If their soccer stars and World Cup spirit are any indication, Brazilians love sports. When I was lying on the beach in Rio De Janeiro a few weeks ago, I was taken aback by the sheer amount of physical activity going on. I was being lazy, soaking in the sun and people watching, while all around me were volleyball games, men and women running, juggling soccer balls, and even doing pull-ups Venice Beach style. When I spoke with Mariana Tasso of Blend Salon in São Paulo, she echoed that sentiment. Brazilians love to be active and their ideal body-type is not waifish, but healthy and toned.
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But some Brazilians don't get their bods nice and tight just by working out. Enter the third beauty trend I was introduced to (after hair burning and messy manicures) on my Brazilian adventure: When I asked Tasso for the most popular treatment at the salon, she immediately recommended the "Miracle Touch." It's their own special version of the popular Brazilian sculpting massage combined with lymphatic drainage. I had only ever gotten a massage for relaxation and tension release purposes, but who doesn't want to try something that makes you instantly more sculpted and toned? Miracle Touch is supposed to reduce the circumference of your limbs, make your hips more defined, and help burn localized fat, all while relaxing and stretching your muscles.
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It certainly wasn't as pleasurable as my usual Shiatsu, with some areas almost hurting as the masseuse kneaded into my muscles with full force (apparently it hurts more where you have more fat). She also massaged my stomach, which was uncomfortable. But even with the moments of awkwardness, I was relaxed and could feel my muscles getting harder as she worked. She even stopped to show me my legs after one was done and the other was still its regular old self, and I could definitely see the difference. Tasso recommends that women get the massage multiple times for real results, so I wasn't expecting much. But when I left, my skin was a little tighter and my muscles more sculpted, at least for that day. Miracle touch, indeed.
