Three greatest words: hot stone massage

It turns out the three greatest words in the English language are “hot stone massage’’.

I’m in Karma Spa and Wellness in what must be one of the most spectacularly dramatic scenes for a massage – a 500-foot eyrie above the Indian Ocean.

Before the stones though, I’m first given a tour of spa and its smattering of treatment rooms strung along the cliff top. The centerpiece, an open-air platform, where sunrise yoga and sunset massages are performed, features an infrared detox sauna and a Himalayan crystal salt pool.

My masseuse introduces herself as Yanti and leads me into a room with its sheer drop over the Indian Ocean. Below mighty rollers close out against the rocky shore.

“Mr Jonathan please take off your clothes and put these on. I will wait outside,’’ says Yanti.

‘These’ are a small pair of disposable underpants and a white cotton sarong.

Now where were we? Ah yes, the massage. For music I’m offered what I assume are the usual whale groans, but I opt instead for the sound of the sea coming in through the open window.

Why choose what some hipster thinks nature ought to sound like when you can have the real thing?

The massage begins with the full Balinese massage treatment; oils and a nice gentle rub down.

The hot stones are oiled and one at a time rubbed gently over my entire body. The hot stones, not too hot, mind, are left on my chakra points. After a while there are about a dozen on my body, lightly aligning my chakras.

I fall asleep a couple of times and I’m awakened by my own snores – I may stay for eternity. I contemplate running towards the light and the brief 500-foot flight of nothingness before the splash and then …

“It’s 12.30,’’ Yanti says.

“Holy cow I gotta go,’’ I yelp.

She tries to persuade me to stay, but I explain that I have an appointment and hate to keep people waiting.

I leave with my various chakras completely aligned and beat my luncheon companion to the table at Di Mare.

http://www.karmakandara.com/karma-wellness/

http://www.karmakandara.com/

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