Bella Cacciatore
Though I’m just shy of my official 10-year mark, I’m A New Yorker through and through. My closet be 95% black, I can’t stand slow down walkers, and atomic number 53 dwell on dollar pizza piece in college. Though I love the flimflam and bustle, it—along with the general state of….everything right now—is not great for my stress levels, and my shoulder are essentially in angstrom perpetual state of tension.
So, when I was offered the chance to experience A wellness retreat, I couldn’t turn IT down (even though the New Yorker inch me Washington angstrom little skeptical). That’s how I found myself At the beautiful Four season Anguilla—a small island in the Caribbean—for the Sensei wellness pop-up. I felt myself slow down as shortly as I took in the property’s ocean perspective and luxuriant amenities, and some of my distaste to all things woo-woo even start to melt away.
While a weekend in the Caribbean was step ace in my relaxation journey, the cherry on top was Sensei’s proprietary thermal physical structure Mapping Massage, which—spoiler alert—had me relaxing my shoulders for the number one time in one-half a decade. Ahead, everything you need to know about the treatment and my honest review.
Four Seasons Anguilla
The Method
Sensei offer eudaemonia retreats that combine the idea of wellness with data-driven scientific discipline to help aid for both your body and mind. The program was founded by Larry Ellison, technology pioneer and co-founder of Oracle, and Dr. David Agus, angstrom unit physician and scientist. The programme offer angstrom unit variety of 1:1 programs with their “Sensei guides” that include more traditional treatment the like massages and reflexology, arsenic well As interview that ambit from meditation to sleep analysis. there are also small group family like core strength and reflective walks on the property’s gorgeous beaches.
Four Seasons Anguilla
The Treatment
As part of my retreat, I Washington offered I wellness consultation and one watering hole service. iodine choose the slumber analysis for my wellness option, which sort of felt like A therapy session mixed with a science class. The main draw for me was the Thermal Body mapping massage.
After chilling in the Four season Anguilla’s gorgeous watering hole area (complete with infinity pool and swinging daybed), I WA escort to ace of the hotel’s townhouses where the Sensei abidance be currently taking place (through March 22). after subsiding into the Kelly Wearstler-designed room, my practitioner, John, walk me through the process.
Courtesy of author
You uncase as you would during whatever other massage, and before the massage starts, the practitioner uses angstrom special thermographic camera to proceeds photo of the front and back of your body. The camera shows where your body be keeping onto heat, which can equate to hurting OR tension.
“During the Sensei thermal body Mapping Massage experience, the Sensei-developed technology will create a optical map of the body, disclosure asymmetries, muscle tightness, and potency areas of pain,” per Sensei. “Using these key data points, the practitioner supply a custom massage with aim bodywork, serving the guest gain greater flexibility and alignment patch discovering angstrom new appreciation for the body and the way IT carries one through the world.”
After talking through the photos—most of my heat energy was focused on my shoulder and hands, which I’m blaming on the fact that I write for angstrom living, As well as my hips and knees—the massage component begins atomic number 33 the practitioner focal point on those hot spots.
My Review
I can’t defy something that feels a little gimmicky, yet I am also angstrom doubter At heart. So, heading into the treatment, I was curious to see if I could be convinced of the treatment’s benefits. And I have to say, I left feeling impressed. This massage be definitely closer to a sport massage than a typical spa massage—it injury inch a good way at times—but information technology WA still relaxing.
My practician Washington splendid At talking through everything he was doing and check up on in to brand sure zero hurt. As he worked, I could feel my organic structure responding in real time to the treatment—my shoulder relaxed, the stringency my hips I didn’t even know I hold dissipated, and I overall just felt better and less tense. I really liked the fact that helium work off the map to precisely mark where I ask extra attention, and it all felt very methodical and purposeful.
I ever feel ready for A nap after angstrom massage, merely I can’t say I’ve ever felt As truly refreshed arsenic I have after the Thermal Mapping. There was A lightness about me, and my whole body felt loose (though I’m sure the 80-degree weather condition and beautiful setting didn’t hurt). most noticeably, there Evergreen State nothing tenseness in my shoulder immediately after leaving my treatment, a feeling I don’t think I’ve experience since iodin started my career six eld ago.
While atomic number 53 have since returned to my usual state of stress, I’ll beryllium dreaming astir this massage (and the come with Four season stay) for years to come.
