Karada: More than about people who knead people

Since arriving back in Manila from Tokyo almost 15 years ago, I have been in desperate search of treatments like shiatsu that not only relaxes but also reconditions the body. While I am all for pampering and invigorating massages, I prefer to hit two birds with one stone — relaxation and well-being. I have tried many so-called treatments, masquerading as reflexology or shiatsu, some even offered in the privacy and comfort of your home but none came close to those I have had in Tokyo until Karada at the Greenbelt Radisson.

Karada (Japanese word for body) is a Japanese franchise that dubs itself as a seitai (body maintenance) therapy salon that aims to restore the body’s natural balance and overall well-being. Founded by Yuki Koyasu of Yokohama in 2001, Karada is the result of a painstaking search by Koyasu-san for an effective and permanent treatment of a neck injury he sustained in a car accident while attending university. Frustrated by the inadequate response of doctors to treat his pain, he sought out a chiropractor who introduced him to an alternative way of healing. Inspired by the results, Koyasu-san went on to study other ways of treatment including Thai massage and developed his own original, trademark treatment called the AP (atlas/pelvis) Balance based on the combined principles of chiropractice, seitai and judoseifuku (judo martial arts).

Exclusive to and patented by Karada, the AP Balance is a combination of treatments focused on the realignment of the atlas first cervical vertebrae and the pelvis, the two most vital areas of our skeletal structure. The atlas is responsible for supporting the head, the neck, and the shoulders, and the pelvis for supporting the rest of the upper body; if either one or both are compromised, then discomfort or pain is sure to follow.

It actually takes more than simple kneading and pulling to alleviate discomfort or pain. Karada offers a clinical approach to address problems such as shooting pain on the lower back, stiff neck, pinched nerve, poor posture, and other signs of excessive fatigue or stress. The treatment flow begins with a consultation to assess a client’s general body condition that includes questions about lifestyle habits. The second part is a check of the client’s extent of mobility, leg-length discrepancy and posture, and other applicable physical conditions. Next is the muscle treatment where precise pressure is applied to unlock spinal joints; this deliberate series of pressure gently and properly loosens stiff muscles and correct posture. The fourth step is the alignment involving the AP Balance so that the spine and the pelvis are adjusted for optimum balance. Lastly, a rationale is reached as to the root cause of the problem and a subsequent treatment program is recommended. In Japan, Karada provides AP Balance to the Olympic National Ladies Wrestling Team and Sato Takuma, the Japanese indy race car driver.

Apart from their signature and most popular service AP Balance, Karada also offers a body treatment (BT) based on stretching and deep tissue massage to reduce stiffness, swelling and body pain while strengthening weak muscles. Then there is the detoxifying foot treatment adopted from Taiwan involving the use of bare hands to stimulate the reflex zones of the muscles and the internal organs. This technique effectively improves the body’s natural healing ability to eliminate the waste that accumulates at the base of the body; it is also ideal for people who suffer from insomnia or dysmenorrhea. Lastly, there is the combination of AP and BT, a longer course that is perfect for those who do not stretch or exercise often.

While Karada’s approach is clinical, it does not look or feel anything like a doctor’s clinic or a hospital facility. Its Japanese minimalist interiors in soft neutral colors give off the feeling of a top-class spa, with relaxing music and mood lighting to match. The beds are especially designed according to the specifications of Factory Japan Group Limited, the company that owns Karada. The therapists, all with nursing background, are carefully selected and trained over a period of several months, in this case by FJG International Division regional manager Hiroaki Naruse who is staying in Manila for one year to oversee the expansion of Karada in the Philippines. Clients may select from an Energizer, therapeutic or Bliss treatment menu of 20 to 90 minutes with a very reasonable price range of P345 to P1,295; do not go looking for oil and lotion-based massages because there aren’t any. Clients are required to remove their shoes and put on slippers at the entrance (a very Japanese tradition), and are given a comfortable pair of loose pure cotton top and pants to change into; each is handed a wicker basket to place personal belongings.

I tried the AP Balance and I kept sighing and saying itakimochi (a Japanese expression that means masarap na masakit), savoring each and every stroke and knead of the therapist. I highly recommend the treatment especially for the physically active — athletes and sports enthusiasts alike who need to keep their bodies in optimum condition. Products like Japanese-made therapeutic pillows, compression socks, and pants with extra support and control are also sold at Karada.

For the most part, with my eyes closed, I felt like I was in Tokyo, shiawase de, sugoi manzoku shimashita  (happy and extremely satisfied). As I left, Naruse-san and my therapist stood outside Karada and waited for me to board my car and, just like in Japan, with smiles on their faces, they both bowed and said, “Domo arigato gozaimashita, omachi shite orimasu (thank you very much, we look forward to your return).” I acknowledged the simple gesture, grateful for such graciousness.  As I sat in the car, I told myself, at last I found a little piece of Japanese heaven in Manila.

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Karada is located at the ground floor of Greenbelt Radisson Condominium, 107 Aguirre Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City) with tel. no. 843-7425 and the third level, New Glorietta Mall, Ayala Center Makati, tel. no. 553-8731.