Published: Wednesday, 4th August, 2010 5:00pm

Put the pep back in your step with a revitalising foot treatment

I'm quite partial to a foot rub and generally enjoy having hot towels, heat packs or, in this case Hot Lava Shells, applied to the body so the revitalising foot treatment at Sangoma Therapies and Training in Scotch Parade was the ideal treatment for me!

The revitalising foot treatment is a holistic foot and lower leg treatment to rejuvenate tired and aching feet. After using a rose foot soak, turmeric scrub and warmed coconut and vanilla balm, the feet are encased in warm mitts and treated with healing anti-inflammatory essential oils, a deep acupressure foot massage and recently Nicola Ryan has introduced to the treatment the healing effects of Hot Lava Shells from the South Pacific.As we prepare for the treatment, Nicola explains that the revitalising foot treatment is one that she has designed herself and so is exclusive to Sangoma. With 20 years' experience as a therapist Nicola incorporates various therapies into this one treatment to revitalise tired legs and feet. She explains that it is ideal for people who work on their feet all day, people who experience swelling of the feet after travel or during pregnancy and for sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis.

Beginning the treatment, I simply laid back and relaxed as Nicola first used a rose foot soak on both my feet and legs ensuring they were cleansed before applying a turmeric scrub to my left leg and foot, gently using it to exfoliate the skin. After cleaning this off she applied a warmed coconut and vanilla balm to my leg and foot before wrapping it up in a heated mit and then repeating the process on the my right foot, all very pleasant I can assure you!

It was then onto the next phase of the treatment - the use of the Hot Lava Shells, something that both fascinated and intrigued me. I was curious as to how exactly the shells worked, how they heated up, what the benefits were and also how strong they were. Nicola happily chatted away as she continued the treatment, answering all my questions.

She explained that the shells are completely eco-friendly, being recycled tiger clam shells from the South Pacific. The tiger clams themselves are used in restaurants and a company in the UK then imports the leftover shells to use in a therapy that was first used in the South Pacific.

A Lava Shell sachet and solution has been designed, which is poured into the shell, which is then sealed, and this is how the heat in the shell is created so that no machines or electricity are needed, it's all completely natural as the Lava Shell sachet itself contains minerals, sea kelp and algae.

Working first on one foot and leg and then the other, Nicola used the shell, which is completely smooth, to massage out any knots and tension in my feet and legs and even used the edge of the shell, which is much stronger and not as sharp as you'd imagine, to really get in and work at any areas of extreme tension. Nicola explained that the heat from the shells helps to loosen up the muscles, which allows the therapist to really work at your trouble spots.

After using the shell, Nicola then complete the massage using her hands and thumbs to release any tension. She noticed that my right foot was much tighter than my left, and in particular was quite tense around the part of the foot that represents the shoulder, no surprise there as my left shoulder has been giving me quite a bit of bother of late - sitting in front of a computer all day certainly does nothing for your back and neck! However, luckily for me the Hot Lava Shells can also be used during the course of a deep tissue massage for your back and shoulders, so I think a repeat visit may be in order some time soon.

A big fan of the Hot Lava Shells, Nicola said she loved the fact that they were completely eco-friendly and used only natural ingredients.

She explained that she has now incorporated them into many of her treatments at Sangoma, explaining that the heat helps to bring the nutrients to an area to heal it.

"With injuries, while you'd use a cold press at first, after about 48 hours you'd use heat. By bringing heat and blood flow to the area it brings healing to the area and the second thing about the Hot Lava Shells is that they soften the muscle, relaxing it, to enable you to get in with your thumbs or the edge of the shell to get at the muscle," explained Nicola.

A firm convert to the Hot Lava Shells I even enquired if there was a retail pack available. There is, although it is slightly different to a therapist's one and the shells will not get as hot.

I left Sangoma with loser muscles in my legs, and with my feet certainly feeling revitalised and less tired.

For more information contact Sangoma Therapies & Training, Scotch Parade, Athlone, on 086 8714467.

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