and mind long-term.”

“I Know It’s Hard to Hold Everything Together”

We all experience this phenomenon without fully understanding the complete toll it takes on us each day. Our bodies are systems with many moving parts that need to be in sync to maximize a positive life experience.

Daily stressors from life linger in our minds and bodies as toxic irritants that don’t go away without direct action. “Recovery Lounge & Spa” is the direct action your body system needs to purge the accumulated toxic irritants from the year.

A “Recovery Lounge & Spa” gift card tells your important person, “I wanted to give you a different kind of gift this year. A space for calm, reset, and real recovery. Use this to treat yourself not just once, but as many times as you need. Love you, and I believe you deserve this.”

That kind of message aligns beautifully with the “harmony, balance, care” framing, especially for women who often hold the emotional load and rarely let themselves press pause. If you’re thinking about holiday gifts, birthdays, “you deserve this” surprises, or just a way to show someone you care, the “Recovery Lounge & Spa” gift card delivers a thoughtful, intentional, restorative gift that says, “I see you and honor your health so you can feel whole again.”

Contact us today at info@RecoveryLoungeandSpa.com or call 303-242-6938 to give the “Gift of Recovery” and purchase a “Recovery Lounge & Spa” gift card to offer lasting calm, restoration, and care amid the year’s accumulated stress.

What is a CranioSacral Therapy?
What is a CranioSacral Therapy? 1080 1080 Recovery Lounge & Spa
What is CranioSacral Therapy and how does it work? 

CranioSacral Therapy (or CST for short) is a light force, hands-on approach to release tension in the fascia of the nervous system, improving the function and structure of all body systems. 

CranioSacral Therapy is body based, meaning that each person’s body leads the session, every time. To do this, a practitioner evaluates the craniosacral rhythm using the tangible parts of the craniosacral system – the cranium (bones of the head), sacrum (wedge shaped bone at the bottom of your spine) and the spine connecting the two. These enclose and protect the spinal cord and cerebral spinal fluid. Invisible from outside the body, this fluid is what keeps the central nervous system healthy and functioning properly.  The central nervous system (think of the body’s central processing unit) is housed within these structures and is therefore directly affected by any restriction of these structures.

 

What is Cerebral Spinal Fluid or CSF?

Cerebral Spinal Fluid nourishes the cellular tissues of the brain and nerves. It also aids in conductivity allowing for smooth and efficient communication in the nervous system.  CSF is enclosed within the spine inside a membrane called the dural tube. The CSF moves along the spine, up and around the outside of the brain and back into the brain via ventricles, sinuses, and ducts, to nourish and clean the tissues. So, how does this fluid move? Up until recently, we were lacking the scientific studies that could 100% confirm this.

Now, due to scientific research and studies in the field of Plagiocephaly, we can confirm that a pulse originates in the brainstem 5-8 times per minute which creates a rhythm of expansion and contraction throughout the fascia of the body. This expansion/contraction can be felt in the body’s large joints as an external/internal rotation. The brain stem pulse and the body’s response to it is known as the Craniosacral rhythm. Evaluating this rhythm at the feet, thighs, hips, shoulders and head allows a practitioner to easily assess areas of the body that are restricted and limiting the flow of the cerebral spinal fluid.

 

What is Fascia?

Fascia is a continuous thin layer of connective tissue that surrounds our muscles, bones, nerves, organs and cells. It’s kind of like a giant web or fabric that holds all the structures of the body in place. If you’ve ever pulled apart the meat of a steak or a roast, the fascia is the white fibrous material within the meat that holds it together. Because it is one continuous structure, restrictions in any area of the body can impact or be influenced by fascial movements and restrictions in any other area of the body. 

 

How does CranioSacral Therapy work?

Evaluating the Craniosacral Rhythm gives the practitioner vital information about how the  body is responding to the brain stem pulse and circulating CSF. The practitioner starts by palpating the CranioSacral Rhythm throughout the body to determine a starting point for the session. Once a starting point has been determined, the practitioner places their hands on the body, lightening their hand pressure until they can feel the fascia and fluid movement of the body. They then follow the fascial tissue in the direction of ease, where the tissue is already going, until it stops moving. The practitioner creates a gentle barrier or resistance to the tissues moving back in the way they came, holds and waits until the tissues releases and finds a new way. CranioSacral Therapy is one of the only hands-on modalities where the body leads and the practitioner follows.

