Relax while beautifying your body with this typically Indian treatment-massage!

The Mystique Massage is a 240-minute deep body massage during which the massage therapist applies ubtan, a paste prepared from a special blend of herbs, spices and oils to beautify the skin.

Ubtan, which means "local application”, is a body treatment that dates back to antiquity and comes from the rich Indian heritage. It was the very first natural cosmetic in the world.
In the Vedic era, utban was prescribed by Ayurvedic doctors to protect, nourish and beautify the skin.

Today in India, men and women use this ritual to beautify their skin for special occasions, such as weddings.

Ubtan is a powerful treatment that rebuilds flabby tissues and improves blood circulation and skin texture by stimulating the underlying tissues.

According to scientific research, it was found that ubtan not only improves the beauty of the skin but also has medicinal actions such as antifungal, antibacterial, antiperspirant, deodorant and invigorating. Utban also prevents skin infections. It is a cleanser, astringent, stimulant and tonic all at once. With its revitalizing and refreshing properties, ubtan refines skin texture and brightens the complexion.

Utban also protects against various skin problems like acne, pimples, dark spots, white spots and blackheads. Regular use of this treatment (once a month) prevents the appearance of premature wrinkles, eliminates scars and reduces the appearance of skin pores.

Enhance your body and relax your mind! The Mystique Massage combines the relaxing effects of the ayurvedic massage with the illuminating, soothing, protecting and softening properties of the ubtan paste.

As winter dehydrates and dries out the skin and the holiday season strains the system, pamper yourself now with this Indian treatment -massage and slip into a state of profound well-being. You will regain your energy, your peace of mind and your skin will glow instantly.

Take advantage of the current promotion! Make an appointment for a Mystique Massage today!

According to Eastern tradition we have energy channels or nadis that run throughout our body which closely correlate to the Chinese system of acupuncture. Three of the most significant of these energy currents are referred to as ida, pingala and sushumna.

The ida nadi is negatively charged and relates to the moon or feminine aspect within us. This channel runs up the left side of our body to the right side of our brain. The right hemisphere of our brain processes information in a wholistic and gestalt manner. In addition to emotionally charged feelings it is responsible for those experiences which are not tangible to external receptors. Consequently, it is able to pick up psychic and extrasensory perception which can help us mine our creative, and artistic resources.

The pingala nadi is positively charged and relates to the solar or masculine aspect within us. This channel runs up the right side of our body to the left side of our brain. The left hemisphere of our brain processes information in a rational and analytical manner. Unlike the right hemisphere that perceives the whole picture, here we process information in a sequential, linear and logically manner. The sushumna is the main nadi in the center of the spinal cord. It is neutral in nature. When the solar and lunar forces are balanced within us, energy is released and travels up the sushumna. In the East this energy is referred to as kundalini, relating to our creative force and spiritual consciousness.

Ida and pingala nadis weave around the central axis of the sushumna, crossing at six points referred to as chakras. Each chakra is a focal point for the reception and transmission of particular energies responsible for specific physiological and intuitive and extrasensory functions.

The first chakra is referred to as mooladhara meaning root and forms the foundation for the subsequent chakras. It is located at the perineum and relates to the perineal body – the mass of tissue composed of muscle and fascia between the vagina and rectum in females and between the scrotum and rectum in males. It relates to the element of earth and the sense of smell. This chakra governs issues related to security, stability, grounding, and survival. When this chakra is working, we are full of joie de vivre.

The second chakra is referred to as swadhisthana. Swa means self and sthana means place. When this center is functioning, it forms the foundation for the subsequent. The sacral chakra is situated at the base of spinal chord, at the level of coccyx or tailbone close to the mooladhara. This chakra is considered to correspond to the testes or the ovaries that produce the various sex hormones involved in the reproductive cycle. It relates to the element of water and the sense of taste.

The third chakra is referred to as manipura. Man means jewel and pura means city. This chakra is situated right behind the navel in the spinal chord relating to the adrenal glands. It relates to the element of fire and our ability to digest and assimilate food as well as prana or life force.

The fourth chakra is referred to as anahata, meaning source of unbroken sound. This chakra is situated right behind the heart and is related to the thymus gland in the endocrine system. It relates to the element of air and our ability to touch.

The fifth chakra is referred to as vishuddhi, meaning center of nectar. This chakra is situated right behind the throat and is related to the thyroid gland in the endocrine system that makes and stores hormones that help regulate the heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and the rate at which food is converted into energy. Thyroid hormones are essential for the function of every cell in the body. They help regulate growth and metabolism in the body. The fifth chakra relates to the element of ether and our ability to hear.

The sixth chakra is referred to as ajna, meaning command center. This chakra is situated at the point between the two eyebrows. It is associated with the pineal gland that appears like a pinecone at the center of the brain between the two hemispheres, hence its name. It produces the serotonin derivative melatonin, a hormone that affects the cycle of wake and sleep as well as seasonal functions. It relates to higher consciousness.

