If you have never enjoyed the sense of separation of mind from body that various popular alkaloids have legendary powers of conveying, don't despair.
I'm at the Six Senses Spa at the Heritance Kandalama Hotel (http://www.heritancehotels.com/kandalama/browse.php?catId=42) for a Fusion Massage. The therapies menu describes it as "a combination of therapy techniques from the world's most renowned massage therapies of Swedish, Thai, Aromatherapy and Sports massages". Ms. Sunita is my therapist ('masseur' is probably no longer PC) for the session.
I am instructed to lie, face down, on the massage table. The lights are dimmed, a mild 'aromatherapy' type, rosaceous fragrance is sprayed into the surrounding air, the body is swaddled in soft, deep pile towels and the massage is ready to begin. Already, the pace is beginning to slow, a mellowness beginning to grow.
A hot compress is firmly applied to the base of the feet. The pressure shifts, smoothly, to the legs. The calves are kneaded, then squeezed, rubbed, gently thrummed until the resistance and stiffness start dissolving away. The therapist's expertise is taking charge and the body is succumbing before a higher power.
As the process segues from feet to calves, then knees and thighs, up through the back and neck to the crown of the head, the mind starts to seemingly disconnect from the rigid connection with the body and drift lazily away.
The alchemy is complete.
