Beauty & Fitness
THE JERUSALEM POST



Morning Glory / Deborah Manster



Recently I was treated to a day of total pampering. For my birthday, I was given the gift of spending several hours in the redolent splendor of Tirtza's Marvelous Morning.
And what a morning it was!



The first delight is arriving at the location itself. American-born Tirtza Singer, an experienced shiatsu and Swedish massage therapist, operates her business out of her spacious, charmingly decorated three-story home located in the midst of the sprawling Jerusalem Forest.



My morning started off with an hour's soak in an aromatic jacuzzi. The sumptuous bathroom, situated on the top floor, is a serene space of arched picture windows. As I looked out from the foaming jacuzzi, all I could see were the tops of trees, white clouds, sunbeams and birds.



Music permeated the room while the scent of herbal essences prepared me for the next stage; the full body massage.



One floor down, in the massage room, more tranquil music welcomed me as I got on to the massage table and let Tirtza perform her magic. To tell the truth, I had never had a massage before, so I really didn't know what to expect. Frankly, I was a little uncomfortable at the prospect, but Tirtza's gentle demeanor and evident expertise put me at ease. The hours breezed by as Tirtza worked her deft fingers and dedicated hands into my muscles and joints, spreading scented oils on my skin as she pressed, kneaded, and stroked.

 

What a wonderful birthday gift this was turning out to be!

 

Then came the facial. Tirtza applied an herbal mask to my face, let it set, then went off and left me alone for some time to daydream amidst the serenity of recorded harp music. I watched the fluffy clouds drift by as I lay immersed in an aura of tranquility and an air of utter well-being.

 

Upon her return, Tirtza gently removed the mask, and massaged every pore! Having never had a facial either, I was delighted to find that my skin felt totally refreshed and rejuvenated.

 

Then it was downstairs for the final stage of my marvelous morning - a tasty, healthful lunch, which Tirtza had prepared herself. After bidding Tirtza an appreciative farewell, I floated home on my own cloud of inner peace and serenity.

Be it a gift for a friend or a well-deserved indulgence for yourself, I can't think of a more marvelous way for anyone to spend a Jerusalem morning.

 

Featured as a "Woman to Know" in Ami Living Magazine, October 2016  

       

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