Spa spy Tread lightly

Give your feet a treat with a Spring Ease massage at Knotstressed

The treatment

Spring Ease at Knotstressed, Edinburgh – a restorative Northernstyle Thai Foot Massage with therapist Juan Mases (60 minutes for £45, saving £5). Book by 30 April. Gift vouchers are valid for six months.

Why go?

Think of your feet as a pair of bulbs. They’ve been festering underground (well, in your shoes) for months now, and it’s time for them to be reawakened, like the crocuses on the Meadows.

Our spy says

“Um, it says in your notes that you have tickly feet?” says Juan.

Someone must have misheard me, on my last visit to this therapy centre.

This, after all, is definitely not a treatment for those who don’t like their feet being touched. Thankfully, I’m exactly the opposite.

We’re in a large and bright room, usually used as the yoga studio, at the front of this premises.

I’ll be lying face up on the table, fully clad (bar shoes and socks), though with special baggy Thai cotton trousers (provided) on, so Juan can access my lower legs.

The treatment is split into three parts.

The first involves no oil – left side first, then right. There’s a lot of pressing movement, up the skin bone, along the calf and my soles. It’s very relaxing, though I’m surprised at so many areas of tension, some numb bits and unexpected little knots, especially along the arches.

Part two is when Juan brings out the oil.

Among other things, he holds onto the big toes and smooths along the inner edges of the feet, lengthening muscles, and working around the ankle bones, using stimulating manoeuvres as if rubbing something out with an eraser. Toes are gently stretched and pinched, with whisking movements.

The final section of the treatment involves a little Thai stick, made with hardwood.

It’s firmly pressed into the gaps between the toes, which feels like a release in some cases and a bit ouchy in others.

On my left side, when this tool is pushed against my sole, I think of the popular meme of a shark standing on Lego, though I barely notice it on the right side. This magic wand is also rubbed against the top of toes and along the instep. My legs are lifted, then rubbed with hands underneath, and there are more pressing and stroking moves through the towel that’s keeping my legs cosy.

The results

Even though moments were a little tender, I really enjoyed this experience and feel very sleepy. However, in contrast, my feet want to do a marathon and are vibrating, as if the circulation has been kickstarted (or maybe I really have got roses for toeses and it’s time for them to bloom). n

Knotstressed (41-42 Montrose Terrace, Edinburgh, 07540 809944, www.knotstressed.com)