I am on a perpetual hunt for the perfect massage—partly because I need to pamper myself every now and then, and mostly because I have annoying, sporadic migraine attacks that seem to abate with a good, therapeutic muscle rub. I have tried all traditional massages out there—from Balinese to Swedish. Some were hits, many were misses.
So when I heard about a lava shell massage, my curiosity mingled with excitement. The name certainly held a fiery promise.
Without adieu, I found my way to Downtown Dubai’s Tips and Toes, which—I’m told—exclusively offers the service in its massage centres in the emirate.
My head was mildly throbbing. That usually means a migraine attack is coming. I was glad I was getting a massage before that became a full-blown disruption to my day.
I was greeted by polite, smiling staff at the entrance and was offered a choice of drinks. I asked for a glass of water, which was promptly served. To me, customer service is often a big indication of the quality of massage I’m about to get. I could sense I was in expert hands.
A few minutes later, my therapist, Cherry, led me to the massage room, which smelled of a hint of jasmine.
I settled into the massage bed where the therapist asked me what kind of pressure I preferred. Because I told her I frequently experienced migraine, she worked around my shoulder blades where the muscles tend to stiffen into tight knots when I’m stressed.
Then, she expertly applied pressure on key points of my body while lathering my skin with just enough oil to make way for the lava shell massage. It was very thorough and very relaxing.
Finally, it was time for the shells. This massage tool is actually from tiger-striped clams whose shells are heated by sachets of lava gel. Each disposable sachet consists of a mixture of algae, minerals and dried sea kelp, and when mixed with an activator liquid, it produces a chemical reaction that creates heat. The heated shells also give off calcium ions, which come in contact with the skin during the massage. Calcium is known to help in skin rejuvenation and firming.
The heat from the shells was surprisingly tolerable; delicious even. I could feel my muscle tension ebb away as the therapist pressed the heated shells on various parts of my body—my shoulder blades, torso, limb, even between my fingers and toes. She also used the shells to apply gentle pressure on my calves.
The heated shells really work well for anyone with tense muscles or muscle pain. Because my skin has been oiled, the massage strokes were smoother, making it easier for the therapist to work away at those tight knots.
The massage was over in 1 hour and 30 minutes. I got up from that bed feeling very refreshed, the throbbing in my head gone. It was easily one of the best massages I have ever tried.
