Malaysian lorry driver claims masseuse “nearly molested” him

Kuala Lumpur, May 11 (ANI): A Malaysian lorry driver has laid claim that he was “nearly molested” by a masseuse in Bedong, Kedah.

According to the Harian Metro, the man, who is in his 40s and known as Mail, said his friend had introduced him to the services of the single mother who conducted her business from home.

He revealed that the woman, who is in her 50s, would conduct her massages in a room while her children were in the living room.

“I was told to come for massages three days in a row with each session costing RM30,” the Star Online quoted him as saying.

He suspected something was amiss when on the second day the woman started massaging his private parts.

“She suddenly lifted my sarong and climbed on top of me. What is more shocking is that she wasn’t wearing any underwear,” he revealed.

Shocked by the woman’s actions Mail immediately shoved her away, causing her to fall. He put on his clothes and ran out of the house.

“I am angry at the woman’s action as she had tried to take advantage of her customers. She should have just provided massage services, not sex,” he said.

Mail did not return for his third day appointment.

“A friend told me that the woman only gave massages to men and she had been doing this for years. She is also reputedly very popular with men,” he added. (ANI)

Homeless treated to morning of free meals, pampering

Homeless people in Darwin have been given the opportunity to get a meal, haircut and even a pedicure at a free community event.

The Darwin City Council says there’s about 3000 people living rough in Darwin.

The council, community service groups and business are providing services such as health and dental check-ups as well as haircuts and massages for homeless people in Jingli today.

Alderman Robyn Lesley says there’ll also be people available to discuss employment opportunities.

“Every capital city is facing these sorts of problems of the number of people who are sleeping on the streets,” Ms Lesley said.

“They are very vulnerable in those sorts of situations and we are trying to do our best, not only to provide services but also information to assist them to break that cycle.

“It is really for us an opportunity to provide not only the services to those people but get an idea of what sorts of issues they face as people on our streets.”

Ms Lesley says similar events have been held in other cities but today is the first time it has been done in Darwin.

“There will be things for kids to do because there are families who are homeless with children living on the streets,” she said.

Mission Australia’s Ian Murdoch says several hundred more houses need be be built in Darwin to address the city’s growing homeless population.

“The sector is working its butt off, no worries about that. How well we’re going? Well, if you measure on results we’re not going very well because there is no accommodation to put people in,” Mr Murdoch said.

“Ultimately it comes down to people putting money on to build houses or accommodation.”

Heather Mills says she treated ex-nanny ‘like a daughter’

London, March 31 (ANI): Heather Mills has slammed her former nanny Sara Trumble for betraying her and dragging her to an employment tribunal, insisting that she treated her “like a daughter”.

Trumble, 26, is claiming undisclosed damages on grounds of discrimination over maternity leave, sex discrimination and unfair dismissal.

However, Mills said the ex-nanny’s allegations were motivated by money.

She even accused Trumble of outright lying.

“Sara won”t look at anyone in the eye because she is lying,” the Telegraph quoted Mills, as saying.

While Trumble admitted she accompanied Mills to Slovenia with her other staff and pals to celebrate her 39th birthday she said the behaviour of the Dancing on Ice star changed after her split with Sir Paul McCartney.

Trumble said: “I wasn”t the only person who felt that at that time. It”s just that nobody else will stand up. I decided to take action and fight this for myself.”

Mills told the panel she asked the former beauty assistant to babysit her daughter after she found Trumble was earning a mere 20pounds a week for giving massages at Hilden Health Club in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

Mills said: “Overly helpful Heather, I offered her some way to help her better herself as I thought she had huge potential.”

She went on: “I wasn”t demanding and that”s always been my problem… she actually worked the least hours of all my staff, I was the softest on her of all my staff.”

“I do not accept that I discriminated against Sara in any way or that I treated her unfairly. I therefore have drawn the regretful conclusion that Sara has made these allegations against me purely to make money.”

She added: “I am still devastated by her claims and feel that I”ve been deeply betrayed by someone who I considered a dear friend, not just an employee.” (ANI)

Some, not all, forms of massage help fight low-back pain

Washington, Mar 27 (ANI): Some forms of massage can help fight low-back pain, a new study has confirmed.

