If you’re a person who doesn’t like the freezing cold of winter and would prefer to be cozied up in front of a fire under a nice warm blanket, then a Warm Bamboo massage may be just what you’re looking for!
The Warm Bamboo massage is a decadent treat as well as a results oriented treatment. Bamboo canes (or sticks) of all different sizes and shapes are heated and then used in place of the therapist’s hands to be rolled, glided and kneaded on the different areas of the body. The heat helps to melt the tension away, while the rhythmic movements lulls the client into an extreme state of relaxation. Gentle kneading with the warm bamboo opens ups the tissues to get deeper results without any discomfort or lingering soreness that can often happen with deep tissue massage. This is a Holistic treatment where it affects you on all levels balancing, calming and energizing you physically, mentally and spiritually.
Bamboo has ancient roots, where the Chinese used it for everything including recording notes long before paper was invented. Therefore it was a natural evolution for it to be used in creative and spiritual expressions and to take on ritual and healing connotations, as the bamboo stalks symbolize eternal youth, strength, prosperity and peace.
Bamboo is actually a giant grass where the stalk can be cut leaving the root system intact allowing for rapid regrowth. It can grow as fast as one foot in 24 hours and will grow back to full size in a few years. In addition to being very sustainable, it is recognized for its strength and flexibility and lends itself to a variety of uses. Because of its strength, it can be used for bridges, floors, furniture and utensils to name a few, and because of its softness, it can be used for clothing, bedding and towels. The reason it is so hard, yet flexible is because the outer cell walls are covered in silica, creating a crystalline-like matrix, similar to a quartz crystal and our own connective tissue. Some believe that releasing tension within this matrix can help balance and restore the body’s electromagnetic field creating the extreme relaxation and healing effects that bamboo massage is known for. Additionally, silica is also known for helping to keep skin and hair healthy looking, by improving their texture.
Some of the other main benefits of Warm Bamboo massage are: the melting away of stubborn knots and tension, alleviating back and shoulder pain, the increase of joint and muscle flexibility, improvement of sports performance and endurance, decrease in pain and healing time for injuries, promotes circulation, sensory nerve perception and lymphatic drainage, increases energy and vitality and soothes away stress.
In my practice I like to create a customized blend of essential oils to use for a Warm Bamboo treatment to further the healing benefits of the massage and relaxation experience for the client. Treatments can also be customized to suit a client’s preference, with either a light touch for relaxation or a firmer pressure to address stress and tension areas.
Treat yourself this cold and windy winter and book a delicious Warm Bamboo massage soon, you’ll feel like you’ve had a mini vacation in a sunny warm local, but saved your money!
Resources:
* Bamboo Massage, A Meeting of Past and Present by Sonia Orsorio
*The Art of Bamboo Massage, by Meghna Mukherjeel