Following in the footsteps of her grandparents

THERAPY is the treatment of disease or disorders by some remedial, rehabilitating, or curative process.

Massage is the act of kneading, rubbing or tapping parts of the human body to promote circulation, suppleness, or relaxation.
Massage therapy, a combination of the two terms, is therefore a treatment which involves the manual manipulation of soft body tissues (muscle, connective tissue, tendons and ligaments) to enhance a person’s health and well-being.

Samantha Thuknauth is a Massage Therapist, one of a number of local health care professionals who specialises in this form of service now being often described as a form of alternative medicine.

Unlike many such professionals who are based in the townships, the young professional provides her service in the rural environment of Huntley Village, Mahaicony in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) following in the footsteps of her grandparents. The grandparents were not professionally trained, massage therapists but nevertheless provided yeoman and free service to their fellow villagers in providing relief for a variety of aches and pains, not so long ago.

EARLY INFLUENCE
Even though as a child she saw people visiting the family home with problems like “nara” / wind pain, back pain, shoulder pains and stiff neck and being cheerfully helped by her grandparents Cyril and Gladys, it took her a while to realise that this also was her true calling.

In an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine she said: “It was while working overseas in the Turks and Caicos Islands and watching a professional massage therapist at work that my girlhood days memories of the voluntary work of my grandparents for their fellow villagers, came flooding back and then I suddenly realised that this was my true calling too. This is where I wanted to/had to go. So I returned home; got trained and certified a few years ago and here I am doing what I like doing best: helping people to heal.”

She added with a smile: “Every now and then, one or two of the older folks who would come to me for massage for one reason or another would say ‘hey, so you take after your grandfather, Cyril’ or ‘you take after you grandmother, Gladys girl? Eh but look nah!’”
She continued: “I love being a Massage Therapist. It is my passion. I am proud to say that I am following in their footsteps.”

BUSINESS OPERATIONS
The Body Relaxation Massage Spa and Salon where she works is located along the Georgetown/Rosignol Highway, at Lot 5 Huntley, Mahaicony, about a mile or two east of the Mahaicony River bridge.

Samantha was recently featured in the pages of the Business Magazine of the Region Five Chambers of Industry and Commerce: Focus on Five.
At her Body Relaxation Massage Spa, customers can expect two scientific types of massage: Relaxation massage – also known as Swedish massage and Rehabilitative massage – also known as deep tissue, medical, or clinical massage which basically assists the body in healing itself.

Relaxation massage or Swedish Massage, she explained, is a gentle form of massage that uses long gliding strokes, kneading, friction, vibration and tapping generally in the direction of blood flow towards the heart to help improve blood circulation, relieve muscle tension and relax and energise the beneficiary.

In this type, there is aromatherapy which is a combination of Swedish massage and essential oils and also the hot stone massage, both which induce relaxation.
Her hot stone massage is a speciality massage where she uses smooth, heated stones, either as an extension of her own hands or by placing them on the body while massaging other parts of the body. The heat can be both deeply relaxing and help warm up tight muscles, so the therapist can work more deeply, more quickly

The hot stones are usually made of basalt, a type of rock that is rich in iron, so they retain heat. River rocks are normally used because they are so smooth – they have been smoothed over time by the river’s current.

The stones are immersed in water and heated in an electric heating device until they are within a certain temperature range. The stones may be placed at specific points on the back, in the palms of the hand, or between the toes.

The warmth of the hot stones improves circulation and calms the nervous system.
Sports Massage and Trigger Point Massage are two sub-types which fall under Rehabilitative Massage and which are also provided on request.
Her Sports massage helps people involved in sports activities to either prevent or treat injuries.

TECHNIQUE
At work here, she uses techniques that are similar to Swedish Massage and Deep Tissue/ Rehabilitative Massage but are specially adapted to deal with the effects of athletic performance on the body and the needs of athletes regarding training performing and recovering from injury.

Trigger Point Massage focuses on areas of tight muscle fibres that can form in anyone’s muscles after injuries or overuse.
People who do house painting are potential beneficiaries of the Trigger Point Massage because of discomfort which may arise from the constant movement of their hands required by that profession.
“I have helped people with chronic shoulder and wrist pains related to certain types of trades,” she said.

The length of the massages vary from a minimum of one hour for a full body massage to 30 minutes for a partial body massage: feet; wrists etc.
The costs vary but information can be obtained beforehand, since she treats patients only after they have secured an appointment.

“The one benefit I give customers is privacy. The service is for both males and females and I don’t want a male receiving a full body or partial body massage in a clinic full with other customers or vice versa. People can become self-conscious; feel embarrassed etc., so treatment is by appointment and is private.”

CHALLENGES
She says that an occasional challenge has been that there are occasionally some males who have misconceptions about massages, but says that she makes it quite clear to male customers that her service is professional and they should ditch their misconceptions before they can receive either relaxation or rehabilitative massage.

She also does home visits to provide therapy for persons recovering from strokes.
The salon provides customers with pedicures, facials, body waxing, eyebrow arching, hair and scalp treatments, hair cutting and colouring- all by appointment.
With this aspect of her work, she says that she decries the use of chemicals by women.

NATURAL BEAUTY
She remembers during her training, a lecturer saying that Guyanese women are very beautiful but they destroy their natural beauty with chemicals.
“We put a whole lot of different chemicals in our hair; put false nails on our nails and eventually we damage our hair; our natural nails; why not grow your own nails?”
She stressed that she has taken a vow never to use chemicals for short-term effects but which would eventually be of damage to the natural beauty of the person.

“I love to see the natural beauty in our women. The ideal for me is that when they walk out of here they should be satisfied with the service; if the customer is not satisfied then I am not satisfied,” she said. “I also love what I am doing generally because I get the chance to practice my skills and interact with many different people.

Some people come for a massage every once in a while just to relax, and others come regularly as part of their treatment for ongoing physical problems they may be experiencing. Studying each client’s needs and customising my techniques for them is a rewarding part of what I do.

Each person has a different body and receives the benefits of massage in different ways, and it’s my privilege as a certified massage therapist to figure out how I can help them best.”