Chromotherapy is the new aromatherapy. At least that’s what they’re saying at Tru, a San Francisco day spa where the signature TruTherapy massage is winning new converts daily. Chromotherapy, also known as color light therapy, is a technique with roots in ancient Egypt, Babylon, and India that uses different-colored lights to evoke different physical and emotional responses. TruTherapy clients select from three massages: relaxation, rejuvenation, and detoxification. The therapist tailors the massage to achieve the selected goal during the 75- or 105-minute service, while a computer controls a special sequence of colored lights projected from overhead.

How does it work? “When color from light falls on receptors in the eyes and skin, it is converted into electric impulses that travel to the brain and stimulate the production of certain hormones,” says spa spokesperson Adrienne Arieff. “This, in turn, affects a variety of physiological processes, including mood, mental alertness, and well-being.”

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