 

How does the practitioner know where to go?

There is a saying in Craniosacral Therapy that “the body loves the lesion”.  When we think of humans in an evolutionary context, we know that they were originally prey in the food chain, meaning other creatures ate them. Surviving meant that on a cellular level the body evolved to squeeze down any injured tissues into as small an area as possible, in order to allow the human to get up and run away. This can be seen in the way the body stops blood loss and heals by scarring. When the body contracts to pull the injury (lesion) in and compresses it into the smallest possible “package” (loving it), it creates an adhesion. This process is brilliant in the short term, it allows the body to keep functioning. However if left unattended, over time the adhesion will start creating restrictions that impact the function and vitality of the surrounding tissues. 

To better explain this, I like to use the visual of a free flowing stream with crystal clear water moving smoothly downstream as an analogy for our CSF moving in an unrestricted system. Now imagine a stick falls into the stream and gets stuck which would symbolize an adhesion. The stream continues to flow around the stick, but because the stick is in the stream other sticks and leaves (cellular waste) which normally would have been carried along keeping the stream free and clear, get caught.  Over time, this buildup will block the stream from flowing and create a stale stagnant pool of water. This is what happens to CSF when it is unable to move freely. When the CSF doesn’t flow freely, there is a lack of nourishment and a build up of cellular debris throughout the brain and nervous system, which affects proper firing of the neurons and can lead to a wide variety of symptoms, i.e. pain, mood swings, loss of sensation, spastic motor control, parts of the body that don’t easily heal and repair, just to name a few. 

When the practitioner follows the fascia into the restriction and gently holds it in place, they create a temporary barrier that backs up the fluid in that area (on a cellular level) while also taking the pressure off of the muscles. Taking this pressure off the muscles relieves them of the job of holding the injured place so tightly, which allows the tissues to relax, in turn allowing fluid to flow into the area, removing the build-up of cellular debris. This allows the healing process to begin. This fluid movement and relaxation in the tissues will translate out through the fascia, affecting compensation and holding patterns throughout the body.

 

What should I expect during my session?

You will lie on a massage table, fully clothed, while the practitioner gently touches the tops of your feet, ankles, knees, ribs, shoulders, & head to assess your CranioSacral Rythm and determine a starting point. Once the practitioner determines a starting point, they will gently hold that area of the body with a hand placed lightly on the front and back of the body.  In general, this is a deeply relaxing treatment. It feels good for the body to be held while letting go at a deep, cellular level.

Occasionally, a person might experience some discomfort as the tissues assimilate changes and integrate a new structural position. This integration process can take anywhere from 48-72 hours before these new sensations fully resolve.

Sometimes, emotions arise during a session. When this happens, your practitioner will help guide and support your body in finding a new way to process the information stored in your tissues and relate that information to the rest of the mind/body/spirit complex.

Why does this happen?

This typically happens when a person was under high levels of stress or in a heightened emotional state at the time the injury occurred. When a person is in a heightened state at the time an injury occurs, the chemical components of that emotion are often stored along with the injury in the “tight injury package.” As that injury package releases, the chemicals of that heightened state re-enter your system and you may re-experience the emotion.

As this happens, there is a unique opportunity to reprocess the emotions and thought processes that were present at the time and reintegrate that experience in a new way. This is how we understand and work with trauma that is stored in the body, from a CranioSacral perspective.

 

 

What should I expect after my session?

After receiving CranioSacral Therapy, most people will move through emotions, shifting mental states, and body realignment with greater ease than before their session.  However, occasionally something comes up that sticks around in the body or mind a little longer and takes a bit more time to process and integrate.

If emotions come up during your session, we recommend letting your partner or members of your household know so they can let you know if you seem a little off.  Often our loved ones are the first to notice when need a little extra self-care and support. When this happens out of the blue and they don’t have any context, it can create misunderstandings. If we give them a heads-up, they are more able to acknowledge and support our processing without mistaking it as an issue coming up with them. 

If emotions come up or are lingering after a session, we recommend soaking in an epsom salt bath for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, rinse off and get out of the bath. 

