My Bioessence Experience | Swedish + Hot Stone Massage.

I used to get massages quite often when I was still a single, corporate employee. Like, I'd treat myself to a massage almost on a monthly basis.

When I became a mom, massages then became quite a luxury. Me-time is considered a luxury when you have tons of chores to do and a kid to look after, if you understand what I mean. What used to be a monthly treat for myself became like a bi-annual thing (not even quarterly, haha).

And then the pandemic came, and massages became a thing of the past for me. 'Extinct', as I would jokingly call it. Spas, salons, and the like were not considered "essential goods/services" during the pandemic and were closed for the most part of 2020 until the early months of 2021, at least here in the Philippines. It was only during the latter part of 2021, when most cities and provinces in the country started lifting restrictions, that spas and salons slowly began to reopen. And while my siblings and my Mum got massages as soon as their favorite spa resumed operations, it took me quite some time to pluck my courage and treat myself to a much-needed massage. 

Yesterday, I finally did. After almost two years of struggling with COVID anxiety, I finally had the courage to walk into a spa and get a massage. But instead of visiting the spa where my Mum usually goes to, I went to Bioessence instead. Since I was already at SM San Pablo yesterday, I thought getting a massage there would be much more practical than having to commute elsewhere, spend a lot on gas fare, and get stuck in hellish traffic.

Bioessence Slimzone at SM City San Pablo.

A premium beauty and wellness center, Bioessence specializes in skin, slimming, and spa services tailor fitted for Filipinos. Its pioneer branch was built in Davao City in 1994 by its founder, Dr. Emma Beleno, a renowned dermatologist and skin care specialist. Now on its 29th year in the industry, Bioessence has over 30 branches nationwide, majority of them located in leading malls.

The services they offer.

You usually need an appointment to avail of Bioessence's services, but thankfully, they accommodated me even if I was a walk-in. And that's probably because not too many people get massages at 2pm like I did, haha.

Cozy waiting area.

My original plan was to get just the good old traditional Swedish massage, but the nice and congenial branch manager was able to convince me to make it a complete package and add the Hot Stone massage. I thought, well, since this is my first time to get a massage in two (almost three) years, might as well go a little extra! And so I did. I got the Swedish massage (Php 700) and added the Hot Stone massage (Php 380) for an hour and a half of well-deserved and badly needed R&R. 

The hallway leading to the treatment rooms.

As they prepared my 'treatment room', I sat in the waiting area and was offered a cup of tea. I asked for water instead, since I was at Starbucks earlier and had just finished my first cup of coffee for the day. It took them about ten minutes to prepare the room, but I didn't mind because sitting in the waiting area was already very relaxing, with the soothing scent of peppermint and lavender wafting throughout the place. 

A glimpse at one of the treatment rooms.

The branch manager then led me to my treatment room, where my therapist was waiting. Before we started my 'treatment', she asked me to change into my spa robe and soak my feet in a basin of lukewarm water. After a few minutes, she dried my feet and asked me to lie face down on the massage table for what turned out to be the most relaxing 90 minutes of my life. 

Treatment rooms are regularly cleaned and sanitized.

Halfway through my session, the therapist stopped for a few minutes to prepare the stones. And oh my goodness, the Hot Stone Massage was soooo soothing and warm and relaxing. As my therapist was rubbing the warm stones on my back and then lining them up along my spine afterwards, I was thinking, "this is one of the best decisions I have ever made, post-pandemic". The massage was so good that I seemed to have dozed off along the way. Lol!

Hot Stone Massage - highly recommended!

After my treatment, I was advised by my therapist to lie down for five more minutes, which I did. She also reminded me to drink lots of water for the next 24 hours, not shower immediately, and use warm water for bathing. After getting dressed, I was given a hot cup of tea - the perfect way to end a rejuvenating massage.

Thank you, Bioessence SM San Pablo!

