massage

I think it was the driving last week that rendered my neck unable to flex very much right and not at all left. And in fact it was probably not the driving alone but the number of pillows to which I rested my head. The up shot being a massage last night to solve the stiffness. You will all be pleased to hear, I am certain, that I can now flex and bend, twist and turn my neck again – well until I get to work and realise how much work is to be done! No doubt my shoulders will spring up to my ears in no time!

So while the massage was effective it has to be said that it was equally weird. The fellow who does it is a middle aged man from India – he is raved about on the internet so at no time did I feel unsafe but goodness it was funny. He has his massage table set up in the basement of the health food shop, where there is a bare neon light, a fan heater and 3 rather grim chairs. And the most enormous stack of mags in the corner – all of which have an article about him in. Well that is what he says and I wasn’t about to challenge him. So while I don’t like the massage places that make you feel in some way inferior a little less rust on the light fitting may not be a bad idea!

We have a little conversation to start with and he explained the process. Popped out and let me get changed. The first step was the brushing.  I am not adverse to a bit of exfoliation but this guy uses a horse brush! And in fact I now have my very own to use at home (part of the deal). Apparently it stimulates the lymph – I think it just scratches your nerve endings. None the less once fully scratched, the massage began. And my goodness there was a lot of huffing and puffing. I mean a LOT. So while I acknowledge I am not slight and waif like, I am also not a 6foot rugby player! However the funniest moment was when he jumped onto the bed, stood over me and then pummeled my back. Together with the huffing and puffing it was a little …. odd …..

It all finished with an Indian head massage. Which involved scratching, rubbing, massaging my scalp with coconut oil. I was mighty pleased that I hadn’t washed my hair.

The outcome of his efforts was a well oiled cervical spine and upper thoracic, but also a well oiled head which made me quite the strangest looking woman on the tube at 7.30pm on a Saturday night. And that is no mean feat!