No Pain, No Gain: Inside Marina Baratashvili’s Signature Body Slimming Massage - Forbes

[massage]

Marina Baratashvili

Daniel Zuchnik

There’s a reason socialites, models and celebrities visit Marina Baratashvili’s nondescript massage studio in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York. There’s a reason they grin and bear the one hour of painful prodding, pushing, twisting and poking. Create a regimen with Baratashvili and she promises longer, learner muscles, less inflammation and sculpted skin by her ability to dig in - literally - to the core of the body’s fascia - the band of connective tissue beneath the skin that attaches to and separates muscles and other internal organs.

Don’t be confused. This isn’t your typical lymphatic drainage massage. Baratashvili has created her own brand of bodywork, and, as painful as it is, it works. I visited Baratashvili and endured the session, only to emerge feeling leaner, more sculpted and more energized than when I came in. I sat down with Baratashvili to discover how she started her journey into the body, as well as her the secrets to solving inflammation and her famous water regimen (hint: drink a lot of it).

What’s your background that led you to forming your own type of massage?


I graduated from the Tbilisi Medical Institute in Tbilisi, Georgia. After, I studied with the First Military Medical University of China. I’ve worked in a wide variety of settings including day spas, athletic clubs, private practice, chiropractic clinics, and physical therapy offices. But the most important moment in my career was meeting with the Professor Li Wi Kai, when I was in China, Guangzhou. There I have been practicing Acupuncture and Chinese medicine for a number of months. In Guangzhou I have realized what I was searching whole my life, what I wanted to do and how I could help people. I’ve deepened my knowledge about muscles. I’ve decide to found out the secret of the gravity of muscles and today I am happy, because of good results in that direction.

When I’ve moved back to Georgia I worked closely with the Tbilisi State Opera and Ballet Theatre and formed a close association for more than a decade with their leading star, Nina Ananiashvili, who was also Prima Ballerina of the Bolshoi Theatre. Additionally, during this time I spent two months of each year working with the Japan Art Ballet Company.

What makes your lymphatic drainage massage different from other similar massages?


I can say that I have developed my own style. My education in human movement and my own experience as a dancer have helped me to understand how the body functions and heals, and have deepened my understanding of how to help those who are recovering from injuries or suffering from chronic pain. Beyond simple massage, my unique treatment reduces chronic pain, relieves tired and aching muscles, relaxes the body, calms the nervous system, reduces swelling, and speeds the elimination of metabolic waste. During my procedures I often use cupping. Cupping removes toxins and improves blood flow through the veins and arteries. Cupping has detoxifying effect. I have found massage to be an ever evolving way to learn about healing the body, mind and spirit.


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After my treatment you can immediately see how forms and contours of muscles have changed. In addition, I can notice a difference in my clients’ mood - they are happier, skin quality is better, glowing skin is easily noticeable. I can describe my method as the combination of body sculpting, lymphatic drainage and deep tissue massage.

You do both lymphatic drainage and cupping....


This combination assists the lymphatic system in maintaining the body’s fluid balance, blood circulation, and immune mechanisms. The system’s network of vessels and nodes contains lymph, a mixture of water, proteins, immune system components, waste products, and other remnants of cell metabolism. Lymph nodes, which filter out the debris, are found throughout the body. These major collections of lymph nodes ensure that the lymph passes through as many nodes as possible before it returns to the circulatory system. For most of us, the body is perfectly capable of draining itself. But sickness, poor diet, lack of physical activity, and other issues can compromise the system, resulting in a need for assisted lymphatic drainage.

As for cupping, Cupping is an ancient Chinese therapy that’s based on the belief that certain health problems can be caused by stagnant blood and poor energy. Cupping procedure involves placing cups on the skin to create suction.

I use cupping to treat chronic pain, back pain and improve blood circulation. Cupping helps form new connective tissues and create new blood vessels in the tissue. After cupping the color of marks varies from person to person and this is also additional information what kind of problem there might be.

When you will see changes in your body?


Depending on your physical condition, the results you wish to achieve, the frequency of your sessions will vary. I can say that you can experience real results in 24 hours or less. However, lasting results are depended on the regularity of your massage sessions. For example, if you find yourself worn out, tired, and stressed lymphatic drainage massage is a great way to restore your body. Looking to detox your system for weight loss or to restore your immune system can be a bit more complicated. This is because much of the results depend on you and your commitment to a healthier lifestyle. If you receive sessions of lymphatic massage and then continue to eat poorly or don’t exercise, it might not be as beneficial as it could be for you.

You can’t change everything in one day, especially when we are talking about muscles. It is a really long and hard process. I need time to work on muscles until they become flexible, after that I can sculpt them in order to remove the dead epithelium, increase oxygen supply and restore blood flow. Thus, the muscles are enabled to function properly. The good news about aging muscles is that you can rebuild them, even if you are middle-aged or older. I often say to my clients that the muscles don’t have to age.

What’s your recommendation for someone wanting to lose weight?


My recommendation for weight loss or immune support lymphatic massage treatments is to come in for a minimum of twice-weekly sessions for the first month, tapering off to once a week for maintenance after three months; 10 to 15 sessions are usually needed for results.

My clients have different problems and goals while visiting to me. I’m using lymphatic drainage massage techniques to help reduce swelling and improve circulation. A properly functioning lymphatic system is essential for overall health.

What are the added benefits to your massage?


My massage technique is effective for pain relief, digestive problems, hormonal imbalances, skin conditions, cellulite, allergies, headaches, and other issues. Some clients are coming to me after some cosmetic surgery to reduce swelling and flush byproducts of anesthesia out of the body.

A couple days after the massage, my clients feel like they have an extra energy. they are able to work out with no pain and they felt a boost of energy. They are no longer bloated.

Talk to me about your water regimen....


Staying well-hydrated is essential for good health. Dehydration can cause muscle cramps, tiredness, lack of energy and other problems. I can always tell if you haven’t been keeping up with your daily dosage of water.

Water in the morning is important because the kidney meridian works actively in this period. Metabolic waste drains via the liver. These early morning hours are considered to be “golden hours“.

My recommendation is to follow the combination of classic Eastern European water technique and Japanese water therapy. Based on personal experience here is my recommended schedule of drinking water. In the morning – before 2 pm drink two liters. From 2 pm to 5 pm drink another liter. After 5 pm just take sips of water for the rest of the evening.