Overall, I truly enjoyed my first Bioessence experience. Their services might be priced a bit higher compared to other spas here in San Pablo, but the quality, comfort, and results that you get is truly worth it. No more aching back and stiff joints! Definitely coming back for another massage!

Bioessence Slimzone

2F SM City San Pablo

Brgy. San Rafael, San Pablo City, Laguna

(0910) 686 5920 / (049) 521 0119

Does Sports Massage Improve Performance?

Yes!
When sports massage is done the right way, it will definitely improve your performance. It will speed up your muscle repair, as well as improve your physical repair which will help you recover from any injury even faster. It should actually be a routine for each and every athlete. Other individuals who don’t participate in sports should also consider having some sports massage once in a while as they can greatly benefit from it, too.

Photo credit: Kho Health.

What is sports massage? 
It is a type of massage that is designed for athletes and other active individuals. The aim of sports massage is to prevent injuries as well as relieve muscle soreness, which in turn relieves pain that an athlete might be having. If sports massage is done right, it can in the long run help an athlete achieve top performance as well as keep his body functioning exceptionally. As I have already told you, sports massage is not for the athletes alone - anyone can enjoy the benefits of this type of massage.

The benefits of having these massages are not just physical, it also has emotional and mental benefits. It will decrease your risk of getting injured and it will also improve the blood circulation, which will in turn reduce stress and improve your quality of life. Having a massage after a tiring workout will help you relieve your mental tension as well as make you relax. A massage done by professional like My Home Therapy will reduce fatigue and it will restore injured tissues, which will allow you to work even harder and more efficiently.

Photo credit: Johnson Memorial Health.

A lot of athletes are taking full advantage of professional massage to ward off their muscle fatigue after extensive exercises. It will also decrease the swelling and muscle tension which comes as a result of exercises, and it has been known to play a great role in post training recovery. It can actually be used in rehabs to help people improve their performance and help them relieve stress. It can be usually performed by massage therapists in their massage their massage centers or it can even be performed in healthcare facilities. It has a lot of benefits to both athletes and anyone who decides to enjoy its benefits.

Some studies about the massage have been conducted, and in one study, those who received sports massage for 30 minutes each exhibited improved performance in a cycling test. Other studies have revealed that sports massage has a great impact in mood relaxation.

What are the benefits?
It brings some fresh and oxygenated blood to your muscles. The massage is actually performed according to your need. What I mean by this is that there is no template that is followed in order to do this massage; any Sports Massage Studio usually tailors these services according to your needs. For example, there are techniques that are employed to treat a person with strains and pulled muscles, while there are techniques that are employed to help a person have a relaxed mood. Sports massage usually involves stroking and these movements stimulates lymph flow in your body as well as remove the metabolic waste plus increase the circulation of blood and oxygen throughout your body. This helps any athlete recover faster from injuries sustained during training and it keeps the performance on peak. Some of the benefits of sports massage include:

Karate is life.

Prevents injuries
Most of the strokes that are used in are actually similar to the strokes used in therapeutic massage, the only great difference is the objective of each massage. The aim of this is to improve your muscle function as well as improve your performance while therapeutic massage aims at stress relief and improving the well-being of a person. This means that during a massage session, the therapist will focus on the overused and stressed muscles. Your muscles will be left feeling relaxed which will prevent you from getting injured from time to time.

Reduces pain
Soft tissue and sports massage have been used alongside physiotherapy and this helps reduce pain caused by injuries. Several research and studies have demonstrated positive impact of this type of massage in reducing pain in lower back as well as shoulder pain. You can be sure of reduced pain if you receive this from a professional. No matter which muscle you pull or hurt, there should be a massage technique that helps to relieve and reduce that pain down. For instance, if you have pulled your glutes, then you will want to know "what is the fastest way to heal a pulled gluteal muscle?" - so that you do not suffer for too long, and can focus on getting better.

