Infratherapy supplier Iyashi Dôme has diversified its traditional Japanese sauna journey with a new hands-on spa ritual for the face and upper body.

Called Omedeto Signature Treatment, the 40-minute protocol sees therapists conduct a facial and massage the guest’s back, chest, neck and scalp, during a gentle Iyashi Dome session.

Warm Japanese towels called Oshiboris are used at the beginning of the treatment to cleanse the face, and also at the end of the massage to finish the ritual and remove any excess oil. Products used in the treatment depend on the spa and wellness centre’s skincare partner of choice.

Therapist training for the new journey is now on offer at Iyashi Dôme’s HQ in Paris. Lasting two days, the course costs €1,400 (£1,225, US$1,486) per person.

Training will become available outside of France in the coming months.

Of the new facial, Iyashi Dôme training manager Florent Cornelis said: “This ritual allows our partners to reinvent their treatment menu and offer clients the combined benefits of infrared therapy and manual wellness treatment.

“Some may question why we’ve developed a manual care protocol for a hands-free device. Firstly, we’ve seen great demand from our partners for this and secondly, because after the past few years there’s been an element of dehumanisation of services.

“As a true ally of the practitioner, technology must assist and elevate the customer journey without restricting the therapist in any way.

“This treatment, Omedeto – literally meaning: calm and lasting happiness – offers guests both a break from the daily grind and a complete workout on the upper body.”

More about Iyashi Dôme sauna therapy

The technology behind Iyashi Dôme devices is inspired by the ancient Suna Ryoho practice, which originates from the Ibuzuki beach in the south of Japan. For centuries, people there have been burying themselves in the hot sand – which has been warmed up by the sun and the underground hot springs – to induce sweating.

As the sand on the beach is volcanic, it emits infrared which is perfect for the purpose of sweating.

The Japanese company designed the dome to reproduce this ritual by developing far infrared ray equipment made out of organic black carbon associated with PIP Titaninium technology, which triggers a vibratory resonance specific to the Iyashi Dome equipment.