By Kenfrey Kiberenge

"Honey, I’m going for a full body massage." Normally, such a statement would be met with wrath from partners and is therefore better not uttered.

Nevertheless, some men still visit parlours clandestinely. However, the oils traits and smell left on them often betray them and the repercussions are far-reaching.

Massage parlours have over the years earned a bad reputation following revelations that most are actually sex dens in disguise that use the veneer of massage services to operate legitimately. Though a few operate genuinely.

Dr Salim Ali Hussein from Department of Health Promotion tries out the new massage machine on Wednesday. Photo: Govedi Asutsa/Standard and Courtesy

Most massage parlour masseuses and masseurs offer ‘happy-endings’ (sex) — what they refer to as ‘extras’ — towards the end of a session, at additional fee of course, which varies from one service provider to another. From downtown Nairobi to the leafy suburbs, brothels are operating as massage parlours and their clientele include the who-is-who of the society.

It is for this reason that at mere mention of visiting a massage parlour, one is viewed as morally loose.

But here comes good news for massage seekers. Starting tomorrow, you can now enjoy a full body massage without fearing reprisals from your partner. A new massage technology where clients need not remove their clothes has landed into the country.

And no, you will not need a skimpily dressed or nude masseuse or masseur touching you all over. Yet, the effects are the same, if not better. Branded Aqua Massage, it takes just ten minutes to rejuvenate, equivalent of a 30-minute typical traditional massage by a professional.

Aqua Massage Limited (AML) managing director Dinesh Patel says: "The session will 99 per cent relieve pain, reduce stress, ease tension and renew energy."

Fully clothed, the client lies on a full-body support cushion. The machine has a comfortable place to rest your hands and there is a button to press in case the pressure of the water causes any discomfort. The client is also entertained with preferred music from a CD player connected to the machine. The head is rested on an area where fresh air is blown towards the face.

Aroma Theraphy

"A client can also have aroma oils poured into the fan for an aroma therapy," explains Patel.

Once comfortable, a canopy closes, blanketing the person with a durable and warm waterproof liner, Patel explains.

The see-through acrylic canopy provides viewing of the water jets in motion, drawing attention in retail settings. And at the touch of a button, over 30 water jets pulsate from the centre to the outside of the body.

Each custom engineered stainless steel water jet is focused with absolute precision, allowing pin-point accuracy on parts of the body with the most pain and stress including the back, neck, legs and feet.

Pressure can be varied from as gentle force as a shower, to an aggressive deep penetrating force of up to five hundred per cent stronger. Pulsation frequency can range from two to ten pulsations per second. Pressure and pulsation frequency are controlled completely independently, accommodating client’s unique sensitivity.

The beauty of the machine is that no oils or physical contact is required and the clients remain clothed.

"This ensures there is no invasion of privacy or comfort with no post-session clean-up of oils or water," says Patel.

The machine also has more than 100 different profiles where water jets can be customised to jet out water at different intervals, speeds and pressures, to meet the client’s demands.

The spray bar can move forward and back, massaging the full body length and a client can easily select to concentrate on a specific area using the handheld button. Water temperatures can also be adjusted from approximately 32.2_C to 40_C using the electronic thermostat.

Manufactured in the US, the machine is being used in more than 80 countries.

On Wednesday, Kenya became the first East African nation and fifth in Africa to import the technology when it was unveiled in Nairobi.

During the launch, Health Minister Beth Mugo, in a speech read on her behalf by a Mr Smith from the ministry’s department of Health Promotion, said the machines have proved reliable and useful.

Service centres

A fitness centre will be opened to the public tomorrow at The Mall, Westgate in Westlands.

"We will also have another centre in the central business district for clients who cannot make it to Westlands," said AML operations director Ravleen Sagoo.

According to Patel, a 10-minute session will cost Sh1,500, while a 15-minute session would go for Sh2,000, all taxes included.

"The best sessions are for ten minutes or 15 minutes; ten minutes is for people with stress and relatively low fatigue while 15 is for those with high stress, fatigue and a tired body," explains Patel.

The machine is meant for people from the age of eight years and above, says Sagoo.