I'm not the type who easily believes in anything; and when I say anything, I mean all. Everything to me is baloney unless proven otherwise. I doubt everything and everybody; that's why I only have three best friends, one of which is my husband. That's just the way I'm built, I guess.
I had some apprehensions about Karada. I'm not really familiar with the technique, so I did what any first-timer would do: research. Basically, it's a fusion of massage and chiropractic treatment. That did it for me! I'm obsessed with massage! I get it twice a week. I've been to a chiropractor once, upon much egging from my friend. It was a great experience, by the way.
Karada 101
What is Karada?
Karada is a Nihongo term for 'body' or 'physique'. The concept is mirrored from the famous Seitai {properly ordered body} centers in Japan. The technique they use is called AP Balance. It's an alignment of the first cervical bone {Atlas} and the main base of the body {Pelvis}.
There are major differences between this and the traditional massage. For one, Karada targets the musculoskeletal portion of the body, while ordinary massage focuses on the muscles and tissues only. Karada is geared towards healing rather than relaxation.
Karada Process
Step 1: Consultation
You'll be asked to fill out a profile sheet. The suggestion regarding which treatment will suit you best will be based on your profile sheet. They decided that the best treatment for hubs and I would be the AP Balance The Bliss.
It's important to encircle as much as you can when asked about your chief complaints so that they can be addressed properly. Encircling all doesn't necessarily mean that you're a hypochondriac. It's a-okay. I'm talking to myself.
Be honest with your answers, especially about weight and height. It matters. I'm talking to myself again.
It's important to encircle as much as you can when asked about your chief complaints so that they can be addressed properly. Encircling all doesn't necessarily mean that you're a hypochondriac. It's a-okay. I'm talking to myself.
Be honest with your answers, especially about weight and height. It matters. I'm talking to myself again.
Step 2: Assessment
They will do a series of tests {stretching exercises} to determine which part of your body to concentrate on. They will check your mobility, balance, leg-length discrepancies and the painful parts of your body. I found out that my left leg was shorter than my right due to constant sitting and a semi sedentary lifestyle.
At this point I asked about the training of the Karada team because it's my spine we're talking about here, people! I mean, it's just fair. I just went in for the kill and asked the manager {Ms. Irma Marcello} if the Karada team attended an anatomy class. Her answer really impressed me. The therapists are actually healthcare professionals {nurses} and Ms. Marcello is a licensed Physical Therapist.
They sent some of them to Japan for intensive training. The therapists from this batch are the ones who train the rest.
The spine model {above} is not just for display. Your therapist will use it to explain the treatment you're about to undergo.
Unlike the traditional massage, you'll be asked to change to a pair of jogging pants and a shirt before the treatment begins. They use a dry {no oils} method so you don't need to go commando, unless really you want to.
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| Karada's dressing room |
Your clothes and other personal belongings will be placed inside a plastic basket. They will put the basket under your massage bed.
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| Hubs in his ninja gear |
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| View from Karada |
Step 3: Muscle Treatment
You'll be given a cup of warm water before the treatment begins and right after it ends. It's for muscle relaxation. The therapist will then accompany you to your designated massage bed. Notice the lack of dividers and curtains? No matter how much comfortable you think you'll be in your birthday suit, don't do it. You won't be able to leave Karada with your dignity still intact.
The therapist loosening up my stiff muscles {below}. I'm not gonna sugar coat this one for you, it's painful. However, you can ask the therapist to adjust the pressure according to your preference. They won't judge and think less of you if you go for the slightest of all pressures. The one next to you probably will.
How about me? I went for the hardest. I am a woman. I eat pain for breakfast. This is the reason why I never engage in the 'Who's better, man or woman?' debate because I already know who the winner is. Our pain threshold is beyond compare. If you're a guy and insist that you're better, I will consider your irrational belief only if:
1. You've actually experienced more than 12 hours of labor
2. You can bleed for 5 days straight without dying......monthly
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| Hurts so good |
Step 4: Alignment
After the muscle treatment, the therapist endorsed me to the second therapist {Pia} for the alignment process. She asked me to stand in front of the mirror, spread my legs and clasp my hands at the back. She then pulled my clasped hands down and I immediately lost my balance.
She asked me to lie via a prone position on the drop bed or chiropractic bed. The difference between this bed and the normal massage bed are the foot pedals and the divisions. The foot pedals are pushed down to elevate a certain part of the bed. The therapist then pushes down a specific area of the body until the elevated part of the bed drops. The loud thud from the drop may surprise you in the beginning.
My favorite part was the neck pop. It feels so good after! The pop is not due to a bone cracking. It's actually a release of gas.
Karada Results
Right after the treatment, the therapist checked my balance again, and lo and behold, I didn't flinch! I felt a slight pain when lifting my left leg and that went away right after the alignment. My left and right legs became even. I felt lighter and slept early {11pm} that night. I've always been nocturnal, so the last one is my favorite aftereffect.
I had a really good experience with Karada. I had my doubts in the beginning, but I became a believer of Karada's technique after just one session! I'm going back for the foot treatment very soon! That's for my insomnia.
It's better if you make a reservation a day or two before. Make sure that you don't have any existing medical conditions - especially if it's contraindicated for this type of procedure - before you undergo this treatment. Better yet, ask for your doctor's go signal first.
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| Aligned/Selfie |
Type
|
Duration in Minutes
|
Price (PhP)
|
AP BALANCE
|
||
Energizer
|
20
|
345
|
Therapeutic
|
45
|
745
|
The Bliss
|
60
|
945
|
BODY TREATMENT
|
||
Energizer
|
20
|
295
|
Therapeutic
|
45
|
645
|
The Bliss
|
60
|
845
|
FOOT TREATMENT
|
||
Therapeutic
|
45
|
545
|
The Bliss
|
60
|
645
|
AP + BT
|
||
Therapeutic
|
60
|
1,195
|
The Bliss
|
90
|
1,295
|
AP BALANCE + FOOT TREATMENT
|
||
The Bliss
|
90
|
1,195
|
BODY TREATMENT + FOOT TREATMENT
|
||
The Bliss
|
90
|
1,095
|
AP SPECIAL
|
||
The Bliss
|
120
|
1,795
|
Karada Serendra
Phase No. C214, 2/F Serendra Retail
11th Avenue, Taguig City {it's directly above Abe}
Tel. No. 823-67-16
Twitter: @KARADA_PH
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