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  • Tickle Spa: Hot New Treatment or Ultimate Torture Device?

  • Posted by Sarah on July 20, 2011 at 11:25AM
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  • Full disclosure: I'm extremely ticklish and I hate being tickled. So when I read about the world's first tickle spa opening in Spain, I thought it was a joke. People would actually pay to be tortured -- I mean, tickled? For real?

  • Apparently so. For just 25 Euros ($35), you can be tickled by a professional for half an hour. The treatment is done in a similar set up as a massage (dark room, soft music) but with a therapist's fingertips and a feather. A "Time" reporter tried it out and said that even though she's extremely ticklish, she actually found it relaxing. Hmmmm, I'm doubtful.

  • MSNBC spoke with neuroscientist Robert R. Provine, who was as baffled as I am. He says the act of tickling is arousing, not relaxing, and actually raises your blood pressure and heart rate. Kind of the opposite result of a soothing, rejuvenating spa treatment.

  • The only way I could see this possibly being relaxing is if the "tickling" is more like the sensation of someone playing with your hair (which even I'll admit feels good). But conventional tickling? Um, no.

  • Provine also points out that tickling is typically a social thing, done between people who know each other -- not strangers. Fair point, although considering it's already socially acceptable to have a stranger rub you down during a massage, I guess tickling isn't that far off.

  • What do you think? Would you try a tickling spa treatment? Or should this type of thing only be reserved for extracting information from our friends and lovers?

  • Next: 8 spa secrets that'll have you thinking twice about a massage.

    • Member Comments

    Your Comment:

    • If it's tickling like the lightest possible strokes with a very soft feather or fingertips, so that they barely touch your skin, that can be a wonderful sensation...although I'd much rather receive that type of "massage" from my husband than from a professional. But if it's tickling with pressure, that would be a miserable torture for someone as ticklish as I am.

      by Jewelrydesigner Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 10:38AM Report as inappropriate

    • I don't think I would pay for this. When I go to get a massage I want to relax and some of the kinks taken out. If I want a tickle party I will play with my 3 year old nephew and 1 year old neice.

      by beautybody Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 10:38PM Report as inappropriate

    • torture!

      by queenofthegreen Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 09:18AM Report as inappropriate

    • Getting tickled for half an hour sounds like torture. I'd have to be PAID to do this.... PAID A LOT!

      by LipglossandSpandex Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 12:37AM Report as inappropriate

    • The only person that I allow to give me massages is my hubby! And I am not talking about tickling massages,cannot go through with those. I am sensitive and ticklish:)

      by selma Friday, July 22, 2011 at 09:01PM Report as inappropriate

    • I have a hard time with strangers giving me massages as it is, I really don't need a complete stranger trying to tickle me to boot.

      by SShum Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at 05:54PM Report as inappropriate

    • So not a joke, and I'm totally with you, I wouldn't do it in a million years. :)

      by scarrillo Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at 04:41PM Report as inappropriate

    • WHAT??? Is this a joke? No, I would not EVER try this.

      by MissPurple Monday, December 23, 2024 at 06:21PM Report as inappropriate

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