Aloe Vera

If there had to be one rule that I firmly stand by when it comes to beauty, it is most definitely that the more natural your beauty routine is, the better. The reason: your body recognizes natural products as something it produces itself and in turn this stimulates the body over time to actually improve its own production. When it comes to chemicals, they can only replace the supplements needed, never actually stimulating the body to heal itself. This causes the body to slow down production as the supplement always gets replaced by chemicals.

Because it is so hydrating, it is beneficial for cracked and dry skin, in the form of gel, cream or even rich oil. As mentioned above, Aloe Vera assists the dry skin in such a way that with frequent use, the skin will start to produce more of its own moisture and in turn need less added moisture. This can be a permanent solution for the problem!

When it comes to healing, Aloe Vera firstly destroys bacteria and secondly forms a natural barrier on the skin. It is because of this dual action that it is helpful for frostbite, burns, insect bites, blisters and allergic reactions. It is also great for skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis as it not only destroys bacteria, but also feeds the skin.

And if there is nothing wrong with your skin you can still use it as Aloe Vera keeps the skin flexible by giving oxygen to the cells, which in turn increases the strength as well as the elasticity of skin tissue. It is also a rich source of vitamin E and C that helps prevent aging, making you look healthier and younger   for longer.

Now who said there can’t be one answer for all our skin problems?

The Stress Buster Massage

This month we are focusing on a treatment that is ever growing in its popularity and with great reason. Being a therapist myself I do not often get to go for pampering, so when I do, I make the most of it and the Stress Buster is just the way to do it!

Stress Buster Massage

The treatment starts on the back, being the area that the majority of us struggle with. It is where most of our stress manifests itself.   Our backs are tight, stiff, sensitive and full of knots. This is why a good 30min is spent on the back to make sure that the muscles are well worked and relaxed before the focus shifts a little bit higher to the neck and scalp.

It is important to note that the tension you feel in your neck can also find its origin in the tight muscles between the shoulder blades  and not necessarily in the neck it self. Once the back is relaxed the time spend on the neck is more effective. As we turn you around to comfortably relax for the second half of the treatment the weight of your body pressing down gives me as therapist the extra pressure needed to work even deeper into the neck, causing it to relax completely.

After working out all the knots and rubbing all those sore and tense muscles it is time to enjoy the final stages of your treatment. We end of with a scalp and foot massage. This is where pressure points are allocated and once stimulated through massage you can actually relax so deeply that most clients fall asleep. This is truly a sensation that needs to be felt and can not be described.

So next time you are at Elephant Plains Game Lodge be sure to book the ultimate relaxation massage and spoil yourself!

Atasja Woest

Skin care during the winter months

Winter is officially starting to show its colours out here in the bush. For those of you who will be visiting us in the next few weeks and for the rest of you at home, feeling the cold slipping in under the door, here are a view good tips on how to take care of your skin during the cold winter months.

1. The first thing I notice as a therapist is how dry skin gets during the winter months.Go back to the basics; exfoliating before moisturising. Even the best moisturiser will not penetrate through dead skin, so soak in a warm bath at least once a week and make sure you give yourself a good scrub. Note that I said warm bath, as too much hot water can also dry out your skin.
2.  Secondly you will need a richer moisturiser than the one you use during the summer months. This does not only apply for your body, but also your face. Getting a moisturiser that has good hydrating properties is just as important. We tend to drink less water during winter and our skin can use the extra hydration source.
3. Another good tip is to cover up once you applied any moisturiser. The cold dry air tends to “steal” the moisture right back. Covering up gives it some time to penetrate.
4. Protect your skin against the freezing dry wind. If and when you can help it, avoid the wind at all costs. If you are joining us on safari, wear protective clothing. Prevention is better than cure.
5. Applying a layer of sunscreen on the still exposed areas is a good idea. The sunscreen is thicker than your standard moisturiser and will block out more of the cold air and keep your skin fresh and moist during your stay. Also remember that you can still get sunburn, even in winter time, so don’t take any chances!

If you are visiting us this winter, why not book a lovely massage at the African Health Spa. The massage oils we use will definitely help in moisturising your skin – leaving in smooth, supple and glowing!

The TheraNaka Experience

 This month we are focusing on a treatment that is ever growing in its popularity at the African Health Spa and with good reason…

Being a therapist myself I do not often get to go for pampering, so when I do, I make the most of it and the TheraNaka Experience is just the way to do it!