How much Epsom Salt to Use:

  • 1-2 cups of epsom salt for a whole body soak
  • ¼-½ cup for a foot soak

Soaking in this way helps the body discard the chemical components that were released during your session through an osmosis process with the salinity of the water. Remember, avoid soaking longer than 20 minutes to prevent the body from reabsorbing the chemicals & toxins you are trying to release. 

 

If difficult thoughts or emotions persist for longer than a day or if you have a known history of trauma that is difficult to process, we recommend utilizing NeurOptimal along with your CranioSacral Therapy session and seeking out the support of a licensed therapist that has experience in working with trauma. 

 

If you are experiencing physical pain or achy flu-like symptoms after a session, we recommend:

  1. First, try the epsom salt soak described above.
  2. Next, try stretching and breathing into the painful area.
  3. If you’ve tried these things and are still struggling, please reach out to Recovery Lounge & Spa and let us know.

Our Recovery Services are available as drop-in services 7 days a week. All of our services are carefully selected to calm the nervous system while relieving pain & expedite the body’s healing processes. We are here to support you on your journey into wellness and always want to know if you are struggling with something after a session.  Everyone’s body integrates differently and we are here to help!


Want to learn more about CranioSacral Therapy & how we can support you?

Book a Free 20 min Consultation!

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What is a “Herx” Response?
What is a “Herx” Response? 1080 1080 Recovery Lounge & Spa

What is a Herxheimer Reaction or “Herx” Response?

The Herxheimer response is a natural process that happens in the body when harmful microorganisms and bacteria are killed or die off at an increased rate.  As pathogens are destroyed inside the body, they release previously contained endotoxins & heavy metals into the bloodstream. When someone has a high toxin load or  compromised detox pathways, this influx of endotoxins being released from the tissues can overwhelm their body’s ability to expel toxins. This triggers a temporary immune response that causes an increase of inflammation, worsening of symptoms, and even the development of new symptoms.

Signs of a Herxheimer Reaction:

  • Fatigue
  • Brain fog
  • Headache
  • Body aches and pain
  • Skin rashes
  • Gastrointestinal symptoms: bloating, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, nausea.
  • Fever and chills
  • Changes in mood and increased irritability

How to Reduce the Impact of a Herx Response:

  1. Drink More of Water
  2. Reduce your Exposure to Toxins
  3. Get More Sleep
  4. Start a Probiotic
  5. Find a Detox pace that is manageable for your body.

General Detox Guidelines at Recovery Lounge & Spa:

If you know you have pathogens in your body or difficulty detoxing, follow the steps above to mitigate a Herx Response plus follow specific guidelines for the services below:

PEMF Therapy – This is our gentlest detox service and does not create a Herx Response so long as you hydrate before and after use.

Infrared Sauna & ionCleanse Foot Detox

  • Start with 10-15 minutes per session and then take a break, gradually working your way up to longer stretches if you feel good after your sauna session and are not experiencing detox side-effects.
  • Shower afterwards and/or use our Double Activated Charcoal Towels to wipe off your skin and remove toxins after using the Infrared Sauna.
  • If you’re heat sensitive, reduce the heat. The really cool thing about Infrared Sauna is that it doesn’t have to be used at high heat to be effective. You can turn the heat down and open the door of the sauna without losing benefit because it’s the invisible Infrared Light doing the work, not the heat.
  • Hydrate before, during, and after. The more you hydrate, the better you will feel.

ionCleanse Foot Detox:

  • Supplement with Trace Minerals if you are using the foot detox more than 1x per week. This replaces the “good metals” like Iron, Magnesium, Zinc, etc. that are purged along with heavy metals during your footbath.
  • Get good sleep and avoid alcohol & fried foods for at least 2-3 days after using the ionCleasne to support your body in the detox process initiated during your treatment.

At Recovery Lounge and Spa, we understand the delicate process of detoxing when your body is struggling with Mold, Lyme, Auto-Immune Conditions, Parasites, etc. We understand that you want to feel better but don’t want to be bedbound in the process. For a personalized recommendation, schedule a FREE Virtual Consultation with Amanda or Melissa for support with a care plan that is just for you.

Additional Resources:

“What is a Herxheimer Reaction and What Can I Do About It?”

“Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction” in the National Library of Medicine

Woman having dinner with friends

Women’s Health & Recovery: 4 Tips to Support Thyroid Health
Women’s Health & Recovery: 4 Tips to Support Thyroid Health 2560 1707 Recovery Lounge & Spa

As women, we face many health challenges as our bodies change as we get older. One of the most common issues we face is a decline in thyroid health, which can impact our overall quality of life.

One of our Community Partners, Vital Source Nutrition, specializes in helping women like you take control of your health and feel your best. One area that we often see overlooked when it comes to thyroid health is digestion. Did you know that good digestion is crucial to support your thyroid health and overall well-being?

Your thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate your metabolism, but this process can be hindered by poor digestion. When your body doesn’t absorb nutrients properly, it can lead to inflammation and hormonal imbalances that impact your thyroid health. Further, the conversion of T4 to T3 occurs in the gut and is essential for a properly functioning thyroid. This is why we support so many clients on improving their digestion as a way to support their thyroid health.

If you’re struggling with symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, or brain fog, it’s possible that improving your digestion could be the key to feeling better

Here are a few tips:

  1. Eat a Balanced Diet: Eating a variety of whole, nutrient-dense foods is crucial for good digestion. As your health coach, I can help you design a personalized nutrition plan that supports your thyroid health and overall well-being.
  2. Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water can help your body break down food and absorb nutrients more effectively. Let’s work together to find creative and fun ways to stay hydrated throughout the day (minimum 60oz of water daily).
  3. Manage Stress:  Chronic stress can impact your digestive system, so finding ways to manage stress can improve your digestion and support your thyroid health. As your health coach, I can help you develop strategies to reduce stress and promote relaxation.
  4. Consider Supplements: Certain supplements can support healthy digestion, including digestive enzymes, probiotics, and magnesium. I can help you select high-quality supplements that support your unique health goals.

If you’re ready to take control of your digestion and support your thyroid health, I invite you to work with me as your Functional Medicine Practitioner. We will develop a personalized plan that empowers you to feel your best.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns about your thyroid health. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Football team smiling

Pro Football Players Testify to Craniosacral Therapy’s Ability to Address Concussion and CTE
Pro Football Players Testify to Craniosacral Therapy’s Ability to Address Concussion and CTE 2560 1707 Recovery Lounge & Spa
By:
Sourced from Massage Magazine

 

The word concussion typically comes to mind when you think of traumatic events such as car accidents.

 

But for professional athletes, especially those who play football, concussion can be part of a normal day’s work—and according to NFL injury statistics released for the 2017 season, this type of head injury is becoming more common, with 281 reported this past year. That’s an increase of more than 13 percent from the previous year.

The effects of concussion often extend far beyond the acute stage of injury, and athletes seek out many forms of treatment to deal with them.

One complementary health intervention that shows promise in the addressing of post-concussion symptoms is CranioSacral Therapy (CST).

“[CST] is perfect for football players,” said Ricky Williams, a former NFL running back who also played a season in the Canadian Football League.

Williams, who trained in CST through the Upledger Institute International (UII) and is currently studying Chinese medicine in Los Angeles, partnered with UII in 2014 and 2015 to offer two intensive therapy programs to football players with post-concussion symptoms.

The programs produced a pilot study on the effects of the therapy on this type of injury,

published in 2017 in the journal Medical Acupuncture, “CranioSacral Therapy and Visceral Manipulation: A New Treatment Intervention for Concussion Recovery,” found that 10 sessions of specific CST, visceral manipulation and neural manipulation resulted in statistically greater improvements in pain intensity, range of motion, memory, cognition, and sleep in concussed patients.

 

What is CranioSacral Therapy?

CST, according to a definition on UII’s website, is a “gentle, hands-on approach that releases tensions deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and improve whole-body health and performance.”

The modality targets the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Injuries to any part of the body, CST practitioners say, can manifest in the central nervous system, so releasing restrictions there can facilitate self-healing in other areas of the body.

Williams first discovered CST when he was playing football for the Toronto Argonauts. He noted that many of the team’s trainers knew the technique and offered it routinely to players.

“I noticed in our training room, after practice sometimes, guys would be laying on the table, and their trainers would have their hands underneath the guys’ heads,” Williams told MASSAGE Magazine.

