Have you ever heard of lying down, taking deep breaths, and burning over 900 calories? It sounded too good to be true to me as well, so I conducted some research on my own to explore this seemingly fantastic bodywrap treatment. Naturally, I had to try it myself because if it doesn’t feel great and deliver results, then it’s not worth delving into the details of how it works. I dressed in comfortable cotton sweats and made my way to Ventura, California to experience it firsthand, hydrating along the way with plenty of water.
Before the bodywrap treatment, I measured the circumference of my upper arms, ribcage, waist, hips, and upper thighs as a reference. Although I was skeptical, I wanted to give it a fair chance. I lay down on a table, and six large warm pads were wrapped around my upper arms, waist, hips, and thighs. Then I was covered with a blanket and appropriately padded with towels. It was that easy. Relaxing music played in the background, providing the perfect ambiance for a breathing meditation and an hour of self-care.
Now, I must admit, I love heat. So as the pads gradually warmed up and I started to sweat, I relished the experience. I continued to sweat profusely throughout the session. In fact, I hadn’t perspired that much since the dance classes I used to attend at Broadway Dance Center in New York City. I had let my fitness regimen slip while building a business and going back to school, so I thought this bodywrap treatment might be a great way to get back on track.
After an hour, I was drenched in sweat but incredibly happy. I measured myself again and had lost a total of 3 inches. It may not seem like much, but the treatment felt so good that the minor change didn’t bother me. On the drive back home, I drank another huge bottle of water as the gentleman who assisted me with the treatment suggested that the process would continue overnight. He recommended staying well-hydrated, so I followed his advice and planned to measure myself again in the morning.
To my astonishment, the next morning I had lost a total of 13 inches! I was thrilled and immediately contacted the facility to share my exceptional results. They informed me that my experience was above average, possibly due to my good diet and hydration habits. Regardless, I was ecstatic and eager to learn more about this incredible bodywrap treatment.
So, how does the Infrared BodyWrap actually work?
Infrared light, which we perceive as heat, is a form of energy we receive from sunlight. As humans, we radiate infrared heat every second of every day. In fact, the military uses infrared binoculars for night vision, allowing them to detect human presence in darkness. Infrared energy is a vital part of our biology. Through my research, I discovered that FAR Infrared treatments are widely used by medical practitioners worldwide because they closely match the resonant heat that our bodies naturally respond to.
Infrared energy falls just below red light waves on the electromagnetic spectrum. Although it is invisible to the human eye, we can feel it as heat (similar to the night vision binoculars example). The sun primarily emits infrared energy, which our atmosphere allows in, and the Earth radiates it back. Unfortunately, due to indoor living, sunscreen, and sun avoidance, we are often deprived of exposure to infrared waves.
On average, our bodies emit infrared energy at approximately 9.4 microns. This internal production of infrared energy is associated with various healing responses and may require an additional boost to fully support homeostasis, metabolism, and tissue repair. In terms of Oriental/Chinese Medicine, when our circulation is impeded (known as Blocked Qi flow), our body’s healing capacity, metabolism, and daily functioning are compromised. Infrared therapeutic treatments help enhance circulation, unblock Qi, increase energy, and improve overall body function. While methods like moxa, cupping, infrared lamps, and gua sha achieve similar results in Oriental Medicine, the bodywear treatment I experienced took this process to another level.
But how does all this calorie burning happen? An infrared treatment induces 2-3 times more sweat compared to a conventional sauna without causing a claustrophobic feeling or drying out the sauna environment. Personally, I struggle to stay in a regular sauna for more than 10 minutes, yet I comfortably lasted a full hour in the bodywrap treatment.
Research on this type of infrared treatment has shown that “its regular use may be as effective as a means of cardiovascular conditioning and calorie burning as regular exercise,” according to the Journal of the American Medical Association (8/7/81). In fact, NASA concluded in the early 1980s that infrared therapy could be an ideal way to stimulate cardiovascular function during long space missions.
Even for those unaccustomed to saunas, an infrared treatment can induce around 500 grams of sweat and burn 300 kcalories, equivalent to 30 minutes of jogging. The bodywrap treatment provides an excellent way to alleviate stiffness and burn over 900 calories per session once you become acclimated to the sauna environment. It’s important to stay well-hydrated to see optimal results.
The benefits of Infrared Therapy are truly remarkable. Research conducted in Sweden, Japan, Finland, China, and Germany has identified an extensive range of conditions that can be treated effectively, including arthritis, acne, soft tissue injuries, menstrual pain, eczema, wound healing, neurodermatitis, gastrointestinal problems, cardiovascular circulation, pain and stiffness, weight loss, and improvements in endocrine, immune, and autonomic functions.
The FDA has approved the use of FAR infrared treatment for pain relief, and further research continues to uncover additional benefits. Although I still have more research to conduct, the results I experienced were convincing enough for me. I decided to incorporate this treatment into my practice and medspa. I hope that by sharing this information, I have opened your eyes to something new, different, and potentially helpful. If you’re interested, I invite you to learn more by visiting my website, www.orientalmedspa.com. Alternatively, if you’re in the Los Angeles area, you can experience it for yourself. I believe you’ll be pleasantly surprised.