Creepy Crawly Slithery Snake Massage the New Rage
While it may be enough to make one’s skin crawl at the mere thought of it, people have been flocking to a spa in Israel for the latest craze in avant-garde massage therapy — real-life snake massage.
Photo Getty Images
You might consider the ultimate masseurs to be hard-bodied experts, but at Barak’s Snake Spa in Talmei Elazar, northern Israel, the customers are raving about the sensation of slithering snakes across their skin.
Ara Barak claims her pet snakes provide a therapeutic relaxing value for stress relief. She was inspired for her latest massage technique after noticing her friends became more relaxed after holding them.
“Some people said that holding the snakes made them feel better, relaxed.” she said. “One old lady said it was soothing, like a cold compress.”
Photo Getty Images
Ara said her snakes produce their unique massage as their slithering causes a rubbing sensation on the body for aching muscles and joints.
The size of the snakes depends on the type of massage — the larger ones are said to alleviate deeper muscle tensions and the smaller ones create a lighter ‘fluttering’ effect on areas such as the face.
For those a little leery or reluctant, you might be relieved to know that all snakes used are non-venomous.
Ada Barak’s snake spa uses California and Florida king snakes, corn snakes, and milk snakes for the massages, for a mere $70 US.
Photo Getty Images
If reptiles are too much for you, Ada also offers a rodent-style massage where mouse and rats are placed on the bottom of your feet instead.
The therapist had relied on exhibiting her scaly friends to make money, but found there was more money to be made from people wanting a massage reptile-style.
She began offering the service at the Talmey El’Azar tourist attraction in 2006, but most of her income currently comes from displaying plants at her carnivorous plant farm which eat everything from insects to small mammals.
If snakes and rodents aren’t quite up your alley, perhaps some more conventional techniques might appeal to you, which you can learn to do in your own home.
Full Back Massage
Foot Massage
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Sources: Telegraph and Daily Mail
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omg, i hate the snakes, but i love the massage
I feel the same way as you did. But it does seem from this blog that snakes are very useful for stress relief by massage therapy.
It might be worked for anyone else, but definitely not me here, as I didn’t have the gust to put the snakes on my body…
Wow. Perhaps bee swarm massage will be next? This would work for me if you could consider the exhaustion that follows a fear-induced adrenaline rush stress relief. The snakes are beautiful, however.
I love having my massage in the spa. But if they will make a snake massage my back, I would definitely not go through with it. The mere site of a snake really freaks me out. What more if it will be placed in my back… What are they thinking?
I really liked your blog. Very useful information, read it detail, also book-marked it and will be back in the future to read some more of your interesting posts ! keep up the good work.
I don’t know if I could relax and for me this takes massage therapy to another dimension!
Wishing you a great end to your week
Very useful information, read it detail, also book-marked it and will be back in the future to read some more of your interesting posts !
It’s definitely over the top for me as well Renny
I have a difficult time just watching them in motion 
And thanks, you have a great weekend as well 
Thanks Tom, glad you enjoyed it
Any therapeutic benefits or relaxation techniques performed by the snakes would be canceled out by my constant reflex to jump straight up and off the massage table. Good for you if you can have snakes slithering on you but I’m just not one of them.:)
This are amazing pictures, but i think this could be cruel on the animals. Imagine coming in contact with all those people, that may not be healthy. I am sure some of these human deseases can be harmful for snakes as well.
I massage with the snakes … fear of being bitten, so uptight .. what is not dangerous …
Massage with snake ? wwwhhhaaahh i don’t think I can do it
Creepy… way too creepy… Grrr… this is something out of a horror movie for me.
Just get a good masseur who’ll give you a darn good mashing, and avoid the tricksy stuff; I reckon that’s just there to attract the mug punters.
Nice pic. Thx
Wow. Perhaps bee swarm massage will be next? This would work for me if you could consider the exhaustion that follows a fear-induced adrenaline rush stress relief. The snakes are beautiful, however.
Nope, That will def. NOT work with me, quite the opposite, if I weren’t tense before I’d become!!!
OMG, this must be the most bizarre massage ever. I’m just shaking my head at the crazyness.
I think I’ll stick to hubbys massage, he’s an expert by now…. *giggles*
Haha, I’m with you on that count Gadget
You may have a valid point about being unhealthy for the snakes, Maria.
Fidi, i imagine there are possibilities to be bitten if one was to move suddenly, but the snakes are non-venomous.
Hahaha, I hear ya Mig
I think it’s mostly for the sensationalism to gain attention, Niccolo.
Too funny, Darlenvennita
That would pretty much be the case for me 
Well you’re one up on Me Lifecruiser, I can’t recall ever managing to talk my husband into giving me a real bona fide massage. I feel deprived now, haha.
lol, i wouldn’t do that if that’s the last massage parlor left in the world… i’ve already tried eating snake from some exotic restaurant but getting a massage from creepy crawlies, c’mon!
hmmm very exotic massage i hate snakes too but i love massage
thanks for sharing 
I own snakes, I know many people who have snakes. They cost me roughly $10/week to feed… I could be making $70 an hour putting them on someone’s back? Really? Gosh, why didn’t I think of it first? One of my friends who has 100+ could be making so much money by just putting her snakes on stupid people’s backs! (/sarcasm)
I completely agree with the “cruelty to snakes”. What if someone decides that they don’t like it, freaks out, and throws one of the snakes? Or hurts them? Too dangerous, IMO.
While many people are put off by the mere thought of snakes, they still deserve proper care and due attention, just as any creature, Apryl.
thats something you see on fear factor.
people get paid $50,000 to do crazy stunts.
but ya, i can see how it would be soothing.
but i’d be more scared shitless than anything.
it is wildlife, they can do anything,
and i definitely would not want to be bit by a snake.
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[...] Creepy Crawly Slithery Snake Massage the New Rage Posted by root 26 minutes ago (http://www.lifeinthefastlane.ca) Ara said her snakes produce their unique massage as their slithering causes a rubbing sensation on the body for aching muscles and joints Discuss | Bury | News | Creepy Crawly Slithery Snake Massage the New Rage [...]
My boyfriend and I have owned and taken care of snakes and different reptiles for quite a while. I absolutely love them more than anything. I would never trade my little ones for anything in the entire world. Every night, when I turn on the tv and watch with my boyfriend, we take our little Red Tail Boa (Nessie) out and she curls up around my next and climbs up into my hair and down my back. She tightens up at times and squiggles around everywhere. It always felt so amazing and made me absolutely relaxed. Once I saw this, I thought it was a good idea but I’m still scared. I really just hope that these beautiful creatures are being cared for properly, and not just being used.
I would love some more information on this snake massage …. sounds really interesting and something i would like to tey out …. any1 know the proper website or atleast know who i cn tlk to t find out bout it???