I started going to Ayaküstü Masaj (literally, “massage on the run”) for foot reflexology after being diagnosed with a foot deformity earlier this year. I have been captivated by traditional Chinese medicine off and on since my first year of college, when I started seeing an acupuncturist in New York Chinatown as a way of assuaging headaches and stress. The acupuncture worked very quickly, and not only did the headaches dissipate, but my entire quality of life was enhanced. I found myself better able to manage my time and find more windows for fun, creative activities. My schoolwork also improved, as the stresses of college became easier to surmount.
I don’t pretend to understand how it works, but I am now a firm believer that stimulating the acupoints of the body, either with needles (as in acupuncture) or with touch (as in acupressure and in reflexology, which is often used to treat the hands and feet), allows the qi (life force) to flow more profusely and transform our lives in powerful ways.
And I know I’m not the only one who swears by it. There are countless stories of people turning to traditional Chinese medicine to help them with various health challenges, such as quitting smoking, assuaging chronic stomach or back pain, and even healing depression, just to name a few. Whether they chose acupuncture, acupressure, or reflexology, they found that it succeeded in healing them where conventional Western medicine had previously failed them.
One day, after my diagnosis, I came across Ayaküstü Masaj while running errands in Kadıköy, where I live. I couldn’t help but notice they were offering foot reflexology at only 40 lira. Of course, finding such treatments at such reasonable prices is rare. As the massage therapist applied pressure to the acupoints in my feet and later my shoulders (which are connected in traditional Chinese medicine), I felt the tension of years of too much strain on my feet subside and realized that, once again, this was the treatment I needed.
I have been back several times since and, while my foot condition may never be completely remedied, my regular foot doctor is optimistic that it will not become a severe impediment. I know reflexology brought me to that point, as I had not used any Western medicine for it, aside from customized insoles in my shoes. I decided people needed to know about the services provided at Ayaküstü Masaj, so I sat down with one of the three co-owners, Ece Aydoğan, on their balcony in the back for an interview.
Walking into the center is always soothing and tranquil, as one encounters the aroma of herbs, oils, and fine bath salts (the feet are soaked in soothing warm water and these salts before each foot reflexology treatment) and listens to the ambient harp music. This massage center is a welcome refuge from the pressures and pace of urban life.
Can you explain what you do here?
We are doing massage, but also therapy. When we began four years ago, we started with just foot massage. We brought the concept of street massage from Thailand to Turkey. We are the first organization in Turkey to do this. After six months, we started massage for the back, face, and hands. About one year later, our customers said they also wanted full body massage. Our staff was very professional, so they started providing full body massage services too. Our space is also our house now. The second and third floors upstairs were very dirty and disorganized at first, but we tidied up everything and painted the walls so it looked nice and clean. And then we began offering full body massage. Now we are in our fourth year.
What is your role at Ayaküstü Masaj?
I am one of the three owners. Downstairs we have our accessories shop where we sell tea, jewelry, oils, and bath salts. Upstairs is where we offer full body massage. We do two jobs of selling the accessories and running the massage rooms upstairs.
How does massage help people?
I think massage is a must in our lives. It helps with blood circulation, which brings in more oxygen into our bodies. Oxygen is life. It is so important in our lives because right now everyone is working in an office. They have no time to walk. They are always sitting and working at the office. People are also using their cell phones too much. This makes people very sick. It makes their muscles very hard. They feel stressed. They have too much negative energy. For this reason, everyone needs massage.
What is the role of Chinese medicine in your work?
We have traditional Chinese reflexology, the same found in the hospitals in China. The staff was educated by a teacher who lives in Thailand. He comes to Turkey twice a year to train us in different forms of Chinese medicine and massage. We do a form of traditional Chinese reflexology called qi cha neitsang to treat the stomach and sacrum areas and release the negative energy from the internal organs. There are many toxins and negative energies in that area. We also offer Western reflexology from Europe.
Do you have any future goals for Ayaküstü Masaj?
We want everyone to come here for massage. People need to know how important massage is for their health and bodies. After maybe one or two years, our teacher from Thailand will teach this medicine and massage to more people.
Ayaküstü Masaj is located at Sarraf Ali Sk. No:13 in Kadıköy. To get there, take the ferry, metro, or bus to Kadıköy. While walk-ins can sometimes be accommodated, it is best to call to make an appointment at 0216 346 55 66. Services are offered in English and Turkish. Services include full body, face, and foot massage, as well as yoga classes. For more information and a complete list of services and prices, visit the official website.
