The Sound-Off

OTŌ HEALING c BOWLED OVER Globus, who calls sound-bathing “an art and a science,” is fascinated by both the neuroscience of sound and the ancient tradition of using music for both medicine and spirituality.

5.

Sometimes we can all use a good scream.

That’s just one insight you might take away from a sound bathing session with Otō Healing ($150), the sound therapy practice that lifestyle-journalistturned-branding-guru-turnedtrained-sound-therapist May Globus created in 2019.

Sound bathing, or sound therapy, is a meditative practice that uses sonic vibrations to help with the modernday plagues of our society—doing everything from treating pain and sleep disorders to relieving anxiety and promoting creativity. A session begins with an intake form that gets into how you’ve been feeling—tense? headachy?—which Globus goes over before the treatment to delve underneath how stress actually shows up in your body. Is it anxiety? Worry? Is there physical pain anywhere?

After a guiding you through a few deep breaths, Globus works with both a rattle and a drum to wake up your body and help it receive sound. It’s startling, but not unpleasant. Transition to a few qi gong sounds to centre the stomach, heart and body— even then, you can feel the vibrations as you repeat and chant along with her. She then moves to playing crystal bowls of di ff erent frequencies and harmonies, responding to both your earlier conversation and to whatever she senses as the session progresses. Globus looks for twitches in her clients’ hands and feet to signify tension release, and observes what notes she’s playing when a client breathes deeply—signifying an emotion coming up or releasing. Responding to the “throat” bowl, for example, could indicate that you may need to release some built-up tension.

You’ll leave feeling floaty and deeply relaxed—and that’s part of the goal. And maybe you’ll be ready for that good scream, with your therapist’s permission. instagram.com/otohealing

The Needle-Free Facelift

ENHANCE ARTS AESTHETICS AND SPA

220 DAVIE ST. 6.

“Buccal fat removal” is the latest celeb cosmetic surgery trend, but Enhance Arts Spa advertises similar (non-invasive, non-permanent) results through simple massage ($189). The treatment includes facial cupping, gua sha, face sculpting massage and intraoral massage—yes, that means they massage the inside of your cheeks (wearing gloves, of course). You might not notice a huge change in the way your face looks after your first appointment (likely due to the fact that the practitioner is going easy on you—a less-firm method is used for beginners), but you will find that your jaw feels so much more relaxed. For people who clench or grind their teeth in their sleep, this is a godsend. And the inside-of-themouth massage is actually very soothing. Who knew. enhancearts.ca

ESSENTIALS

A FACE TIME

This super-hydrating (and delightfully pink) Beauté Majestique cleanser ($90) from Vancouver-based Okoko Cosmetiques works just as well as a face mask, so you can turn your evening scrub into an at-home spa experience. okokocosmetiques.com jWHAT IS IT? These concentrated oils are nothing new (known frankincense fan Jesus probably had it diffusing 24/7), but the science is loose at best... still, essential oils are the lifeblood of the modern wellness community, and advocates put them in everything (including the air) to try to reap all the benefits they claim. Scented oils are used to elevate mood, treat acne, help with anxiety and sleeping, ease irritable bowel syndrome and even stimulate hair growth.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME? Drop your scent of choice right into a diffuser, or mix into a carrier oil (coconut oil is a popular choice) and massage on pressure points for a soothing effect. Fern and Petal founder and essential oil enthusiast Katie Derrick suggests putting lavender oil directly on the soles of your feet to help with sleep. Another essential tip from the oil insider: put eucalyptus oil in a bowl in your shower and voila! you’ve got yourself some spa-level steam.

WHERE CAN I GET IT? The key to essential oils is purity: don’t buy things labelled “fragrance oil” because it’s likely diluted with chemicals. And a dark container is best to protect the quality of the concentrated contents. Fern and Petal ( fernandpetal.ca) offers quality, locally made oils like bergamot ($11) and specially made blends like Breathe ($16), along with a lavender spray ($14) for spritzing your pillow or face before bedtime. (Derrick recommends not mixing more than three together for a blend.) If you don’t already have a diffuser, Saje (saje.com) has some stunning ones, like the blush taupe Aroma Nook ($76), which can freshen both the look and scent of your home.

A SMOOTH CRIMINAL Lotion gets the job done, sure, but there’s something extra-luxurious about moisturizing with a body oil. Just-launched Maater Cosmetics has an indulgent, plant-based illuminating oil called Beta ($60) that’s formulated and packaged in Vancouver. maatercosmetics.com