Dear Readers,
I know my last two blogs have been dark and depressing. So I decided to change things up a bit with this blog. Please join me on a magical adventure to a place that is so peaceful and relaxing from the second you enter to the second you leave. Within the first five minutes of being inside you realize that heaven on Earth really does exist. I speak of The International Day Spa in Redlands.
I was given a gift card when I worked on the show “You Can’t Take It With You.” The cast knew I was stressed, and with my Dad passing during the middle of the run of the show I was in dire need of a massage and a relaxing day. I’d looked at the gift card and dream over the brochure picking out what I wanted to get done. I held on to that gift card for months… I had a couple concerns that keep the gift card on my fridge staring at me every day. Firstly I have never been a big fan of people touching me (especially people I don’t know), and secondly I had been told that getting massages can cause headaches/migraines and with all my headache and migraine issues I didn’t really want to do something that would end up causing me pain. I put off calling the Spa to see if A) the massage would cause me to a headache and B) if it did I was wondering if I could do something else instead with the gift card. Maybe I put off calling them because I was lazy, or worried they would tell me I was screwed and everything would cause me a headache so the gift card was a waste, or I dunno… maybe I was just scared…
So months went by… A few days before my Birthday I decided that I wanted to do something nice for myself. I was planning a party at my Mom’s house in the evening and figured I’d try the Spa… or at least call them. From the second I called the Spa I knew I was hooked. The woman who answered the phone was so helpful, nice, and actually took the time out to talk to me explaining everything and answered all my questions. Her kindness and reassurance of everything lead me to making an appointment for the morning of my Birthday.
When the big day finally arrived I woke up early and ate my breakfast and took some Tylenol (just in case of a headache) and drank lots of water. Apparently that is the key to avoiding a headache after a massage. The massage releases lots of toxins into your body and dehydrates you, so after a massage if you drink a lot of water that will help prevent a headache. This trick worked for the most part. I still had a small headache all day but that could have been caused by a million other things.
I arrived at the spa and was greeted with the gentle sweet smell of lavender and nice smiles from everyone. They had me sit in a comfortable chair and gave me hot tea to drink while I filled out their paperwork. Also while I sat there they gave me warm neck pillow. I was so comfortable I would have been happy to sit there all day with a book reading and just relaxing. Shortly after I finished their paperwork they gave me a soft clean robe to put on and took me into a room with a huge tub in it. I read in their brochure that sitting in their Hydrotherapy Tub before your massage will help relax your mussels, so I added that on to enhance my day. While sitting in the warm tub with the oils and purifying salts from the Dead Sea and staring out a window as the rain fell down, I realize that in that moment there was no other place I wanted to be than right there. My thoughts were quiet and I was relaxed. They gave me two tea bags to put on my eyes while I sat there. For most of the time the tea bags just sat on the edge of the tub until my mind started to make jokes about women who sat around at home with tea bags and cucumbers on their eyes. I always thought it was silly and never understood why women did it. Before walking into the spa I told myself I would be open minded and try whatever I could. So to keep true to my promise I became one of those silly women. And boy was I converted. The bags on my closed eyes made me look silly like all those women I had just mocked but they were so relaxing to my tired stressed eyes that I no longer will mock those women. After 20-30 mins in the tub it was time for the massage. While I waited for the lady to come and take me to her massage room they gave me delicious warm apple cider that probably tasted extra wonderful because I was so relaxed.
The lady who gave me the massage had to be close to my age and was so kind and understanding. I explained to her about my Dad and my headaches and she gave me tips and reminded me about the water trick. Also I was in luck the Spa was running a special that with any massage the normal extra $14 add on of either a Heat Cream Hot Towel Compress or an Aloe Foot Treatment was free. I choose the Heat Cream Hot Towel Compress and after my massage that was just the icing on the cake. The massage was hands down amazing. I felt comfortable and relaxed and in heaven. The lady and I talked which made me feel even more comfortable. I didn’t want to lay there quiet for an hour while a stranger massaged me. Towards the end of the massage I was so comfortable I didn’t mind when the conversation became quiet and I was able to enjoy the relaxing pleasant music.
Once the massage was over I was able to enjoy their steam room or a foot bath. I have had foot baths before and they are nice but I was on a roll and decided to yet again try something new. So into the steam room I went. It was hot… really hot…. I sat there and drank my water and once I was all sweaty or perhaps it was just from the steam or more than likely a combination of the both I had to get out. They let me shower and take it easy before I was to leave. Since it was my Birthday I knew I couldn’t leave empty handed. Before I went to pay for my lovely morning I shopped around in their store and grabbed a few things. As I was walking up to the counter to pay the lady showed me to a basket of things they had pulled aside for me that they thought I may like. And sure enough I found exactly what I had been looking for, a few things for when I get a headache and bath salts. The whole experience was amazing and the first time in a long time I was able to leave all my sadness and sorrow outside. It was a great start to my Birthday. The rest of the day was also amazing. A lot of people came to the party; I had great food, desserts and company! J
A few days after my visit to the Spa I got a post card from the lovely lady who gave me a massage thanking me for coming in and hoping that I had a wonderful Birthday. I’m sure they send these out to everyone but it was really nice to get it and I love getting nice things in the mail!
On a final note I WILL be returning to the Spa very soon… not only did I win some free tea from them off of facebook but I also want another massage and visit to their tub!!!
"Give me the peace
That's missing inside my soul
'Cause I've been waiting for years holding on
Just to find that I've got to let go"