But not all forms of massage have been scientifically proven to help against low back pain, the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) pointed out in information published on informedhealthonline.org.

Back pain often affects the lower back and can be a big physical and psychological burden.

“The cause of back pain is not always immediately clear,” explains Professor Peter Sawicki, the Institute”s Director. “But low back pain usually gets better on its own within a few weeks.”

Back pain is only rarely caused by a more serious health problem. Classic massage, Thai massage and acupressure could help against low back pain

If low back pain does not get better on its own, massage therapy could be a worthwhile option.

“Research suggests that classic massage, Thai massage and acupressure can relieve low back pain that has lasted longer than several weeks,” says the Institute”s Director. In classic (Swedish) massage the affected area of skin and muscles are massaged, in Thai massage the limbs are pulled and stretched, and acupressure involves applying pressure to certain points on the body. “But relying on massage alone does not appear to be the best approach when it comes to back pain”, adds Sawicki.

Research indicates that people could benefit more if they combine massages with exercises and stretching. In some trials this combination of approaches led to better pain relief and mobility compared to massage alone.

“Not all forms of massage have been scientifically proven to help against chronic back pain though,” concludes Sawicki. “So it is worth finding out about the different techniques before deciding to have a certain type of massage.” (ANI)

Soothing massages the best way to deal with grief after loved one”s death

Washington, Mar 25 (ANI): A soothing massage can help provide consolation after the death of a loved one, says a new study.

The study has been published in the April issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing.

Eighteen people who had lost a relative to cancer took part in the study. Participants ranged from 34 to 78 years of age and included widows, widowers, daughters and sisters. Nine chose foot massage, eight chose hand massage and one asked for both. Only three had previous experience of soft tissue massage.

“Details about the massage study were included in an information pack provided by the palliative care team when people”s relatives died” says lead author Dr Berit S Cronfalk from the Stockholms Sjukhem Foundation, a Swedish palliative care provider.

Relatives were offered a 25-minute hand or foot massage once a week for eight weeks and could choose whether the sessions took place at home, work or at the hospital.

“Soft tissue massage is gentle, but firm,” explains Dr Cronfalk, who carried out the research with colleagues from the Karolinska Institutet. “This activates touch receptors which then release oxytocin, a hormone known for its positive effects on well-being and relaxation.

“In this study the hand or foot massage was done with slow strokes, light pressure and circling movements using oil lightly scented with citrus or hawthorn.

“The relatives were then encouraged to relax for a further 30 minutes.”

Baseline data was collected on the participants during a 60-minute interview before the programme started and a further 60-minute interview was conducted a week after the massage programme finished.

The interviews with the participants showed that they derived considerable benefits from the programme. (ANI)

Prosperous Punjabis patronise High-end Spas

Chandigarh, June 26 (ANI): Punjabis are known for living their lives to the fullest. They don’t allow money to come in their way of enjoying life. And, this Punjabi trait has been tapped by the luxury spa industry.

One expected that recession would make the Punjabi reluctant to spend money. But it is the other way round. As recession creates new tensions, Spa therapy is the natural choice them to de-stress.

Spa Pavonia, a hi-end spa, offers ultra luxury beauty treatment and relaxation to residents of Chandigarh. One of its customers Annesha Luthra chose Spa treatment to relax her body.

Annesha wanted to look beautiful, using aids provided at the salon. She has been advised to go in for a ‘Cloud 9′ treatment, which is a treatment of oil massage that is followed by dry floatation in which water jets are used to give a feeling that one is floating on water.

“I think health has become such a big issue for people and the recession being there, you do experience a lot of stress, so we do have clients coming here because they are stressed out. They want relaxation. I have not seen any slide in the number of our clients. Those who are stressed out are looking forward to coming into a spa to get that relaxed feeling,” said Kamal Baath Centre Head, Spa Pavonia, Chandigarh.

Massages and other services start at 20 dollars and go up to 100 dollars for 60 to 90 minute duration.

The high profile spas register clients as members by charging annual fees of 800 to 1,500 dollars. herapies include facials, massages, body scrubs and wraps.

