I’m in heaven. That is one of my first and only thoughts as I lie in what feels like a nice, warm bath, only better. In reality, I’m lying on a table in a room at Relax and Renew Spa in Calmar, covered in silicone pads that are sending infrared heat deep into my core.
When Donna Courage, owner of Relax and Renew spa, offered to let me try a InfraRed Body Wrap free of charge to see if it lives up to the hype I jumped at the chance. The wrap is said to help you lose fat inches and cellulite while also reducing joint pain and stress. Formostar, the company that makes the InfraRed Body Wrap System, also claims that a person will burn between 900 to 1400 calories per session. While a little doubtful of the calorie-burning claims, I was eager to find out if the wrap would actually help reduce or eliminate some of my joint pain. I was also excited for the chance to take what is essentially a 50-minute nap in a warm cocoon. Donna keeps a TV in the wrap room at her new location so those who don’t like to nap can enjoy a little daytime soap drama. I hoped to maximize the relaxing potential of the wrap by taking a nap so I brought my iPod instead. Luckily my hands were free so I could change up my music at any time.
The wrapping part of the wrap was different then I expected. Donna told me to bring cotton clothing with to wear during the wrap so I knew that I didn’t have to strip down to my skivvies. Still, when I think wrap, I think of tight pieces of cloth or seaweed bandaged around me, essentially turning me into a mummy who can’t move an inch. Thankfully, the InfraRed Body Wrap is nothing like that. Instead, the wrap involves six silicone pads that are loosely draped over specific spots on your body. Donna wrapped my aching hips, my puffy stomach, my sore shoulders and my stiff neck and then covered me with a blanket. Then, she cranked up the heat, turned off the lights and closed the door, leaving it open an inch so I wouldn’t have to shout if I needed anything. Donna also left a bottle of water with a straw in it on the cart beside my table so I could take a sip of water whenever I felt overheated or dehydrated.
The first 12 minutes were like being in my own warming infinity pool. I did my best to fall asleep, as Donna had said everyone falls asleep in the first half hour of the wrap. I didn’t want to mess up her streak. I also really wanted a damn nap. But, like many things in life, I put too much pressure on my nap and so it never materialized. Donna did materialize after 12 minutes, to crank up the temperature. That’s when things got heated (pun intended). I began to sweat, even more so than before. My face glistened with droplets of glowing…um…sweat (there really is no nice way to describe sweat). I began to panic a little that I would drown in my own sweat. Donna came to the rescue by pointing out the stack of face towels that were already on the cart beside me.
After 50 minutes of warmth my wrap was complete. I was completely drenched in sweat. At that point I understood why Donna had said to bring a separate set of clothes to wear. This is not a spa treatment one should get done before going to work or on a first date. I spent the rest of the day feeling pleasantly warm and drinking as much water as I could get my hands on. I did have a slight headache after, presumably from dehydration. I would definitely recommend drinking lots of water before AND after the wrap to ensure that this doesn’t happen. My hips were less sore, my shoulders less tense and my skin glowed (sweating profusely helps clear out pores). Luckily Donna had warned me that people tend to initially swell a little after receiving an InfraRed Body Wrap; otherwise I would have thought it made my stomach bigger, instead of sleeker. But the next day my puffy stomach was decidedly less bloated. If I could afford the 75-dollar wrap, I would go every week for joint pain relief. The calorie burning would just be a sweet bonus.
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