Beautynomics – The Economics of Vanity » Blog Archive » Spa Lovin’ : Healing and Relief at Zense Taipei

photo from Zensei Taipei’s multiply site

For a week already, I’ve been complaining about a really painful left shoulder. Sigh. My body is just a nodule-magnet ( lamig, in Filipino terms ). I get nodules easily, as my body absorbs outside elements like the cold easily. Whenever raindrops fall on my shoulders, my shoulders become so painful that it takes a really hot (not sure if you can tolerate what I usually do) shower and Tiger Balm to soothe it out. I get these kinds of pain often that whenever I go to Singapore, I hoard around 12 tubes of Tiger Balm Muscle Boost that I usually bring with me in my handbag or during trips.

Anyway, going back to my shoulder, as I was experiencing really bad pain from the moment I wake up (not a good way to start the day, methinks), and the pain in my shoulder is amplified when I go to a cold place ( or even be in an airconditioned room is plain torture to me), I decided to book a massage at Zense Taipei. Zense Taipei, in my opinion, is the best massage place in Banawe, though I think it is the most expensive one in Banawe, with prices of massage in Banawe ranging from 250-500 max.

Zense Taipei must be the most expensive massage place in Banawe, but I am most willing to pay the price. I tried their service twice with a voucher from Ensogo, and with really really good therapists, great and thorough techniques and perfect pressure according to my taste (which is medium to hard pressure), they also had the ceramic slide (Gua Sha ) in which a heated ceramic slide is kneaded on your back that makes certain parts of the body become reddish (like a rash) as it heals the bad elements out of your body. I had positive experiences in this place, that’s why I’ve always wanted to go back to this place.

Anyway, as I do not have the time to go to my accupuncturist and ventosa attendant in Panay Avenue Quezon City, I have resorted to go to the nearest place that I know that can alleviate my painful shoulders -Zense Taipei. I was prepared to pay in full (around P1,300 for Taichi Massage and Ceramic Slide) because I was really desperate about the pain that I was feeling (sounds like a heartbreak!haha!). My sister accompanied me, being ultimately stressed from work too. And so our relaxing Saturday night began.

As we finished filling up forms on our health conditions, we were led to our room, and were asked to change into robes. Then, we had a really warm foot soak, that is said to have detoxifying qualities as it seemed to be powdered herbs in the water. My sister felt nothing about it, but I did. I felt that my feet were having some static. Haha! Anyway, the really warm water soothed my senses, together with the dim-lit room, with sounds of nature played as background music. I could sense that it was going to be a wonderful evening. I was actually close to falling asleep with the wonderful smell of the room ( herbal chinese, but minty, I don’t know what it is! ).

Then, the massage therapist asked me to go to the massage bed for the massage to start. I asked her kindly if she would concentrate on my shoulders as they were most painful. Well, did she agree? Well let me just say that the massage was plain bliss. I thought I only had one certain part painful. As the massage therapist started to work on other body parts, I realized that they were really stressed too! I was sighing in relief with every stroke, and every knead on my back. The strokes were different from regular massage places I have tried – they even have yin-yang strokes that I could feel being done on my back. Haha!

As I was already happy with the pressure and kneading techniques by the massage therapist, the best has yet to come. After the massage, I felt something really warm, and something solid on my back. It was the ceramic slide. She proceeded to concentrate kneading on the parts that I deemed painful and it was pure bliss. Relief. Alleviation. Warmth from pain. Pressure versus pain. Oh, it was the best!

The treatment lasted for more than an hour and I was really, really happy. Post-treatment instructions included no bathing for at least 8 hours, no eating spicy food, no drinking cold water, no drinking alcohol, and drinking lots of fluids. Noted. Post-treatment, I was able to sleep like a baby, being sore from the massage ( I asked for it, I wanted hard pressure ), but painless.

Just imagine my surprise waking up in the morning with the pain on my shoulders gone. I still feel sore from the intense kneading done the night before, but no.more.pain. Such relief. I am surely going back this December post-bazaar season as I feel that my body will be abused during that time.

I highly recommend Zense Taipei, despite the price tag, but good news for everyone as they have an ongoing coupon deal at Beeconomic for only P590.00 – go get one yourself, and experience what I’m talking about!

Zense Taipei
705 Banawe Street
Quezon City 1105

http://zensetaipei.multiply.com