| Product: |
Massage |
| Date: |
22/03/05 (236 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: See review
Disadvantages: None that I can think of!
Unless you’ve reached what humanist psychologists call ‘self-actualisation’ and thus live in harmony and peace with the world (which, by the way, I highly doubt), I’m guessing that at one point or another you’ve felt stressed out. Day-to-day stress, exam worries, work woes, child induced headaches or simply feeling worn out are all problems that have one easy, and extremely nice, solution. That solution is to book yourself an aromatherapy massage.
***** What to expect *****
This kind of massage is different from your bog standard one in that the masseuse makes use of natural oils which have been proven to relax and calm. It’s an incredibly nice experience, and I can guarantee a sense of relaxation will not be far behind, no matter how stressed you may be.
The best idea is to book your massage with a professional, who will ensure you have a one on one session before the actual event. This session will establish some important points about your lifestyle, eating habits, worries and general emotional state. This then allows the masseuse to choose the right blend of oils for you (each oil has a different purpose/effect) and also to concentrate on any area of your body you feel tension in or have bother with. I found this session to be quite informal and easy-going, though some people may feel uncomfortable being asked about their menstrual cycle or weight (this obviously only applies to women). Male participants are usually given some much more general questions, as I discovered when comparing my session with that of my boyfriend, who had a massage in the room next to mine (this all happened in the superb Edinburgh Floatarium, just in case you’re interested).
Pre-massage preparation merely involves the masseuse briefing you on what he/she will do, advising you how to position yourself on the bed and then leaving you to undress. Don’t be fazed by your nakedness, you are allowed to keep your lower underwear on and your ‘private areas’ are covered discreetly by a towel. As a very shy person, I expected to feel very embarrassed, but once the massage started I forgot all about my bareness, and soon realised that these people see this every day, thus it’s no big deal!
The massage itself can vary depending on who you go to. I was lucky enough to experience a ‘full body massage’, which is self explanatory I’d say! My boyfriend was given a more sparing massage, though I wouldn’t say this spoils your enjoyment, as he seemed very pleased with the experience regardless. Anyway, the massage is gentle, and not in any way painful. The oils create a wonderful aroma that lulls you into a very nice relaxed state. A good masseuse will always have made sure you do not have any allergies, and should also ask you at each point if their touch is too strong, or painful. If they do not, they’re not doing the job properly, and you should complain immediately. Aromatherapy is all about gentle relaxation, so roughness should not come into the equation.
The full body massage begins with the upper and mid back area. You can literally feel any tension melt away as you experience this. Believing it can’t get any better than this, you are then pleasantly surprised when your legs are attended to. This was extremely nice, which did surprise me. Arms, hands, then neck, face and head follow. Each step makes you feel gradually more and more relaxed, and as the oils take time to truly ‘form’, you’ll find that as time marches on the aroma will become much nicer and more mellow.
Once the massage itself is over (unfortunately), the masseuse brings you some water, which you MUST drink to flush out any oil that has made its way into your system. Afterwards, you dress, have one last briefing in which you’re advised to keep cosy, relax, and aim to keep the oils on for the rest of the day.
After leaving, your skin should feel luxuriously soft and you should feel very relaxed and happy.
***** The benefits *****
After an aromatherapy massage, you’ll find your whole mood has altered. I found myself to be in good spirits for the remainder of the day, and I felt very calm and easy-going. It’s a very nice experience, and the exam jitters I had previously been dealing with seemed far less worrying now. This is due to the oils. The masseuse informed me that the blend she used was ideal for reducing your worry levels and relaxing you both physically and mentally. Believe me, it worked!
In more serious terms, this form of massage can be of great benefit to people who have suffered injuries in the past, and still experience tension in the same area. Tight muscles can be relaxed if attended to in this way regularly, thus those who suffer from stiff necks should certainly try this!
People who are depressed or very stressed out will also reap the benefits of this wonderful experience. It’s a very soothing mental experience, and I believe those feeling down will feel a great lift from this (my mother, who was depressed at the time of her massage, came out looking much happier than she had for a long time!). It’s not a long term cure, but it can help to soothe the daily feelings of wear and tear.
***** Expense *****
You can book an hour long session for around £35, which is a bargain, considering how lovely this is! Prices will of course vary, but the most expensive you’ll find should be around £50, anything above this you should avoid, because that’s simply ridiculous.
If, however, you’re skint like me or don’t fancy a stranger massaging you, you can buy aromatherapy massage oil from various outlets. I’d think it would be a nice bonding experience with a partner, and this way solves any cost/time/travel problems. Nivea do a nice massage oil for £12, which seems pricey but it lasts for a long time, and is certainly worth it. You can purchase this kind of oil from most chemists, Boots, Superdrug etc,
***** Conclusion *****
This is a wonderfully relaxing and beneficial experience. I’d advise anyone feeling a bit worn down or worse to try this remedy.
The only people who shouldn’t try this are pregnant women, those with heart problems or severe allergies, as the oils may cause some interference.
All in all, it’s a damn good experience :)
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marcusbutcher - 30/03/05 I had a few full-body massages when a friend was training and really enjoyed it - can't afford to get it done now though :-( Great review!
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