Intrigued, he tried it out one day and then started receiving CST weekly; soon he was taking courses in it through UII.

Later, in 2009, he received CST through one of UII’s intensive programs. In his subsequent season, playing for the Miami Dolphins, he rushed more than 1,000 yards, breaking an NFL record.

“It changed my life,” he said of his CST sessions. “I had a great season, and I attribute a lot of it to the work that I did at [UII].”

 

What Is Concussion?

Football players can suffer concussions in any number of ways during practice or games. A concussion, also known as a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), typically occurs after a blow to the head or violent movement of the head or body, and might or might not make you lose consciousness, according to the Mayo Clinic’s website.

A concussion may cause symptoms such as headache, memory loss, ringing in the ears, or even nausea, vomiting and slurred speech. These effects usually resolve in a matter of hours or days, but in some cases concussion can have longer-term effects.

Repeated head trauma, such as that experienced in combat or in rough sports like football, can cause permanent and debilitating problems, called post-concussion syndrome, or even develop into what is now known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

CTE symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic, can include cognitive problems, poor impulse control, memory loss, aggression or dementia, among others.

March is the Brain Injury Association of America’s Brain Injury Awareness Month; massage therapists and clients can learn more about concussion and CTE from the association.

Another article published recently on this topic was “CranioSacral Therapy, Brain Injury, and American Football: Time for a Convergence,” by Eric Leskowitz, MD, published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.)

 

Concussions and CTE

Most people with concussions make full recoveries, but much attention has been paid lately to the prevalence of this injury in football at all levels—professional, college, high school and Pop Warner.

The NFL has faced criticism for not taking action to address the prevalence of concussion and CTE, and many athletes now retired from the game are discovering the long-term health effects of repeated head-and-body trauma.

“All these injuries accumulate,” said Chas Perry, PhD, CSTD, one of the organizers of UII’s concussion programs. “So you have a lot of head injury, you have a lot of injuries in various parts of the body, and over time that takes a toll on people.”

Williams, as a football player himself, has long been aware of how repetitive trauma can affect the body. While he believes it’s important to work on prevention of concussion and cte, he also advocates for investigating new techniques for counteracting these effects, including those outside the realm of conventional medicine.

“I’ve realized that almost every square inch of my body has been traumatized at some point in time over my football career, whether it’s from being hit, being tackled [or] being fallen on,” said Williams.

“Going through healing sessions where I’m receiving work and feeling energy and life force, mobility, blood flow, come back into these areas of my body, it’s really mind-blowing,” he said.

 

Positive Outcomes

UII’s concussion program, held in 2014 and again in 2015, conducted research involving 11 ex-football players diagnosed with post-concussive syndrome. The research excluded those suffering from recent head trauma, in order to specifically study the long-term effects of concussion. (Another program is planned for late 2018.)

Each time, athletes participated in a week of intensive therapy in West Palm Beach, Florida, performed by a team of health care professionals; therapies given twice daily for two hours per session included CST, visceral manipulation and neural manipulation.

Outcomes were measured before treatment, after treatment and three months post-treatment, and included the effects on cognitive tasks, quality of life, headaches, dizziness, pain, range of motion, balance and sleep, among others.

Statistically significant outcomes, according to the study’s abstract, existed in measures of pain intensity, cognition, memory, sleep and range of motion.

Anecdotally, many of the participants in these studies reported rapid, dramatic results. In addition to improvements in pain and other physical complaints, many also reported positive changes in cognition and emotion.

For example, said Perry, some former football players who have suffered head trauma have trouble modulating strong emotions, such as anger and aggression; others might develop depression, experience irrational fears or have trouble concentrating.

“You have a lot of very unusual phenomena that can be uniquely individual, but they’re all basically kind of brain trauma related,” Perry said.

“During the intensive, the therapists used persistent but gentle hand pressure at various contact points and areas on my body. Sometimes I questioned if anything was actually happening, but at the end of each session I felt noticeably better,” wrote Clarence Vaughn, a former member of the Washington Redskins, in a testimonial about the program. “By the end of the week I was a new man. The pain in my neck, shoulders and hips was gone!”

