These ssssssneaky massage therapists have no hands.
People in desperate need of pain relief are willing to let carnivorous reptiles slide all over their bodies – and faces – to a small spa in Cairo.
As soothing music pumps through the sound system, masseurs rub oil on customers’ backs – before introducing a combination of pythons or about 28 different types of non-venomous snakes into the 30-minute adrenaline-fueled session.
The owner of the masseuse and spa, Safwat Sedki, said that snake massages help reduce muscle and joint pain, while improving blood circulation and releasing endorphins.
“Using snakes is a type of massage and has two purposes, physical and emotional,” Sedki told Reuters in the videos captured above. “The physical goal is to improve blood circulation and mental stimulation, and the emotional goal is to release endorphins that help the ‘happy hormone’ that helps people regain confidence and strengthen the immune system.”
After gaining popularity for the first time in Asia, especially in Indonesia and the Philippines, these allegedly soothing snakeskin sessions have spread to other countries, including Brazil, Russia, Israel and the United States, Sun reported.
Sedki acknowledged that it was not an easy sale for his Egyptian clientele at first: “When I first introduced the session, many people were scared, they said,“ Snakes, how can you use snakes ?! ”- but once we started explaining to people the benefits of this massage … the idea was accepted by a lot of people, especially by those who have a phobia or are afraid of snakes. “
Client Diaa Zein, who came across the slithering spa service while running her social networks, said she experienced a “feeling of relief and rejuvenation” as soon as the puppies were laid on their backs.
“I was nervous at first [and] scared of snakes on my body, ”he said. “But the fear, anxiety and tension were reduced, and the session gave a sense of relaxation, as the snakes passed over my back and had me there, it increased my confidence.”
The spa owner and customers say that the massage gave them an extra self-confidence, as well as a feeling of total relaxation, due to the unusual sensation of snakes on the skin.
Sedki said he started by offering free sessions to curious employers – but now charges about 100 Egyptian pounds ($ 6.37) for a 20- or 30-minute session.
However, snake massage should not be used as a substitute for traditional medical care or doctor visits, Sedki warned.