Friday, February 15, 2008

Motrin and Water

My Sweet Valentine was nice enough to give me a Spa visit to celebrate V-Day. As Madonna sang in "Evita," my heart swelled with thoughts of "You Must Love Me." Wish I had the time to take a picture of the sweet card, and prove it, but I have a feeling you all believe me. Noteworthy, though, is the explanation of the massage he "ordered" for me. Yeah, Baby. And I quote:


HOT STONE – Hot stone massage is a specialty massage that uses smooth, heated stones. They are often basalt, a black volcanic rock that absorbs and retains heat well. It is a deeply soothing, relaxing form of massage. The heat helps tight muscles release. The therapist uses traditional strokes of Swedish massage while holding a heated stone. As the stone cools, the therapist replaces it with another. The therapist might also leave heated stones in specific points along your spine, or in the palms of your hand, or even between your toes to improve the flow of energy in your body.


Sounds delicious, Right? :)

The bad news of it all is, we both lacked communication. I should have said, as she was escorting me back to the room, "So, we're doing the Hot Stone treatment today, right?" But I did not. What I did do, however, was answer this question on the welcoming paperwork, "What areas would you like us to pay special attention to today?" with the answer "Lower Back." Reason - I've had a crampy feeling in my lower back for several days, and thought the hot stones being placed there for a little extra time would be just about HEAVENLY!

Let me keep going... So, about 20 minutes into it (what seems to be the beginnings of any ol' back massage - but somewhat on the FIRM side), I say to her, "Can I ask you a question?" and asked if the hot stones were coming? She said politely, that that's not what she had on the paperwork, so I kinda think "Oh?... well darn, I'm going to get a full body massage, I won't complain..." Well, she started getting more and more "deep" with her strokes and pressure... I squinted my eyes into the pillow, and moaned a litle - or a lot, I don't know... Long story short, by close to the end (at about the 60 minute mark of an 80 minute massage) she says, "I can tell you're really resisting some of these pressure points?... but an 80 minute deep tissue massage pretty much requires that I do what I'm doing..." and I think, "WHAT!?!" Lord knows, she gives a mac-daddy deep tissue massage - but OH MY GOODNESS - I would NEVER EVER EVER choose to have a deep tissue masage. EVER! (And yes, that is where I stood on the subject before yesterday.)

My day-after perscription (from her) is lots of water. My day-after perscription (from me) is lots of Motrin. I'll go with both...As I sit here...in pain.

Next time, I'll ask.

5 comments:

Emily said...

Oh no! That's so sad you missed out on the nice, relaxing one. Was Rodney upset that you didn't get the one he planned for you? I'm sure Dave would demand a refund or another massage or something, and then I would be embarrased.

leah said...

Yes, Rodney was upset. :( The masseuse lady told me a few times afterwards that she was upset and glad that I spoke up... I wish she had been bothered enough early on though (upon figuring out that she was not giving me the massage that Rodney booked) to stop what she was doing and get to the bottom of it... Maybe ask me, "So you DIDN'T want a deep tissue - let's stop here..." Oh well...

nelsonjeneen said...

My goodness, I thought they were supposed to feel how you were responding to the pressure! That is crazy. Good luck next time, b/c most massages are not like that.

leah said...

yeah, jill. you'd think! LOL! i actually sat wide awake in the middle of the night last night for about an hour (after nursing carter, of course) just KICKING myself for not speaking up. i wish so badly i had said at the sign of the first unbearable moment "uh, wait a minute - i have a very very very low pain tolerance... yadda yadda..." (thank you eileen for yadda yadda.)the good news is, my back is back to 50% bearable today. woo-hoo!

Lauren said...

Oh me Leah that stinks! My ma said she got a hot stone massage one time and it was wonderful...if you ever dare to go get another one try for the hot stones again! bless heart! Hope your back is better by now!