The Theranaka Experience

The treatment starts on the back, being the area that the majority of us struggle with. It is where most of our stress manifests itself. Our backs are tight, stiff, sensitive and full of knots. This is why a good 30 minutes is spend, focusing on the back to make sure that the muscles are relaxed before the focus moves a little bit higher to the neck and sculp.

The tension you feel in your neck finds its origin in the tight muscles between the shoulder blades and not necessarily in the neck it self. Once these muscles have relaxed the time spend on the neck is more effective. As we turn you around to comfortably relax on your back for the second half of the treatment the weight of your body pressing down gives me as therapist the extra pressure needed to work even deeper in to the neck causing it to relax completely.

After working out all the knots and rubbing all those sore and tense muscles, it is time to enjoy the final stages of your treatment. We end of with a scalp and foot massage. This is where pressure points are allocated and once stimulated through massage, causing you to completely relax so deeply that most of my clients fall asleep at this stage. This complete relaxation is truly a sensation that needs to be experienced in order to truly understand!

I hope to welcome you to the Spa on your next visit to come and experience it for yourself!

Skin Types

This is the most important aspect of skin care and can very often be miss-diagnosed! We all know the general descriptions for how our skin looks and feels, but let us take a closer look to make sure that we truly know and understand our skin type and condition.

Skin types

Dry skin: Skin lacking moisture/oil (note it is not skin lacking water although it could improve dry skin)

The skin has a dull appearance and is usually itchy. It can be the cause of diseases such as Psoriasis and Eczema, or because of the air around you: air-conditioning, wind etc. If the cause is external it is easy to fix. Pamper your skin with loads of moisturizer especially designed for dry skin and soon your problem will be something of the past. If it is because of disease, go seek the advice of a professional, as this problem will need to be tackled both from the inside and outside.

De-Hydrated skin: Skin lacking water

If you press your skin upwards with your finger fine lines and wrinkles will appear. This is because water plumps up the skin and gives it a healthy glow. The lack of water leaves your skin “empty” causing it to wrinkle up. The solution is easy: drink your 2L of water a day, every day!

Sensitive skin: Skin that reacts to anything and everything!

It does not have to be red or pale, although sensitive skin usually is. This type of skin needs to be handled with care. It tends to go hand in hand with de-hydrated skin so hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and you will be surprised at the drastic change it makes to your skin. My advice will be to go as natural as possible when choosing your skin care range. Your skin reacts better to ingredients that are closer to its own molecular structure and therefore would be less sensitive.

Problem skin: One or two pimples or even five does not make it problem skin!

Problem skin is covered with inflamed pimples, with the focus being on inflamed. The only solution is to seek help from a specialist. This skin condition is usually inherited and needs to be treated as a disease, fighting in from both inside and out.

Oily skin: Shiny skin that goes hand in hand with a view pimples.

Now, your skin can always be oily, which again is inherited. If so, you should keep to matt products and again lots of water. The water is needed to keep your skin hydrated. Where most products will aid in hydration, these ones do not, as its main focus is drying out the oil! Also avoid layering thick make-up, as this will only clog up pours and make the pimples even worse. If your skin is only oily when there is a change in hormones, keep a suitable product to use during this time only.

Mature skin: Prominent lines and wrinkles.

Mature skin is not really a skin type but a skin condition. It comes with age and unfortunately most of the damage has been done many years before we can see the effects on our skin. Keeping your skin well hydrated will make the biggest difference as it plumps up the skin and helps even out the fine lines and wrinkles. As for the rest of the wrinkles, using a product that will improve elasticity is the best way to go. From the very first time you start to see your skin aging, you should start using the products and do not stop! Aging is an ongoing process that needs constant attention.

Sun Damaged skin: Leathery skin with dark spots

The leathery appearance comes from the skin not only losing its elasticity, but also the layers of dead skin cells that build up over time. This is because of the speed at which cells die off, once overexposed to the sun. Piling on the moisture is part one of the treatment. Regular exfoliation is part two. This removes the dead skin build-up and also stimulates the skin, which in turn betters circulation, increasing the amount of nutrition that comes to the skin in order to restore itself. The dark spots are caused by UV rays. In order to lighten the pigmentation, you will need to use a highly active product specially designed to brighten the skin. Once you start using a brightening lotion, remember to always wear an SPF factor, as the active chemicals can cause even more pigmentation.

Remember that prevention is better than cure! The best thing you can do for your skin is to hydrate and protect. Drink your 2L of water a day and always, even when indoors, wear an SPF factor.