This post is sponsored by Clinica José Fontes
Here at Oporto Blog we are passionate about our city. Every day, we fall in love with its colours, its foods and, of course, its people. Yet, we must still admit to the obvious: despite the quite compact city centre, the city’s topography doesn’t quite make it the friendliest place in the world when it comes to your legs and feet! Unlike many other European powerhouses (like Amsterdam, for instance), Porto is mainly characterized by steep streets and countless hilly climbs. As such, this article is aimed at those who arrive in our dear city after a long and tiring flight, seated alongside a couple of intrusive seat neighbours. Even those who are about to have a crazy adventure finding their accommodations while carrying their luggage up and down said streets! Or, those who are backpacking through Europe and can no longer deal with a tired and beat-down back – to sum it up: everyone feeling in need of a rejuvenating massage treatment!
Photo by: Nuno Carvalho
Enter Clínica José Fontes – your happy place. Inaugurated back in 2014 in one of the city’s most upscale areas – Boavista – this amazing clinic is the realization of Doctor José Fontes’ dreams and hard work, having spent the previous 10 years studying and perfecting his techniques. The place’s calming décor and atmosphere will evoke a sense of relaxation as soon as you step through the door, but it is undoubtedly the friendly staff’s professionalism and the quality of their work that will have you coming back for more! You can book your appointments online with just a short 24 hours’ notice, so there is no shame in procrastinating here!
A TEAM OF CHINESE MEDICINE EXPERTS
Photo by: Nuno Carvalho
There’s a good reason why these massage treatments are so special! After all, we’re not talking about your run-of-the-mill relaxation sessions, but an entire process of diagnosis, thoroughly executed by Doctor José Fontes, followed by a combination of the Chinese Medicine techniques that are better suited for any complaint the patient might have: backache, muscle strains, lumbar issues, foot, leg or knee pains, digestive problems or even allergies! The scope of action is just huge, with the treatments promoting a sense of well-being that will induce both physical and mental bliss. Even if you don’t have any particular pain, but still suffer from an ever-present feeling of tiredness or fatigue, this is definitely something you should consider!
Photo by: Nuno Carvalho
Are you afraid that standard therapies won’t work on you? At Clínica José Fontes every treatment session is tailored and 100% customized according to each customer’s needs. Following the check-up and initial diagnosis, the staff will then proceed to recommend you the most suitable combination of treatments to ensure you get the results that you are seeking! Such treatments can include Therapeutic Chinese Massage, Chinese Osteopathy, Cupping, Acupuncture, or all of the above!
Photo by: Nuno Carvalho
Photo by: Nuno Carvalho
Both the therapeutic massage and osteopathy process involve different forms of manipulating the patient’s body in order to properly correct any posture problems or muscle disturbance. Cupping, on the other hand, is a trendy technique athletes opt for in order to create a vacuum on their tissues, using a glass suction cup which will stimulate the blood flow and help muscular recovery. Your back may look like a pepperoni pizza after you are done, but that’s a small price to pay for a therapy worthy of Michael Phelps! If none of these options sound good enough, don’t forget acupuncture: the living proof that being a human pin cushion can actually make things better after all (that’s what OJ Simpson said)! Fear not if Chinese Medicine sounds like rocket science to you – we’re in the same boat here – leave your concerns to the professionals and just enjoy the healing process!
Photo by: Nuno Carvalho
Picture the following: you enter a room with soothing lights, Chinese art on the walls and the smoothest, most subtle background music. You are then invited to lay on the treatment table and relax while both your muscles and bone structure rejuvenate to the hands of a skilled professional. It’s not an ASMR video – it’s real life! Each movement has a purpose, each tap and touch carry a different intention regarding your overall improvement – and that’s something you can feel. It’s almost a solemn occasion in which you can feel your body enhanced, stronger, immersed by a tide of energy. Nonetheless, just keep in mind you might fall asleep during part of the process – and there is no shame in that! I mean, what could be better than to be disgracefully drooling all over the treatment table and floors?
YOGA & PILATES SESSIONS
Photo by: Nuno Carvalho
Although we’re highlighting the benefits of therapeutic massages and all the Chinese Medicine techniques available at Clínica José Fontes, we must not forget the fact that they also offer private yoga and pilates sessions! While yoga makes for a healthy exercise that strengthens your muscles, gives you more flexibility and reduces your anxiety levels to the point where you will finally stop complaining about your boss (well, at least for about a week or so), pilates contributes to enhancing your posture, and giving your muscles more stability. Exactly what you need to prepare yourself for Porto’s steep streets and lumpy sidewalks!
BOOK IT AND GET YOUR ZEN ON
Photo by: Nuno Carvalho
Ok, ok, we know spending part of your trip as a human pin cushion (aka acupuncture) may not sound like a lot of fun, but now that this joke is out of the way, we can honestly say Clínica José Fontes might be the divine answer to all your prayers. Whether you’re experiencing pain resulting from an old, untreated injury or just an unexplained epidemic exhaustion, you are guaranteed a restoring session that will have you feeling brand-new!
Clínica José Fontes is open from Monday to Friday, between 08h30am and 08h30pm. They are located a 15-minute walk away from the Francos metro station, however, shall you prefer to save your legs for future exploits, you can use buses 202, 208 and 501 stopping at São João Bosco – you will be dropped off at the door.
With such an intense trip awaiting you in Porto, just do the right thing and reward your body… we promise you’ll be in for a treat!
Let us know your opinion in the comments below!
