In good hands.

When you need a helping hand, be thankful there are people you can turn to.

By S.Indramalar

A Strained back and unruly hair do not count as emergencie, really. But when they get in the way of your life-like if you can’t bend over without howling or if your hair’s so wild people start dropping coins at your feet-it’s time to go looking for some hands that can work magic.

No, David Copperfield isn’t in  town and neither is David Blaine. We’re talking about the people in our lives in whose hands we put our faith. And, I mean that literally. Like the hairdresser who works his fingers (and scissors) through your hait, amasseur who eases the knots from your nerves or the podiatrist who helps you walk better.

These are jobs which require some level of intimacy and, as a result, aren’t suited for everyone. To some extent, many of us have an aversion to touching strangers-perhaps not as severe at TV’s AdrianMonk (the lead character on Monk whose multiple disorders include a phobia of physical contact), but an aversion nonetheless.

Take massage therapist Soogumar Krishnan, for example, A traditional remedial massage therapist, Soogumar has helped rid many–from housewives to injured athletes-of chronic aches.

“At leat 70% of my clients come to me because they are suffering from some problem or other Some have been told they need surgery but decided to try alternative treatment before opting for surgery.” Shares Soogumar. The remaning 20% come for regular monthly massage for their general well being.

As a remedial massage therapist, he has gained quite a reputation for being able to accurately diagnose and ease people of their aches and pains. He can tell by touch whether your pains arises from injury, a mis-step or just plain bad life-style choices. (Soogumar has a lot to say about theills of caffeine like how it takes five cups of milk to repair the damage one cup of coffee does to the body).

His clients almost always leave with a smile, relived of their pain. A glance through some of the terstimonials on his website (traditionalvarmamassage.com/ is proof enough).

Partially blind since was 14, Soogumar learnt the art of traditional Ayurvedic massage in Kerala, seek treatment for his eyes condition. He didn’t manage to restore his sight, but Soogumar returned from India with a new skill.

“I went there to be treated and I ended up learning Ayurvedic massage. After I started going blind, I tried everything. I went to every hospital (in Malaysia) but no one could cure me. Finally, I went to Kerala to see ophthalmogogist Dr Santa Kumari who is renowned for her expertise in traditional Ayurvedic treatment. While I was there, I got interested in Ayurvedic treatment and look a course in Ayurvedic massage.” Recalls Soogumaran who has since obtained numerous certifications, including the Certificate of Proficiency in Massage issued by the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB).

Though he specializes in traditional Ayurvedic massage. Soogumar also incorporates other remedial massage techniques (the Varma massage, Taiwanese massage, etc) depending on the needs of his clients, which he determines with his hands.

“Everything is by touch and feel. When I see new clients, I talk to them and find out more about them and their problem. Then I use my hands and most times I can pinpoint  the problem immediately,” he says.

Soogumar’s wife. Sheena, is also a massage therapist and the couple operate out of their home in University Gardensin Pataling Jaya, Selangor, where rooms have been converted into massage rooms.

“Some of my female clients are a little shy and prefer to have a woman massage them, so I refer them to my wife. But most women don’t have  a problem with a male massage therapist probably because by the time they come to me for help, they are in a lot of pain and desperate,” Soogumar.

Not everyone can be a massage therapist, obviously, You need training and like most jobs, an aptitudefor it. You need to enjoy helping people and using your hands to do it-something not everyone is comfortable doing.

“It has never occurred to us that people may be squeamish about massaging another.” You need to help them.