How BODYROLL works and why it boosts your general health and wellbeing

A concept that is gaining traction in the wellness and fitness world, is bodyroll.

It's described as a non-invasive solution to weight loss, cellulite removal, smoother skin, lymphatic drainage and recovery.  

Bodyroll uses infra-red and colour therapy and specially designed deep tissue massage rollers to give you a transformative health experience in one 45-minute session, says the Cape Town practice BODYROLL Constantia.

The studio's new owner Tamryn Coles and manager Samantha Terblanche join Sara-Jayne Makwala King in studio to explain exactly what bodyroll is.

This piece of fit-tech which originated in Poland, features deep-tissue massage rollers set between two padded platforms that roll consistently for your entire session, incorporating infrared therapy at the same time.

This is how Coles describes it:

"Bodyroll is a wellness and fitness concept that combines lymphatic drainage massage, infrared therapy and gentle movement all into one 45-minute session. The machine uses specifically designed wooden rollers which allow you to actually roll through the movements, on your own, getting a deep tissue massage and also enjoying the infrared heat."

Before bodyroll, these two treatments had to be done separately, says Terblanche, so you would go for your lymphatic drainage massage and then for an infrared sauna.

Unlike the body's circulatory system which has its own pump in the form of the heart, our lymphatic system tends to be sluggish and needs a bit of extra help to get going, they explain.

"Your lymphatic system is responsible for detoxing and for moving excess fluid out of the body, but what a lot of people don't know is that this bunch of nodes and tissues is really quite lazy... and therefore needs a boost."

The infrared light activates as you are doing your rolling session on the machine.

"The infrared is a healing light which helps with inflammation as well as skin tightening, along with your cellulite reduction."

A 45-minute appointment involves a full-body session. You'd start at the feet and work your way up to the arms, opening the lymph throughout the body and obviously trying to expel toxins, Terblanche says.

Click here to find out more about the studio and booking a session.

To listen to Debbie Turner and Mia Coomber in conversation with Sara-Jayne Makwala King on CapeTalk's Weekend Breakfast, click on the audio link below: