PAMPERED IN PARIS©
By Tina M. Lynch
Ousé-an
Dépaysant,
dépaysant, dépaysant! I have been searching a long time for a just-right
translation for that word and have yet to find one that I am satisfied with - things
like ‘providing a change of scenery' and ‘exotic' might capture part of the
idea, but there is so much more! So, in this case I'm sticking with the French
word, conceding that it is one of THOSE words, or ‘word-concepts', that is
better in French. Nevertheless, my raison
d'être (another one!) is to discover the dépaysant treasures of Paris and seek out the serene, tranquil,
soothing, and relaxing lieux and
experiences here in the metro, boulot,
dodo capital of France. As we all know, life and living in a big capital
city can be stressful, harrowing, aggravating, claustrophobic, and frustrating,
and we all need a bit of pampering and comfort, as well as moments of ‘Zen' and
total escape, to round out our lives and bring pleasure. So, here goes -
Pampered in Paris! Voila!
This past weekend I had the
opportunity to visit Ousé-an with a
girlfriend. It was her choice, her birthday, and (thank goodness for me) what
she wanted was the Dâm Bôp Tâm Quât
massage at Ousé-an in the 14th
arrondissement. Well, I can't even begin to pronounce the thing without sounding
like a total idiot with a mouthful of too much peanut butter, but I am always
keen to try massages, especially new-to-me ones, and happily for me,
pronouncing it correctly was not a prerequisite for participation and pleasure
(whew!). The place is an oasis of calm. Yes, I know that word is way overused,
but it is what it is: an O-A-S-I-S (albeit the palm trees surrounded by
scorching sand were absent). Nevertheless, the reality of Paris drops away as
soon as you step through the doorway.
The welcome is warm, the
folks are friendly, and the ambiance is serene. Immediately you are made to
feel welcome, asked to sit down, and politely requested to take off your shoes,
after which you are invited to enter the massage rooms. Lying adjacent to one
another, separated by a sliding paper screen, the two nicely-sized rooms are
decorated with tasteful Asian art and wooden furniture, thriving plants, and
soothing fountains, complimented by lovely melodic music playing softly in the
background. As I was undressing and putting on the oversized pyjama-type
clothes we were instructed to wear, I realised I felt more like I was back in
my second home of San Francisco than in Paris, except for the fact that the
language being spoken was French (they speak English too!). All in all, the
ambiance is at once soothing, calming, and refreshing, just perfect
for some relaxation and pampering.
The Dâm Bôp Tâm Quât massage is a traditional Vietnamese massage
combining techniques from the North and the South of the country, and the claim
to fame of Ousé-an. Unique in Paris
(and France), the massage can be 60, 90, or 120 minutes long and takes place
lying on futons set up on the floor, with participants fully clothed in loose
garments (provided by Ousé-an) and
covered with soft, cozy blankets. Passed on from teacher to disciple, the
techniques and movements are comprised of kneading and tapping along the
meridians of the body, as well as the muscles and surfaces, in addition to
applying pressure to specific key pressure points.
The benefits of the massage
include relieving stress and nervous tension, overcoming sleep problems,
dealing with emotional tension, as well as setting free pent-up emotions
lingering in your body. Sounded like the perfect remedy to me! The effect
seemed subtle, but was definitely effective, and the 90 minutes just whizzed
by. If you know that saying, ‘coming apart at the seams', well, I have to say
that during the massage I felt as if I was being ‘put back together at the
seams', in a better way, if that makes any sense.
My muscles relaxed, the
knots of tension in my shoulders, neck, and back were dissolved, and whatever
she did to my feet can only be described as ‘otherworldly'. Can the feeling of
thousands of tiny jets of water really be mimicked by hand? Amazing! I can
honestly say that I have never before experienced a massage quite like this
one, and believe you me; I get massages everywhere I go in the world! I left
feeling like an orchid: tall, lovely, and statuesque, which is quite honestly
rather far from the truth, as I am kind of vertically challenged and the only
thing ‘-esque' about me is preceded
by Ruben! Anyhow, all I can say is
thank you and Bravo! to Tu Minh Tan
and Perlita Ferri for such a wonderful dépaysant
experience, which was perfectly topped off by sharing delicious hot tea at the
end! Excellent!
Facts and Contact Information:
Ousé-an offer several
types of massage, in addition to the Traditional Vietnamese Massage (Dâm Bôp Tâm Quât), such as Traditional
Thai Yoga-Massage, Indian Ayurvedic Massage with
Essential Oils, Thai Foot Reflexology Massage, Vietnamese Foot and Hand
Massage, and Vietnamese Head and Face Massage. Additionally, they offer private
courses of Qi-Gong, Tao Yin, Tai Ji Quan, Xing Yi Quan, and Self-Defense.
Reservations for massages
or classes are made on an APPOINTMENT ONLY basis to ensure the privacy and tranquility of clients.
Appointments can be made for any day of the week, including Sunday, and gift
certificates are available. No credit cards, payment by check or cash.
OUSE-AN
34 rue Pierre Larousse -
75014 Paris
Tel: 01 45 40 02 54 or 06
32 36 19 53
Website: www.ouse-an.com
Metro: Plaisance
Tramway T3: Didot
Bus: N° 62 or 58
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