“I think it’s an upcoming trend and it’s a facility, which you can get in urban areas. It helps you destress from your routine,” said Karan Sharma, a Spa Enthusiast.

“People don’t mind spending on such good facilities. People prefer to go to places where they can get good facilities and they do not bother about the cost. We want the atmosphere very good and peaceful,” said Mahinder Kaur, a Spa enthusiast.

Now a visit to the spa to de-stress seems to have become a necessity for many rather than an indulgence.

Spa outlets and standalone saloons have had no impact due to inflation. In fact, business has continued to grow more than two-fold and people spend an average of 80 USD per person. By Sunil Sharma (ANI)

Jennifer Aniston’s pooch sits on director’s chair on new film’s sets

New Delhi, May 27 (ANI): Jennifer Aniston’s dog Norman has its own director’s chair on the sets of her new movie.

The ‘Friends’ star is so fond of her pooch that she brings him to set when she is shooting ‘The Baster’, reports the China Daily.

“Norman is important in Jennifer’s life, but the crew is fed up with having to dote on him. Jennifer needs him around all the time and she won’t stand for him being chained up. So the dog has his own chair near the director, and Jennifer also has a doggy masseuse tend to Norman every day,” a source told the National Enquirer magazine.

The 40-year-old actress ensures that Norman is walked three times a day, and is given meals from the actors’ catering van.

The source added: “She even insists that Norman eat with the crew and that he’s fed organic, human-grade food. So Jennifer’s assistant has special plates made up by the caterer with free-range white meat chicken and organic rice. Norman eats healthier and better than most humans.”

Jennifer’s love for the 13-year-old corgi-terrier has always hit headlines, be it for the dog’s 250 dollars a week massages or acupuncture treatments to combat his aching joints. (ANI)

Ponzi king Madoff’s secretary reveals his lust for ladies and money

New York, May 6 (ANI): Ponzi king Bernie Madoff’s long time secretary, Eleanor Squillari, has revealed that her boss enjoyed “frequent massages” during work, hurled vicious insults at underlings and physically fell to pieces as his scheme unraveled.

“Bernie could be incredibly generous and incredibly horrible,” Squillari, says in an explosive new Vanity Fair article.

In what amounts to the first shocking, inside look at the day-to-day operations of Madoff’s Manhattan investment firm, Squillari talks about her boss’ lusty penchant for the ladies as he bilked billions from clients.

Wife Ruth “kept an eagle eye on him when he was around young attractive women,” Squillari said — for good reason.

The 70-year-old Madoff “had a roving eye and . . . a habit of getting frequent massages,” the grossed-out secretary said.

“One day, I caught him scouting the escort pages that run alongside pictures of scantily clad women in the back of a magazine,” she said. “He straightened up in his chair, startled, and said, ‘I’m just looking!’ ”

Madoff had scribbled about a dozen numbers for “masseuses” — listed under “M” — in his address book, leading his secretary to warn him that if he ever lost the book and someone found it, “they’re going to think you’re a pervert.”

He would sometimes schedule a “massage” in the middle of a working day and claim he was merely taking a walk, Squillari said.

“He’d return an hour or so later, always in a much better mood,” she said.

Squillari told Vanity Fair that Madoff would playfully “try to pat me on the ass” and say, “You know it excites you” when he would exit his office bathroom while still zipping his fly.

He’d add, “Oh, you know you’re crazy about me,” she said.

“He liked to find your weak spot and poke at you with his sarcastic humor. He had to take everything way too far,” the annoyed secretary said.

Madoff — who frequently used to refer to himself as “one of the most powerful men on Wall Street” — got downright “nasty” when stress got to him, Squillari said. “You look terrible . . . You’re gaining weight . . . You’re stupid,” Madoff would sneer to workers, according to Squillari.

But Madoff never had a bad word for employees on the 17th floor of the Lipstick Building on the East Side, where the nuts and bolts of Madoff’s Ponzi scheme were based, the secretary said.

“He would never reprimand anyone on 17 — they were untouchable,” Squillari said.

