Anyone for a snake massage?

October 23, 2008 - 10:54 AM by

Got an ache that just won’t go away? Well try a snake massage.

Yes, for the brave amongst us, a spa in northern Israel is now using snakes to give clients a massage they are no doubt unlikely to forget.

Ada Barak who owns the snake spa in Talmei Elazar uses a variety of California and Florida king snakes, corn snakes and milk snakes to help soothe her clients’ aches and pains, and let their troubles literally slide away.

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While many – myself included – might balk at the thought of it, Barak, who has been offering snake massages for the last two years, believes that once people overcome their fears, physical contact with the reptiles can be a relaxing and stress-relieving experience.
Many regular clients claim the snakes help ease migraines and soothe sore muscles.

“Some people said that holding the snakes made them feel better, relaxed,” she announced in an article with Time Magazine reporter Tim McGirk, who was brave enough to try it out himself. “One old lady said it was soothing, like a cold compress.”

After his initial panic, McGirk seemed to like it.

The snakes, which aren’t venomous, offer a variety of massage sensations, according to Barak. The large ones offer a kneading effect which helps alleviate deep muscle tension, while the small ones have a fluttering effect.
The cost of this massage – $80.

Barak is clearly not your usual masseur. Aside from her snake spa, she owns a carnivorous plant farm, from which she derives most of her income. These plants eat anything from insects and small mammals to schnitzel.

In April this year, Barak appeared on American chat show, the Tyra Banks Show, for an episode on beauty tips from around the world. Tyra started screaming, and Barak lost a snake down her shirt.

So what’s next – black widow spider massage perhaps? Or why not throw caution to the winds and try a snake massage with the venomous kind. You can find quite a few in the hills around here.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , • Category: General, Israeliness, Life 

Comments

One Comment on Anyone for a snake massage?

  1. alex on Wed, Dec 10th 2008 1:39 AM

    2. save to my Bookmarks ;)

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