At Shoji Spa and Lodge, we take the utmost care to ensure that our guests can receive the care they deserve in the safest ways possible. We have taken extra safety measures for all hands-on massage to limit the chances of spreading COVID-19 in our peaceful mountain retreat. 

Extra precautions are great and have proven successful, but what about our guests who still aren’t so sure about hands-on contact at all? At Shoji, we know that you can’t fully indulge in self-care and receive the full benefits of our mountain escape without being able to feel completely comfortable, relaxed, and at ease . That’s why we’ve invested and provided a brand new hands-off medical massage experience in our new zero-gravity medical massage chairs. If you are looking for a safe way to get a wonderful massage, you’ve landed on the right blog post.

What are Zero-Gravity Massage Chairs?

They’re pretty much exactly what they sound like! In essence, they are massage chairs that hold you at a position in which the effects gravity has on the human body are minimized. While your body is tilted and stretched to this position, a full body massage is performed completely hands-free by the chair itself. The chair performs an entire full body scan to ensure massage is fit to each guest’s unique body type, and the chair has an easy-to-use remote control for any further adjustments guests may desire for their experience.

How do our massage chairs feel?

The massage experience from our zero-gravity medical massage chairs is comparable and similar to how a traditional hands-on massage would feel. The main difference is that it feels like multiple sets of hands are massaging you at once! As you’re enjoying the sweet release of pressure on your back and shoulder area, you’ll also notice an incredible sensation as the souls of your feet are kneaded and rubbed. There are air cells located on your arms, legs, shoulders, temples, and shoulders that inflate to apply the most pleasant amount of pressure, and then release. Just when you start to notice the pleasing feeling from one aspect of the massage, you find yourself indulging in pleasing massage elsewhere. 

How to have the best Massage Chair Experience

If you’re considering giving one of our medical massage chairs a try, you need to do it the right way! To maximize your relaxation and the soothing effects of this medical massage, we recommend taking a soak in one of Shoji’s hydrotherapeutic salt hot tubs prior to experiencing your chair massage. The heat from the tubs really helps loosen up any problem areas so that massage benefits are maximized and results are intensified. 

Aside from the physical aspect of soaking before a chair massage, soaking beforehand gives an incredible opportunity to connect with yourself and to check out from any mental blocks that might be causing you to carry extra stress. Come visit our beautiful mountain escape, only minutes away from down town Asheville, and practice nurturing your emotional well-being. Call us at (828)299-0999 for booking!

Himalayan salt contains over 84 trace minerals that cause its distinctive pinkish hue, including those believed to aid in good health and vitality. To this day, Himalayan salt is used in cooking, as a form of therapy in heated salt lamps and in salt stone massages which speak to its natural healing abilities.

Some Benefits of Himalayan Salt

1. Promotes healthy blood sugar
2. Helps lower blood pressure
3. Supports a healthy respiratory system and sinuses
4. Boosts bone health and prevents muscle cramps
5. Improves circulation
6. Relieves anxiety
7. Lightly exfoliates the skin and is highly relaxing
8. Emits negative ions when heated, delivering a variety of health benefits—from higher mental alertness to protection against germs in the air

During the massage, therapists use warmed Himalayan salt stones to apply pressure, using Swedish massage techniques. Over the course of the treatment, the minerals are absorbed through the skin leaving you with a profound sense of well-being.

Himalayan Salt Stone Massage is part of our new Valentine’s Day package available through February at Shoji.

So, let’s make 2020 the year we take control of our well-being!

In light of recent scientific studies providing evidence of the mind-body connection; taking charge of our mental health should be an integral part of anyone’s 2020 New Year’s resolutions. Maintaining a positive mindset has been proven to lead to improvements in your physical health as well.

“Where the mind goes, the body will follow.”

It’s not hard to see how this is true. Our outlook on life and the world around us will define how we act – how we act will define how we feel and so on. When we have self-destructive negative thoughts and negative internal conflict, it can result in an unhealthy lifestyle. Conversely, when we have a positive mindset, it can help create a healthy lifestyle for us.

