The Blurb:
Advocates of the innate powers of essential oils and their ability to enhance people’s physical and mental states, Aromatherapy Associates harness the strengths of organically sourced natural ingredients to create healing, luxurious treatments for the body and mind.
Sleep Deeply is a 60-minute massage which aims to release tension in the body by using carefully applied pressures. It relieves muscular aches and pains and encourages a night of sound sleep, although it can be both a relaxing and rejuvenating treatment depending on the essential oils used.
The Process:
I was met by one of the therapists, Rose, who led me to a Grecian-inspired room downstairs for the consultation. There I was given a questionnaire to answer to establish what emotions I was feeling at the time — whether I was tired, emotionally drained or stressed. Based on my responses, Rose recommended essential oils to use during the massage that corresponded to my state of mind — in this instance de-stressing frankincense and kind-to-the-skin camomile. She detailed each step of the process, explaining the techniques used are hundreds of years old and embedded in the principles of Chinese medicine and ancient aromatherapy models.
The massage itself was an all-over-body experience enhanced by the low lighting, relaxing music and heated massage bed. Everything from the cranial pressure points in my head to the tips of my toes and my ear lobes were manipulated. There was emphasis on awakening the nervous and immune systems through targeted working of pressure points in my spine, as well as releasing tension in my head and neck.
In some places the pressure was uncomfortable, but that was due to levels of tension in the area, and Rose offered to adjust her technique accordingly in order to make me comfortable. The camomile oil was used while massaging my body and the more pungent frankincense was used on my head and hair, creating an intense aroma-induced sense of rest that I was reluctant to end.
Once the massage was over I was left to slowly readjust, as well as indulge in some de-stressing tea and snacks of goji berries and almonds. Rose also offered me a range of sample oils to test at home to demonstrate the varying effects the different scents can generate.
The Result:
It felt like the treatment lasted much longer than an hour; a sign of the level of relaxation attained. I wasn’t able to completely switch off mentally but had I experienced the stronger smelling, more potent oils I think it would have been a more all-encompassing sensory experience. As it was I was advised to use the less powerful oils to avoid aggravating my sensitive skin, so I don’t think I experienced the treatment at full force.
Having said that I left with a definite feeling of lightness — I was far less burdened by the results of one too many glasses of wine from the night before and on the three-hour train journey that followed I slept like a baby almost the entire way. Mission accomplished.