The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the view of The Hill

Be You Bi Yu treats area’s special aches and pains

by Dan Hayner - 04/16/08 4:24 PM ET

To hands strained from e-mailing, text messaging and Web surfing on those pervasive handheld devices, Hyun Martin offers some specialized relief.

Martin, a certified massage therapist, esthetician and the founder of Bethesda’s Be You Bi Yu Wellness Center and Spa, created the “Crackberry Thumbs and KeyBored Wrists Massage” two years ago after hearing complaints of hand pain from customers. Her diagnosis? PDAs, cell phones and keyboards are the problem.

“Most people are now doing technology-based work,” Martin said. “They are on the computer a lot. They are instant messaging.”

The service has become very popular with her clients, many of whom are working professionals.

Martin said that the nature of jobs and communication technology is responsible for hand and wrist pain for people of all ages.

Be You Bi Yu’s massage menu describes the hand massage as using “myofascial release techniques.”

While in layman’s terms this really just involves “a whole lot of friction” to get blood moving, Martin said that the myofascial is the membrane between the skin and muscle “that gives muscles their shape.” When the hands are overused, blood flow is restricted.

Another unconventional but popular accompaniment to the Crackberry/KeyBored massage for D.C. clientele is the “Washington Jaw Treatment.” While the hand and wrist massage is a fairly recent addition, Martin said she has been offering the jaw treatment for several years.

“Many people clench their jaw because they are trying to be diplomatic,” she said. “They are biting back words.” Whether or not Martin’s clients are able to keep their words from getting them into trouble, she created the jaw treatment to address the strain in the jaw and tightness in the muscles around the mouth.

In preparation for Be You Bi Yu’s two-year anniversary later this month, Martin said there will be a newcomer to her menu of facial treatments — the “Platinum Facial.” It will involve the application of pure platinum, an electrical conductor that allows skin to heal faster and appear healthier.

A 30-minute Crackberry Thumbs and KeyBored Wrists massage is $80, or $120 for 50 minutes. The 30-minute Washington Jaw Treatment is $80 and the Platinum Facial Treatment will be available later this month for $450.

The spa’s phone number is 301-493-4911.