Every stroke of massage onto the tight muscles releases the everyday hassles and stress.
For some, a good and relaxing massage is needed to de-stress and detoxify from a taxing lifestyle.
But, Karada, a Japanese massage, wellness, and body therapy brand, offers more than just relaxation.
Hanna Stelton, Karada Philippines’ general manager, said that Karada also guides individuals to achieve a healthier living.
“Right now, we live in a world wherein everyone is getting into a healthy lifestyle…It’s (Karada) to help get cured and not just get relaxed. It’s more of a therapeutic approach to becoming healthier,” Stelton said.
According to her, the brand aims to alleviate bodily discomfort while promoting long-term wellness, including maintaining good posture.
What sets it apart from other wellness services is its individualized approach. Clients undergo an initial assessment to ensure the treatments they receive address their specific concerns and prioritize their safety.
She also emphasized that the service does not cater to individuals with certain health conditions or medical histories that could affect their well-being.
After the treatment, a follow-up assessment is conducted to ensure that the individual’s concerns have been properly addressed.
“And then at the end of the flow, at the end of your treatment, we do a reassessment again. So we know already if we targeted what you wanted us to target,” she said.
Apart from relieving muscle stiffness and body pain, the brand can help alleviate posture-related discomfort and conditions such as scoliosis, spondylosis, frozen shoulder, and sciatica, though it cannot completely reverse these conditions.
“We really target certain conditions or certain muscles to loosen [them] up,” Stelton said.
The treatments
Unlike other massage services, Karada offers non-oil-based treatments, so clients do not need to undress. Shirts and pants are provided for comfort during the session.
With its personalized approach, individuals can choose from a variety of services offered by the Japanese wellness brand.
The Atlas-Pelvic Balance (AP Balance) Body Treatment is the brand’s signature service, designed to correct spine and pelvic alignment using a gentle push-and-pull mobilization technique.
This treatment is combined with deep tissue massage and stretching, promoting blood circulation and helping prevent recurring pain.
For individuals who only need a deep tissue massage, the Body Treatment can also be tailored to meet that specific need.
The brand also offers targeted massages, such as Foot Reflexology, which focuses on areas from the soles of the feet up to just above the knees.
Meanwhile, the AP Shape treatment helps tone the tummy and abdomen, addressing changes caused by weight gain or poor posture.
For those looking to lift their face and prevent wrinkles or sagging, Kogao, which means “small face,” is recommended.
The brand’s latest treatment, Kogao, targets the muscles of the face, head, neck, and shoulders, addressing facial asymmetry and jaw-related concerns.
Clients can also try the Matrix Machine, designed to relieve pain and target joint issues.
The brand also offers additional treatments, such as Karada Stretch, which focuses exclusively on stretching.
For those seeking a more comprehensive wellness experience, the new KX Plus service is available.
Stelton recommended that clients undergo treatments for eight to ten sessions, or over two to three months, to maintain optimal body condition. The interval between sessions is determined on a case-by-case basis.
“Karada has to be a habitual routine. It has to be for you to maintain because we’re trying to change the body condition,” Stelton said.
“It cannot stop because if you do, and once you do it, then you’ll go back to the original state… and the pain will recur and recur every day,” she added.
Since its founding in 2001, Karada has expanded to over 300 branches in Japan and has established a presence in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
The brand was brought to the Philippines by Bill Stelton in 2012 and currently operates 17 branches across Metro Manila.
As part of its continued expansion, the general manager revealed plans to open new branches in Cebu and Davao.