The seventh chakra is referred to as sahasrara meaning a thousand-petal lotus. This chakra is situated at the crown of the head. It is associated with the pituitary gland, sometimes called the master gland of the endocrine system, which controls the functions of the other glands in the system. It relates to self-realization, enlightenment or Samadhi.

Having these chakras balanced and aligned allows us to have mastery over our five elements and related senses as well as harmonious functioning of the endocrine system which is involved in maintaining homeostasis throughout our body. Through Vedic palmistry, we can assess the balance of the lunar and solar energies within us in order to correct any imbalance. In addition to pranayama or breathing exercises, massage is an excellent way to stimulate the nadis and chakras.

A combination of deep tissue work, along the spine and subtle cranial work for manipulation of the skull itself, helps stimulate and balance these centers.  Massaging each one of the vertebrae in a clockwise and anticlockwise manner while applying lots of oil as well as massaging the whole vertebral column enables the currents or nadis to circulate much better throughout the spine. As the massage is able to unlock stress areas, a subtle energy current can flow unimpeded from our coccyx to the thousand-petal lotus, bringing a sense of overall health, vitality and feeling of well-being.

Our ayurvedic massage therapists have the unique opportunity of being able to use the clients’ astrological information as well as their palm prints to evaluate their overall physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. By having this added information we can give a truly customized massage along with an overall health regimen according to the information derived from the chart and hand.

Based on the information revealed by the hand, your massage therapist can identify problematic areas and adapt the massage to those specific needs. In the case of Marion, we can clearly see two areas that need attention. The most urgent problem is the dissipation of her life force seen by the branches of the lifeline going off to the Moon. This indicates a leakage of energy due to restlessness causing her lifeline to appear faint. The second problem area is the large island on the lifeline occurring at the same time as the branches denoting a blocked life force. This dual problem originating at the same time in her life needs urgent attention. Marion could feel tired and exhausted due to an inherent restlessness of not knowing how to channel her energy properly. Palmistry consultations helped her realize she had to focus her thinking while at the same time disciplining herself with an exercise routine combined with yoga.

It was clear from the branches leaving the lifeline that Marion had very shallow breathing due to her thoracic cage being extremely tight.  In order to improve the quality of her breathing I worked extensively on undoing all locked holding patterns in her thoracic area. In addition I coached her in two-phased breathing as well as showing her specific yoga postures to increase her lung capacity. Over the next few months, I focussed on this area while urging Marion to practice her new breathing techniques. As a result her breathing became much deeper and balanced. During this time palmistry coaching sessions helped strengthen her resolve to replace old negative patterns of thinking with a more positive outlook. In addition to meditation and yoga, I added cardio and strength training exercises into her daily routine. The positive changes can be seen by the improved quality of the lifeline in her most recent handprint. The dissipating branches are becoming weaker and the large island on the lifeline is beginning
to disappear. All this re-directed energy has resulted in a more deep and unified lifeline. As a result, Marion is feeling a lot more energetic and satisfied with her life.

Through the support of the individualized coaching program, along with Marion’s willingness to change her old lifestyle and receptivity to put in the necessary effort, her improved prints are a clear indication that she is well on her way to realizing her maximum potential.

We are often victims of our thoughts, and have difficulty controlling what goes on in our minds. As a result, many fears, anxieties, and worries can consume us having an adverse effect on our breathing. Stress activates our sympathetic nervous system, releasing many stress chemicals such as adrenalin and cortisol throughout our body. These chemicals are necessary to help us deal with stressful situations that call for action. However if we remain stressed over a long period of time this fight flight response has an adverse effect on our overall health causing us to tighten our chest and core muscles resulting in shallow breathing.

In addition, the body can’t distinguish between a real situation triggering the fight flight response or the projected fears and anxieties created in our mind resulting in a continual state of stress. For example, we not only experience stress writing an exam but we cause our body to suffer multiple times as we mentally anticipate taking the exam before it actually takes place. As a result, stress-producing thoughts can not only steal our peace of mind, but also increase the aging process affecting our overall health and wellbeing.

When our breath is shallow, we decrease the flow of oxygen in our body, which hampers the functioning of our metabolism. As a result, our energy is low, causing us to be easily fatigued and reducing our mental clarity. Stress is one of the major causes of shallow breathing. If we remain stressed over a long period of time, it will wear down our body, and our health can be adversely affected. Massage is one of the fundamental and easiest ways of helping reduce and eliminate stress from our body. Massage brings about a parasympathetic response of rest and repair resulting in a much calmer and deeper breath.

We often find two types of breathing patterns: breathing from the lungs or the belly. Often our pattern of breathing is confirmed by improper body posture accompanied by certain muscles being overworked or underworked. In lung breathing, we use the chest, scalenes and shoulder muscles to inhale and exhale. As a result all these muscles get extremely overworked, tight and fatigued. In belly breathing, we utilize the abdominal and back muscles to fill the lungs with air. As a result the rectus abdominis and lower back muscles can become overworked and fatigued.

Depending on our particular breathing pattern, will determine the massage technique that will be applied to unlock the related muscles in order to help the thoracic cage and diaphragm have a greater range of motion.

