The Skinny Science: FAQ

Vacuum therapy has many health benefits that are well researched. The treatment has been long documented, even in ancient texts (known as Cupping Therapy). There are both aimed health benefits and physiologic consequences to treatment (side-effects). Like a registered massage therapy session for example; the client and therapist may have the objective of reducing muscle tension (aimed benefit), but the consequences (physiologic response) include relaxation, improved sleep and improved lymphatic circulation. The following are the purpose of the therapy, the aimed health benefits: • Increased lymphatic and general circulation • Relax muscles through decreasing tention • Connective tissue rejuvenation The following are the likely "happy" consequences of the treatment: Reduced cellulite and stretch mark visibility, improved skin integrity through the enhanced synthesis of collagen and elasin, reduced waist circumference, improved sleep and relaxation, enhanced mood, skin exfoliation, boost to thyroid function, increased metabolism, better nutrient absorption and decreased risk of metabolic disorders such as diabetes. How does it work? The cups and/or roller device create a negative suction in order to hoister up the skin layers, hypodermis and muscle. The rolling motion causes the mechanical friction of tissues against adjacent tissues. This stimulates the movement of toxins (ie: lactic acid) and congested fat cells into the lymphatic circulation, causes damage to the epidermis and dermis to boost collagen and elastin production, increases venous return to the heart to improve cardiovascular health, passively stretches muscles and fascia, helps to eliminate subcutaneous fat through the mechanical break down of the fat cell wall, remodeling the fibrous bands between the hypodermis and epidermis, improve the uptake of endorphins such as serotonin and dopamine. And much more. What Can I Expect During a Treatment? • Due to the manual manipulation of tissues, vasculature and lymphatic channels clients may experience slight pressure. However, within 5 minutes of treatment the release of endorphins and reduced pain sensitivity help you to relax. Many clients feel a sense of calm and relaxation throughout and following the treatment. Are There Side-Effects? • Clients may experience mild-moderate discolouration following their treatments so plan them accordingly. • Frequent urination and bowel movements may occur due to the increased excretion rate of toxic load through the lymphatic channels and other excretory organs. • Most clients report a sense of increased motivation to positively augment their lifestyle chocies in areas like diet and exercise. What Should I Do After Vacuum Massage? • Due to the release of trapped lactic acid, toxins and congested dead fat cell fragments it is recommened to drink at least 1.5 L of water following your treatment in order to facilitate the proper excretion of these products. • Lemon water can help to alkalinize the kidneys and prepare them for an entire month of flushing this toxic waste out of the system. • In addition, the best way to excrete toxins in the circulation is through sweating. An infrared sauna session for 30 minutes following your treatment will ensure this. Or, any physical activity. • Due to the fatty acids that are forced out of the fat cells during your treatment, it is advised to exercise in the hours following your treatment in order to utilize this energy in the body and prevent its redistribution to other neibouring fat cells). • Go to bed early. Vacuum therapy induces the release and uptake of healing hormones. During sleep, several synthesizing hormones are released to heal the body. Make sure you get enough sleep so that these natural processes can help you along your program by nourishing the body tissues. How Long is a Session? The sessions are typically 45 minutes. 15 minutes of vacuum massage and 30 minutes of therapeutic massage. How Many Are Recommended? 4-10 are recommended. A full-body 45 min session once/month is highly recommended to maintain continued results. What is the Cost? 120+HST/hour Who Shouldn't Have Vacuum Therapy? As with any body contouring program, consult with your general practitioner to ensure this treatment is safe for you prior to booking. Vacuum therapy, Cupping Massage are contraindicated for those who have the following: 1) Are pregnant and/or breastfeeding 2) Epilepsy 3) Cancer 4) Blood disorders 5) Active infection and/or inflammation of the body (ie: fever, rheumatoid arthritis) 6) Heart disease 7) Kidney and/or liver disease 8) Severe high blood pressure 9) Deep vein thrombosis and/or varicose veins 10) Hemorrhagic disease 11) Phlebitis 12) Anticoagulant treatment, antiinflammatories or antibiotic medication 13) Long term steroid use 14) Internal bleeding of any kind 15) Autoimmune disease 16) Red, dry, itchy or irritated skin 17) Urinary incontinence 18) Transmissible disease 19) Under 18

As Listed by Health Canada: What is the waist circumference (WC)? A: The WC provides an indicator of abdominal fat. Excess fat around the waist and upper body (also described as an 'apple' body shape) is associated with greater health risk than fat located more in the hip and thigh area (described as a 'pear' body shape). A WC at or above 102 cm (40 in.) for men, and 88 cm (35 in.) for women, is associated with an increased risk of developing health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. The cut-off points are approximate, so a WC just below these values should also be taken seriously. In general, the risk of developing health problems increases as WC increases above the cut-off points listed above. Even if the BMI of an individual is in the 'normal weight' range, a high WC indicates some health risk. Lymphatic Massage can help you along your way to achieving a healthier metabolism through the manual manipulation of tissues to facilitate the excretion of toxic load from the body over several sessions. Possible Additional Health Benefits: Enhanced collagen and elastin production of the dermis, improved circulation (increased venous return to the heart, venous wall conditioning), lymphatic stimulation, natural skin exfoliation, muscle detox (release of lactic acid), decreased pain, decreased rheumatic symptoms, improved sleep quality and quantity, decreased levels of anxiety, improved capacity to handle daily stress and more.