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Whisper Wave is a new space that offers a caring touch. One of my core memories from elementary school was riding home on the bus, eagerly awaiting my turn to sit with Tiffany, our fifth-grade neighbor who was good with kids. Tiffany would pretend like she was holding office hours to perform surgical procedures in her seat, using her hands to playfully take out vital organs and stitch us back up.
My favorite was when she pretended to saw our heads off. We giggled with delight and relished the attention she showered us with. It was during the pandemic, when seeing friends was nearly impossible, that I started watching ASMR videos on Youtube. ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Responseβa reaction to certain audio-visual triggers like tapping, whispering, and hypnotic hand movements that causes a tingling sensation on the scalp and down the neck and upper spine.
Instead of a massage, though, it is all about providing a relaxing sensory experience through gentle, personal attention, delightful scents and soft sounds. It is a completely non-sexual experience and does not include any massage or spa treatments. During the session, the practitioner provides a range of services such as hair brushing, head-scratching, back sweeping, and gentle words of affirmation for 60 minutes. These are meant to provide a sense of personal attention and care.
She welcomed me in whispers to the space and did a quick consultation about any triggers I might like and any sensitivities I have to smell or touch that might make me squeamish. We set an intention once I was on the table to relax. Benvie has over 25 to 30 tools she picks from, including soft brushes, finger extensions, a bubble wand and a rain drum, to conduct the ASMR. Having rushed to get to my appointment on time, I found myself pent up with anxiety at the start but Benvie hit a gong and released essential oils in the air, helping me to get into a more relaxed mindset.
