Do you ever wish you could linger longer at your massage therapist or acupuncturist’s office?
I always wanted to have a spa where my acupuncture and doctor patients could come and hang out as long as they liked creating a day of health, not just an hour.
I once wrote about this effect in a book I co-authored with my fellow acupuncturist pal, Beth Theodore. (You can still find it on Amazon if you’re interested—it’s called What’s Up With Acupuncture.)
My curiosity has always been about how to keep that endorphin-infused, relaxed, chill feeling from acupuncture, massage or a spa session going.
In my experience, I’ve learned that having a strategy works.
Last week, I went to two spas during a solo travel loop from Hood River, Oregon, down to Bend and then up to Tacoma.
One was a new spa in the newly remodeled and reopened historic hotel now called The Lightwell in Hood River, Oregon.
The second was Shibui Spa in Sisters, Oregon.
Both were wonderful in their own special way.
Lightwell was very quiet. I had the soaking tub and sauna almost completely to myself for two hours.
I didn’t have a massage or any services there, I just enjoyed the simplicity of the experience.
At Shibui, it was a bit busier, but not many people were lingering in the soaking tub and sauna area.
That made it a wonderful way to ease into the gentle exfoliating massage I had later.
What I love about spas with soaking tubs, saunas, cold plunges, or showers is that you don’t have to jump right back into the hustle and bustle of life afterward.
When I go to a spa, I choose one where I can linger as long as I’d like before or after a session, and I make sure my evening afterward is free.
If I’m going to acupuncture or a massage, I book my session in the afternoon and plan time to go for a walk afterwards so I’m not jumping right back into life.
For spa days I plan to spend an hour or so in the soaking tub or sauna before my session, and then I block out the rest of my day.
That way I can return to the sauna or soaking tub if I want.
I’ve found that running right back into life can negate a lot of the benefits of a spa experience.
This plan allows you to extend your chill.
But it also gives you space to integrate that chill and any insights you might glean from the experience. And it’s important to remember that it’s okay if every spa visit doesn’t come with a “download from the universe” or some big realization.
I love using the quiet time to slow my mind and let whatever thoughts come up pass through.
Sometimes, great ideas surface for projects or solutions to problems I’ve been working on.
Other times, the thoughts are nonsense or pinging all over the place.
I let them come up and mentally say “next” or “stop” if a looping negative thought appears.
I’ll be honest, I used to enjoy keeping my mind busy so I didn’t have to acknowledge the thoughts in my head.
If that’s you, I see you. And I know that dipping your toes into this (totally intended pun) can work wonders for a foggy, ADD-like brain…that is …if you’re willing to embrace the possibilities and practice.
I’m no expert here by any means. I’m just noticing benefits and keeping an open mind about what I can learn.
Ancient medicine talks about spa and water therapies just as much as it talks about slowing down and enjoying nature, life, and your loved ones.
Both spa experiences last week were great and very different from each other.
I enjoyed The Lightwell more, perhaps because it was quieter and felt like I had the entire spa to myself.
Either way, this proves you can go to a spa, skip the massage, facial, or body treatment, and still feel amazing.
Many spas offer day passes for those who simply want to experience the facility and others offer mid-week discounts on services (Shibui’s services are discounted on Wednesdays!).
For more touristy areas, there’s often a locals or state resident discount too.
If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to “spa,” those are great options to look into.
Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing more about my 1:1 retreat at pelvic floor guru Dr. Brianne Grogan’s Healing House.
Stay tuned!
Dr. Jannine Krause
PS: Did you know finances are one of the biggest cortisol boosters for most of the world? Next week my pal Brenda St Louis has a free webinar on breaking the money patterns you were born into. It’s 10a on 1/28 click HERE to register!
