Beauty Fitness & Spas
The grim reality of summertime for many of us — okay, for me, but maybe for you too — comes when we shed the comforting camouflage of winter, the coats, toques, sweaters, fleeces, snow pants, all of it.
OMG! Where did all that… me come from? And all so winter bleached!
There may be more of me (you) to love but if that’s more love than you can handle, or more handles than you can love, help is, well, all over town.
Of course, you can just layer back up but that rather defeats the purpose and joy of summer, not to mention being uncomfortably hot.
Better to fight the excess of inactivity with an excess of activity. Longer days and warmer weather make that easier to do but it doesn’t hurt to get some help.
All the keen athletes that call Whistler home have spawned a cottage industry of personal trainers, coaches, motivators and, let’s call a spade a spade, outright nags who would just love to get you into shape. Whether it’s a full immersion boot camp or custom-tailored one-on-one sessions with a private trainer, you’ll jumpstart your journey back to buff calling on the skills of knowledgeable.
And when the effects of the, unfortunately true, dictum No Gain Without Pain visit your newly-invigorated muscles, you’ll be happy to make the acquaintance of one of the town’s skilled, some would say miraculously skilled, physiotherapists and — not or — massagers, an admittedly inelegant word to avoid the gender specific masseuse/masseur trap. Being a town of ridiculously active people, Whistler boasts some of the best, most highly-trained practitioners on the planet. If you’ve hurt it, chances are good they can make it feel better so you can get back to abusing it again without delay.
After you’ve overworked yourself making up for winter and gotten fixed again by the pros, time to call on another field of specialists to put your mind and body back in that calm place. Time to spa.
Spa as a verb is an exercise in irony. Actually it isn’t exercise at all; it’s the antithesis of exercise. It is bliss in any of its many forms as practiced in Whistler. There are spas in town offering more exotic ways to soothe overworked — although overwork is not a prerequisite — bodies than you can imagine. All of them are indulgent and all of them are worth experiencing.
With the excesses of winter being handled, the aches of the effort salved, your mind and body relaxed, maybe it’s time to look the part. If white isn’t your favourite summer colour, a quick, painless, spray-on tan might put you in a summer mood. Or a new easy, breezy haircut, mani-pedi, or…?
After all, it’s all about you being the you you want to be.
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TYPES OF MASSAGES
If you look hard enough, there’s a spa in Whistler that offers just about any treatment you desire. Here are five to consider.
Shiatsu
Also known as acupressure, Shiatsu therapists employ pressure with thumbs, fingers, and palms along the meridians to unblock energy and facilitate the optimal flow of ki, the body’s life force. Benefits include detoxification, stress reduction and increased mental/spiritual awareness.
Thai
Traditional Thai massage incorporates stretching, yoga positions and occasionally, acupressure. Practitioners use hands, locked arms – and sometimes feet – to apply firm pressure along the Sen lines, stretching the entire body. Benefits include relaxation, flexibility and enhanced energy.
Aromatherapy
Often used in conjunction with massage, aromatherapy uses essential oils to affect your mood and/or health. Different oils produce different benefits ranging from enhanced digestion, headache reduction, increased circulation, relaxation and eased respiration.
Hot Stone
Heated stones are used both to massage and to relax muscles, allowing the therapist to work deeper into the muscle. Variations heat stones in hot water and coat them in oil, arranging them along both sides of the spine.
Reflexology
Reflexologists stimulate pressure points on the feet with their fingers. Practitioners believe internal ailments are associated with nerve endings on the soles of the feet and their manipulation will open flows of energy along the body’s meridians. Benefits include better health, more energy and relaxation.
