PAMPERED IN PARIS
By Tina M. Lynch
DRAGON & PHENIX:
Maison du Bien-être Chinois Footsie Fantasy.
Two things in this world
that I cannot live without are tea and massage. So, when the prospect of
visiting a place that functions as both tea and massage house sprung into view,
I catapulted at the chance! Tiny, unexpected, and slightly hidden, Dragon et Phénix (Maison de Thé et de
Massage), is a treasure trove of tea canisters and traditional Chinese
massages providing a tantalizing array of things to taste and try in the
pursuit of well-being, balance, and harmony.
The traditional Chinese
massage services offered at Dragon et
Phénix are based on over 3,000 years of practice. Incorporating teachings
from Chinese Medicine and the principles of Yin and Yang and the five essential
elements, all treatments are designed to improve health by achieving balance
and harmony in the body, as well as regulating blood circulation and Qi, or ch'i, also known as ‘vital energy', ‘life force', or ‘spiritual
energy of the universe'. I decided to go for something relatively unknown to
me, though already practiced for thousands of years in certain parts of the
world: foot reflexology. Now don't get me wrong, I have had loads of tootsie
treatments in my life in the way of pedicures, foot massages, and beauté des pieds, but I wanted to try
something authentic, with some serious history and focused intensity. I was
intrigued by the Zu Dao Massage Plantaire Chinois (Zu Dao Chinese
Foot Massage), which, according to the brochure, is ideal for fortifying
the immune system, eliminating toxins, getting rid of tension, and reinforcing
the overall health of the body - all for just 45€ and approximately 45 minutes
of my time.
To give an idea of how far
back foot reflexology goes and what is so captivating about it, I decided to
get a bit of background on the matter. Some sources report that foot treatments
date back to 2330 B.C. in ancient Egypt, as evidenced by bas-reliefs and
carvings found in the physicians' tomb depicting a type of foot-focused
massage. Other sources say that the practice originated in India and still
others posit that the precursors of modern foot reflexology first appeared in
China in the 6th century A.D. Be that as it may, Dragon et Phénix is a Chinese
establishment and the history of foot reflexology as practiced in China claims
that references to foot-reflexology treatments first appeared in the medical
records of Emperor Wendi of the Sui Dynasty (581 - 618 A.D.). The practice then
flourished during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 A.D.), spread to Japan,
eventually found its way to Westerners during the Manchu Dynasty (1643 - 1912
A.D.), and was introduced in the US in the early 1900s. All in all I felt that
was a pretty long history indeed. A wee tangent on the illustrious Emperor
Wendi - this man, full name Yang Jian, who ruled from 581 - 604 A.D., was not
only interested in Chinese medicine, but was also credited with creating the Kai Huang Law, which served as the basis
for all legal codes of subsequent dynasties until the overthrow in 1911.
Additionally, he was famous for having the fewest concubines - only two after
his wife (and Empress) died - compared to some 3,000 concubines reportedly
maintained by Tang Taizong. Furthermore, he supervised the construction of the
first section of the Sui Dynasty Great Wall. Hmm - what a fellow!
So, back to
reflexology...According to Chinese Medicine, the soles of the feet are home to
sensory nerves which correspond to the internal organs, glands, and other parts
of the body. Manipulating a certain part of the foot can stimulate a reflex
action in the corresponding part of the body, de-blocking tension, restoring
balance, and making way for healing to occur. Reflexology thus operates on a
different concept than massage, which typically concentrates on the muscles and
soft tissue of the body. While the experience of foot reflexology is not
intended to be painful, some areas will be more ‘sensitive', depending on the
state of health of that particular part of the body. There are numerous health
benefits to be gleaned from regular treatments, including general overall
improvement in mental and physical well-being, as well as improved circulation
and relaxation. Foot reflexology is useful in stress and tension management,
relieving aches, pains, and migraines, aiding in digestion and/or elimination
concerns, as well improving sleep patterns. There you have it - voilà! Foot reflexology (Zu Dao Massage Plantaire Chinois) was
the method for me and Dragon et Phénix
was the place.
