Tom Powell
AFTER a long week of grafting at the Olive Press my mind was racing and my arms were still stuck in the typing position.
Shoulders arched in the air and a low-level headache developing, I arrived at the Source of Wellbeing late on Friday afternoon, with one of the more unusual assignments I have been handed.
Let me explain, I had admitted to the team that I had NEVER in all my 22 years had a massage.
Not a deep tissue massage, not a round with a physio, not even a head massage.
Like some sort of revelation in a crime novel, I was duly summoned to see the editor, who immediately had an idea.
And that’s how I found myself in this hidden valley paradise, between Marbella and Coin, listening to the birds and the nearby trickling of streams and an infinity pool.
Like a kid who has never been to a football match being suddenly thrust straight into the World Cup final, I felt I had literally landed in the Garden of Eden.
Sipping an icy cold bottle of Corona beer with a wedge of lemon, I first explored the gardens, breathing in the delightfully fresh air, all to the peaceful tune of relaxation music from all around.
Next I plunged into the pristine pool, lapping up the last of the sun’s rays as all my troubles began to melt away.
Before long the lovely masseuse arrived and I was beckoned into the treatment room, perfumed by incense.
But by this point, the need to find tranquillity had become something of a challenge, and I couldn’t seem to turn my brain off.
The more I tried to find zen, the more I began thinking about an investigation that I couldn’t get my head around, not to mention the tuna steak I had forgotten to defrost.
I was worried the masseuse would hit a brick wall with me, and find me too tense and knotted to know where to start.
But, no such problem with Halila, who is fully qualified and has bags of experience in England, Scotland and Australia.
A complete pro, within 10 minutes the world of computers, deadlines and inanimate objects was but a footnote on this massage melody.
She began on my head, firm and thorough, before working some deep tissue magic on my upper back.
Everything after that is rather a blur, as I felt the toxins in my muscles massaged out and sent on their way.
It was easily one of the quickest 45 minutes of my life, and I wanted it to never end.
As I drove back down towards the coast, with the sun’s orange rays splashing all around, I felt brilliant.
And while sadly a young journalist’s wages can’t sadly afford this every week, I’m certainly making plans to do each month.
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Nice place. I nearly bought it back in 2001 when it was a boutique restaurant and hotel, I recall, with a German owner. Alhaurin has changed so much in this time, but this valley seems to have escaped the development.
Tom, I had my first aqua massage, FULLY CLOTHED in Las Vegas years ago, and didn’t even get wet and was also a wonderful experience. Mind you I had to take my shoes off at the time, not socks, but don’t think you need to take shoes off now. Will have another bash next time I visit my son in the States. As the old saying goes, “only in America”.