What it means to be a Dr Hauschka Esthetician (the condensed version)

I had a couple of requests from other estheticians asking if I would explain what it means to be a Certified Dr Hauschka esthetician. I sense a urge from estheticians to understand how to treat the skin holistically. In my opinion there is either very little or conflicting information out there on this topic.  So I will jump right in a attempt to share what I know about the Dr Hauschka Treatment from my 15 years as a Dr Hauschka esthetician.

There are many aspects that are at the core of Dr Hauschka esthetician training. One of these concepts is an understanding of the role rhythm plays in how our skin functions. Rhythm is found everywhere in nature, the seasons, night and day, breathing, and our heartbeat. Our skin too has a rhythm.  One of its rhythms is its cellular renewal and the different functions it has from day to night. The rhythm of the skin is studied in depth by a Dr Hauschka esthetician and informs her on how to work with the skins rhythm to help and guide the skin to balance. A fundamental understanding is knowing and working with the skin rhythm:  and how it works in the day time and how this differs from  its functions at night time.

Another aspect is  learning  to focus on the clients unique personal qualities. You learn to develop an inner presence and attentiveness that translates through the quality of your touch. The treatment itself is designed to support the physical, mental and spiritual regeneration of the client.  Of course the certified organic Dr Hauschka skincare lines use of medicinal herbs also support the physical, emotional and spiritual levels. Estheticians study the four temperaments, a ancient form of psychology to understand different personality types  : the choleric, the sanguine, the phlegmatic, and the melancholic. This deep understanding of your client plays a significant role in the herbal preparations chosen form them  and other modalities you may suggest to them to find balance and skin health.

At the heart of the Dr Hauschka treatment is a unique form of lymphatic stimulation developed by the Austrian cosmetologist Elisabeth Sigmund.  Elisabeth worked with Dr Vodder the originator of lymphatic drainage. The lymphatic stimulation gives a harmonizing and decongesting impulse.  Two soft brushes stimulate the fluid flow in the connective tissue and the lymphatic system in such a way that the body is stimulated to remove the waste fluids.

The biggest and most mysterious part of learning and working in the Dr Hauschka treatment modality is its basis in Anthroposophical  Medicine. It has been 15 years since I was originally trained and I keep learning more as each year passes. This is truly inspiring as it is a treatment and philosophy that is very deep.

There are some special features to a Dr Hauschka Treatment and these feature are not used with out any significant purpose.

First every treatment begins with a foot bath.  Nothing new you may think, but there is a deeper element going on here. We are a society that spends much to much time up in our busy, thinking, planning heads. Warming the feet at the beginning of the treatment pulls the energy down away from the head to the feet for a grounding effect. Warmth in the feet ensure good circulation which relaxes the entire body including the chronically tense neck and shoulder areas.

Another significant feature of a Dr Hauschka facial is that there in no manual facial massage. Here the basis of understanding is that the connective tissue of the face is richer in elastic fibres than the skin on the rest of the body.  The muscles of the face are closely connected to the skin, manual massage of the face can compromise the supportive qualities of this tissue. Please keep in mind I am taking about vigorous massage that many facials do incorporate.  Gentle movements, stroking and pressing are used.

These are just a few of the concepts that are taught to Dr Hauschka estheticians. I could write a whole book on the subject. If you have any specific questions about the treatment or training  I would be happy to reply.