The unraveling of Madoff’s 65 billion dollar scam came to a head in early December. As it became clear to her uber-controlling boss that he couldn’t stop his world from crashing down, he started to physically buckle, too, the secretary said.

“His voice, always so strong, had become . . . almost inaudible,” Squillari said. “If he wasn’t staring into space, he was looking down, working on figures.” (ANI)

The 40k pounds secret behind Kylie Minogue’s glowing skin revealed

London, April 13 (ANI): Kylie Minogue reportedly shelled 40,000 pounds on treating herself at beauty spa holidays and getting Botox injections to be in the glowing skin she is today.

The Aussie singer had allegedly rejuvenated her layers in the last six months with two, seven-night breaks at Spain’s SHA Wellness Clinic.

The 40-year-old purportedly indulged in a variety of health treatments and ‘Integral Facial Rejuvenation’ package, priced around 3,000 pounds, to repair the effects left by her cancer in 2005.

“This wasn’t a cheap break,” News of the World quoted a clinic source as saying.

“The package alone cost 3,000 pounds and the presidential suite costs 5,400 pounds a night. It is not cosmetic surgery but the effects are amazing,” the source added.

The source continued: “She had six months of chemotherapy after her cancer was diagnosed and this clinic not only allows her to hide away so she can have beauty treatments but also makes sure her body is healthy too.

“She had lots of massages and hydrotherapy treatments, but Kylie was there for the macrobiotic food and rejuvenation therapies.”

Gwen Davies, non surgical specialist from Transform Cosmetic Surgery, added: “To the trained eye it’s clear she’s invested in a range of complementary non-surgical treatments and maybe even one or two surgical procedures.” (ANI)

Manscaping-the latest in thing for men

Melbourne, Mar 16 (ANI): Facials and waxing are no longer limited to women, for men are also indulging in the treatments with gusto.

The trend for men to experiment with creams and lotions has even given rise to a new word: Manscaping.

Cleansers and moisturisers are now as important for men as a razor and shaving cream.

Construction project manager Russell Thompson goes for facials and massages every four to six weeks.

“It has paid off,” the Daily Telegraph quoted him as saying.

“I think people guess my age as younger than I am. I go to the beach a lot and work outside so my skin gets quite fried, so it seems to offset that,” he added.

Paul Anderson Mankind, from Surry Hills salon specialising in male skincare, serves about 500 male customers a month.

“The people that come in here don’t see it as a luxury. They see it more as a necessity,” Anderson said.

The clientele range from proud metrosexuals to train drivers to landscapers.

“We have train drivers, landscapers, a chippie. We’ve even had a few guys who were working on a nearby construction site,” he said.

“When we started it was the corporate types who came but as we’ve gone along it’s been really across the board,” Anderson added.

With specialist websites like Himage.com.au offering male-grooming supplies, more and more men are embracing beauty products.

“We see the guy buy the shave product, then he comes back two months later and buys the cleanser,” said former accountant Chris Cassar, who developed the website.

“They gradually get into it. We think a lot of Australia right now is still at that early stage,” he added. (ANI)

Sarkozy’s mantra for boundless energy – alternative therapist?

London, Jan 11 (ANI): The secret to Nicolas Sarkozy’s boundless energy has been unlocked – all thanks to a French author who claims that the “hyper-président” secretly consults a specialist in alternative medicine.

In his new book, Patrice Machuret, a political journalist and author of a book on Sarkozy published last week, the alternative medicine specialist massages French President’s back and sends him “positive energy waves”.

Sarkozy’s tirelessness has long been a subject of speculation. In political circles he is regularly accused of being “on something”, with theories ranging from amphetamines to cocaine, reports Times Online.

In reality, however, he is addicted only to chocolate and the secret of his dynamism is not drugs but a longhaired “etiopath” called Jean-Paul Moureau, according to Machuret.

“Moureau the guru”, as patients call him, has been treating Sarkozy for 15 years with his special technique of “manual therapy”.

According to the author, the two have developed a close relationship and Moureau has become a sort of unofficial adviser.

Since Sarkozy’s election as president in May 2007, he, who used to turn up at Moureau’s practice in the chic 16th arrondissement, has arranged for visits in the Elysée Palace at least once a week. (ANI)