Coming to the spa is seen as an escape.
But is it an escape from or an escape to reality?
What is it that gives us deepest pleasure at the spa, and why? And could there be a profound meaning in our enjoyment of the spa experience that we can extend to daily living?
The spa is about being taken care of… about people looking after people…about looking after each other.
Coming to the spa is your turn to be looked after. It is a return, in concentrated form, of the care we ourselves provide every day in the care of those for whom we’re responsible, and in the performance of our duties. Our appreciation in receiving care at the spa is in direct proportion to our own experience of the effort that goes into providing care.
For the guest to have an experience of being looked after in a very real way, attention to detail and consistency in delivery on the part of the provider is essential.
The effect will be to disarm the guest and allow them a deeply relaxing experience, to experience for themselves the feeling of being cared for that they envisage for those in their own care.
An experience of relaxation that disarms the body to the degree the receiver senses something of their own worth and puts value on their own efforts.
What could be more validating of our own daily toil? What could be more inspiring in resuming our own lives? Could any experience be more real?
Those providing the care at the spa act out of the same awareness, to deliver an experience of care that they themselves would delight in receiving.
Sure money passes hands at the spa. Money that has been hard earned and saved. It might be argued whether this is a commercialisation or facilitation of care.
On the other hand, we could probably care gently for each other, feed each other, massage and oil each other, and move and play with each other in our regular world. Why not? Anybody for a rub? Don’t knock each other down!
