Fit to be tried: Different styles of massage
Monday January 19 2009
After the binge of Christmas food and drink, and the purge of the new year's credit card bills, some relaxation therapy may be in order.
A good massage seems just the thing for recovery -- soothing, easing, toning, and leaving you ready to face the world a new woman (or man as the case may be: let's hear it for our male readers, we know you're out there).
Unfortunately, there's a fair chance of getting rubbed up the wrong way, due to wild variations in technique and ability among those providing the service. The problem is that anyone can set themselves up as a masseur or masseuse so check first. And make sure you specify you want therapeutic massage.
Distinctions between methods such as deep tissue, sports massage, Ayurvedic and reflexology can get your muscles in a knot, and recommendations from a friend who likes a gentle rub can be frustrating for those who need a more intense workout.
So what does work? Here are some examples:
Ayurvedic massage is for those who want a deep-reaching experience. Practitioner Felipe Estenos, who operates from Clontarf, dispenses with the traditional hip-high massage table. Instead, he spreads a comfortable mattress on the floor -- all the better to reach you with.
Estenos, originally from Peru, is a small, lithe man with unbelievable strength in his hands. His methods include assisted stretching "to open and realign the body". So you do some of the work as he pulls legs, arms and hips into challenging positions that really open up your tired muscles.
The 32-year-old uses a pressure so deep it can be painful, but in a good way. No feathery touch for this therapist, whose last job was keeping limber the muscles of a Thai boxing team.
Ayurvedic massage targets the marmas, or Indian pressure points, to get rid of toxins, says Estenos, who is in great demand.
The one-hour treatment flies by, and the calf rub borders on pain, but changes to sweet relief as lactic acid build-up is released. You'll sleep like a baby afterwards. Drink lots of water. The cost is €60 for one hour.
Melt is a massage and yoga centre tucked into a cobbled alley in Temple Bar. Massage on offer ranges from Swedish to Shiatsu. The centre's signature treatment is relaxation-style rather than deeply penetrating, but it's pleasantly thorough and no muscle is left unturned. And the therapist, Aoife Coffey, is a born healer.
Melt offers more than 20 different treatments and is strict on allotted times, pushing clients through at an efficient rate. The cost is €58 for a one-hour signature massage.
Reflexology: Our poor feet are often neglected in the massage department, pushed aside by the needs of bigger muscles such as back and neck. But feet are the focus of reflexology -- foot massage to improve the function of your whole body.
At the Sanctuary, a serene community retreat in Dublin's Smithfield, set up by social justice campaigner Sister Stanislaus Kennedy, reflexology is the favourite treatment of therapist Shirley Roe.
"Your foot is like a map where we can read what's going on in the whole body," she says, after leading me down a landscaped path to her cosy wooden igloo-style den.
Roe begins with a foot massage (bliss) and then presses toes, ball and heel of the foot, concentrating on areas correlating to major organs such as the liver. She uses her thumb and finger to knead trouble-spots, and it feels like little balls are being pinched under your skin.
The technique is great for relaxation, and a grounding gift for people who are a bit heady and tend to get tied in cerebral knots. Roe's firm touch means it doesn't tickle. It costs €45.
Deep tissue: The opulent massage room at Therapeaze in Cow's Lane, near Dame Street, is enough to soothe your muscles by itself. Warm and richly decorated, the space reflects the personality of Siobhán Meehan, a friendly and crisply turned-out therapist with over 15 years' experience. Meehan focuses on the back, working to unlock knotted shoulder muscles with a firm pressure that's pleasant but not quite tough enough for a masochist like me.
“Deep-tissue is excellent for people who carry a lot of tension and tightness in their back, shoulders, neck and head due to stress and poor posture. It's also great for athletes,” says Meehan, who trained in Canada and recommends monthly treatments. This treatment costs €70 for one hour.
The verdict
WHAT: Different styles of massage.
DID IT WORK: Yes – it's a tough job getting relaxed, but someone has to do it.
COST: Ranges from €45 to €100 per session.
CONTACTS: Felipe Estenos (Aryuvedic) 086 8831404 or felipe.estenos@gmail.com; Melt: 01 679 8786, www.meltonline.com ; Therapeaze: Siobhan Meehan 086-194136, therap-eaze.com; Sanctuary: 01 6705419, www.sanctuary.ie .
- Amanda Phelan
