Painful foot massage attracts tourists in Taiwan

KUN0010 4 GEN 0438 KUWAIT /KUNA-GYW2 TOR-TAIPEI-MASSAGE Painful foot massage attracts tourists in Taiwan By Miyoko Ishigami (With photo) TAIPEI, Dec 12 (KUNA) -- Taiwanese-style foot massage (reflexology) is growing popular, not only among local people but also foreign tourists who suffer mental and physical stress. People can easily find foot massage salons in the shopping malls or on the streets all over Taiwan. According to the Chinese Foot Reflexology Association, there are about 1,000 such salons in the country, which has a population of 23 million. Foot massages are divided into two broad categories -- Oriental style like the one spread in Taiwan, focused on stimulation rather than relaxation. On the other hand, Western style gently massages the entire foot with seeking more relaxation than treatment. Some people believe that reflexology originated in Egypt, but it can be also traced back to ancient China, where people had used reflexology for healing ailments and maintaining good health. Taiwanese say the feet are a "second heart" and every part of the body and organ are directly linked to the foot sole. Considering the sole of foot as a whole body, reflexology stimulates some 60 reflex points on the feet by thumb-sliding and pressure techniques to expel toxins, improve blood circulation and boost energy flows within the body. A 30-minute massage plus 10-minute foot bath Chinese medicinal herbs usually costs around NTD 500-600 (USD 15-18). The pressure is very firm and might be painful, but a lot of people are willing to try the massage and become regular customers. "I yelled with pain, but now feel like walking on clouds and my legs become thinner," a Japanese tourist in her early 30s told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) after the massage. "The therapist also assured me that I will get a good sleep tonight." Most of leading travel agencies in Japan began selling tour packages of Taiwan that include a visit to a foot massage salon, as the demand for Taiwanese-style reflexology is increasing. Tourists from Japan comprise 40 percent of total visitors to Taiwan. Adjacent to a five-star hotel in the commercial area in Taipei, several foot massage salons hang up sign of a colorfully diagrammed foot on the street. "About half of our customers are Japanese, and the rest are local Taiwanese and Westerners," a manager at one of the salons said. "All 15 reclining seats in our salon are often fully booked in the night when business travelers and local workers come seeking comfort at end of day." Some salons in the Taiwanese capital open 24 hours, every day of the year. (end) mk.aj KUNA 121011 Dec 05NNNN