Nevermind that you are half naked. Nevermind that you are wearing a curtain with rubberband. Nevermind that you are lying on your stomach, completely vulnerable. When elbow comes down, you are in utter bliss. Forget that you are being kneaded like a giant blob of dough on a baker’s counter. The only thing you care about is that you woke up this morning in blinding agony, neck cricked on one side and swearing like a sailor; and now, all of that seems like a drugged fantasy.
That was me on a Sunday afternoon. I had injured my shoulder and neck a few weeks ago. That is what happens when human sacks of potatoes slip and fall. I had spent copious amounts of cash on masseurs and masseuses all over town but here I was, weeks later, and a second injury on top of the first.
There are about a million massage centres, foot reflexology spas, fish therapy rooms and quacky gurus from Batu Lintang to BDC. I’ve tried about 500,000 of them and decided that maybe one is okay for certain ailments, one is okay if I’m feeling charitable, most have quality control issues, and some think I will pay for hanky panky.
Friends recommend their favourite to me all the time but I am a royal fusspot when it comes to massage. Most of the time, recommendations just do not cut it for me. The first time I heard of Beijing Natural Healing was from an old friend who had a serious problem with his shoulder four years ago. As usual, I pooh-poohed it away, knowing that these rave reviews seldom amount to much. More recently, friend who have had chronic back and knee problems started talking about Beijing again and how they engage only masters from Harbin in China.
I have a problem with my Achilles tendon on top of my injuries. Two reflexologies and a corrective therapy later, I am quite happy to sing the praises of the masseurs at Beijing Natural Healing. They know their stuff and have been consistent in standards. They don’t say much, these masters. They look, touch, and they know how to make you squirm. The dough-kneading was fantastic, but by the time he worked his way down to my shoulder, I felt like a wet towel being wrung out to dry. The strain and pain is gone, I feel a bit bruised from all the manhandling; but I’m going back for more. A 90% improvement after one session is something to write home about. After the shoulder, I’m going all out for the Achilles heel.
Beijing Natural Healing, 103, R.H. Plaza. One for the books.
