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Want to relish that easy feeling in bustling Singapore? Ruhanie Perera does just that as she indulges in traditional Chinese therapy
Ah! that spa, la!
Say 'Singapore' and immediately images of frantic activity flash through the mind. The hustle and bustle of Orchard Road, the slick pace of the technologically-driven and the buzz of people with a purpose - certainly, visiting Singapore is quite the fast-track experience. And, in many ways the country, occupying so small a land space, is very much like their Suntec City mall... a one stop shop where the visitor has access to just about everything under one roof!

And when it's time to leave, you feel a little breathless, the 'travel rush' leaves you overwhelmed and your arms, loaded with bags and bags, and more bags, begin to ache. You're ready to drop. Don't leave Singapore without taking some time off to sit back, kick back and relax...

There's another side to Singapore, offering the option that leaves you at peace and it was time to discover that experience. It was time to unwind... and well, loosen up!

South East Asia is spa paradise and in Singapore the Indonesian, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Indian - and even the North American - meet creating a haven of therapeutic options. Geared for the stressed out, knotted up soul, the spa option is long past the day it was meant only for the rich and famous. Be warned, if you even mention that you've never been to a spa, you are liable to be charged with... a completely relaxed life. Thus, the one unlearned in spa culture stopped to experience first hand the slow way to enjoy Singapore.

St. Gregory Spas, Singapore, one of the options to consider, welcomes not just their members, but also visitors, local and international for a day, for a longer visit, or just for a massage. Working with the sentiment, "Spirit is the Life. Mind is the Builder. Physical is the Result”, first expressed by Edgar Cayce, the 'Sleeping Prophet', St. Gregory Spas savvy enough to perceive and develop the potential in this 'lifestyle business', calls on the weary to take note of the fact that, "you are your most precious asset". And thus, the trendsetter in the evolution of this industry, invites the individual to take time off to stop and celebrate life and the human spirit.

St. Gregory Spas was founded with the vision and mission of providing "integrated holistic therapeutic spa care and fitness" to every specialised age group. Established in 1997, the spa is named after St. Gregory Place, a quaint little street at the junction where two byroads - Coleman and Hill Street - meet. Today, St. Gregory Spa is part of a successful conservation effort to preserve the pre-war shophouses where a history of over 150 years can be absorbed (this is where St. Gregory's first spa, Gregory Marine Spa is located) along what is today a delightful memorial of old-world Singapore.

Working with the principle that no two people are exactly the same, but all of us have a spirit, mind and body that often need rest and respite from the demands of modern living, St. Gregory’s chain of specialised spas caters to individual needs while projecting one universal vision of holistic health. Each need is looked to through their range of spas, the Marine spa, the Javana spa, the Aroma and the Medi spa and the Therapeutic spa, where they create worlds of peace and tranquillity, promising personal harmony through experience.

- The Marine spa, the original St. Gregory spa, specialises in hydrotherapy, for slimming and de-stressing and aquatherapy, for relaxation and healing, and is the place to dive into a "sea of serenity", where those living life on the fast track can slow down just enough to rebuild strength and refresh the spirit.

- The Javana spa is the recreation of an Indonesian garden with colours, fabrics, textures, lighting, sounds and scents to evoke the senses. Inspired by Indonesian traditions, it offers traditional Indonesian massages and facials and herbal, steam and milk baths, while promising an experience fit for royalty.

- The Aroma spa is all about scents and the healing quality of essential oils. It's the destination for a sensory adventure, while the Medi spa specialises in health and healing through a professional medical team comprising trained spa therapists and physiotherapists.

The Therapeutic spa is the place to revel in healing hands trained in the power of loving touch, combining the ancient traditions of healing from Asia with the more up-to-date techniques from the West, to mould the body and soul into better shape.

And that was my destination. Therapeutic spa, Novena Square. So what's the name of the game? "Live. Luxuriate. Liberate". And what was I in for? Tui Na. A traditional Chinese therapy, Tui Na, pronounced "twee na", is a form of bodywork that has been used in China for centuries, combining massage, acupressure and other forms of body manipulation, which works by applying pressure to acupoints, and groups of muscles or nerves to remove blockages that prevent free flow of 'Chi' of 'Qi' energy.

The Tui Na massage is thus a completely healing system, like acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine; these three forms of therapy are the main components of traditional Chinese medicine and Tui Na is probably the oldest system of bodyworks still practised.

Yet its popularity continues to grow, making it top the list of preferred options in the therapeutic massage department. The Tui Na massage, like most of the other forms of Chinese medicine, traces its origins back to the Wei Ching - the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine from 2300 B.C. and is documented as effective in removing blockages of energy and restoring the balance of this energy in the body, leading the individual to the path of improved health and vitality!

The term Tui Na literally means pushing and grabbing. In the original sense, Tui Na includes these two actions. The term first appeared in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) texts, "Tui" meaning literally 'to push' and "Na" denoting a squeezing and lifting technique. The names of these two techniques are used to represent the system. Practitioners of Tui Na claim that there are over 365 different hand techniques utilised in this massage, the manipulations of which including pushing, holding or grasping, pressing, round-rubbing, kneading, rubbing, rolling, dotting or tapping, pinching, nipping, rectifying, rotating or twisting, knocking, chopping, pulling, patting - but it's not as painful as it sounds!

This massage technique focuses on deep pressure and its invigorating and re-energising method releases blocked energy and restores a balanced flow throughout the body promoting health and preventing disease. The massage specifically treats a stiff neck, frozen shoulder and tennis elbow, in addition to back pain, knee joint injuries, headaches, sinus, dizziness and indigestion. It even covers insomnia, depression and hypertension.

It was time to unwind and take things slow. First sip the orange flavoured H2O, breathe in the scent of fragranced candles and tune into the dimmed lights and soft music - now that's atmosphere for you! Fifty five minutes of pushing and pulling, and exit self with better blood circulation, reduced muscle cramps, repaired tissue, rid of all dead skin cells! What's more the massage is also supposed to improve joint movement and help one achieve a balanced state of mind - I shall not be too optimistic. The truth is, everything felt so... loose. And very, very collapsible.

A cosy lounge around in a big comfy armchair, a warm cup of light fragranced tea (delightful post-massage treats) and a slow lunch later, it was time for the last escapade in Singapore. An evening stroll along the Singapore River - such a romantic closing and so in keeping with the dominant mood of the day.

It was a moment to revel in that, if I may borrow from a song, peaceful easy feeling; to breathe in the smell of nature, to listen out for the sound of laughter that emanated from the bustling cafes along the river, and take in, in one glance, the history of the Singapore River that brought the early migrants and traders into the country and just beyond the river in Singapore's financial district, the sights of modern civilization. So this is Singapore. It was a lovely feeling - and as they say it in Singapore - la!

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