For Christmas, my wonderful in-laws gave me a gift certificate for a nearby spa. Just a few weeks ago, I finally put it to good use for a hot stone massage.I've always wanted a hot stone massage. It just looks so ... warm. And warm is something that I haven't been since August or so.
My massage was scheduled for Saturday afternoon. I prepared for it by bundling up. I wanted to try and maintain that warmth as long as I could. I actually wore thermal underwear under jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt and a hooded sweatshirt and a winter coat, complete with scarf, gloves, and hat. I wanted to be warm for one afternoon, at least.
Walking in, it was just the atmosphere one would expect. Soft lighting, gentle music, and a soothing ambiance surrounded me. After 10 minutes of disrobing, I slipped under the soft, fleecy sheets on the massage table and eagerly awaited the masseuse .....
An hour later, the massage was over. I still haven't decided what I thought. I guess maybe I wanted to spend an hour in a sauna? Because I wasn't as WARM as I thought I'd be, from head to toe. Towards the end, when my back was exposed, I was actually getting a bit chilly. And you know that picture you always see (like above), where there's the rocks down a person's spine? She never did that! I wanted that.
In retrospect, it was nice and relaxing. But I guess I was expecting/hoping that the relaxation would carry over into my life for a bit. For the next week, or a few days, or the rest of the afternoon at least. Instead, I got home and Keith immediately handed over Eleanor. E and I went grocery shopping so that Keith could get the cleaning done. Back to normal life.
On the plus side, I still have $11 left on my gift certificate. So maybe I can get a mini-manicure when I'm on Spring Break in March. Even if the relaxation doesn't last very long, the nail polish is usually quite high quality!
5 comments:
I always wondered what they did in a hot stone massage...
I was underwhelmed by my first and only hot stone massage. I typically get deep tissue or sports massages, but my maseusse wanted to try out hot stone (no charge!). Warm rocks on my spine just didn't do anything for me.
Jonathan: So your answer is, not much!
Cat: Do you like deep tissue or sports massages? They also look so brutal to me. The only other time I got a massage in the past few years is when I was hugely pregnant, so it's hard to compare.
I do love them and they are brutal, but nothing beats them for relaxation. As a runner, you may want to consider a sports massage. If they are too hard on you, you can always say something. Swedish massage is pretty gentle.
Hmmm, maybe the Swedish massage is more of what I'm looking for. But I'll have to see if Keith is interested in a sports massage after the marathon in May! Thanks for the tips!
Post a Comment