Ok, I will admit it. I have been a bit of a massage whore here in India. I waited until arriving in Kerala to indulge. Kerala is known as God's own country, and also the land of Ayurveda. I received treatment where warm oil is slowly poured on the forehead. I received various full body massages using an array of oils. Some treatments were followed by ten minutes of steam. Heat on top of humidity...Yay!
The strangest treatment I received was in Varkala. The treatment was in a very very hot, very very dingy room. The therapist spoke as much English as I speak Hindi. She wound a very long cloth through an old hook on the ceiling. She then dragged a mat onto the floor and motioned for me to undress and lay face down. Draping is pretty much non existent here in India. Sometimes a cloth thong is tied onto you before the treatment, but by the end of the massage it is saturated in oil and really serves no purpose. Imagine if you will a very very wet diaper.
My therapist went into an adjoining room and I soon heard water running for what seemed like a very very long time. Then all was very very quiet. I then felt a presence at my feet and for a fleeting moment I really hoped it was who I thought it was. A foot was placed on the inside of my ankle and it dragged my leg laterally. I then felt a foot planted between my thighs. I then felt another foot that had been freshly dipped in oil begin massaging my glutes and hips. The hook and cloth began to make sense. Using her foot my therapist massaged my entire body from toes to sternum. Her little phalangies were powerful little instruments. My hamstrings and IT band felt like jello.
Turning over was no easy "feet". My therapist worked my arms and hands (bliss bliss bliss). She also worked my anterior chest. I was really hoping that the old hook above my head decided to choose another day to choose a "next" life. Thankfully it supported my little Ayurvedic Acrobat for the duration of the treatment. I was pretty certain I was going to be sore the next day, but I felt fantastic.
My favourite massage was in a family run clinic in Munnar. I entered the clinic feeling pretty horrible. I had a migraine the size of India. My therapist was excellent. Her hands were very very good hands. Very caring, very nurturing, good healing hands. Her room was clean and warm and the oils she used were excellent. She turned down the lights, and spoke with a very soft voice. I resisted the urge to figure out what she was doing, and simply allowed the treatment to happen. I think I let out a small whimper at one point. The focus and attention she paid to my head was amazing.
When the treatment was over I felt such a tremendous relief...thanks to my little Ayurvedic Angel. The term Well Being is so overused these days, but it certainly is poignant when it is genuine. I wanted to hug her, but I simply took her hands in mine and thanked her with all my heart. When I emerged from the little family run clinic, the skies opened up and it rained. A cool, refreshing, beautiful summer rain.
Today I will try a synchronized massage. Hopefully all four of their feet will be firmly planted on the ground. Hopefully they have the skill and warmth of my young therapist from Munnar. I will keep you posted.
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