A good first step toward maintaining mental health is recognizing the importance of taking time for yourself. Whether that means a quiet walk, a soothing motorcycle ride or embracing nature with a peaceful soak in the woods; the goal is to be in the moment.

Here at Shoji we strive to offer the space and setting to allow people to truly connect with themselves. It’s in this spirit that we are happy to announce our new spa package, KASHIKA (visualization). This package combines the mental and physical aspects of maintaining well-being by starting you off with a fresh cold pressed juice to help purify the body while you soak in your private salt hot tub immersed in the Blue Ridge Mountains; followed by a 60 minute Zen massage and your choice of massage enhancements*, you will complete your spa day with a second organic fresh cold pressed juice for the ultimate revitalization. 

Whatever your New Year’s Resolution is; this year it’s time to put YOU First.

*Warm Oil Scalp Massage or Jade Stone Facial

The heat allows blood vessels to open up (vasodilation), increasing blood flow to our extremities and causing connective tissue to become more flexible. This promotes a reduction in joint stiffness, pain and muscle spasms. Conversely, cold therapy (vasoconstriction) causes a reduction in blood volume to our extremities and increases blood flow in the core of the body. This cycle of tightening and relaxing effectively acts as a “pump” in the lymphatic system moving stagnant lymph around the body and strengthening the core of our immune system.

The lymphatic system’s main function is to cleanse the body and protect against disease but can easily become stagnant when it is overwhelmed with toxins. This can lead to not only impaired immunity but also fluid retention, chronic pain and swollen glands. Stagnant lymph may also be the root cause of swollen ankles and eyes, arthritis, upper respiratory infections and other chronic illnesses.

Here at Shoji, our guests enjoy the benefits of contrast hydrotherapy with the use of our 180°+ wet cedar sauna and cold showers as a part of our amenities pass or in combination with salt hydrotherapy tub, our private spa pass.

As with any treatment, you should always consult your primary care physician to discuss risk and/or benefits before incorporating contrast therapy into your health regimen.

 Whenever you have free time, rather than Netflix, try some of these fun ways to make the most out of your day!

1. Catch the Sunrise

Start off the day by waking up early to watch the sunrise! The countless ‘overlooks’ on the Blue Ridge Parkway are excellent destinations to take in the view of the morning sun emerging from behind the mountains. Getting up early to greet the sun can help you gain more energy and begin the day in a positive light.

2. Practice Meditation

Meditation is a great way to practice self-care during your free time. Sitting still with your eyes closed may seem unnecessary, but this brief repose rejuvenates your mind, body, and soul in a very beneficial way. Focus on your breathing, and try to clear your mind. Think of this like a mental reset button!

3. Get Crafty

Arts & crafts provide enjoyable opportunities to express yourself! Start a watercolor painting, take up pottery, or stylize your favorite clothing. Not only will you be refining your artistic skills and hand-eye-coordination, but you will have a creative outlet for your emotions and experiences. Pinterest is a great tool for finding inspiration for your next craft!

4. Plant a Garden

It’s not too late to start a garden! It is such a wonderful feeling to watch your little babies grow until healthy plants. Gardening connects us with Mother Earth, provides nourishment, and teaches us valuable life lessons. A healthy garden requires hard work, love, and patience, skills that carry into our everyday life. Also, when you grow your own food, you help the planet and your budget!  

5. Nurture Relationships

What good is time if you spend it all by yourself? When we connect with others, we’re able to reflect on ourselves and grow. Take a moment out of your day to reach out to a family member, nurture a friendship, or rekindle an old one. Visit, call, text, or if you really want to surprise someone, write and send them a letter!

6. Get Outdoors

Summer is the perfect time for going out and reconnecting with nature. Surround yourself with nature simply by going out for a walk in the park or a hike in the forest. There is no better way to take in the beautiful summer scenery than to be immersed in the great outdoors. Since daylight hours are longer in the summer, there is plenty of time to do a variety of exciting outdoor activities!

7. Discover New Methods of Healing

The rush of our daily schedules makes it easy to ignore the physical and emotional pressures put on us by life. Take time to relax by discovering new ways to relieve your body from stress or pain. You can spend the summer solstice getting rid of built-up tension with massage therapy or acupuncture. Here at Shoji, we offer a select number of massage options to put both your mind and body at ease.

