A new massage which uses natural clam shells and a warmth-generating gel to relax muscles and joints and improve mobility is now available at Sisters Beauty Lounge in Abu Dhabi. Angela Beitz checks it out.
The Lava Shell Massage is a new type of therapy available at Sisters Beauty Lounge which uses two heated tiger-striped clam shells to warm and loosen your muscles and trigger pressure points to leave you feeling deeply relaxed.
Heat helps the muscles to unwind and relaxes the joints. Using it in a massage allows for easier manipulation of the body and works with the muscles to help penetrate tissue easily to improve mobility and health, relieving the body of sore and tired muscles and improving blood circulation.
According to Sara Abdulrazak, managing director of Sisters, heat is the key as it will loosen up tightened muscles regardless of which ones are bothering you; if you use heat on them it will provide a cure to soreness.
‘Aside from being all natural and eco-friendly, we recommend the Lava Shells Massage because it is deeply comforting, relaxing and is a unique, indulgent treatment. It is not only great for making you feel good but it has amazing healing benefits also, due to the heat from the shell. The warmth from the seashells stimulates blood flow, which promotes the removal of toxins from cells, relaxing sore muscles and stiff joints, while giving your skin a healthy glow.’
Sara tells us how the massage works and why it’s better than the already popular hot stone massage.
‘Lava Shells are the world’s first naturally self-heating massage tools. Unlike hot stones, Lava Shells eliminate the use of supplemental electricity and use only natural mineral heat with the help of Lava Gel, an innovative blend of natural minerals, dried sea kelp and algae. The Lava Gel is blended with sea water and inserted inside the hollow shells to generate heat that can last for up to two hours. Lava Shells Massage is known for accelerating the skin regeneration process and improving the skin’s appearance and texture. They are also non-porous, unlike the hot stones, and are therefore more hygienic.’
Once we have changed into comfortable slippers and a soft robe we chat to our therapist who asks us about any areas of concern. She starts by giving us a general lymphatic-drainage type massage, kneading our skin to loosen it up and then she shows us the shells.
We weren’t sure what to expect and were a bit sceptical that it would be any different from the traditional hot stone massage. What we didn’t anticipate was how much hotter the shells are from the regular hot stones. When they were first pressed into the palms of our hands it was hard not to flinch because they were so hot. The therapist said they had to be quite warm to penetrate the large muscles of the body but the heat can be lowered for people who have a low pain threshold or a sensitivity to heat. Once we got going, the heat of the shells felt amazing on our skin, particular in sore spots like our hips, shoulders and back. The shells are used just like hands are used in a typical massage. They are stroked and kneaded all over your body to release tension in your muscles and you can really feel it working. We then turn over and the same process is conducted on the front of our body. We are left feeling as if we have been given a new body and all of our kinks and knots are gone.
We would recommend this massage to anyone who likes deep relaxation or heat during their treatments. We could instantly feel this therapy working as the therapist rotated the shells and it soothed the deepest aches and pains, stress and tension. The best thing about this treatment is that it works straight away and we slept very well that evening. It’s perfect for people who sit at a desk all day or have pain in a specific area of their body.
The Lava Shell Massage costs Dhs475 for 60 minutes. It can also be added onto other massages at Sisters for Dhs60 per shell. Sisters Beauty Lounge, Khalifa Bin Shakbout Street, Al Bateen (02 222 2502).
