Life is challenging, isn’t it? That’s no secret to any of us. We work hard. Whether we’re trying to keep our homes in order, raise children, be successful in our careers, or build and maintain healthy relationships, we all put forth a great deal of effort and get tired sometimes. Perhaps you’re tired right now. It’s perfectly understandable. And maybe you’re thinking that you need a vacation, but can’t take the time off, or can’t afford to go anywhere. You may even be thinking that you don’t deserve a break, that you don’t work as hard as other people you know, ‘And they don’t take breaks. They don’t go on vacations. They don’t get tired.’ – Are we getting close?
We’re here to tell you, not only do you deserve a break, you need one. You need to find a way to relax, get away for a while, and get rejuvenated. The most successful mothers, fathers, career women, and business men all know that along with all that hard work, you’ve got to take time for yourself. We toured three local spas; it doesn’t seem to matter how long you’re there, it’s like a mini vacation, and it won’t break the bank. We also recommend that you don’t always go alone. Whether it’s a husband and wife, mother and daughter, boyfriend and girlfriend, the spa is a wonderful place to reconnect.
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Jeane Wood, of Highlands Day Spa, thinks of the spa as “The adult safe house.” Says Jeane, “People will always come here to reconnect.” And connecting is something Jeane takes very seriously. She believes healthy physical touch is something too often misunderstood, and at times non-existent for many people. She encourages not only couples to come to the spa, but the whole family. “We’re just not built for the busy world we live in,” she explains. “Americans live in the Sympathetic [nervous system]: Always in fight or flight. Our bodies are reacting as if we’re always in trauma.” She claims the spa is the perfect place to unwind, to let the body relax and get away from the trauma of our busy fight your- way-to-the-top lifestyle. It’s the institution that heals body and mind through healthy physical touch.
» Points for the Hubby
My wife has been talking about a vacation for a long time, but my work doesn’t allow for it; I’m just not able to get away right now, no matter how much we want to. In any case, we need to do something special together; we need to relax and reconnect. As I lounge in the privacy of the outdoor soaking tub at Coeur d’Alene Casino’s Spa, Ssakwa’q’n, with my gorgeous wife sitting on the edge with her feet in the water next to me, I can’t remember a time I felt more relaxed. It seems it’s been a long time since we’ve felt so connected. There’s no one here but us, and we’re free to talk about anything, but mostly we just talk about how good it feels to be here. I get out after awhile and stretch out in a poolside chair. I’m not thinking about work, not worried about the kids – they’re with their grandparents – I’m just looking up at the sky and realizing how beautiful it is, and how long it’s been since I’ve noticed. I raise my head to look at my lady. She seems so peaceful, still sitting in the sun and sipping her lemon and water. She’s glowing. We could be anywhere else in the world and she wouldn’t look more lovely, and we wouldn’t feel any better.
A while later we’re called in for our couples massage; we’re going for a stone massage today. I can only imagine how great this will be. We’re not going to want to leave. In any case, we’re going to want to come back, no question.
» A Couple’s Therapy
My guy surprises me with an evening out. He’s set up the whole thing, and says I’m going to love it. He’s a contact-sports kind of man; sensitive, sure, but it’s buried pretty deep. There’s really no telling what he’s got planned. When we pull into the parking lot at Zi-Spa, I ask if he’s joking.
As we wait in the “Zen Lounge” for our couples massage, I catch myself sighing. Everything from the plush robes to the aromas in the air prompt me to breathe deeply, and let all my tension and cares blow away. I’m noticeably relaxed. He is not; it’s cute to see him out of his element and a little nervous about it. It means a lot to me that he’s here. I mean, any guy can give you a gift card to a spa; how many would actually go with you?
The couples massage is wonderful, but we tease about whose therapist was better. He wouldn’t know, because this is his first time. So, I win. By the end of our couples pedicure, he’s relaxed and laughing. Our technicians are so professional and sweet. It’s really turning out to be a special night. As we climb into the car to leave, his hands fall into his lap and he lets out the biggest sigh. “I feel really good,” he says and smiles at me. “You want to do this again?”
As Featured In: Winter/Spring 2015