Eric Williams, a former member of the Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions, also wrote a testimonial to the therapies’ positive effects. “My mood, my emotions and body had such a drastic change, it’s really hard to put into words. My chronic pain was drastically reduced and my range of motion on 99 percent of my body parts increased significantly,” he wrote. “I can’t explain what they did or how they did it. All I know is, I’d do it again in [a] heartbeat.”

The results of the UII study are encouraging,  but more research is needed to advance the acceptance of this therapy, said Ron Radawiec, PT,  who has worked with many traumatic brain injury clients and also worked hands-on with these athletes. Yet, he acknowledged the strength of the anecdotal evidence for these therapies’ effectiveness and said the changes can be profound at the physical, emotional and cognitive levels.

“I highly recommend Upledger CranioSacral Therapy to anyone who has played football,” wrote David Meggyesy, a program participant who played for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1960s, in a testimonial.

“CranioSacral was a revelation — what a gift.”

Men drinking alcohol

Shortening Recovery Time After Overindulgence
Shortening Recovery Time After Overindulgence 2560 1707 Recovery Lounge & Spa

Happy month of overindulgence, to those who celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the American manner! When we’re young it’s a lot easier to bounce back from a fun night or even more than one, but a normal part of aging is the accumulation of toxins that slows down our body’s ability to recover and detoxify. How can we improve or assist that recovery time for those special occasions when we want to indulge a bit, whether that’s in alcohol, other substances, or even foods that aren’t the healthiest for us?

Our most assistive modality in that regard is definitely the IonCleanse Foot Detox. Occasionally we will have clients who want to get a leg up on that overindulgence recovery time and will come in for a foot detox BEFORE a night of partying, but we actually don’t recommend doing so. The reason is that the foot detox actually starts a detoxification process throughout the body that will generally last for the next 3-5 days, and to overindulge once you’ve kickstarted that process would be more taxing to the body. In essence, your liver, lymphatic system, and other detoxification organs and systems will already be working hard so you don’t want to add on additional stress. However, coming in a day or two AFTER overindulging is a great strategy! 

The IonCleanse “patented program generates positive and negative ions from the electrolysis of water to create an ionic field that neutralizes positively and negatively charged toxins from the body”. (Source: amajordifference.com/detox-footbath-heavy-metals/) In essence, stored toxins in our body have a charge, and we are using the opposite charge to attract and neutralize them. The current generated in the water also activates the parasympathetic nervous system, helping the body get into rest and digest mode, as opposed to the constant fight or flight that many of us tend to get stuck in. 

A toxic environment affects every system in the body, impairing our immune system, impacting our gut health and metabolism, and can even lead to cognitive dysfunction and brain fog. In order to get to a baseline of a detoxified system, IonCleanse recommends doing as many sessions as one’s age – weekly, biweekly, or even more frequently if the body is handling it well and one is staying hydrated and supplementing trace minerals. After that, you can switch to a maintenance regimen, that may be monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly, depending on your lifestyle and exposure to daily toxins.

The best advice we can give for pre-party prep is tanking up on hydration, adding some electrolytes and trace minerals, prioritizing good sleep, and of course having a plan for indulging safely that includes a safe ride home. Party on, have fun, and we’ll see you on the flip side! 

Our March specials include a Lymphatic Massage & Foot Detox for just $129, and both are very helpful in detoxification in addition to simply being relaxing and assisting the body in working optimally, helping to shorten recovery time, whether from illness, injury, fatigue, or overindulgence. 

 

woman getting lymphatic massage

Lymphatic Drainage Massages Will Tell Your Hangover to Take a Hike
Lymphatic Drainage Massages Will Tell Your Hangover to Take a Hike 1707 2560 Recovery Lounge & Spa
by Lizzy Hill
Sourced from SheKnows

 

After a night of hitting the sake a little too hard in a Tokyo alleyway aptly nicknamed “drunkard’s alley,” I woke up in my tiny hotel with one of the worst hangovers of my life. I was traveling with one of my best friends, who’d just woken up too — only annoyingly, he was bright-eyed and chipper that morning. Somehow, he appeared totally unaffected by the fact that we’d been pounding tall tumblers full of sake the night before, convincing ourselves we could speak Japanese to the unfortunate locals we crossed paths with.

“What do you want to do today!?” he said eagerly, rattling off a list of places we could walk to.

