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| Sunday, 14 September 2003 |
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Feet first The healing art of foot massage By Jayanthi Liyanage One step inside the room and I was in a world of lilac.
Window shades of lilac. Pillows of lilac and walls of lilac. The hush of soft music shrouding your hearing. The scent of lavender sniffing at your nostrils. Simulated gurgle of water, and the occasional croak of frogs. Green herbs in pots and tied-up bundles of dried herb. Orchids galore, in white and lilac, recalling memories of the national flower of Thailand, seen in abundance in its gardens, markets and on Thai Airways flights. And Rochelle, your hostess and therapist, in lilac. All in all, it is an authentic Thai environment totally dedicated to relaxation and relieving of stress. By hands skilled in soothing out knots and gnarls from tired feet. Presented to the Colombo's stressed-out yuppies and high-pressured youth and older folks, from a therapist who had her training in Thai foot massage at the famous Wat Pho temple of Thailand: Rochelle Tillekeratne. In fact, she was the sole local therapist to convey to us that she too offered the same Thai foot massage at her "Healing Techniques Beauty Studio", in response to our article, "Unwinding the Thai way", of August 17. "It is difficult to enter the Sri Lankan market with Thai foot massage as our people still don't know what this is all about," remarks Rochelle, referring to the sexual undertones the image of massage could conjure in many an imagination. "Your feet are the most neglected part of your body. Specially in Sri Lanka, feet are over utilised to the maximum. We don't take care of them but wonder why they are tired. But, once our clients experience the massage, they come over and over again." Rochelle is another one of those plucky 21st century women to overcome home barriers to harness the talents "where her happiness lies". She tossed her Economics degree to a corner with no second thoughts, to branch out in interior and floral decor, and then, diversifying into the healing art of massage. "The foot contains thousands of nerve endings and 23 pressure points. By gently massaging these particular points downwards with about 40 hand movements, the whole body is revitalized and stimulated - such is the power of touch!," Rochelle explains the rationale of foot reflexology. "Thai massage is one of the ancient healing arts of traditional Thai medicine, the others being herbal medicine and spiritual meditation. It's a fusion of techniques of applying pressure to SEN channels or pressure points, stretching, twisting and joint manipulations which can stimulate the flow of blood and lymph tissues, improve flexibility and ease pain," says Rochelle. "It can bring a sense of calm in today's high-pressured life styles, overwork and emotional tension, often causing back pain, neck pain and the all too familiar migraine attacks." A Thai massage is not merely the pressing, jabbing, twisting and loosening touch of hands, palms, fingers, thumbs and the reflexology stick of the therapist. A part of the healing also lies in the fragrance of aromatic creams and oils of citrus and lavender used in the therapy and camphor and candles lit-up in the ambience. "We always tell our clients to tell us on what pain thresholds they are," tells Rochelle. The reflexology stick, when used on the pressure points of feet, could at times bring pain. "Then we look up in our book and relate that point to some organ in the body." One could be young but be on a very low threshold of pain. Or, one can even be in one's seventies but be so fit as to have a very high pain threshold. Foot massage also whispers tales of itself to the therapist. While administering massage on my feet, Rochelle found that my left foot did not swing quite a wide arc as the right one did. Rightly, I remembered the slight fracture I experienced in my youth, which, without my being even aware of it concealed a stiffening effect at this ankle. "I can't say that massage can cure any ailments but close your eyes to the world for one hour of foot massage! It certainly makes you feel good!," advises Rochelle.
For the yuppies, the process is a stress reliever. "We are amused to find that they try not to fall asleep but eventually do so and we bring them back to the world with a wet towel." For older folks, it is a form of pampering feet grossly neglected over the years and relief from the pain of arthritis or the numbness of diabetes. "This is ideal for any used soul," sums up Rochelle. Ultimately, it all boils down to how your client feels in your hands, she ruminates. "In the end, they are in your hands!" She plans on embarking on a package where the therapy could be offered to would-be couples and requests the marriage hopefuls to step into her salon a day or two before the wedding. "After running around dressmakers, florists and beauticians, just take time off just for the two of you and walk in here," invites Rochelle. "Forget the responsibilities which lie ahead you and the trials which may come in the first year of marriage. With the right massage, you can start your wedding with a refreshed mind." Her invitation is also extended to those who look ahead towards gruelling tasks. "If your mind is relaxed, you perform better at work." Besides the Thai foot massage, Healing Techniques offers all the support services of beauty, body and hair care. If you think your feet needs the treat it richly deserves, call Rochelle at 074-513994. |
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