How I met my Mettha Facelift therapist

It was years ago when a Russian lady introduced me to Ruth and I totally fell for her boho chic look (read unconventional, artistic and natural, earthy tones with splashes of bright colours like pink, green and magenta, sometimes a galore of accessories). I also felt calm and very present in the moments when we had a conversation.

As it turned out Ruth has been a shiatsu practitioner and a massage therapist for more than 15 years. She helped me later deal with my upper back pain and muscle tension. She became as well a dear friend with a great sense of humour and the perfect companion for my summer sunsets cocktail happy hours. What I enjoyed about her presence was the fact that she simply made me feel relaxed and accepting of who I am. In our world self- deprecation did not exist and such words as “enough” and “more” were never spoken.

Today I am meeting Ruth again to discuss beauty and how we can boost our skin radiance and smoothness in a natural way.

Tsitaliya: Can you describe in a few words what you do?
Ruth: I help people feel happy, confident, energised and reconnected to their bodies. I do this through a combination of Shiatsu ( a Japanese body work therapy), and classical massage.

Tsitaliya: What treatments do you offer besides shiatsu?
Ruth: I also offer a unique facial massage called “The Natural Facelift – Facial Rejuvenation Massage”. It is a modern facial massage developed by an Indian lady called Kundan Mehta and is based on Ayurvedia, Reiki, Acupressure and classical massage technquies.

Tsitaliya: How does it work?
Ruth: It’s magic! Really it astounds me every time, how the face stays lifted and refreshed months after the course of treatments have finished.
There are three main stages to the hour-long treatment. The first step is all about relaxing the muscles and seeing where the face is holding tension. The second step works with releasing the tension on the several layers of the skin and the muscles. The third step uses very precise manipulations to lift and pull the skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
The facial is completed on one half of the face and then the other, following the same map that a surgical face lift would take, so the area behind the ears are also included.

Tsitaliya: How did you discover it?
Ruth: I was managing a stand for the Shiatsu Society UK at a health fair in Earls Court London. During a much needed break I had a wonder around the stalls and found a small Indian lady standing by a deck chair offering “Facial Massage”. I had never had a facial before (other than a shiatsu one), so I decided to give it a go.
It was amazing! I found it really deeply relaxing, calming and rebalancing. I decided then and there that I would learn how to do this. And I did learn, it took me more than a decade to find the right time to do it, but I am a fully qualified Natural Facelift Therapist.

Tsitaliya: Can it be an alternative to facelifts and Botox?
Ruth: Definitely. It is a natural, healthy alternative for those ladies that want the benefits of a facelift but are anxious about the invasive surgery, the healing time and the results.
I have a lovely client who is on her fourth visit, told me that just after her first treatment her daughter thought that she had had a facelift!
She is not the only one; several clients have reported back to me that “friends think that I have had a facelift”.

Tsitaliya: What do beginners need to know?
Ruth: No pain, just pleasure! And NO products, oils, lotions or potions just my hands, fingertips and thumbs. It’s deeply relaxing and it works.
The more regular treatments you have the better the results. I normally recommend between six and eight treatments for the best results but sometimes only four is needed.
It is suitable for almost everyone, however, if you have had a mini facelift then it’s best not to have this facial treatment till at least a year after surgery. If you have any on-going toothache or problems with your gums, then it’s best not to start a course till you are fully recovered.

Tsitaliya: What are the results after the first treatment?
Ruth: I would say that 99% of clients look like they have had a really good night’s sleep. Some of the older ladies (60+) notice that the eye area has lifted and is more open and some of the finer lines have disappeared. But, I think that the main difference is the glow. The skin looks refreshed and glowing.
Most of my clients stop wearing foundation after the second or third treatment, they smile a lot more and they love the glow.

Tsitaliya: How popular is it in the UK and here?
Ruth: It’s popular! The stand at the London health fair is no longer just one Indian lady and a deck chair. It’s a team of five or more face lift therapists dealing with a huge line of eager ladies.
I am the only therapist in Switzerland, and my clients love it, not only because it can help you look and feel younger, but it is really relaxing. So relaxing, that one of my clients claims that her last pregnancy was due to her being so relaxed after her facelift treatments!
You can discover more about Ruth’s treatments on her website here.