Bamboo bliss

KNOTS in the neck. They’re an occupational hazard for those of us who spend long hours at the computer. And mine were very knotty knots, I told the Bannatyne’s beauty therapist who promised me a massage new to the Darlington spa would relieve them.

At first glance, I was a little disconcerted. On the floor, at the side of the treatment bed, was a towel with different lengths of bamboo laid on it. They looked like small versions of the vicious bamboo weapons used in martial arts. What was she going to do? Beat those knots to death?

Forty minutes later the knots had definitely been attacked, but I was still in one piece and had thoroughly enjoyed the process. Therapist Jessica Baker had rolled and pressed the sticks over my body until the previously taut muscles had been forced to surrender and loosen their grip on my neck and shoulders.

The treatment targets reflexology points and is said to help improve flexibility, balance and inner well-being. The bamboo cane replaces the therapist’s hands, and is able to give a deeper, firmer massage. The muscle is then kneaded, which assists in the release of tension and the easing of knots.

The bamboo works on deep tissue in the muscles.

A few gentle massage movements relax the muscles, before lashing of warm oil are applied. I began to wonder how good Jessica was at making pastry as she firmly rolled the medium-sized stick back and forth across my back. Smaller sticks were used for the neck and shoulder area, and while some of the pressure verged on hurting, it was that satisfying kind of discomfort that sometimes comes with a good deep massage. A refreshing anti-inflammation gel was applied after treatment – Jessica did say I might suffer a little bruising, though it was quite normal – and I was advised to drink water afterwards to flush out toxins and lactic acid.

The bamboo massage treatment is new to Bannatyne’s Spa in Darlington but Jessica, from Heighington, is familiar with it from her time working on cruise ships.

“Because the spa is joined onto a health club, we get a lot of members using the gym. This is the perfect treatment for sportsmen and after workouts, to alleviate aching muscles and soreness and to get rid of all that lactic acid,” she says.

The aromatherapy massage oils used are light and quite natural – grapeseed and camomile – as stronger oils can damage the sticks. And the treatment has the added benefit of thoroughly moisturising that difficult-to-reach skin on back.

After the treatment my knots had all but disappeared, but they did start to creep back again after a few days. “We recommend one treatment per week for two months and then once a month for maintenance,” says Jessica.

Other massages on offer at the spa are with heated lava shells, a healing, relaxing treatment, compared with the energising deep massage of the bamboo sticks, and the newly-introduced Chocolate Massage. This is an indulgent treatment for the body using Dead Sea salts, essential oils and warmed 100 per cent pure cocoa butter.

Chocolate Therapy treatments will be available at 23 Bannatyne Spas across the UK, while the Bamboo Massage is available at 33 locations. For more information, call the Bannatyne Call Centre on 0845-434-8466.

Bamboo facts

• Although bamboo matures fully in approximately seven years, most bamboo flowers only once in 60 to 120 years.
• Bamboo is a giant grass: the bamboo stalk can be cut, leaving the root system intact for rapid regrowth. This makes bamboo a highly renewable resource. It can grow as fast as one foot in 24 hours and will grow back to full size in a few years.
• With its unique combination of strength and flexibility, bamboo lends itself to a variety of uses, from bridges to bedding.

Bannatyne’s December offer

Jingle All The Way: £34 for a 25-minute energising facial, ten-minute Indulgence scalp massage, 15- minute Swedish back, shoulder and neck massage, ten-minute hand or foot massage, 15-minute Leighton Denny mini-manicure.

Total time: 75 minutes.

Tel: 0845-4348466