This exotic massage released tightness we didn't know we had.

We'll email, surf the 'net, IM and take a phone call while exercising...in front of the TV. So while we like the idea of massage, lying still for more than a minute isn't really "us."

Enter Lucien Demaris (pictured) and his "myofacial and membrane release." The treatment is meant to bring deep relaxation by releasing the connective tissue, where we're said to store unhealthy movement patterns. We tried it at RakSa, the new Culver City spa and wellness center. 

Demaris (whose impressive bio includes apprenticing in the Amazon) doesn't use oils; he says he can reach muscles more specifically without them. As he stretched our limbs, almost pulling us into gentle yoga poses, we felt waves of heat and comfort. It was as if he intuitively knew where pain was, and released it. At times, our muscles "jumped," like something had been freed.

After the treatment ended, we felt a bit dizzy and tired--completely normal, Demaris assured us. That night, we slept better than we had in weeks.

In other words, we actually stayed still.