Step into the red-hued, tranquil confines of The Oriental Room at the Spa at the Inn at Manitou near Port Perry, Ontario, and you’d think you were in Thailand or Indonesia. Deborah Thomas is one of the most seasoned registered massage therapists at the resort and it is she- a petite, friendly woman from London, England who will be administering the 50 minutes of Bamboo Stick Massage.
The Sticks Do the Work
Petite but powerful is how to describe Deborah. Her hands mean business, but in this case, it’s smooth, cool bamboo sticks (think of stylized rolling pins in various sizes depending on what part of your body is being worked upon) that do the lion’s share of the “work.” This is unlike any massage experience you may have had, unless of course you’ve spent time in the South Pacific, from whence this kind of body work originates.
A generous slathering of nourishing, aromatic oil goes on the skin first so that the sleek sticks slide on the skin and literally roll and knead out the tension where ever it may be hiding.And these sticks have a way of working out knots that human hands just don’t. Yes, you’ll feel like a well-worked piece of French pastry dough, and the tickle-pain sensation is really something (especially in one’s calves), but the treatment really gets at the heart (or knot) of the matter.
A Cultural Approach to Massage
“Here in North America, we have this impression of massage being primarily soothing and luxurious, but when I spent time in Asia, massage is seen as a medicinal treatment that’s meant to keep you healthy. And a lot of times, it wasn’t soothing- it was meant to be a bit painful!” says Thomas.
She’s right – try getting a massage in Shanghai and let us know if you found it terribly “relaxing.” Those bruises didn’t disappear for two to three days- but afterwards, there’s a sense of lightness around the shoulders (the #1 tension holding spot for most).
Luckily, the Bamboo Stick Massage is far from the more “practical” rigours of the Shanghainese variety- but it is nonetheless effective in releasing and relieving tired, stressed muscles. It’s a full body massage – from your neck (the smallest sticks were used there), to your feet (where Deborah employed a rattan “egg” to work out tension even there!).
When you leave the Oriental Room’s sanctuary, enjoy a cup of herbal tea and let that skin-nourishing oil work its way to silky skin and a blissed-out sense of well-being!
A 50 minute massage is $125 CDN. For more spa information at the Inn, click here.
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