Massage tea-rapy at Sofitel Philippne Plaza’s Le Spa

Whoever said that tea was just for drinking?

Red tea soothes and detoxes. White tea regenerates. Black tea stimulates. And true to its reputation, green tea is the perfect antioxidant.

Apart from its anti-inflammatory properties, teas are widely sought—especially for face products—for their anti-aging treatments.

Tea actively contributes to slowing down the aging process of the skin by neutralizing free radicals that break down collagen and elastin. This benefits prodded Le Spa at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel to offer ultimate spa rejuvenation with tea-laden treatments by Themae.

“Themae is an exclusive range of treatments based on the wondrous properties of tea, which had long been considered by many civilizations and even scientists as one of nature’s most effective elixirs,” according to a communique issued by the hotel.




Facials
At Le Spa, it says, “Treasured ancient traditions meld with cutting edge French cosmetology with the introduction of Themae for facial treatments.”

Le Spa offers various Themae facials such as the Rejuvenating Facial. With the use of traditional tools such as Ridokis and Nuat-na, and through therapeutic movements that encourage circulation, one’s skin becomes more firm –  leaving her with “visibly younger, vibrant-looking skin” – and lifting years off one’s face.

One’s skin is “deeply cleansed, exfoliated and steamed to prepare for a detoxifying mask enriched with Complexe des 4 Thes and lupin flower extract” by the Purity Radiance Facial. Combined with lymphatic drainage, the intense purification leaves the skin oxygenated and purified.

If one seeks ultimate deep relaxation, perhaps a delicate treatment such as the Hydration Facial would be ideal. With the use of the massage tool Ridokis and the best French techniques and Shiatsu movements, you can kiss your tired and dull skin goodbye.

Silhouette Body Treatments
Want a firmer and toned body? Apparently, “A massage with silhouette shaper cups encourages collagen production and breaks down fatty deposits and cellulite, and drains excess fluids as well,” according to a print material from Sofitel.

The Silhouette Contouring Wrap envelopes the body, and stimulates the reduction of fat and cellulite leading to a slimmer and smoother silhouette. Meantime, the Silhouette Toning Wrap reduces water retention and heavy legs syndrome: improving circulation, strengthening capillary walls, eliminating toxins and regulating microcirculation. The Silhouette Firming Wrap stimulates collagen synthesis, restoring the skin’s elasticity and firmness.

Prices range from Php3,000 to Php3,800. Until November this year, one gets with this package a complimentary 30-minute back or foot massage of choice (which would have cost you at least Php1,500).  Also until November this year, buyers of Algotherm or Themae products worth Php8,000 are entitled to a free 30-minute instant Glow Facial (originally priced at Php2,000).

Le Spa encourages a healthy lifestyle with Cuisine De-light and refreshments: decadent spa treatments to high tea with champagne. Plus Vinotherapie with these French beauty rituals.

Whether this past week has been kind to you or not, what better way than to go “far from the madding crowd.” Well, yes and no. Le Spa is the perfect getaway because you get the advantage of still being in the center of the metropolis, and yet experiencing the ambience of a 5-star luxury resort hotel, no less.

And one gets the best of both France and the Philippines: French refinement with local charm. Interiors of natural elements such as dark wood, Philippine shell. The spa has a lounge, a dry and wet sauna; and also 9 treatment suites including a duo suite, a very spacious bath tub, and a spa suite with state-of-the-art Trautwein Crystal Bath and a sundeck overlooking Manila Bay!

And like a well-planned multi-course meal complete with appetizers, main dishes, desserts and choices of local or international cuisine, and options as well for gentlemen or the family, one could avail of  treatments  ranging from anywhere from Php900 (waxing, with soothing cream)  to Php12,800 (a three-hour world’s best or local favorite massage for couples and overnight accommodation at Sofitel with breakfast for two).

