Odessey Health Club. Henley On Thames, Oxfordshire

Hot Stones Therapy at Odessey Health Club

The treatment rooms at Odyssey are warm, softly lit ,and smell gorgeous. With the soothing background music it wasn’t long before my working day had disappeared into a distant memory. The new Hot Stone therapy here was introduced from Arizona has been in use for over 2000 years. It is said to “opens up the energy centres of the mind and body, known as the Chakras, thus allowing a balance of individual chakras to be achieved. “Rebecca commenced the treatment by gently brushing my legs and arms, she then massaged warm oils to my body, creating a calm, safe and totally relaxed feeling.
After about 15 minutes she introduced the warm basalt stones, which had been gently heating up in a water bath. These stones are said to “bring about an increase in heart rate and respiration as well as increasing the supply of blood to the muscles and organs removing waste products”.
First of all to my shoulders and back, by my feet and during the therapy, laid softly into the palm of my hands. She massaged my back, and traced with the stones the tight muscle groups that had collected in my shoulders and base of my neck, loosening the muscles and relieving tension. Next, the other side; turning over I had the stones placed underneath my waist, at the point of my Sacral, and at the base of my neck.
Feeling very comfortable I experienced a deeply therapeutic feeling as the warmth slowly and gently seeped through my body during this slow, languorous treatment. I then felt her place smaller stones on my forehead above and between my eyebrows, on my collarbones and shoulders and larger warm stones on my abdomen. Then most surprisingly (and for me powerfully relaxing), between each of my toes –.this produced an amazing feeling of energies opening, and I felt like I was dropping into the earth. It was very profound.
Rebecca having massaged me to heaven, then gave me an amazing facial massage, stroking the skin up and down, and the tracing my temples with tiny stones in small circular movements, then taking them gently into the hairline like a head massage sending my mind and body floating into outer space. I was able to fell a total lightness in my whole body and Rebecca tuning into my energies. In a warm, safe and comforting space, a state of deep relaxation was achieved, a treatment that is enveloping, spiritual and unforgettable. The effect is similar to a combination of massage and sauna, without having to move anywhere in fact I would say it is like going to heaven and coming back in time for supper! Telephone Odyssey for details on 01491

Pantomime Review. Puss In Boots

A new world record was set at the Kenton Theatre with Mike Hurst’s’ Pantomime production of Puss In Boots performed by 23 of his own relatives, his children, the in-laws, grandchildren and his wife, as they raised money to donate to this Henley On Thames theatre - the 3rd oldest in the country.

As the curtain opened, the magic began as we were transported very rapidly back to ‘ye olde days’ and met almost the entire cast in a swinging singing opening chorus, setting the style, pace and level of corny jokes early on in the production. We journeyed with Puss, and (Muffin) takes the cast and audience through scene to scene in as the story unfolded, about a poor man who is given a cat by his father.

The talking cat helps his master by gaining the King’s favour. First, he catches a rabbit, and takes it to the King saying it is a gift from his master. Then, by cunning, he manages to get some fine clothes, and finally a castle. The King is convinced Puss in Boots master is worthy of his daughters hand, and the tale ends with the accepted wedding proposal. The costumes, songs, and atmosphere were created with the children of the audience in mind, and the jokes were definitely to tickle the adults, as our subject matter started with Kinky Boots, weapons of mass destruction, political puns and fox hunting are all subject matter for Mike’s hilarious, yet traditionally corny script. Transformation scene from a giant to a mouse included pyrotechnics. Mikes older children, and in laws were cast in the main character parts, and between them they played the stronger parts of the show with humour, and continuous laughs were introduced by the three peasants, who were dragged onto staged.

‘The fleas’ were played by the grandchildren, whose ages ranged from 2 – 6, who undoubtedly stole the show, with their sparkly costumes, and endearing rendition of ‘underneath the armpits’. The Giant – was brilliant, with a character that filled the stage. Mike Hurst has retained a traditional Pantomime story, updated it with modern giggles, and did not miss a single opportunity to make the most of the talents of the cast.

It is obvious that there were a few nervous faces, but the hours of practise shone through for this talented, comical, and versatile family performance that never lost its own sense of humour. Between them, they performed an exuberant and hilarious Pantomime, and it is evident from the delighted reception that the packed audience gave them, that the magic really shone through. No doubt after all the thigh slapping for this family onstage, there followed lots of back-patting over the opening of their Christmas presents.