Oiled Up in the House

Our favorite type of massage is one that we can experience in the comfort of our own home. But significant others can only do so much, so we prefer to be pampered at the hands of a professional. We were naturally delighted to discover Wellness on Wheels, a mobile massage and wellness service that brings the spa to you.

Massage therapist Cecilia, a lovely, gentle women with a ready laugh and warm demeanor, arrived at the house and immediately set to work setting up her massage table and heating the massage oil in a pot on the stove. Our Swedish massage incorporated elements of Ayurveda, including a short Shirodhara session. The Shirodhara portion consisted of warm oil drizzled over forehead for about 20 minutes. The sweet almond oil was infused with a pleasant aromatherapy blend to create a feeling of even deeper relaxation. As Cecilia put it, Ayurveda is messy; this was one of the oiliest massages we've ever had, making it almost like a combined body moisturizing treatment and massage – our thirsty skin slurped it up, and our hair was dripping with oil when our treatment was through. (We needed to seriously rinse and repeat during our next shower.)

Wellness on Wheels offers many other services, all delivered straight to your home, and all specially priced at 10 percent off for Chill Out LA readers. Healing modalities offered include acupressure, Shiatsu, reflexology and even massage treatments designed especially for babies and the elderly. Wellness also provides "Inner Peace" services such as Reiki, hypnotherapy and guided meditation and wellness services like acupuncture, homeopathy and nutritional counseling. Its practitioners serve the greater LA area, including the South Bay and San Fernando Valley.

Review originally published 5/31/2007.