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The Treatment: June 25, 2005

Posted on: Friday, 24 June 2005, 12:00 CDT

My partner and I were at Matfen Hall, Northumberland, to relax, eat well, drink too much and generally have a great time. I also played a bit of golf while she headed to the hotel's wonderful spa for a body wrap.

Now, spas aren't generally my scene but I was persuaded to book a hot stone massage after a round of golf. The therapist explained she would use hot stones - funnily enough - as part of a massage. Heated Basalt Lava stones are placed on the body's chakra points and warm up the muscles, which means the massage works deeper than a a conventional massage. There are various chakra points on your body, but basically they run across your temples, down your chest and spine, your sacrum (base of the spine) and down your legs and between your toes.

The therapist warned me I might fall asleep during the treatment, which lasts an hour. She was right, but after it finished she explained what she had done. Chakras - Sanskrit for spinning wheel of energy - are centres located in our body to help us to process universal energies around and within us. The use of the hot stones levels out our chakra, making us feel spiritually balanced. It also relieves muscle pain, increases the body metabolism, and relaxes the tissues.

Alternatively, you can just believe you've had a really good massage. Although I was light-headed for a while afterwards, I felt great, slept like a baby, and felt fantastic the next morning.

Hot stone massage, pounds-65 for one hour. Matfen Hall, Matfen, Northumberland, 01661 886 500, www. maftenhall. com

Source: Sunday Herald

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