The feelgood factor: Lava shells massage
What is it? A new, full-body hot-therapy massage using tiger-striped clam shells with Alison at the Beyond MediSpa in Harvey Nichols.
Beauty powers? The shells contain LavaGel, a mixture of algae and dried sea kelp, which generates heat when mixed with sea water.
The treatment has all the benefits of a hot-stone massage, helping to ease muscle tension and soreness, while the heating process makes skin naturally radiant.
The process: Alison massages oil into my skin before working a warm shell over my palms, arms and legs and then the problem area — my stomach.
As the shell heats up she eases the strain on my colon by applying gentle pressure in a clockwise, circular motion.
The pleasant warmth and smoothness of the shells removes any potential pain.
After I've shamefully admitted to "signing my spine away" from years of carrying bags on one shoulder, she carefully detangles the knots by kneading my neck and shoulder area using the shell's outer edges.
The shells are both reusable and versatile — they have a narrow edge for deep work and a smooth, rounded surface for the long strokes — enabling Alison to deliver an extremely deep, therapeutic massage with continuous heat.
Transformed? Yes — not only was I wide awake the next day after having let myself relax for so long but my back feels more supple than it has
in months and my stomach is happier.
Try it out: £70/30 mins, £150/90 mins at Beyond MediSpa, Harvey Nichols, SW1(020 7201 8595, www.beyondmedispa.co.uk)
