The power of touch is part of being human; it is part of our earliest awareness of being alive as babies in our mothers' arms.How ever, most people live in cultures that leave them isolated from one another.They give themselves no time to enjoy the simple pleasures of physical contact unless confined to the intimacy of the bedroom.

This is not the case in tropical Asia where massage is a part of everyday life from birth. Asian people understand that massage is all about sensual healing for the emotions as well as for the body, a simple and effective route to general wellbeing via our largest sensory organ - our skin. Skin is equipped with thousands of touch receptors; reacting to external stinnuli, they transmit messages and sensations through our nervous system.

Massage is probably the oldest and simplest it is part of our earliest awareness of being form of health care. It is depicted in Egyptian tomb paintings and mentioned in ancient even most people live in cultures that leave Chinese, Japanese and Indian texts. It is thought to have originated in the East as a method for unblocking the chi the vitalenergy flowing through our bodies that tends to get trapped due to emotional and physical upset, in Asia, massage has always been the backbone of health and wellbeing.

There is no mystery to the power of massage.The uncomplicated process of kneading stroking and pressing the body is proven to unleash countless therapeutic benefits from the general: helping heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and digestion, to the more specific: aiding diabetic children, pre- and sensations through our nervous system, mature babies and cancer and HIV patients.

Traditional Indonesian Massage

We are creatures designed for touch. It is certainly the most personally experienced of all sensations. And the Indonesian people understand this better than most. Low-touch Western society keeps tactile expression behind closed doors, while Indonesians touch all the time: walking hand in hand and arm in arm, and stroking each other as a way of life.

They carry compassion in their hands. This they pass on naturally through massage to all the family from birth to death. Without a working knowledge of anatomy, many Indonesian people have an in-built sensibility to congested, tight or hot areas in the body, which they carefully relieve with the power of their hands and the application of aromatic oils.

Its interesting that Western culture, that has put so much faith In science for cures, and in medical practitioners for answers, is now turning, disillusioned, to touch therapies: Reiki, kineisiology, cranial osteopathy, aromatherapy, reflexology, all variations on a cure practised for centuries by Asian peoples.

Indonesian massage puts touch back into your system. As well as an unconditional desire to please and an intuitive reaction to the body, here is what to expect:

medium pressure. scented massage oil: coconut oil prepared with local flowers such as champak (tropical magnolia), akar wangi (vetiver) and pandanus leaf is the traditional preparation; however, coconut is a heavy oil not suited to everyone, and is not always used in spas. (Balinese people chew on the white flesh, ingest the juices, spit out the fibres and rub them onto their skins for nourishment), long sensual strokes, working the length of the muscle to relieve tension. All sequences finish with upward strokes toward the heart. rolling skin between thumb and forefinger to spark up the nerve endings and increase blood flow. circular thumb movements for the same. pressure on the points in the foot and hand reflex zones.

Aromatheraphy Massage

Aromatherapy massage is one of the most popular treatments at a tropical spa. Although available throughout the world, its sensual experience is elevated to new levels in Asia thanks to the gentle and sensitive nature of its practitioners. Therapists appear to approach each and every massage as a bespoke, individual craft, rather than another body on their daily production line.

Through massage the active molecules of essential oils, already blended with a carrier oil, penetrate the bloodstream and soothe the central nervous system. For most people, the barrage of citrus, floral or spicy notes of the oils, like any smell, will bring back a stream of memories. The physiology of smell and emotion are supposedly closely linked. Apparently the olfactory sensors in our nasal passage can recognize up to 10,000 different aromas. In addition, as the massage activates the bodys nerve endings and stimulates its blood flow, the medicinal properties of essential oils act on the internal organs and treat ailments. Although the oils only remain in the body for three or four hours before they are excreted, they have already triggered a healing process.

Mandara Massage

The Mandara Massage is the zenith of massage experience. This is thanks to the uncanny sychronization of two therapists who work together all over the body. The melodic rhythm of their strokes creates a pattern of sensation so pleasurable that you feel almost guilty for the indulgence. With one at the top and one at the toe, the therapists' hands move in harmony with each other, without ever leaving your skin. Their unique combination of six massage styles: Hawaiian Lomi-Lomi, Swedish, Balinese, Japanese Shiatsu, Thai and Aromatherapy ensures that every nerve ending Is caressed. This is hypnotic, exotic and euphoric.

The Mandara Massage was exclusively devised for Mandara Spas (at The Chedi, lbah. Bali Padma and Nikko in Bali, Novotel in Lombok and Malaysias The Datai). It takes its name from the Mandara of Balinese legend - a mythical mountain that flows with eternal youth. Translated into an earthly equivalent, this massage is as close as one gets to such a sublime concept.