8. Read a Book

When was the last time you read a book from start to finish? If it has been awhile, let’s change that! Reading is not just entertaining – it improves our vocabulary, lengthens our attention span, and expands our worldview. If you are on the go, pick up a book on tape! You may also have book clubs near you related to some of your favorite topics.

9. Host a Gathering

Invite friends and family to a gathering with a meal full of fresh ingredients from a local farmers market! You can quench your thirst by mixing up some herbal teas and flavored lemonades for everyone to enjoy. Pot lucks are also fun, when each of your guests brings an item to the gathering. Gatherings like these strengthen relationships and remind us of all of the positive things life has to offer.

10. Volunteer

Volunteering is a wonderful way to connect with and improve your community. If you don’t know where to start, reach out to your local city government or search on a volunteering opportunity database like VolunteerMatch. Not only does volunteering help your community, but it also improves your mood and sense of wellbeing.

What are some of your favorite ways to make the most out of your day?

1. Going on a Walk (or a Hike)

Just getting outside and taking a walk can do wonders for your mental health. Focus on the nature around you, your footsteps, and try not to let you mind trail off. Just enjoy the moment and keep yourself as grounded as possible.

2. Arts & Crafts

Arts & crafts time isn’t just for kids, it can be great for adults as well! Working with your hands is a great way to get your mind off the stresses of the day. It’s important to divert your energy into other things instead of letting it just build up inside, thus causing you more stress.

3. Journaling

Writing things down can be a game changer when it comes to managing the day-to-day stresses of life. It is a great way to collect your thoughts and sort out things weighing heavily on your mind. Plus, revisiting your journal entries later on down the road can be fun and a great way to reflect.

4. Stretching

Our bodies hold so much tension, and stretching is great method of release. Stress and anxiety have a tendency to manifest itself in our bodies, making us feel worse than ever. So, next time you’re feeling stressed, take a moment to stretch and release all of that built up tension.

5. Get Active 

Repetitive exercise can be a great relaxation technique. Biking, running, and swimming are all good examples of repetitive activities that can induce a meditative-like state. Others may refer to this as a “flow” state.. Doing something repetitive helps you live in the moment and just focus on the task at hand. Think of it like giving your mind some rest before or after a long, stressful day.

6. Visit the Spa

Spending a day at your favorite spa is a great way to balance your mind, body, and soul, even if you don’t like meditating. The services we offer at Shoji, like hydrotherapy and bodywork/massage, have been tried and true for thousands of years. We all deserve to treat ourselves every once in awhile!

See? You don’t have to sit cross-legged and say “ohm” to meditate. There are many ways that you can calm your mind and find relief from the day to day stresses of life!

1. Lowering blood pressure

According to the Cleveland Clinic, a hot tub soak causes blood vessels to slightly dilate, thus lowering overall blood pressure. Soaking in warm water can cause internal body temperature to increase slightly, in turn blood circulates more efficiently and blood pressure decreases. As always, consult with your physician before engaging in any form of self-therapy, including hot tub use and hydrotherapy for high blood pressure.

2. A better night’s sleep

A Study in the journal, ‘Sleep,’ showed that soaking in a hot tub prior to bedtime will not only help individuals fall asleep but will also provide a deeper, more relaxing sleep as the body cools.

3. Aid in weight loss

It’s estimated that sitting in hot water burns about 3% more calories than sitting on your couch. It may not seem like much but, let’s be honest, every bit helps when it comes to losing weight!

4. Ease muscle tension

Any physical therapist will tell you that heat from water penetrates the body better than any other type of heat. While heat increases blood flow to muscles and accelerates healing, buoyancy eases the built up pressure in your joints and muscles.  Additionally, hot tub jets provide therapeutic massage, stimulating the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain and stress diffusers.

Which benefit will inspire you to hit the tub? If you are interested in learning more about other health benefits of tub soaking, spa therapy, or sauna, subscribe to our monthly newsletter or follow Shoji Spa on social media!

The spice of cloves, ginger, and other spices mixed with the floral notes of lavender make this tea a delight for the senses!