DORÉ

I feel so relaxed, but I need a woman, I think that a man would make me feel weird about the massage thing!
XOX, Gap.
http://www.gaptoothedgirl.com

I don’t like massage and don’t find it relaxing at all – you never know what kind of masseuse you are going to get and what kind of energy they are habouring on that day and transference of this scares me – hence no massage for me …

I used to feel exactly the same way. They actually made me really uptight and I used to feel pretty stressed and uncomfortable for the full hour. I guess that’s my type A personality coming out.

Now I go for the pressure point massages where they just work out my knots without slathering me in oil. Much better.

http://www.wearvaughan.com

I never had a massage that makes me want to get more. I tried so hard to like them. Is that relevant to this discussion ? I compare everything to yoga. I feel so good after yoga that the massages i have gotten so far dont feel any special.

I find them absolutely terrifying! My way of relaxing is just by sitting at home, watching tv and making new pieces for my collection, though that doesn’t seem to be most effective when getting out knots etc. Must get over my fear too!

SHOP SAUL

Ah mais pour moi c’est absolument pas une perte de temps ! Au contraire, à chaque fois Que je vais me faire un massage ou un hammam (suivi d’un massage ^^) je me dis que ça me fais tellement de bien que je devrais le faire au moins une fois pas mois !
Bon le temps passant trés vite, finalement j’y vais genre 3 ou 4 fois par an, et j’adore vraiment !
Là j’ai un bon pour une séance de 2h dans l’institut à côté de chez moi : je regarde le coffret en bavant de plaisir anticipé et j’ai hâte de trouver LE bon moment pour y aller…

I hate massages. I even hate the head massage they give you at the hairdresser when they wash your hair. It stresses me. I never know what to do or say. It’s super uncomfortable.
I have to admit, though, that there is one massage I would have every week if I could: the reshaping leg massage I had at a L’Occitane spa in a hotel in Algarve, Portugal. After the massage my legs looked photoshopped! I swear they were thinner, the skin was flawless and I even dare to say a little bit longer. That time, the stress was worth it!
xx,
E.
http://www.theslowpace.com

I love being touched, and it wasn’t always the case. It took an older, wiser woman friend taking me to a Korean bath house a long time ago. Women of all ages, naked and clothed, taking care of themselves in this ritualistic way. My friend/mentor paid my way in and even bought me a massage, which meant laying on a slab table out in the open with just a towel covering my crotch. An old Korean woman rubbed me down, scrubbed me down, then doused me in cold water. She touched my head and said, “you all done now,” and that was that. No frills, no bullsh*t, and I felt like a million dollars. I thanked her profusely and she got the table ready for the next woman.
I see massage now as a ritualistic part of my self-care routine, and I love to remember how ancient this practice is and how many cultures view it not as superficial or luxurious but as important as exercise and good food for your health. The trick is to find the therapist you like, or rather, therapists- no need to have only one. Gotta sort through the gimmick-y ones and those that have ANYTHING to sell you, and those that talk about themselves during the session, etc. I like to avoid fancy spas, new age angles, anything that gets too far removed from basic massage. Chronic migraines? Find a medical massage place and someone there will do some intense work on your neck and head that is really targeted and can offer relief. Stressed out and sore? Go to the Russian bath house and get rubbed down and then whipped with those leaves and sit in steam. Magic!

I had a couple bad experiences with massages before and I know how dauting it could be to find the right person to give them to you. However, when you do, stick to it!!

http://www.daintyandchic.com

Je n’aime pas trop non plus être touchée ( mon Osthéo m’a surnommée la cocotte minute …) mais je me détends absolument sous les mains d’une masseuse. Je reviens d’une Thalasso avec des soins Duo avec mon ami … Un rêve !