Because I’ve been talking about self care since my October Cure Challenge. And it’s my Word for the Year. And it helps to have some accountability. Each Saturday will share my latest self care indulgence—a recipe, a practice, an indulgence, a ritual… who knows! I’d love to hear about your favs too. Let’s take care of ourselves first so we can take care of each other better.
***
The highs on the roller coaster this week were pretty darn high.
There was the brilliant marketing strategy call with Kelly (code: Copylicious), there was the call with Hiro, there were all the great yoga classes I attended (which, turns out, is oh-so fun!).
But the winner of Self Care Saturday is….. (drumroll please…)
Monday afternoon girl time with Madeleine at Happy Day Spa for a $20 “foot” massage.
Before the good stuff, some disclaimers:
- Their website is awful.
- The place itself is a trip—super Don Juan mood lighting, huge room with 20+ Levitz clearance center lazy boys in a big circle (which is where the magic happens).
- The people in the chairs look more dead that relaxed, but you soon realize why.
- There’s not a lot of English happening there, so if you want more or less pressure you’d better find out the code words beforehand.
- They are not particularly gentle. There’s a lot of hitting, slapping, cupping. (And I liked it. A lot.)
- And it’s not a ”foot” massage as in wink wink, it’s actually an almost-whole body massage with your clothes on. In a lazy boy.
So. Did I say it was $20? But did I tell you that it was an hour? Actually a touch over.
Now, you might have some guilt about that. I did. Briefly.
But Madeleine (who was buying in honor of my bday) tipped %50. And that felt good. And her masseuse was excited (ten dalla!!)
Ok, so imagine:
You get there. They take you into the Don Juan room. They put your feet in a bucket of warm water.
They recline you all the way back in your super-cushy clearance center lazy boy.
(And even if they’d done nothing else, up to this point was worth $20.)
There’s a synthesized, elevator version of Elton John’s Sacrifice streaming through the sound system.
Your massage person (there were both male and female) starts with a little head/neck/face/shoulder massage. Nice.
Then the arms and hands. Real nice.
Then the feet and legs. For about 35 minutes.
Then they sit you up and go back to the neck and do some Thai-like stretching and down along the spine.
And then they thank you, there is some awkward laughing, and you’re done.
***
Of course, some practitioners are better than others. Madeleine has been about 10 times and said this time, Jennifer, was the best.
Go with a friend, top with lunch afterward at Boon Boon and it just might be the best thing you do all week. It certainly was for me.
