A circular blue and purple tent,
rather like a mini circus tent is set up in a secluded area near ATH. Nearby
are flowering honeysuckle, wild rose bushes and a fragrant lavender bush. The
flap is lifted so you can enter. In the small vestibule is a comfortable
sun-lounger with unbleached cotton cushions. On the sun-lounger is a book of
the choices available to you for your massage today. The first section deals
with carrier oils.
- Sweet Almond Oil - Easily absorbed and gentle to the skin, blends well
with all the pure essential oils. The only reason not to use this is if you are
allergic to almonds.
- Apricot kernel Oil - Rich in Vitamins A and C and very good for the face.
Facial massage on its own can be very...intimate.
- Comfrey Oil - A wonderful soft tissue healer, rich in allantion. Used in
therapeutic and remedial massage with muscular aches and painful joints. If you
over-indulged recently #ahem# or twisted your foot on a grassy tussock, this is
for you! Duncan uses this quite a lot.
- Grapeseed Oil - Particularly good for weight loss. Overdid the
marshmallows? Couldn't resist that extra slice of pie? Had one too many garlic
mushrooms?
- Hazelnut Oil - Astringent, good for curing gout and swelling. Don't worry,
you're in safe hands. This is another one Duncan likes from time to time....
- Peach kernel Oil - Very good for dry, sensitive skin.
- Safflower Oil - Good for tired and ageing skin. It is a well-proven skin
rejuvenator. Methos buys the stuff off me by the keg.
- Sesame Seed Oil - Not just good for popping on top of hamburger buns or
opening cave doors. I mix it with carrot oil which preserves the elasticity of
the skin. Amanda got the recipe from me...for a price.
- Talcum Powder - You probably can't remember the pleasure of being rubbed
all over with this by your mother or father when you were a baby. I use it on
small areas, and I'm afraid it irritates hairy parts, but try some on your neck
and shoulders.
- Creams - Again, these tend to clog up on contacting hairy areas, but a
hand or foot massage might be just what you need......
All of the above carriers are more or less
odourless, so you might want to choose a scent from the following. Use your
intuition and pick one that appeals. Something like Black Pepper is going to
tend to 'wake you up!' whilst Rose will be soothing.
Basil, Benzoin (good for colds), Bergamot, Black Pepper, Cajaput
(asthma), Cedarwood (with care if you are pregnant), Chamomile, Clary Sage (no
alcohol recently!), Cypress, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Geranium, Grapefruit, Jasmine,
Jatmansi (relaxing, painful muscles, restores colour to dark hair), Juniper
Berry, Lavender, Lemon, Lemongrass, Lime, Mandarin, Marigold, Marjoram, Melissa
(bee and wasp stings), Myrrh, Orange blossom, Niaouli (lungs and bladder),
Orange, Patchouli, Peppermint, Petigrain, Pine, Rose, Rosemary (stimulant, not
for high blood pressure sufferers), Sage, Sandalwood, Sughandha Kokila
(digestive system, rheumatism and joint pain), Tea Tree, Thyme, Xanthoxylum
(lymph, circulation, mucous membranes).
Now you've picked your oil and
fragrance, pass inside to the inner sancum. Xena guides you to the massage
bench where a pile of fresh, thick cream-coloured towels await to cover
your....embarrassment. Once you have disrobed in that cubcle over there
and you are in place (face up or down) and decently covered, you will be asked
which sort of massage you require. Those wanting just hand, foot or face
massage can sit on the very comfortable padded wooden and velvet chair to your
left.
For full body massage, there are several types:-
- Efflerrage :- Performed with the flat of the hand and the pads of the
fingertips. This will be used in any case, as it is relaxing and prepares you
for deeper massage.
- Petrissage :- Applied with the balls of the fingers or thumbs to the muscle
which lies directly over the bone. Deep rubbing, in circles. Very good for
stiff necks and shoulders. The light version is used on the face.
- Kneading - Ever wondered how bread feels? The same movement is used here,
to stimulate muscles without bone underneath.
- Percussion - With the sides of the hands, cupping and plucking movements.
This one will wake you up!
- Feathering - A gentle 'finishing' massage. This will either have you up
and raring to go, or you'll have drifted off to sleep, depending on which
massages came before it.
When you've surfaced, Xena will have
prepared a nice long drink (non-alcoholic, for now) and if you a pleasing
gentleman wanting further....attention, she may draw you into the skilfully
hidden third chamber in this tent where you will have to use your imagination,
charm and persuasion, but the rewards will be plentiful if you are successful.
Another satisfied customer!