Assists in recovery
It will not only help you prevent future injuries; it will also help you deal with the injuries if you have already sustained them. Moreover, it will reduce soreness on your muscles by increasing the circulation of blood to the massaged area which in turn flush out the toxins that build up when you exercise. This will leave you improve the recovery and from there you can be sure to optimize your training in order to produce the best performance.

Releases muscle tension
When your body is undergoing through a lot of stress, your muscles tend to create tension and trigger points. If you enjoy a good sports massage session, your tissue pliability will be optimized which will in turn improve mobility especially to those with limited mobility and it can also prevent injuries.

Sports massages typically use deep pressure to target specific muscle groups. However, this approach might not be suitable for those seeking a more casual or lighter massage experience. If that’s the case, you might consider trying a Swedish Massage in Port St. Lucie, FL (or in your local area). Unlike sports massages, this style typically employs gentler techniques that focus on overall relaxation, helping to release mild muscle tension without the intensity of a sports massage.

Supports good posture
If you work on an office, then you understand how we spend longer hours on our desks in the same posture. The posture on our desks can sometimes cause your muscle to shorten and pull the joints into positions. This with time increases the risk of repetitive strain injuries. To avoid getting into that, it is very important to have a sports massage session once in a while. It will help release the “shortened” muscle and it will counteract the negative impacts of being on your desk all day.

Improves the quality of sleep
It has many benefits that contributes to the well-being of a person like improving mood, lowering blood pressure, reducing heart rate, and lowering anxiety among other benefits. In addition to those benefits, a research that was published on international journal of neuroscience revealed that sports massage improves the quality of your sleep.

Pampered at Purple Strawberries Salon & Spa.

The new school year is almost upon us, and I, like most moms, am savoring the last few hours (barely 24 to go! ) of summer. And so before I go back to the daily grind of waking up early, preparing my son's meals, helping him with school work, organizing lecture notes, and writing reviewers and mock exams, I treated myself yesterday to a bit of pampering  at Purple Strawberries Salon & Spa.

Purple Strawberries Salon & Spa.

The spa is located at Colago Avenue, right across the Community General Hospital. Ironically, this place is just a few meters away from my son's school, but it took me years to finally come and visit. At first, I thought this was just an ordinary nail bar which offers the usual manicure, pedicure, and nail enhancements. I guess that's the main reason why I never bothered to come here despite its 'very accessible location'.

Purple Strawberries at Buena Ventures Trading Post.

My indifference changed to interest when I learned from a friend that Purple Strawberries now offers massage and body care services. My poor, aching back had long been pining for a massage, and I had been meaning to get my nails done for the longest time. And with this salon offering both nail care and massage services, it's like killing two birds with one stone. Yay!

The reception desk/waiting area.
Photo credit: Purple Strawberries.

I booked an appointment for Saturday afternoon, after Yue's karate training. I made it a point to call the salon a day before my visit, because weekends are usually the busiest days for businesses like this. Yue and I arrived a little after 3:30 pm, a few minutes ahead of my 4 pm appointment.

The Nail Bar/Nail Care area on the first floor. 

I was ushered to the Nail Bar on the first floor, where the nail care services are done. I was planning to have the massage first, then the footspa and pedicure later, but the receptionist told me that the schedules got a bit mixed-up; the couple at the waiting area had to be massaged first since they were availing the couple massage at promo rates (Php 500 from 11 am - 4 pm).

Locking in the moisture on my feet with lotion, cling wrap, and a warm towel.

The therapist who was in-charge of me that day was apologetic for the mix-up, and assured me that my nails will be dry before I get my massage. (She used a nail dryer to dry my toenails, lol). At least she did a nice job with my foot spa and pedicure. The foot spa was very relaxing, and I did not feel pain the whole time she worked on my toenails. (Goodbye, ingrown and dry cuticles! So nice to get rid of you, finally!)

The Nail Bar.