Sofitel General Manager Adam Laker couldn’t have said it so well: “Guests are treated to a complete suite of health, wellness and beauty whenever they come to Sofitel to be pampered. From the setting to the Sofitel Ambassadors, there’s always something unique and a step above in everything you see and experience here. This is why we remain the only choice as venue and partner for the crème de la crème of French brands and events. And we are also committed to always bring the best of France to the Philippines, and making them even more exceptional. With Themae, we believe that we have raised the bar again, with signature therapies that are as effective as they are indulgent.”

source: interaksyon.com

How I Scored a Lifetime of Massage, Physical Therapy, & Chiropractor Work for Just $60

It was a normal mid-summer day. I jogged about two miles in to work, did a few situps when I got there, slaved away at my desk for 9 hours, then jogged home.

Throughout the day, I noticed a spot in my lower back getting tight. Did I pull something during the situps, I wondered? The subsequent jog home loosened the spot up a bit and everything seemed fine.

After arriving home, things took a turn for the worse as my back started tightening up again.

By the end of the day, I was reduced to crawling from one room to the next. The pain was so excruciating that I could not stand up and walk.

The entire next day, much of the same. I hobbled around the office hunched over, dragging one leg behind me. By this point, my entire back had seized up around the original problem spot. If I could have crawled around the office without creating a scene, I would have. Sitting at a desk all damn day certainly wasn’t helping the situation.

That afternoon, I booked an emergency massage appointment. One hour later and $50 poorer, I left defeated. Despite the massage therapists best efforts (she specializes in rehab and sports massage, btw), my condition had only slightly improved. An hour after that, it was like I hadn’t even gone at all.

That night I tried heat, cold, stretching, lying on soft surfaces, lying on hard surfaces, walking… nothing seemed to work.

One day and zero improvement later, I ran in to a neighbor across the street and told him of my predicament.

 “Have you tried a foam roller?”

 “A what?, I replied.

“A high density foam roller. Here, let me go get one.”

<Neighbor returns with giant black foam cylinder that looked like something pulled out of a Chuck E. Cheese play pen>

“Go home and roll your back across this.”

Skeptical, I returned home at snail’s pace.

Then I tried it.

After about 5 minutes of rolling and stretching my back across the roller, I stood up. What happened next was completely shocking. I walked across my living room, normal gait, with ZERO pain. WTF?! Encouraged, I spent another 5 minutes rolling. Then immediately went on a half hour walk with my wife and the dog, with no pain.

3 days of down time, an hour long massage, hours of ice, heat, and stretching had negligible, if any impact. 10 minutes on an inanimate piece of foam? Problem solved. The instant dramatic turn-around resembled something out of a healing-power televangelist scene in a movie.

A believer, I promptly rushed to Amazon and bought a super high density foam roller of my own – this one, specifically. I have tried a few others since and STRONGLY recommend the super high density (black), 36-inch, full-round version. The black foam represents the highest density, offering the most resistance on your body and best results. Once you go black foam roller, you never go back (or so I hear).

A number of manufacturers make them and foam is a readily available commodity, so they are cheap. My cost at the time? $30.

I have since used the foam roller before work, after work, and before bed – every single day. I have notoriously bad posture, sit at a desk all day, have a horrible kink in my neck, and have some hip alignment problems from heel striking when running. The foam roller addresses all those problems and occasional tension in my calves from cycling or arms from working out.

After much research, I have since paired it with a Body Back Buddy, which presents similar self-generated results for acute spots that a foam roller can’t put enough pressure on. I start with the foam roller and end with the Back Buddy. And now I recommend them to anyone I come across who has back, leg, or hip pain. Judging by its looks, it probably has some alternative uses as well.

Point here is not to diminish the work many fine massage or physical therapists perform or that these two tools can cure all physical ills. And as you know, I’m not a proponent of most “stuff”. There are numerous exceptions, however, that can lead to better health, better environment, and better finances. These tools are a great example of how a small strategic investment can produce a lifetime of savings. And all it took was a little creative exploration. Oh… and I’m not a doctor, but you already knew that.

source: 20somethingfinance.com