“How could the Igorots of Northern Philippines endure the cold mountain terrain on bare feet?” you might ask.
Dagdagay, a kind of foot reflexology using two wooden sticks, is what the Igorot and the Ifugao of the Cordilleras practice to relieve their bare feet from tiredness and pain.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), using wood and bamboo in massages gives added benefits such as providing deep, consistent pressure to reflex zones and muscle tissues for better relaxation and physical rejuvenation; improving blood circulation and lymphatic drainage to flush toxins from the body; reducing tension and pain in areas like shoulders, back and legs; and loosening stiff joints and improving flexibility among athletes and people with limited mobility.
In Japan, ao-dake-humi, a traditional bamboo foot stimulator, is used to stimulate reflex zones in the feet, which can relieve constipation, cold sensitivity and lower urinary tract symptoms.
Fortunately, those living in Manila no longer need to go to the Cordilleras or Japan to experience the healing properties of bamboo.
Lian Oriental Spa, the first and only branch of its kind at the second floor of Seascape Village, Pasay City, specializes in Signature Warm Bamboo Massage, a unique massage experience where warm bamboo sticks are used to apply deep pressure, releasing muscle tension and promoting relaxation. According to the spa, this soothing treatment enhances blood circulation, eases stress and revitalizes the body.
According to NIH, warmed bamboo sticks are used to knead and roll over muscles, breaking down knots, reducing tension and alleviating pain in areas like the back, shoulders and legs, thereby promoting deep muscle relaxation.
Thanks to its location by the Manila Bay, sea breeze flows smoothly and adds to the healing atmosphere of Lian Oriental Spa, which has eight therapy rooms that can be shared by couples or groups of three to four.
The Signature Warm Bamboo Massage starts with a warm footbath to cleanse and release tension from the feet. Next, using your choice between the spa’s own ginger or almond oil, the treatment commences with a hand massage at the back, concentrating on the areas and using soft, medium or hard pressure you specified in a health checklist and questionnaire you answered prior to the treatment. The therapist also routinely checks if the pressure is okay.
Alternating with the hand massages are warmed bamboo applied with moderate pressure on tension points — giving the feeling of ventosa or staying at a sauna — with heat directly applied into skin. Likewise, the therapist asks if the bamboo’s temperature is tolerable.
The procedure is repeated from the back, to the shoulders, then to the feet, hands and arms, before you are asked to flip and lie down with your face up. Massaging by hand then continues in the legs, hands and then concluding in the face and head.
There are two options for every session: 90 or 120 minutes, which respectively cost P1,400 and P1,850.
Apart from health benefits, the massage has been observed to also provide beauty boons: glowing skin that needs no makeup right after the treatment.
NIH reported that bamboo contains silica and has natural anti-irritant properties that can improve skin tone and elasticity. Bamboo and wood sticks are also used and specially shaped to break down localized fat and firm the skin.
Since Lunar New Year is around the corner, bamboo and wood are believed to help balance energy flow (Qi or chi) in the body. Using bamboo and wood tools allows therapists to perform deep tissue work for longer periods without causing strain or injury to their hands and wrists.
Besides Signature Warm Bamboo Massage, Lian Oriental Spa offers Foot Reflexology and Back Massage — traditional Chinese foot reflexology to balance the body’s chi for a total rejuvenation.
Meanwhile, Shiatsu Massage aims to balance your chi through the application of finger pressure to energy pathways for deep relaxation and natural healing. Swedish Massage, on the other hand, is where long, flowing strokes are applied to ward off stress, leaving you serene and revitalized. Like the Signature Warm Bamboo Massage, these other treatments can be complemented by add-ons such as Ventosa (for additional P350 and 15 minutes) and/or Mandarin Orange Foot Scrub (for additional P400 and 30 minutes).
After a treatment at Lian Oriental Spa, continue one’s wellness journey at any of the many restaurants in Seascape Village, where live seafood can be ordered fresh from the dampa (wet market) for a paluto (cooking) service at any of the Asian-themed restaurants.
For privacy in a luxurious setting, head to Golden China or Mazu. For panoramic sunset and bayside views, there is Yatai at the second floor and The Country Chef, an al fresco Filipino restaurant. For casual and affordable but delicious Chinese cooking, check out Yang Mama.
If spa and relaxation are not enough and you’re more into sports and action, try Seascape Village’s Pickle Bay, a bayside pickleball court you can rent, alongside with equipment. As Cleveland Clinic said, pickleball is a racket sport that dabbles as a low-impact but high-intensity aerobic workout that offers significant physical and mental health benefits, including improved cardiovascular health, agility, strength, balance and hand-eye coordination while providing valuable social interaction and bonding for the entire family or barkada.