I like that Purple Strawberries has a wide selection of nail polish, most of them from imported brands (think Zoya, Orly, and the like). So don't be daunted by the rates if you see their price list. They're pretty reasonable considering the (high) quality of the brands. Aside from the regular manicure and pedicure, they also offer nail stamping, with various stamping images to choose from. I'm not really into nail art since I do house chores, plus the fact that I always wear sneakers when I'm out and about, so I chose a purple Zoya Matte Velvet nail polish instead.

Color selection for Orly Gel Nail Color.

Massages and other body care services are done on the second floor. Their body massage is a combination of Swedish, Shiatsu, and Thai, with rates depending on the duration of the service. A 1-hour full body massage at Purple Strawberries costs Php 350 - still at par with the rates of other spas here in my hometown. I'm not sure if you can request for a specific type of essential oil for your massage, but mine had a minty scent. Something like eucalyptus, which I actually prefer.

The Massage/Body Care area on the second floor.

They also offer hot compress and cupping (ventosa) for an additional Php 125 for each service. I tried cupping for the first time in my life, and oh my goodness, I could feel the months (years, even) of soreness and stiffness being sucked away as the cups were placed on my back. It felt so good! Why have I never tried this before???

The place is dimmer in actual. Very relaxing, imho.

Overall, I enjoyed the massage despite the therapist being a bit heavy-handed. I had to ask her to soften it up a bit on my arms because my skin is rather flimsy and  I get bruised easily, and it was only when I got home that I discovered tiny bruises on my left arm. Nothing a concealer can't handle, but I will most likely request for another therapist next time, lol.

Yue hanging out at the Nail Bar. :)

If you're planning to visit Purple Strawberries with a kid, you'd be glad to know that they have free wifi. Just ask the receptionist for the password, which my son boldly did, haha. This kid would be willing to wait for me hours as long as he has his phone, his power bank, and data/wifi connection.

Purple Strawberries Salon & Spa

Buena Ventures Trading Post

Colago Avenue, San Pablo City

(049) 521 2511 / (0995) 1977 037 / (0929) 2515 284 
Operating Hours: Tuesdays to Sundays, 1pm - 10pm 

The #NationalPamperingDay Experience.

Stress has been my best friend for the past few weeks. I had writing deadlines to meet, business transactions to complete, Yue's summative exam's to prepare for (if you're following me on Instagram then you know how OC I am when it comes to reviewers and exams), and social media projects to accomplish. To make things worse, Yue got sick which entailed sleepless nights, several trips to the doctor, and missing school for a few days. Pretty taxing, right?

And so when I received the invite to partake in this year's National Pampering Day, I said yes in a heartbeat. Held last October 17, the nationwide event was hosted by Nailaholics, the country's most popular nail salon and spa. With the aim to give every hardworking Filipino a well-deserved treat, all Nailaholics branches in the country offered free services from 10 am to 1 pm.

October 17, 2017 is National Pampering Day!

The very first National Pampering Day was held last year, and was widely-received by the public. As such, Nailaholics decided to run a sequel and make it more meaningful by adding more options to the free services that they offer. This year's event now had a foot spa and a foot massage, as well as the free manicure that had been a big hit the previous year.

Nailaholics SM San Pablo.

Anticipating a huge crowd of patrons, I visited Nailaholics SM San Pablo as soon as the mall opened. True enough, there were already plenty of customers when I arrived. Most of the seats inside the salon were already occupied, and almost all of their nail technicians had customers to attend to.

National Pampering Day is free for all, women and men alike. :)

Miss Jen, the branch manager, ushered me to an empty seat in the corner. She asked me which of the free services will I be getting (foot spa, of course) and was a bit apologetic that I had to wait for a few minutes for my turn. I told her that I don't mind the wait, and it was nice to see that many customers came to the event despite the nationwide transportation strike.

Miss Jen making the rounds, checking if each customer is satisfied with their service.

