Treatment of the Month: Amatsu
Amatsu is very much the Shed Seven of therapy: it’s never had the universal love it deserves.
Why? Well, Oasis had enjoyed such breakthrough success that it was always going to be tricky for another Northern band with a similarly anthemic sound to…sorry, we’re here to talk Amatsu.
Like Shed Seven, practitioner Lorna Clansey hails from York (although is now based in lovely, leafy Dulwich), and her energy, enthusiasm and passion for Amatsu makes the heart sing as she takes great delight in explaining what it is, how it works and what I can expect.
Amatsu combines the best of both East and West: it hails from Japan, is inspired by body movements from both Taijutsu and Ninjutsu and incorporates the touching of meridian points, while those who yearn for something more science-based will be pleased to know practitioners are trained in anatomy and physiology.
As someone who has the spirit, passion and wide-eyed optimism of a giddy 15-year-old, but the spine and posture of a 107-year-old, I am particularly excited for this one. I lie face up on the treatment table fully clothed (regular readers will know this makes a refreshing change) and Lorna’s movements prove almost imperceptible compared to other treatments. Across an hour session, these are subtle gestures; say, a pressing of the left hip coupled with a circular motion of my right arm. “You might not notice this, but I can,” reassures Lorna. And, by the time I’ve moved face down, I am asleep. And we’re not just talking a gentle doze. I am out for the count.
Upon waking (“You had quite the snore there,” smiles Lorna as my cheeks flush) I’m told that the muscles in my back were incredibly stiff, especially the lower half. Such are her powers of deduction that Lorna knew to unlock the tension by kneading tissue just above my right shoulder blade.
The dull, throbbing ache in my back has gone and sleep that night was particularly deep, although Lorna is eager to point out that Amatsu isn’t a one-off procedure. In a way, this is like therapy for the body: change takes time and what might feel slight now will have positive consequences for the future. It’s a good start, though. I’ll be back for more.
Cost: £75 per hour
To book visit lornaclansey.com
