“At a fundamental level, humans have an innate need to connect with nature. When we are in nature – particularly, in a Japanese garden – we feel grounded and our senses are alert. Our pace slows, our heart listens, and our eyes catch subtle moments, like the light shining through the canopy of trees. The mind and body harmonizes with nature, and this journey continues as you step deeper into the garden, where you might encounter unexpected aesthetic or spiritual experiences. In these times, and always, everyone needs a Japanese garden.” – Sadafumi Uchiyama, Chief Curator, Portland Japanese Garden
The Osmosis Spa, best known for the Japanese Enzyme Bath, is also recognized for its authentic Japanese gardens where visitors are invited to experience a healing relationship with nature. Our garden’s flowing waters, soothing evergreens, compelling rock arrangements, and mysterious pathways takes one far away from the familiar demands of daily life. And there are countless subtle fascinations and wonders throughout our garden sanctuary! Artfully pruned shapes that capture the essence of each plant, quiet spaces discovered in corners or reflective pathways, as well as rocks placed in esoteric patterns intended invoke profound stillness.
From the least to the greatest detail, our large Meditation Garden is most captivating. Many visitors have discovered this jewel as a welcomed antidote to the pervasive stress of digital overload and the global health crisis. In addition, Osmosis recently streamed a powerful winter solstice ritual from this garden which was led by an inspired Siberian shaman, to the delight of colorful carp who formed endless patterns among the water lilies as she chanted songs of her ancestors.
Guests who receive services are invited to visit the garden and stay as long as they like, savoring the heightened sense of sensory awareness and inner peace that often follows Osmosis treatments. The impact from your bath, massage, or facial can be amplified many times over by entering this quiet sanctuary.
Osmosis has been required to cease offering “personal services” starting December 12th due to the pandemic.
Spas have been put into the same category as hair and nail salons.
Medical professionals and our guests have confirmed what we already know, that massage is an essential healthcare service for many people. Particularly now, with the additional stresses of fear, isolation, lack of touch.
You can still receive a massage treatment at Osmosis if you have a medical referral on file with us. (*Thisdoes not apply to cedar enzyme bath or facial)
To obtain a medical referral for massage, email, or visit your healthcare provider and let them know how you feel massage would be helpful to you. You will want to mention the symptoms you are experiencing that can be addressed by massage (see the list below) and request that they provide you with a massage referral. See the sample “email to my doctor” below for ideas of how to request a referral.
Chronic stress
Anxiety
Fibromyalgia
Muscle or joint pain
High blood pressure
Insomnia
Digestive disorders
Headaches
Poor circulation
Chronically tight muscles
Sports injuries
Soft tissue injuries or strain
TMJ disorders
Disrupted or restless sleep
Arthritis
Myofascial pain
Edema/swelling
Immobile muscles or joints (such as frozen shoulder)
Whether you see a traditional MD, a naturopath or a chiropractor, massage can be a great addition to your health care regimen. If you suffer from even one of the conditions mentioned above, you’re a candidate for a medical massage referral.
When you have a healthcare massage referral, simply email a copy to Osmosis at reservations@osmosis.com
Once it is on file, you may call Osmosis to schedule your massage. Our indoor rooms provide a safe and clean environment for you to receive a healing massage with our caring and experienced massage therapists. Osmosis Covid Safety Program
Make sure to mention your medical massage referral upon booking. We look forward to supporting your journey to wellness!!!
Only ONE note must be attained and may be emailed to reservations@osmosis.com
Your note will be kept on-file and applied to all future massages. You do NOT need to obtain a separate note for each massage; one note is sufficient!
You may obtain a note from your personal doctor, Naturopath or Chiropractor.
Sample Doctor’s Letter (actual content in regular writing, suggestions in italics):
Dear ____Doctor’s Name____,
I have been experiencing the following medical symptoms: ___list any/all related medical conditions from the above list___ and feel confident that massage therapy can help to address these problems. (If you have experience with massage, say something like this): I have experienced the benefits of massage before, and notice that when I get a massage I experience an alleviation of symptoms, such as ___list any noted benefits here_____.
I am writing to request that you, as my health care provider, provide me with a referral for medical massage therapy. With personal care services potentially being shut down due to covid, I would like to feel assured that I can receive a massage to alleviate my symptoms as an essential health care service. I appreciate your support in this matter, and know that you will want to help me achieve optimal health.