You see, for every customer who will avail of the free service, Nailaholics will donate Php 10 to a charity of the customer's choice - World Vision for the rehabilitation of Marawi City, Save the Seas to help protect the country's marine and coastal resources, or PAWS to support their campaign of adopting stray dogs. More customers meant more donations for the charities mentioned.

My nail technician, Angel.

After a few minutes of waiting, my turn finally came. Angel was my nail technician for the day, and as she sat in front of me to scrub the callus off my feet, I realized that I have not had a foot spa since my last trip to Seoul! And that's already half a year!

Getting a well-deserved and much-needed pampering on National Pampering Day!

My nail technician did a good job of exfoliating my feet and massaging my legs, asking me from time to time if the heat of the water is okay, if the scrubbing tickles, or if the pressure on my legs and feet were just right. She gave me the most relaxing foot spa I have had in years that I will most likely book her for my next appointment at Nailaholics.

The technicians in action.

Kudos to Nailaholics SM San Pablo for a job well done, and congratulations to Nailaholics for another successful run of the National Pampering Day! Thank you for having me this year, and will look forward to next year's festivities! :)

Shiatsu and its Health Benefits.

Shiatsu massage, an age-old massage technique, has been used for many years around the world to treat muscular stiffness and tension. Proven to help circulation, promote relaxation and regulate body energy, shiatsu massage offers many health benefits for Asian massage in NYC.

What is Shiatsu Massage?
Shiatsu massage is a type of acupressure technique that uses the thumbs, fingers, hands and feet to apply pressure to different parts of the body. Using circular motions, gentle pressure is used to create relaxation, while heavy pressure is used for improved circulation and muscular therapy. To loosen the muscles, techniques may also include deep rubbing and kneading motions to stiff muscles. Typically given on a padded floor mat or massage table, shiatsu massage is a vigorous type of massage that's proven to help various health conditions.

Headaches and Neck Pain
Shiatsu massage has been proven to ease the intense pain of migraine headaches, as well as neck pain and stiffness. Migraines, typically caused when the blood vessels in the head or brain constrict quickly, can cause debilitation pain, nausea, sensitivity to sound and light and changes in vision. Anyone who has ever had a migraine headache doesn't want to have a second one. Shiatsu massage offers pain relief by promoting circulation and increased blood flow to restricted blood vessels, promoting relaxation throughout the entire body.

Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic joint condition that affects millions of people of all ages. It causes pain, swelling, stiffness, soreness and inflammation of the tissues located around joints. Although typically seen in the hands and fingers, it can affect any joint in the body including the neck, spine, shoulders, elbows, knees and feet. Shiatsu massage treatments, done on a recurring basis, help to relieve joint pain and stiffness by stimulating circulation and blood flow. Various pressure techniques can be safely applied to any body area that's affected by rheumatoid arthritis.

Skin Rejuvenation
Shiatsu massage does wonders to rejuvenate skill cells and promote increased blood circulation under the skin. This promotes new skin cell growth and gives the skin a healthy glow. Massage techniques stimulate sebaceous glands and tissue under the skin which helps to keep skin moist and elastic, a necessary process to prevent lines, wrinkles and aging skin. Shiatsu massage is used in some of the world's most prestigious spas, like the Garden Retreat Spa in New York City, to promote beautiful, healthy skin.

Rest, Relaxation, Reunion.

I just got word from my friend who's been working in Canada for the past three years or so. She's coming home to the Philippines and would like to hang out with me (and the rest of our group, of course) while she's on vacation.

Ever the massotherapie addict, the first thing my friend asked was if I know any good spas or saunas in our hometown, and if I can have a 'spa-rty' booked for us girls. I wasn't surprised that she gave me this task of hunting for the perfect spa. We both love spas and massage montréal after all, and this used to be one of our favorite bonding activities back in the days.

