my ventosa experience

Dudez invited me to go for a massage because he was so stressed and restless, so i said yes! and we went to a spa that night. we had 1 hour whole body massage with aromatherapy and ventosa.
It is my first time to hear that word so i have no idea about such a thing..
he asked me if I also want ventosa, I just said yes without any idea what it is all about..
while the massage is going on i saw cups and fire...
the masseur put the fire inside the cup and put it on my back. I'm scared looking at the fire so I just close my eyes and feel the pain at my back...
when the session was finished I looked at my back and saw a lot of spots and got scared... my back looks like this

these are the cups

Even my friends got scared when they saw my back, so I researched about ventosa and got this meaning...


Ventosa means "pulling out wind" or the familiar "lamig" - which refers to muscle spasm and tissue congestion, a technique in olden China which opens the body's Meridians and restores the flow of qi. Pain is believed to result from blockages in the pathway of these energy flow thus restoring balance is crucial in healing. This is done by positioning you face down and placing of glasses on specific accupoints in a negative pressure environment to activate blood flow, drive out wind and dampness. Vacuum created inside the glass lifts the skin and increases circulation, helps alleviate pain and allows the body to feel relaxed and rested. This method is generally pain free, and certain redness of the area is normal and is to be expected, a small price to pay for the invaluable relief that is sure to follow. It is then followed by a body Massage necessary for blood regulation...


Now i'm not scared anymore... i will try it again if I have the chance..
I would also like to say thank you to dudez for letting me experienced such a thing... muah :*

Bon Odori

Working in a Japanese school we have this tradition that every October we are celebrating Philippine - Japan Festival...

I am wearing a Japanese dress, called Yukata... Japanese women wear this specially in festivals or they celebrate special occasions. I enjoyed wearing this dress and dancing in the bon odori...

By the way, what is bon odori?

Bon Odori is a Japanese Buddhist Folk Dance performed outdoors and danced in concentric circle around a raised platform called a Yagura.  Odori means dance and Bon is the abbreviated name of a Buddhist text, the Ullambana Sutra, whose Japanese pronunciation is Urabon, shortened to Bon.

Though a memorial observance, there is a festive mood during Obon. Obon is a time to remember and honor all those who have passed on before us. It is a time to appreciate all that they have done for us and to recognize the continuation of the influence of their deeds upon our lives. Obon is also a time of self-reflection; the joy one feels is not from the happiness of getting what you desire, but the joy of being shown the truth -- the joy of awareness. "Obon reminds us to love and care for our parents. It also encourages the practice of selfless giving (dana) not only to family and friends, but to all beings."

We enjoyed picture taking because this event will come once a year only..
Here are some pictures we took during thew festival.

With my co-teacher

me, with my red lips and red fan... ^_^

With my co-teachers and Sawamura Sensei at the back