Body wraps have had a lot of bad press over the years. There’s the infamous chocolate body wrap, with its highly dubious health claims, and the detoxing body wrap, which claims to magic away excess body fat.
But then there are the ‘proper’ wraps – the ones that actually do something good for your body without making you look (or smell) like an idiot.
Mud wraps have been used for centuries to help rehydrate the skin and improve muscle recovery after a vigorous workout. The ‘mud’ itself isn’t usually mud at all, but a clay-based mixture which has been combined with herbs and oils to aid circulation and soothe your muscles, in much the same way that Tiger Balm does.
To make the ‘mud’ work extra hard, linen or is usually wrapped tight around key points – the biceps, the abs or the quads, for instance. This will make you sweat pretty heavily, but bear with it because the more you sweat, the more easily your body will absorb the mud and the good stuff inside it.
Spoiler alert: it’s all the sweating that makes people think they’ve lost weight after a body wrap. Yes, you’ll lose water weight, but this is only a temporary thing. Use body wraps as a regular part of your health and fitness regime and you will feel the long-term benefits.
Stobo Castle
Rockliffe Hall Spa
Nirvana Spa
