The lights were turned down low and the room was cosy and warm. Candles were lit and a sweet aroma filled the air. If it weren’t for the effects of this calm environment I would have been jumping for joy. Because I was about to get a pregnancy massage!
I take care of my body as much as I can. Being a person and a mother who, on occasion, experiences intense neck and back pains I feel its my duty to do whatever I can to make sure I’m as pain-free as possible. But then I go and get myself pregnant and all of a sudden I’m getting strange aches in my shoulders and legs and ooh-ing and aah-ing every time I bend over to help Georgie put his shoes on. Suffice to say I’m not happy.
I remember the moment I saw the words ‘pregnancy’ and ‘massage’ on the leaflet. I was 18 weeks and Papa and I were waiting to see my doctor at the ISIS Clinic in Nicosia. Without an inkling of hesitation I marched to the front desk, got the information I needed and made my way back to papa. ‘Why are you smiling?’ he said. ‘Because I just found out that I can get massaged right here in the clinic and the first massage is freaking free!’ Later on that day I booked an appointment.
Janet, who massaged me, is lovely. Fluent in both Greek and English, a mother and an incredible masseuse, she instantly made me feel at ease even though I was in nothing but my knickers and a bath towel. I know women who feel self-conscious about being in the nude during a massage so perhaps this is a good time to note that at no point was I exposed or made to feel uncomfortable.
Seeing as a back massage in the traditional way is out of the question, Janet asked me to sit down and lean against the massage table with my arms crossed. I lay my head down, informed Janet how many weeks I was and which points on my back and neck needed her attention. And then I relaxed. I believe 30 minutes were spent in the seated position which surprisingly wasn’t uncomfortable at all, the next 30 on my back while Janet massaged my arms, legs and head.
I consider myself a bit of a massage veteran. I love them, find them to be incredibly therapeutic and swear by them for my well-being. As a magazine reporter, for years I would get them for free so you could say I’ve experienced the good, the bad and the very ugly. At ISIS I experienced exactly what I had hoped for. One hour of utter relaxation, soft yet effective pressure when and where it was required and complete professionalism. I’ve already booked my next one.
Listed among the many benefits of a pregnancy massage are less sciatic pain, increase in blood and lymph flow and blood circulation, relaxation of tense muscles and a reduction in swelling of hands, feet and ankles. As with any treatment or therapy, I assume that most of the benefits of a massage while pregnant can only be experienced when its done on a regular basis. However for me a stress-free sensation was definitely felt after just one time and aches and pains were actually non-existent during the first few days.
Mamas and mamas-to-be this is something that I highly recommend you try out.
Oh and please note that this service is available to everyone! Whether you’re an ISIS patient or not! You can also choose between half an hour and a one hour massage.
Contact Andry on 99 380647 to book an appointment or email the ISIS clinic at info@isisclinic.com
This is NOT a sponsored post.
