Str\u00f8m Nordic Spa has a resolutely Scandinavian DNA. The north and the boreal forest are at the heart of everything we do, so it\u2019s only natural that our B OR\u00c9 AL skin care line is born from the richness and power of local natural ingredients.<\/p>\n
However, our desire to offer you the best care and practices isn\u2019t limited to a single territory, a single culture, or a single tradition. All over the world, people are adopting beauty and wellness routines to feel good in body and mind. And while new, innovative techniques are sometimes the basis of these rituals, they are also often rooted in centuries-old gestures and knowledge passed down from generation to generation.<\/p>\n
For this addition to our skin care line, we focused on a practice of traditional Chinese medicine: gua sha. To learn a little more about this subject, we spoke with L\u00e9a B\u00e9gin, the founder of Min\u0113ra<\/span>, with whom Str\u00f8m is collaborating for this new integration, as well as Phiane Duquet, a world champion in massage therapy and a specialist in gua sha massage, to whom the ancestral heritage has been passed down by her family.<\/p>\n Here is gua sha, in 10 points.<\/p>\n More than a facial care ritual, gua sha is traditionally used on a daily basis, all over the body. \u201cFor example, it is used to relieve back pain and headaches, to relax a tight jaw, or to reduce excess body heat, according to the application in traditional Chinese medicine,\u201d explains Phiane Duquet.<\/p>\n \u201cGua sha\u201d literally means \u201cscraping the pain,\u201d Duquet continues. \u201cThe drainage effect and the activation of the blood circulation encouraged by the movement are recognized for eliminating metabolic waste and therefore help alleviate certain imbalances or soothe muscle tension.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAccording to the ancestral art of lithotherapy, the object used has different properties depending on the stone from which it is made. Consequently, gua sha would traditionally have an influence not only on people\u2019s physical appearance, but also their emotions,\u201d Duquet recounts. Its use in traditional Chinese medicine is therefore anchored in a holistic approach to health and wellness.<\/p>\n Because it stimulates blood circulation, gua sha is also practiced for its benefits on the skin of the face. Lymphatic drainage, redefining the oval of the face, restoring radiance to the complexion, a lifting effect, reducing fine lines and wrinkles\u2026 the benefits are numerous. L\u00e9a B\u00e9gin evenspeaks of the technique as a non-invasive alternative or even a complement to Botox injections or fillers.<\/p>\n The object with which gua sha is practiced is a flat, angular stone, cut to adapt to the shape of the face. The materials used in its production may vary. In the case of the BOR\u00c9AL stone, it is porcelain consisting of a mixture of kaolin (for whiteness), quartz (for translucency), and feldspar (for strength). The porcelain is worked in Quebec in small quantities by Louise Bousquet, according to know-how from Limoges, France. The production process and the composition result in a matte, non-porous, strong, and durable tool that is easy to handle and grip, even when used with a treatment oil.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not the stone that does the work, but the technique,\u201d Duquet asserts. Knowledge of acupuncture points, meridians, and certain facial reflexology principles contributes to an informed and effective gua sha practice.<\/p>\n Knowing the theory behind the use also makes it possible to adopt the right gestures. For example, instead of releasing stagnant fluids that cause edema, improper gua sha use can instead promote congestion.<\/p>\n To perform the ritual at home, a step-by- step instruction manual is provided. It is important to follow the instructions and\u2014 above all\u2014to pay attention to how you feel. Although slight redness may appear, you must be careful not to injure the skin.<\/p>\n In combination with the porcelain, an oil is used\u2014in our case, the BOR\u00c9AL face, body, and hair ritual oil. In addition to allowing the tool to slide properly in order to produce effective movements, the combined use of a product helps nourish and hydrate the epidermis. Making the oil penetrate with a stone rather than with the fingers also allows for a better application and a longer- lasting effect, confirms B\u00e9gin.<\/p>\n Although gua sha is an increasingly popular practice in the West, especially for its aes- thetic benefits, its roots and uses are vast. If the method interests you, we strongly encourage you to learn about the principles and history behind this ancestral wellness ritual. Knowledge from other places and times has inestimable value, and its modern application is a way of paying tribute to it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Str\u00f8m Nordic Spa has a resolutely Scandinavian DNA. The north and the boreal forest are at the heart of everything we do, so it\u2019s only natural that our B OR\u00c9 AL skin care line is born from the richness and power of local natural ingredients. However, our desire to offer you the best care and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":52135,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1976],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52138","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-holistic-health"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stromspa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52138","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stromspa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stromspa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stromspa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stromspa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52138"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.stromspa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52138\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52224,"href":"https:\/\/www.stromspa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52138\/revisions\/52224"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stromspa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52135"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stromspa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52138"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stromspa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52138"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stromspa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52138"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}1. AN EVERYDAY CAREToOL<\/h3>\n
2. THE ETYMOLOGY<\/h3>\n
3. THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION<\/h3>\n
4. THE INTEGRATiON INTO SKINCARE PRACTICES<\/h3>\n
5. the tool<\/h3>\n
6.THE GESTURES<\/h3>\n
7. THE IMPORTANCE OF THEORY<\/h3>\n
8. at home<\/h3>\n
9. ThE RIGHT PRODUCe<\/h3>\n
10. CONTINUE TO STAY INFORMED<\/h3>\n