f you're baffled by some of the treatments offered at your local spa, wait until you check out these unique offerings from around the world!
Reiki
Contrary to first impressions, it's not a type of lettuce. Popular in spas in North America and Europe, Reiki is a subtle form of energy balancing which focuses on restoring the body's natural harmony. Performed over clothing, the therapist gently lays their hands over specific areas to induce relaxation and total well-being, and use the life energy to promote the natural healing process within the body. To the untrained eye, it looks like the therapist is just randomly poking different areas of the body, but judging by the popularity of the treatment, they must be doing something right.
Yumomi
At some of the public baths in Japan, the traditional way of controlling the water temperature, known as "yumomi", is still practiced. It works by mixing the cold air of the highlands into the hot water with vigorous movements of wooden paddles over five feet long, controlled by several women standing at the edge of the bath. So you may be thinking, "So what, it's just like jets in a whirlpool!" To that we ask, when you're sitting in a hot tub, do you get treated to a traditional song and dance? If you don't, you'll be pleased to know that bath-goers experience a "Kusastsu-bushi" performance, a well-known folk song from the Kusatsu highlands that tells the story of yumomi set to a traditional dance. And if you do get treated to a song and dance at home, how odd for you.
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Extreme Sports
