C O V E R S T O R Y
YOGItimes magazine for the modern yogi
By Martin Hughes
Photography by Jasper Johal
This pattern of behavior can lead us into a spiritual and physical numbness in which we avoid or ignore our uncomfortable sensations and emotions and press on to the next responsibility, leaving those negative issues unresolved. For many, taking time out from the rat race for a facial or a massage or taking a week or two of vacation time at a yoga retreat or destination spa seems like an unfathomable luxury when there are appointments to keep and lists of tasks to accomplish as well as more “practical” ways to spend money. What most of us don’t realize is that taking time out and investing in a little pampering can help us fulfill our responsibilities more efficiently and feel better while we do it.
Many people react strongly the first time they have a real pampering experience like a massage or facial. It can be an extraordinary feeling to have someone focus all of their energy on making us feel good for an hour and a half. It is easy to get lost in the luxury of the moment but many people also experience some emotional discomfort at being the center of so much attention. In a culture in which nothing is free and everything we get we earn, many are left wondering what they have done to deserve being pampered. That feeling of unworthiness is part of an endemic cultural tradition in the United States in which selfishness and self-indulgence are considered negative, undesirable traits. It has been ingrained in our collective psyche for generations that putting ourselves first equates with being self-important or self-absorbed. Yet in order to be healthy and emotionally available we need to have times when we come first; moments of selfishness and self-indulgence to heal our spirits, organize our minds and sooth our overworked bodies. We need to pamper and nurture ourselves so that we can, in turn, nurture and care for each other.
Men are particularly likely to avoid pampering. Treatments such as facials, manicures and pedicures are a decidedly feminine tradition which many men find threatening, living in a culture that places such importance on sexual identity. Some men find the idea of indulging in the pleasures of the spa frivolous or unmasculine, even a sign of weakness. The reality is that men and women can benefit equally from the preventive healing and soothing properties of most spa treatments. Many of the greatest civilizations in history cultivated and benefited from the power of nature’s healing waters, herbs and oils to revitalize and rejuvenate. Ancient Mesopotamians, Greeks, Minoans, Egyptians, Chinese, Aztecs, Mayans and Romans all incorporated therapeutic systems of bathing and preventive treatments into daily life. Public and private spas and baths developed around natural thermal mineral springs in the ancient world from Spain to China and from Britain to Africa. They varied in scale and grandeur from rural farmers bathing in thermal pools bubbling up from the ground in Mesopotamia to vast 300,000 square foot bathing complexes in Imperial Rome capable of accommodating over 6,000 people at once. At the height of their development, the baths offered average Romans all sorts of amenities like massage, sports and exercise, saunas, showers, hot and cold bathing pools, fresh and salt water baths, barbers, shops, public and private social areas and many exotic and expensive treatments. The daily spa experience was a cultural institution in these ancient societies, making the act of releasing the stress of the day and pampering the body a part of everyday life. Their knowledge of the healing and preventive properties of the mineral waters, herbs and oils they employed was vast.
Sadly, much of the earthly wisdom learned and accumulated over the ages has been neglected in America. Modern medicine offers reactive treatments that have trained us to look for quick results and relief after we have already gotten to the point of pain and discomfort rather than promoting the preventive practices and habits that have been used to maintain health and well-being for thousands of years.
On the bright side, however, Americans seem to be rediscovering the benefits of spas and retreats. The number of day spas, destination spas and retreats in the United States, and especially in Los Angeles, has more than tripled in the last ten years. Now we can go practically around the corner in any city to get a quick manicure or disappear for a week immersed in luxurious body wraps, detoxifying scrubs and avocado facials. The treatments offered by today’s spas range from the simple and affordable to the exotic and extravagant. At places like Enessa Wellness Spa in Los Angeles, clients can receive treatments like Shirodhara Dosha, an ancient Ayurvedic treatment that nourishes the skin and balances the mind. The Vivian Baer Healing Arts Center in Malibu offers an array of treatments from a lymphatic drainage massage and facial to an Icelandic sea kelp and seaweed treatment. At Goddess of Skin in Los Angeles, clients can receive The Ultimate Goddess Experience, a two hour facial that promises to rejuvenate and revitalize the skin. A holistic approach can be experienced at Willow Spa in Santa Monica where they offer Thai massage and purifying Japanese Enzyme Baths.
There are also retreats and destination spas for those who want to take their experience a step further. The myriad selection of retreats in and around the United States allow guests to experience intensive yoga practice, meditation and exploration of nature in varying degrees of luxury or simplicity. Yoga retreats like Pura Vida and Samasati, both located in the rain forests of Costa Rica, provide visitors with a soothing, simplistic environment in which to achieve inner peace and enlightenment. More luxurious experiences can also be found like those offered by Pure Kauai. Clients of Pure Kauai can tailor their experience to fit their exact specifications from beautiful, secluded houses on the pristine beaches of Kauai to private yoga instruction, Pilates instruction, nature hikes and anything else the heart desires. With the abundance of options and possibilities available, almost anyone can benefit from these services if they take the time.
No one can be productive every waking moment of the day. Moments of escape provide us with opportunities for introspection to calmly work out our emotional kinks at the same time that someone else is working out our physical ones. When we are relaxed and comfortable, our ability to effectively deal with stress increases dramatically, our immune systems are stronger and we have a greater sense of peace and well-being. Having a massage once a week promotes better circulation and muscle recovery at the same time that it gives us emotional release. Caring for the skin, the body’s largest organ, with treatments like facials, massages, seaweed wraps and mud baths means keeping the most sensitive and exposed part of ourselves glowing and healthy. It won’t hurt our self-esteem either.
As yogis, we know that the power of yoga extends well beyond the yoga studio. The yogic tradition teaches us that we must balance and unite the opposing forces in our lives. We must balance the stresses we suffer by creating peace. We must ease our pains by allowing ourselves to be soothed. Practicing yoga gives us the opportunity to feel. Through yoga we can explore our minds and bodies and truly come to know ourselves. Like daily meditation and hatha practice, spa treatments help to cultivate, nurture and heal the body, mind and soul. Giving ourselves permission to be nurtured and cared for balances the abuse the world can sometimes heap on us. Knowing the framework and philosophical principles of yoga can help refine and guide our individual journeys but in essence, we are all yogis and yoginis searching for balance and unity. Showing respect to our bodies and spirits and accepting our inherent worthiness is the first step toward true health and lifelong contentment. Go ahead. Treat yourself!
Talia Gomez-Rubio gives Elizabeth Barr a Thai Massage at Willow Spa in Santa Monica.
Lounge Wear Designed by Willow Spa, 100% Pima Cotton ($45.00) available in white and black.
photography ©MMIV Jasper Johal jasper-art.com