Girl's Weekend

I have been very fortunate to go on not one but two girl's weekends in the last 4 months.  Each  trip was with a different set of women I hang out with.  My most recent one was to Berkeley Springs in early October with my neighborhood mom's group friends. 

We booked spa treatments for Saturday at my favorite spa.  I always like to try something new and this trip was no exception.  I booked a Steam and Herbal Wrap.  I had no idea what to expect.  Fortunately my friend Jen booked the same exact thing and we experienced the spa treatment at the same time. 

Here is a description of the treatment:

An Atasian signature spa treatment, this service begins in the herbal steam room, followed by a cocoon of hot, fragrant, herb soaked linens. Further perspiration draws out impurities while beneficial herbs nourish the skin. A scalp massage enhances deep relaxation.  20 minute steam / 25 minute wrap.

So here is what is not included in the description.  The steam room is crazy!  It's filled with so much steam you can't see your hand coming from your body.  You are wrapped in a towel (with nothing underneath) and told to enter this enclosed room.  Upon walking through the door, Jen says, "Is that you Robyn?"   Trying to get my bearings, I say, "Yes".  We had no idea each other was in the room.  Jen then says "Thank G-d you are here!!  I keep trying the door to make sure I don't get locked inside."

I am still not sure where I am.  I can't see anything.  I ask her if we just stand here.  She said no, take a seat. Um, where the heck is that!?!?!  I feel my way for the long built-in bench and find it.  I sit down and am amazed I've lasted this long.  I don't do well in the heat.  But I am game to try something new and find that this is not too bad.  For 20 minutes Jen and I chat.  It helps make the time go by faster.  We can't stop giggling on what we are putting ourselves through.  I am sweating something fierce, but find a bit of relief in letting the towel slip down.  Hey, no one can see anything.  Not even me.

Finally, the bell goes off and the steam stops getting pumped in the room.  Jen and I leave and make our way upstairs for the rest of the treatment.  We are each shown to separate rooms.  At this point I am a bit lightheaded and don't quite remember the instructions I am given on how to lay on the table.  I do it completely backwards.  Oh my!  Instead of being on my back, I am on my tummy.  I think my head is where my feet should be.  I feel lucky at this point I have not passed out.  Whoa, baby that was a lot of steam!!  The technician very nicely tells me to readjust my body. She then gets started on wrapping me up.  To begin with, I am on a heated table laying on top of hot soaked towels.  I get covered with hot soaked towels on top of me, only leaving my head free.  A plastic sheet goes completely around me.  It ends with a heated blanket put on top of that.  My arms are by my side and I feel like a mummy all wrapped up.  The technician puts a cold wash cloth on my face and leaves my mouth free for breathing.  She tells me she is about to leave the room and if necessary, break my arms free.  Um, ok. 

I try very hard to hang tough for the 25 minutes.  I am positive I can stay completely wrapped up and not look like a wimp upon her return.  After about 5 minutes, I can't take much more.  I have sweat dripping in places I didn't think was possible.  I break my arms free and feel a little relief.  I let myself enjoy the room temperature air on my arms for about 2 minutes and am certain I can stick my arms back by my side in the wrapping.  She'll never know!  I slide one arm back in and I freak out. YOWZER!! It is hot in there!!!  I think Hell is actually a few degrees cooler than what is going on under the hot towels and heated blanket.  What in the world was I thinking?  My arm comes back out and I make the decision to leave them out for the remaining time.

I am not sure how I survived this treatment, but I did.  Once it was over, I was actually shaking I was so hungry.  I sweated out EVERYTHING I had in me.  There was nothing left for my body live off of.  Those who know me probably don't understand why I willingly paid for this form of heat torture.  I am not sure I quite get it myself.  But I have to say, the next day I felt amazing.  And, get this...I would do it again!  Next time I would make sure to drink lots more water.  My 6 oz cup I had going into the steam room clearly wasn't enough. 

I love my girl's weekend getaways.  I love that I married a guy who is okay with me being gone and has no problem being 100% in charge of the kids.  And I love that I found a spa I can afford.