As we prepare to reopen indoors, Osmosis would like to ensure our community of guests and staff understand the extensive measures we have taken to treat the inside air at Osmosis.
Breathe Easy
We installed a state-of-the-art air cleaning system in July, called Atmosair, at Osmosis. We feel it is imperative to do everything in our power to protect you and our guests. This system in combination with the 4-stage HEPA filters in every room provides a high level of hygienic indoor air quality.
The system we have installed in our HVAC equipment is called bipolar ionization. It energizes the air to form bipolar — positive and negative — air ions that flows into all of the spaces in our building.
AtmosAir’s technology proactively emits bi-polar ions that attack and neutralize bacteria, mold and virus in a continuous way. Unlike many unverified products, AtmosAir Solutions is backed by science. Bi-Polar Ions emitted to ambient air by the AtmosAir System continuously disinfect both the breathing space and surfaces. It is the most effective system for continuously cleaning and decontaminating indoor air. AtmosAir has shown significant reduction of bacteria and viruses in both laboratory and in situ testing. AtmosAir is over 99.9 percent effective in reducing the coronavirus on surfaces.
This excerpt from a paper written by Dr. Philip M. Tierno Jr., Professor of Microbiology and Pathology, New York University School of Medicine in April 2017 provides details on the air purification system that has been installed in the Osmosis HVAC system.
Cleaning Indoor Air using Bi-Polar Ionization Technology
Bipolar ionization is created when an alternating voltage source (AC) is applied to a special tube with two electrodes. When voltage is applied to the tubes electrodes (like electricity is applied to a light bulb’s filament) an ionization field is produced around the tube (just as light is produced from the light bulb). However, the ionization cannot be seen but its presence will result in “mountain air” freshness. Such ions occur naturally especially on mountain tops and waterfalls, where the production of both positive and negative ions purify the air.
The airflow distributes the energized ions into all spaces served by the duct system in an in-duct installation.
Unlike most air purification systems AtmosAir seeks out particulates and contaminants, including germs and does not wait for pollutants to find their way into the filter within the air handler. Instead charged ions go to the contaminants in the space where you breathe, just as in nature, and do so in a continuous fashion and with continuous disinfection.
These positively and negatively charged ions have an effect on dust particles, allergen VOC’s, odors, and bacteria, viruses, molds and mold spores. For example, regarding particles—oppositely charged ions cause particles to attract to other particles and become bigger and heavier, by a process called “agglomeration”. These bigger heavier particles can now be better trapped by HVAC system filters so the filters operate more efficiently. Also the many small particles that are generated within a space by people and their activities may never get to system filters and ordinarily stay suspended in air for long periods and can be breathed in, increasing the chance of illness and respiratory distress. The bi-polar ion process will drop these to the floor quickly taking them away from where we breathe. VOC’s or gaseous chemical off gasses typically cause odors and irritations. These are also a major source of “Sick Building Syndrome” complaints, where people feel ill at work but feel better when they leave the building. Bi-Polar ions break down hydrocarbon chains that make up these complex compounds into immeasurable levels of carbon dioxide and water vapor.
On micro-organisms like bacteria, virus and molds, bi-polar ions will interrupt the reproductive ability of these organisms so rather than colony forming units (cfu) increasing and spreading and expanding, they shrink away and lessen the chance of infection. The Effect of Bipolar Ionization generators on microorganisms: The negative and positive ions that are generated by BPI are designed to treat and allow energy imparted by the ions to transform ordinary oxygen into Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), Superoxides, Peroxides, and Hydroxyls. These ions have the property of clustering around micro-particles, and thus, they surround harmful substances such as airborne mold, viruses, bacteria and allergens. At that point, a chemical reaction occurs on the cell membrane surface, and they are transformed into OH radicals, which are powerfully active (Standard Oxidation Potential [V] = 2.81 for OH vs H2O2 = 1.78 and OO2 = 1.23) and because they are unstable, they rob the harmful substance of a hydrogen atom (H). The result is that they are inactivated by severing the protein on cell membrane, which causes the opening of holes, thusly destroying the entity. The OH radicals instantly bond with the removed hydrogen(H), forming water vapor (H2O) which returns to the air. It is most important to note that bipolar ionization kills microbes without damaging DNA (therefore it does not cause cancer) in the interior of cells and unlike other physical and chemical agents, such as UV light, radioactivity and use of caustic chemicals, BPI is totally GREEN and it does NOT adversely affect the environment in any way. —
Osmosis is now accepting clients with medical massage referrals for indoor, and outdoor, massage!