Thankfully we now need not go far to enjoy a soothing and relaxing massage. I remember how we used to drive all the way to Alabang just for an hour's worth of massage at The Spa. It's a good thing the wellness industry is now booming in our hometown, and spas and saunas have mushroomed over the years.

Now that our sparty cum mini reunion has been booked and the girls have been informed, all that's left is for our 'balikbayan' (overseas worker) to arrive. See you in two weeks, my friend!

Spa-turdate at Maja Thai.

After several rainchecks and countless cancelled appointments, my friend Sylvia and I somehow made our weekend schedules to jive. And so yesterday, we finally had the chance to check out Maja Thai - the newly-opened spa in town.

We've been planning to go to the spa together for the longest time. Sylvia and I had been planning this since the start of the year, our busy bodies and tight schedules just wouldn't permit. Until yesterday, that is. And so off to Maja Thai we went, for some much needed and well-deserved R&R.

This hut thingy sits just beside the spa's entrance.

See?  And that's my friend, Sylvia, by the way.

OOTD: Striped Top, Forever 21. Shorts, Dorothy Perkins.
Flipflops, Havaianas. Tote,  Bijoux Terner. Wristwatch, Vera Wang.

First impressions of the place? The atmosphere is very welcoming - with its well-lit and spacious waiting area, minimalist interior design, decorative pieces that scream Thai, and furniture that's very Kenneth Cobonpue.

Lovely furniture

My favorite spot in the waiting area.

Pretty lantern sitting by the counter.

It doesn't get more Thai than this. :)

Chic lighting.

Their staff are very cordial and friendly, too.

Sylvia at the counter. :)

Sylvia and I actually had GCs for this particular visit, which were given to us by our friend Aljer. (Thanks, bro!) Our GCs were good for any of these three Massage Services: Thaw Relaxation (foot massage), Klatem Bliss (back massage), or Totem Vigor (body massage).

We went for the latter, and added a 30-minute foot massage (Php 200, regular rate) on top of the body massage. The foot massage was given first, and we were ushered to this room with massage chairs and foot spa machines.

Photo credit: Maja Thai

Those chairs are the comfiest ever, and Joan, my masseuse for the day, was pretty good. My only gripe was how cold this area was. Or it's the spot where I was seated that's cold. I could feel the A/C blowing towards me, and by the time my foot massage was over, I was sniffling like crazy.

We were then transferred to this room for our body massage. As you can see, the mattresses are laid on the floor. That's because the form of bodywork of the traditional Thai massage is done this way - on the floor.

Photo credit: Maja Thai

In a Thai massage, the receiver (ergo, the one being massaged) is positioned in a variety of yoga-like positions during the course of the massage. Deep static and rhythmic pressures form the core of the massage, which energizes the body, rejuvenates the spirit, and calms the mind.

Just to give you an idea of what happens in a Thai massage, there's cracking the knuckles, pulling fingers, toes, ears, even hair, walking on the recipient's back, and arching the recipient into bhujangasana (or cobra position). Quite a challenge, huh? But believe me, your body will feel light and relaxed once all the pulling and cracking are done.

And then you can cool down with your drink of choice - a glass of water or a cup of ginger tea. I went for ginger tea, and so did Sylvia.

Tea time!

This pitcher is so pretty. 

After our one and a half hour massage. :)

All in all, our 'spa-turdate' at Maja Thai has been nothing but pleasant. This visit will not be the last, and I'm already looking forward to our next 'spa-turdate'. I'm thinking of getting the Holistic Rejuvenation (Php 525, promo rate) next time; it's a combination massage that covers the foot and the entire body. I just hope this date will not take another four months to happen, haha.

Girl bonding at Maja Thai! :)

Maja Thai Massage and Wellness Spa
2nd Floor Allysa's Arcade
Brgy. San Benito, Alaminos Laguna
(right across Toyota San Pablo)
049.527.3839 / 0932.877.9959
0928.447.8369 / 0926.747.0879