Imagine lying down on a massage table, ready for the warm oils, when all of a sudden you feel something slithering on your back. It might make you squirm, but this treatment, known as snake massage or snake therapy, is a well-known spa treatment that’s particularly popular in Indonesia. Trained therapists come out with a (non-venomous) snake, and place it on your back. They’ll allow the snake to move around freely, or guide the snake to specific spots of tension or discomfort. Their slithering motion creates a very unique sensation that many people say is relaxing and soothing. Apart from that, many people also believe snake therapy stimulates the release of endorphins.
Rich in quartz deposits, Brazil is a hotspot for crystal healing – AKA lithotherapy. In short, lithotherapy is about using crystals to help our bodies and minds feel their best. The basis of lithotherapy is that all natural things have vibrations and energy. Building on that theory, lithotherapy suggests that the energy these crystals give off can sync up with the body’s energies, helping to balance, uplift, and clear our chakras. There’s no definitive science behind the treatment, but many people swear by it, with every crystal having a unique structure and energy.
Elephant Therapy: Finding Wellness Through Connection
Based on a historically deep respect for elephants, elephant therapy is a one-of-a-kind avenue for healing and wellness. Through a series of very structured interactions, people spend time engaging in activities such as eating, bathing, and walking alongside the elephants. Spending time in the natural rhythm of the elephants is said to create a space for self-reflection and vulnerability, as people embark on a journey of self-discovery with these gentle giants.
Better known as salt therapy, halotherapy is an age-old practice that involves spending time in a closed space breathing in small dry salt particles. The fine salt particles have been shown to repair skin cells, combat aging, and soothe respiratory conditions such as asthma. Since then, it’s grown to a point where you could spend time in a specially-designed spa, or spend a night in a genuine salt mine deep below the ground!
It’s also known as uguisu no fun, this skincare routine isn’t for germaphobes! It’s reported to have amazing benefits for skin rejuvenation and brightening. The special ingredient? Bird poop. Specifically, the faeces of the nightingale. The enzymes in nightingale faeces help to gently exfoliate the skin, removing dead cells and impurities to create a smoother complexion. The nightingale faeces is sanitised, powdered, and mixed with water to create a paste which is applied to the skin. Despite the fact that it’s kind of gross on the surface, uguisu no fun continues to be a popular spa treatment in Japan.
Don’t worry, this isn’t a weird form of acupuncture. Cactus therapy is a type of massage that scrubs cacti with blunted or removed thorns over the skin. The cactus has its leaves soaked in warm water before it’s scrubbed on your skin. It’s amazing for exfoliating and packed full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, all of which are great for your skin. It’s especially helpful for people with dry skin, but anybody can (and should) enjoy this unique treatment.
You might have heard of volcanic sand baths – a tradition where people are covered in sand that’s been heated by geothermal volcanic activity. These sand baths date back hundreds of years, and they’re definitely not for everyone. The process involves going out into the Merzouga desert in Morocco, and getting into the sand in the middle of the desert – which is around 45°C. It’s burning hot, and people aren’t allowed to spend more than 10 minutes in sand. When they come out, they have to be covered in a hot towel, because the change in temperature can cause their bodies to go into shock. But it’s said to eliminate toxins in the body, and has shown to be incredibly helpful in treating rheumatism, arthritis, back pains, and skin diseases.
