Prior to this last weekend, I had never set foot in a spa. Sacrilegious, I know, I'm just not big into the spending money on pedicures, manicures and foot scrubs that I could give myself for free. I'd much rather spend said money on cute new shoes or add it to my savings for some new race plastics.
So when a friend asked me to join in her birthday celebration at Olympus Spa my husband bade me go and pamper myself. Said it was high time for me to experience "girly time" and to get out of the house, away from the children. I took about two minutes to feel guilty for abandoning him with the girls and proceeded to happily skip out the door and on my way.
Nothing screams "newbie" like when a person wanders around wide-eyed and nervous. I had no idea what to expect and was a little uncertain about all the women walking around naked in the locker room. I just figured it was the changing area etiquette, everyone would be in robes from there on out, right?
Oh, how I have never been more wrong! I followed my friend into the pool room and about died. There were naked women EVERYWHERE. I swear, there were at least seventy women in the pools and wandering around the large room bare-butt-naked. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with naked bodies. But goodness gracious, there should have been a disclaimer!
"Beware! There will be naked bodies galore, women of all shapes, sizes, colors, ages, and adornments frequent these facilities. Do not expect robes!"
It took about fifteen minutes to be completely comfortable with the amount of skin I was seeing everywhere, but once I accepted that I was not the only one sneaking sly evaluatory glances around I became more at ease in my own skin.
A person can really, truly begin to appreciate the human body when unexpectedly plunged into the midst of skin skin skin. While I went into my first spa day as a way to relax and enjoy the freedom from responsibility, I came away with something much more precious: a greater value in my physical being and self. So many different women, so many different lives. All brought together in the search of self-care and healing.
I cannot wait until I can bring my own daughters to Olympus and share with them the experience of self-discovery and acceptance. While I do not fault my upbringing, I have had terrible physical insecurities my entire life. I want my children to grow up with the knowledge that they are blessed with their own bodies, with their own peculiarities; it is not something to be ashamed of or to hide. I believe the unabashed openness that I discovered could give any girl the faith in themselves and their physical being.
Overall, what a wonderful experience! Olympus Spa has many different herbal relaxation rooms ranging from 60 degrees all the way to 150 degrees. I stayed out of the super hot rooms but the 115 degree rooms were plenty comfy to lay down and just relax. No responsibilities or demands. While I had originally planned on being home within two hours or so, I didn't drag myself out of the spa until four hours later... and only then because I needed to get ready for a pre-existing girls dinner out.
So, a wonderful thanks to my amazing husband for kicking me out of the house, and to my best friend, for introducing me to something I desperately needed: my post-babies body is still wonderful and unique. Even if I do not look like I did five years ago, my body has provided my life with two wonderful joys and I should not expect it to look like that of my 18-year-old self. I am allowed to look like a WOMAN instead of a girl.
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