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I finally cashed in my Mother's Day present today and enjoyed 90 minutes of sybaritic bliss a the Gene Juarez spa.
The experience started with a shower supplemented by eucalyptus steam.
Then I sat in a lovely domed waiting room with a fountain in the center, just relaxing and listening to the quiet music.
Then a lovely young woman named Ivory came in, knelt next to my feet, filled a large bowl with warm water and mild soap, and left my feet to soak. Five minutes or so later she came back, knelt on the floor again, and then gently rubbed each foot, wrapped it in a towel to dry it, then applied peppermint cream.
Then we went to the tiled room with the dozen shower heads hanging from the ceiling. This was not a stark room, but a temple-like place, lit subtly with lamps and candles, and there were mosaics on the wall. And there was more of the beautiful, soft music. I lay on the table (which was furnished with expertly arranged layers of towels and plastic), and was exfoliated with long, bracing strokes of a loofah-like pad. Then an algae mix was painted on my body with a large, soft brush. When both sides and all my limbs were painted, I was wrapped loosely in the plastic and a thermal blanket, and Ivory gave me one of the most exquisite scalp and face massages I've ever experienced while the algae and detoxifying oils soaked into my body.
After ten minutes or so of that, the thermal blanket came off, a plastic shield (like a wide step) was put over my head and a towel draped over that, and the showers came on: water jets coming down on my body from the top and angled into my sides. Once I was used to it, the plastic came off, and it was just my skin (and two strategically placed towels). After several minutes of that, I rolled over and my back was done.
This whole process took at least forty-five minutes. By the time the shower was done, I was almost asleep, I was so relaxed. But Ivory then gave me a light massage with a gently stimulating lotion, so by the end of it, I was utterly relaxed but alert.
I'm now about to go to bed and -- I am sure -- have very good dreams.
The experience started with a shower supplemented by eucalyptus steam.
Then I sat in a lovely domed waiting room with a fountain in the center, just relaxing and listening to the quiet music.
Then a lovely young woman named Ivory came in, knelt next to my feet, filled a large bowl with warm water and mild soap, and left my feet to soak. Five minutes or so later she came back, knelt on the floor again, and then gently rubbed each foot, wrapped it in a towel to dry it, then applied peppermint cream.
Then we went to the tiled room with the dozen shower heads hanging from the ceiling. This was not a stark room, but a temple-like place, lit subtly with lamps and candles, and there were mosaics on the wall. And there was more of the beautiful, soft music. I lay on the table (which was furnished with expertly arranged layers of towels and plastic), and was exfoliated with long, bracing strokes of a loofah-like pad. Then an algae mix was painted on my body with a large, soft brush. When both sides and all my limbs were painted, I was wrapped loosely in the plastic and a thermal blanket, and Ivory gave me one of the most exquisite scalp and face massages I've ever experienced while the algae and detoxifying oils soaked into my body.
After ten minutes or so of that, the thermal blanket came off, a plastic shield (like a wide step) was put over my head and a towel draped over that, and the showers came on: water jets coming down on my body from the top and angled into my sides. Once I was used to it, the plastic came off, and it was just my skin (and two strategically placed towels). After several minutes of that, I rolled over and my back was done.
This whole process took at least forty-five minutes. By the time the shower was done, I was almost asleep, I was so relaxed. But Ivory then gave me a light massage with a gently stimulating lotion, so by the end of it, I was utterly relaxed but alert.
I'm now about to go to bed and -- I am sure -- have very good dreams.
