Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Foot massage and reflexology treatments are a prominent part of the spa culture in Asian cities. We try a 50-minute foot massage in Hong Kong, before boarding Seabourn Sojourn.

What It Is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCnIya88Gkc

To call the experience a simple foot massage is misleading, as the therapist massaged our shins and ankles as well, removing the tightness from our long flight. At times, the treatment felt a little painful; the principles of Asian foot reflexology contend that different parts of the foot correspond with organs and systems throughout the body. The particular sensitivity felt in the big toe, for example, might mean that there are problems in the sinuses.

While we didn't fall completely asleep, we dozed a bit, feeling our jet lag wash away. At the end, the therapist gave us a cup of tea to drink.

Worth a Try?

Absolutely. We left our foot massage in Hong Kong feeling lighter on our toes, and refreshed for the subsequent ports on our Southeast Asia cruise. It also seemed to help with our jet lag.

Things to Note

While Hong Kong is full of foot massage services, you'll want to read online reviews if you want one that seems more like a spa; some places are extremely bare bones or might be offering a lot more than chaste services. Also, this might not be the treatment for you if your feet are overly sensitive or ticklish.

--By Chris Gray Faust, Senior Editor