|
|
 |
|
 |
|
by Atty. Honorato Y. Aquino
I decided to give myself a treat.
It was a long day and I was tired, physically and mentally.
For some time I had been hearing about this ayurvedic something and I thought it was a good time to check it out.
It sounded like something from Sanskrit, but I really had no idea what to expect.
It started like any other spa session with the triple S – shower, steam, sauna.
Next would be the contrasting hot and cold pools, but I skipped them this time.
I went straight to "massage," which was what I came for.
Here is where I saw – or felt, because it was soothingly dark and my eyes were closed anyway – the difference.
After the traditional rubdown, that is.
The aromatic oil the masseuse slathered on my whole body was mixed with an abrasive of some kind.
It provided an interesting counterpoint to the silky oil and the calming, rhythmic strokes of the masseuse.
Afterwards I asked her what it was and it turned out to be a kind of powder made from assorted herbs.
But at the time it was being rubbed into my skin it felt like coarse grit.
It took a little getting used to, which was perfectly all right, as I was too drowsy to resist.
But oddly enough the sensation soon proved to be pleasurable.
I later learned that the herbs were imported from Thailand and were supposed to have therapeutic properties.
Well, they must have; they left a tingling sensation all over.
That should wake up all those sleepy cells.
Then, amid all the pampering, came the real surprise.
Heat therapy is the only way to describe it.
I felt like a barber's hot towel was being pressed on my skin from head to foot; no, I got that in reverse – from the soles of my feet all the way upwards.
I did not know what to make of it at first.
Sometimes it was too hot for me but I endured it as manfully as I could so as not to look like a yokel.
But every so often I couldn't help but let out an embarrassed yelp.
I later learned from the comely masseuse that the real high point was the rubdown with the herbs.
The heat was applied only to make the skin absorb the essence of the herbs and the special oil.
It was all it was cracked up to be, for its price, although I might need a couple more sessions to sort out all those new sensations.
I can't wait to get back.
|
|
|
|
