WHEN A MASSAGE FEELS MORE LIKE THERAPY

ALIGNMENT OVER INDULGENCE

- ooh la lai LAI S. REYES

Hanna Stelton, Karada Philippines general manager; Hiroaki Naruse, FJG International regional manager and head trainer for the Philippines; Iku Sumiya, assistant regional manager and assistant head trainer; and Irma Marcelo, operations manager

Filipinos love everything Japanese. We line up for ramen, binge-watch J-dramas, and swear by Japanese skincare. So it's no surprise that even in self-care, we're looking East for inspiration.

Karada, Japan's leading wellness brand, brings its signature style of massage therapy to the Philippines — offering a holistic way to recharge, realign, and feel renewed, the Japanese way.

Karada isn't your typical massage spa. It doesn't just soothe tired muscles - it aims to realign the body, correct posture, and restore harmony from within.

I was fortunate to receive an invite from Karada to experience their therapy - perfectly timed, since I'd been suffering from a pinched nerve along my neck, the kind that sends a sharp twinge down your shoulder whenever you move the wrong way. Hours of sitting at my desk didn't help, and regular spa massages rarely worked for me (partly because I'm ticklish and tend to squirm the moment oil touches my skin).

So when I learned that Karada specializes in dry, alignment-based therapy, I figured it was worth a try. Little did I know this would turn out to be less of a massage and more of a masterclass in how my body actually wants to move.

I was welcomed by Hanna Stelton, Karada Philippines general manager; Hiroaki Naruse, FJG International regional manager and head trainer for the Philippines; and Iku Sumiya, assistant regional manager and assistant head trainer - the very experts who trained the local staff.

"Karada is a form of body maintenance called