In our massage work, we are aiming for the client to achieve what is referred to as Two-phased Breathing. This technique utilizes the lower abdominals as well as all the chest and shoulder muscles. It starts by our breathing deep into the belly, filling the lower lungs and then continuing up into the chest, expanding the upper lung to full capacity. This will greatly enhance the depth and quality of breathing which will give a better oxygenation throughout the whole body.

Something as simple as unlocking the fixed breathing patterns can change our consciousness and make us happier. Deeper breathing can improve mental fitness by heightening concentration, peace of mind and emotional stability.

By applying the proper massage techniques we can free up the thoracic cage so that we have the ability to increase the depth of our breath enhancing our ability to tap into the prana of life, and maintain a state of peace and alertness throughout even the most trying of circumstances. Undoing locked breathing patterns helps us feel more joyful and rejuvenated.

"A Gentle and Non-Invasive Alternative to Deep Tissue Massage"

Sacrocranial Therapy is a hands-on approach that involves "listening with the fingers" to the body's subtle rhythms, including patterns of inactivity and congestion. It is an alternative massage practice for those people who cannot tolerate oil or the pressure of deep tissue massage. The touch is generally light – (only 50 grams of pressure which corresponds to the weight of a nickel) yet there is tremendous benefit to the nervous system as well as the whole body.

The emphasis of treatment is to encourage and enhance the body's own self-healing and self-regulating capabilities, even in chronic conditions involving intense resistance.

The work is very gentle and non-invasive. Subtle suggestions are introduced through the practitioner's hands to help restore balance in areas that have been affected by physical injuries, emotional and psychological stresses, birth trauma and toxicity.

Sacrocranial Therapy was developed by Dr. John E. Upledger, an osteopathic physician who was a professor of biomechanics at the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State University.

According to Dr. Upledger, the brain has its own cranial "pulse" or rhythm. The practitioner can feel the client’s cranio-sacral rhythm by placing the hands in the back of the head on the cranium and sacral, the lowest part of the spine. It is this rhythm that brings health and energy to the rest of the body. By very subtle manipulation of the cranium and spine, the therapist can re-align or rebalance the rhythm.

By freeing the central nervous system to perform at its best, Sacrocranial Therapy naturally eliminates pain and stress, strengthens resistance to disease, and enhances health and well-being. And because it is so gentle, it can be effective for all ages, from newborns to elders.

My fascination with the human body began when I was young and part of a swimming team. Due to the demands of my coach and high level of competition, I realized the unlimited potential of the body for strength, endurance and flexibility. At the same time, I understood that most of us don’t know how to harness this power. My interest in fitness led me to aerobic dancing, weight-training, long-distance marathon running and martial arts eventually obtaining a black belt in karate. In time I received certification with Can-Fit-Pro as a personal trainer.

After seeing Guylaine Vallée on her palmistry TV show Être bien dans sa peau, my interest peaked on how palmistry could help me become happier in life. I joined up for a self-development program at the Birla Center, and went on to study Vedic palmistry and astrology, eventually becoming a teacher. I was also introduced to ayurvedic massage, yoga and meditation. From my experience, I discovered yoga to be one of the most complete forms of exercise which encompassed strength, endurance, flexibility as well as balancing the mind. It was fascinating to see the changes taking place in the lines of my hands, confirming the changes I felt were taking place within me. Eventually I became a full-time massage therapist with the Center, happy to become part of a great team.

This past year I was fortunate to be presented the opportunity to follow further massage training with Kiné-Concept, one of the most renowned schools in North America for therapeutic massage. I have now incorporated several new techniques into my massage practice. I am especially excited about integrating myofascial therapy into my ayurvedic bodywork, seeing the effect in freeing up the body for more ease of movement.

Fascia is the soft tissue component of the connective tissue that holds organs, tissues, and muscles in place. Even if there were no bones in our body, connective tissue would still hold our body together, keeping everything attached in its place. This soft tissue can become restricted due to overuse, trauma, or inactivity, often resulting in pain, muscle tension, and corresponding diminished blood flow. The human body tries to make up for postural imbalances caused by poor work habits, physical traumas and emotional stress. As a result, the fascia will shrink or stretch as it tries to adapt to the stresses. The deep body work, sometimes done with the elbow or the knuckles, helps release these ‘holding patterns’ to relieve chronic tension and restore balance. The practitioner moves slowly through the layers of the fascia until the deep tissues are reached.

Everything in the body is connected. For example, in order to correct pain in the hip, massage can be applied directly to that area. Although it might result in temporary relief, the origin of the problem may be traced to a tear or lesion in the connective tissue in the upper chest area that is pulling on the hip, causing discomfort there. Consequently, the original problem, which has to be addressed, is re-aligning the connective tissue in the chest area in order to alleviate the pull on the hip. One of the founders of deep tissue, Ida Rolf, explains that deep tissue stimulates a parasympathetic response in our nervous system, leading to rest and repair.

I look forward to sharing all these wonderful techniques in order to help you feel better.