When my husband took the boys recently to the air show I decided to treat myself to a day at the spa.  Not an ordinary spa treatment, but a Korean spa.  My first visit was about a year ago and I have been several times since.  Today I thought I would repeat my blog about my first experience there.

Although this was a Photo Friday post there will be not photos…for obvious reasons.

Photo Friday Aqua Day Spa

Several weeks ago I went out to dinner with a couple of friends.  During our meal, one friend mentioned how they had recently visited a spa.  It was a Korean spa.  They shared their experience with me.

“What happens is they scrub you from head to toe and then give you an amazing massage.  It’s wonderful.  You also get use of the sauna, jacuzzi and steam room. So relaxing.  You don’t even mind the fact you are naked.” – Friend

“Excuse me?  What do you mean naked?” – Me

“Well, you can’t have clothes on when they do a complete body scrub.  Besides, everyone is naked.  It’s no big deal.” – Friend

“Everybody?” – Me

I couldn’t believe what I heard.  Being naked is a very big deal.  I am not a prude by any means, but I have never pranced around nude in public.

Ever since hearing my friends’ conversation, I have wondered what the Korean spa experience would be like.  Not so much the naked part, but the spa treatment.  When my husband recently asked what I would like for my birthday I told him I wanted a gift certificate to the spa.

I made my appointment for the late afternoon.  I thought about drinking a glass of wine before the appointment, but thought I could handle it on my own.  The manager handed me a pink basket filled with a robe, towels, a locker key and a toothbrush.  I started to panic when I saw the toothbrush, but then realized it was for brushing teeth only.

I was escorted to the locker area and told to undress completely.  I was alone  in the area so I undressed,  put on the robe and was ready.

The spa area is a large open space.  There is a jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. Several showers are located toward side of the room.  To the left of the door were 4 massage tables.  And as expected, very naked women on them.  I knew I was in trouble.  I told myself I would practice the laws of Karma.  I would not look at other women’s private parts, therefore they would not look at mine.

One of the massage therapists told me to take my robe off and shower.  I then was told to enjoy the jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. Disrobing was very hard.  I showered and ran as quickly as possible to the jacuzzi.  I nearly slipped and fell.  I tried hard to not notice other naked women, but they were everywhere.  When I finally got int the Jacuzzi I closed my eyes.

After soaking I went to the sauna and steam room.  I was fortunate to be alone in both places and relaxed a bit.  Finally, it was time for my body scrub and oil massage.  I was called over to the orange massage table and told to disrobe.   The tables are covered with a plastic sheet.  Which is very much-needed, because I would soon be drenched with water.

When I first arrived at the spa the manager asked how hard I would like the scrubbing and massage.  I told her confidently, “Medium.  Not too hard and not too soft.”  I have only had one other massage and it was way too soft.  So picking medium would be just right.  Turns out I was wrong.  My  Korean massage lady had hands of steel.  Medium scrubbing was very rough.

With two brillo-like scrub pads on her hands, my massage lady started the scrubbing.  Naked with no towel to over any area, she began scrub my body to remove my old worn skin.  It was a cross between pain and pleasure.  I was instructed to flip over front, back and sideways.  No body part was left unscrubbed.  Only a very small triangular area was safe.

It was hard to relax.  Other women were lying next to me having the same thing done.  It was very public.  Privacy is not a concern at this spa.  The goal is to remove all your dead skin.  And they do.  Piles of my skin lay on my massage table.

After a good twenty-minute scrub came the relaxing oil massage.  This was the best part.  Every knot and twisted muscle was released.  Finally, some towels were used to cover private areas and I could breathe again.  The spa experience ended with a mini-facial and hair wash.   Afterward I can honestly say, I have never felt so clean in my life.

I finished up with a hot shower and headed back to the locker area.

My skin was amazingly smooth and my muscles were like jelly.  Who knew being naked and not having sex could make you feel this way?

Will I go back?  Yes.  I can deal with the naked part.

As long as I practice the laws of Karma.

Check out the Aqua Day Spa for yourself at www.aquadayspasandiego.com