How traditional Chinese knife therapy dao liao massaged my sore muscles and gave me an energy boost
Available for the first time in Hong Kong at The Mandarin Spa, dao liao, or knife therapy, is a traditional Chinese massage treatment that looks as scary as it sounds – and it’s done by a Frenchman. Kylie Knott has a stab at it
Frenchman Xavier Garnier had spent 20 years immersing himself in China’s ancient culture when he discovered dao liao, or knife therapy, a 2,500-year-old philosophy that taps into the energies of ying and yang.
In 2011 he took the therapy to France, then to Portugal. Now he has collaborated with the Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong’s Central district to offer spa guests the knife treatment – apparently the first time it has been available in the city.
“It’s quite a strong therapy,” says Garnier in a lush, wood-panelled room of the luxury hotel. “Usually people would be a little scared of the knives, but actually it’s quite soft if you compare it to traditional Chinese massage that can be very painful. When we do the dao liao it’s not painful at all. It has a very holistic affect and will stimulate the circulation of the energy. It will balance all the energies of the body so the affect is even more holistic than traditional massage.
“If you look at them,” he says holding up the cleavers, “they are like butcher’s knives but actually see here – it is not sharp so you can’t hurt people.”
Garnier says the knives control the flow of chi, the life force that is the basis of much Chinese philosophy and medicine. While everyone is different, the main benefits are an energy boost from the stimulation of the circulation and lymphatic system, better sleep quality, and deep relaxation of the mind and body.
