So one of the clients I work with doesn't have that much money - so I only do a little bit of work for her here and there when she gets paid. Usually at some point near the end of the month with her saying that she has x amount and was hoping I could so y and z. And she's a wonderful woman, so I always say yes, even if it's below my normal rates. I've got a soft spot for good people, I suppose.
Anyway - recently she said that, since she knows she underpays me a lot of the time, it was the least she could do to give me an hour at the spa she worked at with the person who was, in her opinion, the best there… so we booked a day - which happened to be today, and I went out there to have my massage. Tip was included… so I just had to show up, and relax.
Very nice.
So I get there, and the woman (my masseur) has me strip down and get under this blanket (so I'm covered - nothing sketchy, guys) and begins giving me my 45 minute head-to-foot massage.
Now, I've both given and received a lot of massages in my life - and when I think of massages, I think of kneading out knots, hitting pressure points, lots of hard pushing and pounding (well, not pounding, but you know what I mean). And this was far from that. In fact, there were time when I wished I was being handled a little more firmly - but she spent a lot of time just kind of running her hands over my back, arms, legs, etc. Some massaging, sure - but a lot of it was more just comforting, rather than satisfying, if it makes sense to use those words.
I don't know. Maybe this is not a typical massage - but, as I was lying there, feeling her hands gently on my back - what it made me think of… esp. because I was under a blanket, was getting tucked in at night as a little kid. You know? Your mom tucks you in, says good night, and, perhaps, runs her hand along your back as she walks away. As I said: comforting.
And I wonder - if this is other people's experience, is that the point? Is the point of a massage not really about getting your body worked - but about just feeling that sense of "I'm in your hands, take care of me…" that bring us back to feeling secure in the wombs of our childhood beds?
Just throwing that out there.
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3 comments:
HA!HA!HA! I think you were gypped. Next time you should tell her to try harder.
The gypsies don't like it when you use that term, Adrianne.
This post was a good reminder that I deserve a massage - especially given all the holiday stress! I have a place I like to go to for exactly the type of massage you've described. I go there when I need comfort. I also have a place I go to when I need a legitimate knead out the hamstrings massage. This type is not enjoyable at the time, but I feel the benefits for many days afterwards - stronger and faster, if only in my mind. Both are definitely necessary and beneficial. I think all health insurance plans should cover massages!!
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