How Acupuncture Heals

After my visit at Soneva Spa in Tomas Morato last week I had a wonderful experience at Thai Raksa Spa in Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong.

Acupuncture is ideal for people with bad condition while it can boost the immune system for those who have good condition.

In my journey to exploring different spas in Manila I have found a healing place that offers Thai massage, reiki and acupuncture.

I’ve got so much learnings and epiphanies during my visit.

I’d like to share the good things acupuncture can do both for good and bad condition.

The Good

I have been planning to try acupuncture for long time but I guess it was really not the time until I have visited Thai Raksa Healing Spa on their first year anniversary in the business on June 28, 2014.

I’ve met the very kind owners, accommodating therapists and the whole team were so amazing.

I tried the acupuncture through the aid of their acupuncturist Kuya Willy. So he asked me what do I feel bad about my body, what I eat and what I do. I said everything - that I don’t eat meat and I exercise regularly.

So he told me to lie down on a massage bed and he injected a total of 14 needles around my body. Head, neck, arms, feet and other body parts. Being an example of a person with a good condition, the effect will boost my entire immune system.

According to Kuya Willy whenever I feel that I am going to get sick, a session of acupuncture can help me not to get sick. So isn’t that Amazing!

The Bad

What if I have a bad condition?

A friend of mine has laryngitis and he gets a session of acupuncture, Kuya Willy says it will help him heal but it will take like 10-14 sessions.

How about a person with HIV? It will take more longer sessions to heal.

The Ugly

Many people are afraid of needles. When they hear of acupuncture the first thing that comes to their mind is ‘Oh, does it hurt isn’t it?’

As far as experiencing it, it does not really hurt you. The needles are so tiny and you wouldn’t feel that it is being injected to your body.

It is not painful at all, there is a little bit of numbness for a while but it will make you feel very relaxed.

In China, acupuncture is used in treating different kinds of cancer.

Photos: Nuliving Spa Studio

Review: Suriya Spa

As a massage enthusiast, I’ve visited most of the spas here in Metro Manila and I’ve already tried different massage techniques. However, after reading several great reviews about Suriya Spa, my thirst for high quality spa treatment increased and that urged me to visit the spa.
I went to their branch in Frontera Verde and picked “hot stone massage”. From the moment I entered the room, I’ve never felt so fortunate because I experienced 90 minutes of pure goodness.
Suriya Spa is an exquisite sanctuary for relaxation. It’s an award-winning place for rejuvenation and tranquillity. After bagging several awards in these past few years, the spa continues to provide top-notch massages for everyone’s health and wellness. Suriya Spa has four branches in Metro Manila. They are located in Frontera Verde, Ascott Makati, Intercontinental Manila and Holiday Inn Galleria Manila.
Services If you avail their services, they will give you an Asian style pampering as if you are their emperor. They offer a waterfall of services that can eliminate body pain, stress and depression. They provide relaxing massage techniques that will please you from head to toe. Every stroke revitalizes your entire body.
When having a massage session, all you can hear is the mind-clearing music and the relaxing whispers of their calming ambience. You may also want to share a few laughs with their therapists.
Their therapists are all professionals and well-trained. Their warm attitude and tender hands can remove all the bad energy in you. Furthermore, they don’t act like robots and give you a mechanical massage. Instead, they will connect with you personally and they make sure that you are well taken care of.
Facilities The facilities here are designed to provide optimum relaxation to their customers. All their rooms are spotless because they clean all of them religiously. From the reception to the massage rooms, all areas are spacious and cozy.
Price The prices of their services are not for everyone. Their rates are high because they want them to be congruent with their quality of service. But, they create promos regularly so everyone will have the opportunity to experience their world class services.
Everyone deserves to be treated like kings or queens at least once in their lifetime. Suriya spa is giving everyone a chance to be treated as such. Their services may not be free but you’ll definitely get more than you’ve spent.

What are you waiting for? Go to one of their branches and experience their majestic massage for yourself.

Bioessence branch in West Avenue, Quezon City

Bioessence branch in West Avenue, Quezon City offers Banana Leaf Massage . A traditional massage plus the effect of warm banana leaf placed on your back. 

A number of bloggers have tried it and most of them had the best relaxation experience. 

I read some of the blogs like Purple plum fairy, Fashion Eggplant, Fashion Commuter, Rain de Ocampo and more. 

This spa is near SM North and Tomas Morato

A Sad Face on Happy Endings

I’m not a fan of emoticons on chats or texts. But right now, I think I want to put a sad face on spa happy endings. Happy endings are acts performed by masseuses that give a sexual release. I frown upon happy endings in spas because it creates misconceptions towards legitimate spas, the therapists and frequent spa goers. Now people think that all spas are “spakols”. A “Spakol” is a spa which offers sexual services.

People also think that all therapists are prostitutes and all massage addicts are perverts. In fact, there are two incidents which show the bad effects of these misconceptions.

Here’s an incident of misconceptions. I swear I cannot make this up. This happened for real. A therapist who works at a legitimate spa had a customer who assumes it’s a “spakol”. That customer asked her for something extra but she respectfully declined.

During the heat of the moment, the customer touched himself and asked her to grab his part where the party happens but she said no. Later that night, while on her way home, the creepy customer waited for her at the exit and asked her out. Once again, she declined.

She boarded a bus so she can move away from the horny customer. But while on the road, she looked at the bus window and found the creepy guy trailing her. She was so frightened, luckily nothing bad happened and she reached home safe.

Here’s another case of misconceptions. Recently, a friend from Singapore visited me. After coming from a long trip, she asked me if we could get a massage together. “Sure. In fact, I know a place nearby that offers superb massage” I said. “Oh. Is that a spakol?” she asked with a straight face. I said no of course.

But she asked me again, “Are you sure?” I said no again. Luckily I was able to convince her with the second no. However, our conversation made me wonder do people really think all spas are spakols? Does she really have to ask me twice? I may have a tough guy exterior but I have feelings too. In fact, I felt offended when she asked me if it was a spakol.

I enlightened her and erased her misconceptions about spas when I took her to Sawasdee-Thai-Massage. It’s a legitimate spa which offers top notch massage without sexual services. Their therapists are all professionals.

I’m not saying they are nuns or robots. They are actually fun and friendly. You can talk to them about anything. But they just don’t put themselves on sexual activities while performing work. We had a great time there and we left the place with huge smiles on our faces. It’s definitely recommended for people who want a real massage and relaxation.

I believe spas with happy endings should stop calling themselves spas to avoid misconceptions. Until they do that, I guess the sad face will stay there for awhile.

New Found Spa in Taguig

Ayu Thai is located at Bayani Road in Taguig. Just opened on October. Best deal ever from 12 nn - 5 pm masahe is 198 php only.