venusandmarsdayspa.com

Being a busy mom and wife I find myself needing more time for me. It can be difficult to balance kids, husband, appointments, play dates, school, work, date nights with my husband, and still find time for me. With all the juggling and multi-tasking I do in a day when the week is over I am just glad to have a slight break from the routine.

When I feel like everything is getting a bit overwhelming I realize it may be time to schedule a day of pampering for myself, and when I do I like to go to my favorite local spa that just so happens to be a place made for pampering. The atmosphere at Venus and Mars Day Spa is so serene and soothing. I find when I walk in the door a sudden peacefulness just comes over me. Whatever kind of day I have had… I know that it will all melt away when I dedicate a few hours to myself there.

Typically I enjoy a rejuvenating pedicure and manicure, but I decided to try something new: a massage. It is not just any massage, a bamboo fusion massage. This massage technique is relatively new, but is catching on quickly in the spa industry. It was created by a woman who now lives in Sarasota, Florida named Nathalie Cecilia who was originally from France. She stumbled upon the technique while doing a massage on a client who required more strength and intensity during the massage and spotted two bamboo poles, and quickly used them to apply pressure to the clients’ muscles. Over time Cecilia began developing new techniques with the different lengths and shapes of bamboo poles, and implemented them into what she now calls Bamboo Fusion Massage Therapy.

Lina was the massage therapist who was going to be working on me that day. She showed me to my changing room and explained where I could put my belongings. As I changed into my soft terry cloth robe and slipped on the indoor shoes I glanced around the small room. It was dimly lit with candles burning. The scents filling my nose and I felt a sudden sense of ease come over me for what was in store.

With my belongings locked safely away I followed Lina into the small room where the massage table was. This room was also dimly lit and the sound of serene music filled the air. Lina explained to me what was going to happen and how she normally conducts the massage. We talked over what my preferences were and how I had some lower back pain that was bothering me lately and Lina suggested she had a technique to help with that also.

I am usually not very comfortable laying on my face, but I did and convinced myself that I would relax in time. Actually as Lina was draping the linens over my body, the warmth that permeated from the table caused me to soften so I could enjoy the massage. Lina used her hands to apply oil to my body one section at a time. The bamboo sticks felt warm on my skin and they glided over it smoothly. She applied pressure to the areas where I had tension and slowly I began to relax more and more. As Lina went about her work with ease and swiftness she explained that she had been taking a class about this massage therapy technique, and she had met the creator Cecilia who was her instructor. She used the bamboo to reach areas of my body that were otherwise more difficult on the hands and require a lot more intensity and pressure.

My tired muscles began feel alleviated by the constant motion of the bamboo. I think one of my favorite parts was the feet and legs. I am constantly on the go and moving with my son that my feet don’t get the rest they probably need, so to have such attention given made all the difference. I knew I had some tension in my neck muscles, but I didn’t realize how much until the bamboo sticks ran over my neck and there was an actual bump. She told me that I had some significant tension in my neck muscles and the bamboo would help relieve that tension. I particularly enjoy the head and neck part with the gentle touch to my scalp. That almost put me to sleep, but I remember I had to be awake for this massage so I could write about it and quickly came back to reality. It was a soothing massage that left me feeling rejuvenated and energized.

When Lina had worked each section of my body she sat me up and handed me some water. The lights were still low and I was slightly dizzy, but still reveling in the atmospheric ambiance I was slowly emerging from. She suggested that I drink water throughout the day and when I asked if I could work out this afternoon she politely replied, “Well, you can, but why would you want to beat up your muscles after you just had them so relaxed?” She had a really good point, and after all it was just one day off…Right?

When I stood up to put on my robe I felt this sudden weightless feeling come over me. I didn’t feel the heaviness of the morning I just had with my son having a tantrum before school. I felt nothing as I disrobed and changed into my clothing. I felt a sense of comfortable stillness as I unlocked my locker and prepared to enter the lobby. I could barely remember how I felt that morning when I first walked in. I was suddenly hooked on this new feeling and was surprised that a simple massage technique was so through at relieving some of my simple ailments. I wondered if this therapy was applied regularly to my routine how much of a difference it would make in my overall health and the benefits it would produce.

I entered the lobby and the receptionist asked me if I enjoyed my massage and before I could respond she looked up at me and said, “I can already see that you did. You look so relaxed and peaceful.” True, my hair was slightly disheveled and when I noticed in the changing room I didn’t really mind because in fact nothing could bother me or phase me in that moment. I was thrilled to be in this ecstatic state and couldn’t wait for my husband to see me calm and peaceful, after all he was usually used to seeing me frantic…apron on…in the kitchen cooking dinner when he arrived home for work and wouldn’t it be wonderful if he could see me in this slight tranquil state before I suddenly slip back into mom mode? I think this massage was worth every penny…in fact I will just slip this into my pampering repertoire and have one because I deserve some pampering every once in a while and my husband and son could use some father son bonding time too.

If you would like more information about the Bamboo Fusion Massage please visit: www.venusandmarsdayspa.com or call 813-814-9104

Venus and Mars Day Spa located at:

11614 Countryway Blvd.

Tampa, FL 33626