Did you know that massage has many health benefits that can help address a wide variety of medical conditions? Have you ever spoken with your doctor to ask if massage might be good medicine for you? If not, now is the time!
Massage can offer relief for those struggling with any of the following conditions and symptoms which may include:
Chronic Stress
Insomnia
Sports
Injuries
Myofascial
Pain
Anxiety
Digestive
Disorders
Soft Tissue Injuries or Strain
Arthritis
Fibromyalgia
Headaches
TMJ disorders
Edema
Whether you see a traditional MD, a naturopath, a chiropractor, or an acupuncturist, massage can be a great addition to your health care regimen. If you suffer from even one of the conditions mentioned above, you’re a good candidate for a medical massage referral.
Once you have a healthcare massage referral, you may call Osmosis to schedule your massage! Both our indoor rooms, and outdoor heated pagodas, provide a safe and clean environment for you to receive a healing massage with our caring and experienced massage therapists. Make sure to mention your medical massage referral upon booking.
We look forward to supporting your journey to continued wellness!!!
In this current time, during the crisis imposed by COVID-19, we find it imperative to discuss the proverbial elephant in the room in our space and industry: the concept of touch.
Our world has endured much in this global pandemic and it has caused many to retreat to home for remote work, learning, and shelter-in-place restrictions.
This limited access to community has put us in a mental, physical, and emotional state of yearning for more interaction; this overwhelming need for interpersonal connection has us figuratively starved in many ways that we may not have quite experienced before.
Having arrived here, let’s consider how we can address and restore comfortability and relief in experiencing healing touch for the purposes of our collective wellbeing.
It is a journey and process.
To start, we must understand that in these very new circumstances, our approach to becoming more comfortable with outside interactions and experiences will be a process and unique personal journey.
It is certainly not a race to normalcy, especially right now; nothing is normal about any of our routines. We must revisit the concept of learning to crawl before we can walk and then run again.
Physiologically, our central nervous system must acclimate to the understandable, reasonable stress of this time.
We have resorted to our most critical routines and behaviors and have not necessarily considered those things that we must do to support our health and wellness needs.
In our personal lives, we’re all finding ways to balance and acclimate in our behaviors. Evaluating reasonable risks against our individual need to stay safe, while also satisfying our holistic needs, is indeed the new-normal. We are all learning how to do this without compromising ourselves and our close-knit communities. There is no right or wrong in how we do this, and it will work differently for everyone.
There are wellness benefits in healing touch.
We believe that healing touch is vital to our wellbeing, and that belief is the core and mission of what drives our existence and who we are at Osmosis.
We also understand how delicate the balance of revisiting our, or any, wellness spa can be against shared, new realities.
In recent months, we’ve heard from all over just how much people are missing their wellness interactions and how they are slowly integrating their yesteryear spa routines back during this time. From physical therapy and rehabilitation to massage treatments, the nurture and healing benefits of touch should not be underestimated—nor should they be considered luxury.
In fact, California has recently approved indoor massage as an essential service when prescribed by a doctor. Massage offers relief for patients struggling with any of the following conditions, which may include chronic stress, anxiety, insomnia, sports injuries, arthritis, soft tissue injuries or strain, headaches, digestive disorders, and more.
Both indoor or outdoor massage at Osmosis may be covered by your Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Savings Account (FSA), workers compensation, or private insurance. Prior approval from your insurance company is recommended and a reimbursement would follow your submission of a receipt from Osmosis. We believe that our massage treatment is beneficial for both health and wellness.
Wellness is a lifestyle and way of living.
Currently, we are observing a notable resurgence in priority of care and wellness during the pandemic. It is becoming a way of life, more than ever now, to make every intentional effort to create the moments of peace and space that refuel us in our daily lives.
From home to work, and everything in between, we support our existing and growing community of guests and patrons in their discovery and balancing of wellness in the face of adversity. Sometimes we all wonder what true wellness should look like, but the truth is there are no hard-and-fast rules or rigidity to what wellness is; but instead simply learning to navigate the flexibility required to be well in mind, body, and spirit—especially now.
Stay well, friends. And do your intentional best to not make concessions on your wellness needs, whatever they may positively be. May the gift of healing touch continue to nurture us along the way. All our love and support to you and your community as we all get through a truly pivotal time. We are here to serve our community, now more than ever, in providing a sanctuary for healing and peace.