Entering the establishment,
I was immediately enveloped by the calm and quiet interior, starkly contrasting
to the street goings-on outside: a loud creeping and beeping garbage truck
surrounded by heaving and hollering bin men and miscellaneous people rushing to
and fro. Aaaggghhh! Turning from the
closed door, I found myself in a tiny sanctuary comprised of exposed beams,
stonewalls, tea canisters, tasteful wood furniture, and Asian objets d'art. Taking center stage was a
set of varnished tree-trunk stools and table, the girth of which rivalled those
huge Redwoods from West Coast USA. After a brief interlude perusing the tea
menu, we were shown into the foot reflexology treatment room. With Chinese
characters adorning the walls, dim lighting, and soft music, the cozy room
could comfortably accommodate two people simultaneously in adjacent
‘American-style' velour recliners. As we settled in, ceramic basins of flower
petal-scented water were brought to us and set at our feet. After some soaking,
the reflexologists returned and set to work, transporting us into a sort of
meditative reverie. We had been chatting and catching up during the soaking,
but once the foot-reflexology process started, produced a couple of ‘dropped
jaws', ‘yelps' and ‘what spot does that correspond to?!', we stopped talking
and concentrated on what was happening to our extremities. Though not always
‘comfortable', because some spots were downright tender (albeit, sorry to say,
but slightly perhaps ever-so-nearly-bordering on painful), the manipulations that
my feet experienced were effective and immediately beneficial. Well, I do
declare, just like the brochure and website said, there was indeed some type of
an effect! That day I had been plagued with a bad headache and from the moment
of waking had felt like ‘death warmed over'. After nearly an hour in that
chair, with my feet being pressed, manipulated, and anointed, it all went away,
just like that....poof! The headache disappeared. I felt rejuvenated and less
fatigued, and I was definitely more relaxed. And, those feelings of well-being
were even more apparent the next day! I woke up feeling like a new woman.
What's more, neither the corpselike fatigue nor the headache has come back
since that session. It was a ‘discovery' and I will definitely be back for
more!
As far as the tea
portion...Alas! Sadly enough we never got around to a serious tasting because we
had another appointment to keep. Next time!! I can, however, report that there
is a jam-packed tea menu filled with White, Green, Yellow, Red, Black, Jasmine
and Woolong teas, as well as pretty much everything in between. Enticing names
abound in every category, such as Mist of
Mont Lu, Green Snow, and The Beauty of the Orient. The White Tea of Art (Thé Blanc d'art) category completely captivated me with tempting
dreamy names, such as Chrysanthemum
Princess, Forbidden Passion, Elixir of Love, Bath of Kisses, and Flower of Eternal Youth, to name but a
few. I will definitely make the time to indulge in those delectable treats on
my next visit.
Facts and Contact
Information:
Dragon
et Phénix is conveniently (and amazingly for Paris) open every day from 11h -
22h. They offer many different types of Chinese full-body massages, including
the 4,000-year-old energizing Tui Na
- the ‘pearl of Medicinal Chinese Massage', Tui
You - for improved health and physical and mental well-being, and Tui Xiang - for relaxation,
self-confidence, and rediscovering joie
de vivre.
In addition to the Zu Dao foot massage, there are other
body-specific massages, such as Gua Sha et
Ventouses for the stomach, Massage du
Dos for the back, and Yu Chi for
the face, which uses jade and essential oils. Especially for women, there is Moxa de Nombril - for women over 35 to
promote skin elasticity, slow aging, regulate the female cycles and stabilise
mood, as well as Rose de Yin - a
special preparation for the bride-to-be. Tea tastings can be arranged any time.
Tea prices vary depending on the type and quantity desired and Chinese tea sets
are available for purchase.
DRAGON & PHENIX, Maison
du Bien-être Chinois
71 rue des Gravilliers
75003 Paris
Telephone: 01 42 72 17 53
Email:
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Website: www.dragonetphenix.com
Métro: Arts et Métiers
Copyright © 2008 by Tina M. Lynch
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