www.womanthismonth.com February 2016 47 As I drove to Joz Salon & Spa at the Dragon Hotel in Amwaj, I anticipated an hour of quiet metime; a luxury that I usually cannot afford. Little did I know that it would be 90 minutes of pure bliss. Monalisa, my trained masseuse, led me to a tranquil treatment room and started preparing for my hot stone massage. As someone who is always cold, the warmth of the heated massage table was extremely comforting. Monalisa started with gently but firmly applying pressure on key points of my body (covered with a warm, toasty towel), to enhance blood circulation. Her deft pulling and stretching made my joints and back 'crack' making me let go and breathe easy. Then came the Swedish massage; the prelude to the hot stone therapy. Monalisa’s skilful effleurage with lavenderscented oil worked at releasing tension and gently breaking up my muscle knots, concentrating specifically on my aching shoulders which are usually hunched over the keyboard or the steering wheel. Just as I was about to slip into semiconsciousness, smooth, black, hot stones were put to work on my back, shoulders, soles and palms. The stones, some round and others oval, were placed strategically along my back, hips and calves and moved around in a definite pattern. I could feel the heat penetrate my muscles and ease out the stress. While the stones rested on my back, Monalisa rubbed the hot stones down my legs and arms, which was very soothing indeed. To end my session, she expertly stretched my limbs for some final 'seventh heaven' feeling. What: Hot Stone Massage Where: Joz Salon & Spa Favourite Feature: The stretching and cracking of the joints that releases physical tension. tension or knots. Aromatherapy Massage – When the massage oil is blended with essential oils such as lavender, peppermint, lemongrass, etc. it helps to alleviate pain and lift your mood. Hot Stone Massage – Smooth-surfaced stones are heated in water and then placed over the body. The heat from the stones warms up the muscles and is very relaxing. This technique however, requires a lot of skill. Sports Massage – This was developed for athletes to quickly rid themselves of physical stress. Athletes take it before, during and after a competition. It is also good for anyone with chronic pain, injury or movement issues. Thai Massage – A traditional Thai massage is unique in that it uses passive stretching and pressure along the body’s energy lines to increase flexibility and effectively gives relief from muscle or joint tension. A Thai massage takes place fully clothed on a cotton mat on the floor. The therapist uses his or her own body to administer the massage. Shiatsu – This technique was developed in Japan and uses intense finger pressure to restore the healthy flow of energy through the body. Like its Thai counterpart, it takes place fully clothed on a cotton mat on the floor and does not need any oil to be applied to the body. Pre- and Postnatal Massage – A prenatal massage helps to reduce swelling in the arms and legs and relieve aches and pains in muscles and joints, as well as anxiety and stress, especially in the last two trimesters. Only an experienced masseuse who is an expert at this type of massage should be trusted. In some cultures, a daily massage is a way to soothe a new mother and enable her to deal with the baby blues. The masseuse typically starts at the feet, making her way up the body, ending with a calming head massage. Postnatal massages help to relax sore backs, get rid of toxins and improve wellbeing and immunity by stimulating the lymph flow. They are also said to accelerate recovery from a C-section, but should be taken only after the wound has healed. Whatever the type of massage you choose, talk to your therapist beforehand to discuss your problem areas. She should be happy to concentrate on tired feet, tense shoulders or a stiff neck. Do communicate the intensity of pressure you prefer. In any case, a massage should never feel painful. Pain means the pressure is too intense. If it uncomfortable, let the therapist know. What a massage feels like depends entirely on the skill of the therapist. Try different therapists till you find one you like and get regular massages to reap the full benefits of this ancient wellness technique.
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