September « 2016 « From the Desk of Lianne
“Massages? Nope – not for me. I’d rather spend the money on eating out.”
You may disagree completely, but this has always been my opinion of massages! I could never understand the rave about it? For me the so called feeling of ‘blissful relaxation’ was totally overrated – the feeling never lasted very long, and I do not enjoy my hair and body feeling oily.
So, on my ‘to-do-list-before-turning-50’, I added a ‘Spa Day’. It was time test my pre-conceived ideas and experience the Spa Treat(ment!) for an entire day! A dear friend, who is a Spa fundi, assisted me in finding an amazing deal for which I mentally prepared myself: a day of ‘blissful relaxation’, ‘me time’, ‘silence’, ‘tranquillity’ and 7 treatments: hand and forearm massage, Jacuzzi session, facial, foot and calve massage, full body massage; shoulders, neck and head massage and full Spa body treatment!
The day finally arrived. I reported to reception on the dot 08h00, as requested in the confirmation email…. my bag carefully packed with everything the email suggested. Once changed into my swimming costume, complimentary robe and slippers, I was ushered to the dining area.
With great anticipation I entered the breakfast area to find, to my surprise (or was it horror?!), that I am one of 30 people who checked in for the day. Even a few men (with their spouses), some sheepishly and others boldly parading in their robes and slippers!
“Definitely not my idea of blissful tranquillity” I thought, disappointed about my ‘me time’ not being what I imagined. Nevertheless, I decided that I will (try to) enjoy the day and adjust (as I always teach the delegates in my workshops).
I was in of a group of 6 ladies who was to rotate the treatments. As I did not know the Spa world, I had no idea this particular Spa was so commercialised. Definitely the ideal place for couples and friends who want to socialise, have fun and be spoilt – all at the same time!
My day of treatments, breakfast, drinks, cooked lunch, afternoon cheese platter, African song and dance came to an end at 17h00. Rubbed, scrubbed and polished, I left with lots on my mind.
What am I taking out of this day?
I came to two conclusions, which are also the lessons I have learned from this experience:
A commercialised Spa is not my idea of ‘me time’ and ‘blissful relaxation’, but yes, I did enjoy the treatments and the day.
When it comes to massages, I now know that I am an “all or nothing” kind of person. Rather a whole day of pampering than just an hour long massage – I certainly felt great for a much longer time period.
Will I do it again? I am now determined to experience the real ‘blissful relaxation, me time, silence and tranquillity’ the way I envisaged it ….and my dear massage friend has already been instructed to find that special Spa for me…
DIS ALS OF NIKS
“Massering? Nee dankie – nie vir my nie. Ek spandeer eerder die geld op uiteet”
Jy mag dalk glad nie saamstem nie, maar dit was nog altyd my opinie oor masserings. Ek kon nooit verstaan waarom mense so gaande is daaroor nie. Vir my was die gevoel van ‘salige ontspanning’ heeltemal oorskat – die gevoel het nooit lank geduur nie, en ek hou nie van ‘n olierige gevoel op my lyf en in my hare nie.
Dus het ek besluit om ‘n ‘Spa Dag’ op my lys van “doendinge-voor-50” te sit. Dit was tyd om my vooropgestelde idees te toets en ‘n Spa behandeling vir ‘n hele dag lank te beleef! ‘n Liewe vriendin, wat ‘n Spa fundi is, het gehelp om ‘n spesiale aanbod kry waarvoor ek myself geestelik voorberei het: ‘n dag van salige ontspanning, “me time”, stilte, rustigheid en 7 behandelings: hand- en voorarmmassering, Jacuzzi sessie, gesigbehandeling, voet- en kuitmassering, lyfmassering, skouer-nek-kopmassering en ‘n Spa lyfbehandeling.
Die dag breek uiteindelik aan. Ek arriveer op die kop 08h00 by ontvangs soos versoek in die bevestigings-epos …my sak sorgvuldig gepak met alles soos voorgestel in die epos. Nadat ek verklee het in my swembroek, gratis japon en pantoffels, is ek vergesel na die eetsaal.
Met groot afwagting gaan ek die eetsaal binne om, tot my verbasing (of was dit afgryse?!), te sien dat ek een van 30 mense is wat bespreek het vir die dag. Daar is selfs ‘n paar mans (saam met hul vroue), party paradeer verleë en ander met groot vrypostigheid in hul japonne en pantoffels!
“Beslis nie my idee van salige rustigheid nie” het ek gedink, teleurgesteld dat my “me time” nie gaan wees wat ek my voorgestel het nie. Ek het nietemin besluit om die dag te geniet (of ten minste te probeer geniet) en aanpasbaar te wees (soos ek vir almal in my werkswinkels leer).
Ek is ingedeel by ‘n groep van 6 dames wat saam deur die behandelings roteer het. Aangesien ek nie die Spa wêreld ken nie, het ek geen idee gehad dat hierdie spesifike Spa so gekommersialiseerd is nie. Beslis die ideale omgewing vir paartjies en vriendinne wat wil sosialiseer, pret geniet en bederf word – alles tegelyk!
My dag van behandelings, ontbyt, drankies, gekookte middagete, laatmiddag kaasbord, Afrika-sang-en-dans kom teen 17h00 tot ‘n einde. Gevryf, geskrop en gepoleer vertrek ek met ‘n kop vol malende gedagtes.
Wat neem ek uit vandag?
Ek het tot twee gevolgtrekkings gekom, wat terselfdertyd ook die lesse is wat ek uit hierdie ervaring geleer het:
‘n Gekommersialiseerde Spa is nie my idee van “me time” en salige ontspanning nie, maar ek het wel die dag en die behandelings geniet.
As dit kom by masserings, weet ek nou dat ek ‘n “als of niks” mens is. Liewer ‘n hele dag van bederf as net ‘n uurlange massering – ek het beslis fantasties gevoel vir ‘n baie langer tydperk.
Sal ek dit weer doen? Ek is nou gedetermineerd om die regte salige ontspanning, “me time”, stilte en rustigheid te ervaar soos ek dit vir myself voorgestel het …en my liewe masseer-vriendin het reeds opdrag gekry om daardie spesiale Spa vir my te vind….
5 Comments Posted in Blog, Lianne chatting, LIVE every moment Tagged African song and dance, blissful relaxation, lessons learned, Spa, spoil, treatments, turning 50