“I want to move as little as humanly possible,” I said bitterly. Seeing his crestfallen face and realizing that we had a limited number of days to explore Tokyo, I realized I had to get myself together. I was desperate and would try literally anything to murder this hangover, so I booked a lymphatic drainage massage at a Shibuya spa called Natura that promised to remove toxins from my body — and man did they ever deliver. As it turns out, lymphatic drainage massages were the best hangover cure I’d never heard of.

Generally, I don’t go for woo-woo promises about toxin elimination, but positive reviews online made me think that there might be something to lymphatic drainage massages. These massages are huge in Asia, but still haven’t become mainstream in North America, though people are increasingly aware of them with many hailing them as the reason French women allegedly don’t get cellulite. Though in my experience, they have way more important benefits (because honestly, I’m just so tired of caring about cellulite).

But first of all, what in the world is a lymphatic drainage massage? As it turns out, it’s a special massage technique that focuses on your lymphatic system and helps trigger the natural movement of lymph, a clear fluid that gives waste products a ride out of your body.

My massage therapist lightly pushed and stretched my skin with her fingertips, focusing a lot on places other massage therapists generally skip — where your lymph nodes are located — like my armpits, back of my knees, face and chest. Though it felt kind of weird at first to have someone poking and prodding at me, I quickly relaxed and actually fell asleep on the table. When the massage was over, I felt like a million bucks, was light-headed and was shocked to notice my morning-after face looked different as the massage actually reduced fluid retention. My puffy eyes were gone and my cheeks actually looked more chiseled. I felt miraculously fresh and ready to take on my day, despite the fact that I’d drank like a fish the night before.

The scientific world is just catching up to the health benefits of lymphatic drainage massage, but research into its effects on the body appears to take a positive bent. For instance, a study in The Journal of Neuroscience on 32 male subjects found that this form of massage “was effective in reducing the activity of the sympathetic nervous system.” Translation? Lymphatic drainage massage will calm you the eff down as it slows down the fight-or-flight part of your nervous system that triggers adrenaline when under stress.

Part of the reason you feel so crappy when you’re hungover is because your sympathetic nervous system goes into overdrive. When alcohol dials up your sympathetic nervous system, symptoms can include “increased systolic blood pressure, rapid heartbeat (i.e., tachycardia), tremor and sweating,” according to research by Dr. Robert Swift and Dr. Dena Davidson. And that’s just the physical symptoms!

The mental symptoms can include: “ dizziness; a sense of the room spinning (i.e., vertigo); and possible cognitive and mood disturbances, especially depression, anxiety and irritability.” So this could partially explain why I felt so ridiculously good after my lymphatic drainage massage, as my massage therapist was actually slowing down my overtaxed sympathetic nervous system.

Natura Spa also claims that their lymphatic drainage massages can boost blood flow and are great for those with poor circulation, and I totally believe it. As it turns out drinking to excess also messes with your blood circulation, and these negative effects can be seen in as little as two drinks. Dr. John Floras, director of cardiology research at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, studied the impacts of drinking on blood flow, and found that “two or more drinks would seem to turn on systems that stress the circulation.” But let’s be real here, sometimes most of us are going to have more than one glass of wine, and when we do, getting a lymphatic drainage massage that will help improve our circulation the next day may not be a bad idea.

That all being said, you should definitely avoid getting a massage if you’re still drunk, as most massage therapists seriously advise against doing that. And while a lymphatic drainage massage worked like a charm for me and cured my hangover, it’s important to be aware of what your own body needs. Communicate with your massage therapist if you are hungover and be sure to let them know if anything they’re doing feels uncomfortable in a bad way.

Of course, lymphatic drainage massages aren’t just for hungover messes — they can also help you stay healthy during cold and flu season, boost your immune system, help people who feel low energy, aid in your recovery from surgery and the list goes on. Why haven’t I been getting these my whole life?

If you don’t live in a big city or have extra cash to blow on massages, don’t fret! I was pleased to discover there are plenty of self-massage videos on YouTube for people hoping to try lymphatic drainage massages at home. So if you’re wondering what I’ve been up to lately, you’ll find me home curled up on the couch and self-massaging my lymph nodes while watching Mr. Robot — I highly recommend it!

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