Editorial
Front Page - Friday, January 29, 2010
Weekly Indulgence
Stephanie Coward
“I think I’ll take a moment/Celebrate my age/The ending of an era/And the turning of a page …” Tim McGraw sings in his epic hit, “My Next Thirty Years.” Last Saturday, the song took on more meaning to me, as I entered my 30s. I had dreaded this birthday for years. But guess what? It wasn’t so bad; in fact it was actually enjoyable.
Part of the reason it was so enjoyable is because my birthday celebration started at the Chattanoogan Hotel Spa – a gift from my family up North who couldn’t make it down here.
I began the day at 9:30 a.m. by checking in at the Spa – located on the second floor of the Chattanoogan Hotel – at 1201 South Broad St. After signing the necessary paperwork, I was handed my robe, locker key and spa sandals and hurried into the locker room. I wanted to change as quickly as possible, as I couldn’t wait for the pampering to commence.
There is a sauna in the locker room, which I opted against. I’m not really into sweating, no matter how good it is for you. I finished changing and went out to the quaint waiting area to relax before my massage therapist came to get me.
After my failed attempt at meditation, (how does one utilize that much concentration?), my massage therapist greeted me. Once we were in the room, Jessica took time to speak with me about any previous injuries and any pain I may be having. She explained that 25 minutes wasn’t long enough for a full body massage and asked me what area I preferred she concentrate in. Well, that was a no brainer – my back is beyond knotted and was in dire need of care.
From the moment the massage began, I grew so relaxed time seemed to stop. I felt like I was getting one over on “the man.” Surely this massage was lasting longer than 25 minutes and I was getting more than paid for. But it wasn’t. It’s just that Jessica is that good – she made time stand still.
I had to wait a few moments when it was over because I was so dizzy. That’s how you know when a massage is really good. For several minutes afterwards, you feel like you’re sleeping with your eyes open and you can’t stand because everything is spinning. When I finally mustered up the energy to exit the room, Jessica greeted me outside the door, holding an ice-cold cup of water. (They advise people to drink a lot of water after a massage to help the body in cleansing itself of the impurities that were released during the session.)
Next was the nail salon. And first on the list was the pedicure; 55 minutes of bubbling hot water and Janice, a superb technician who did for my feet what Jessica did for my back. Janice is a licensed nail technician, not a cosmetologist. She explained that she had 600 hours in nail training, whereas cosmetologists have much less. I was happy to have a true pro taking care of me.
Janice ensured my visit remained pleasant – periodically checking the temperature of the water and offering me a beverage. Since I always get the chills after a massage, I chose a cup of hot green tea. It was yummy and the perfect accompaniment to the heated massage chair I was relaxing in. The pedicure was one of the best I have ever had, though I had to apologize often for jumping in my seat as Janice worked. I am just so ticklish sometimes. I chose a smashing purple color and then it was time for the manicure.
Outside of having acrylics put on when I was younger, I have never had a manicure. Janice was a bit surprised when I told her that I didn’t want any polish on my nails. I just can’t stand it. It makes me feel awkward to constantly notice my hands and it’s too distracting. I know … weird.
My Diva for the Day package was over, but my family had more planned. To end my visit, I got to get $50 of products from the spa. And let me tell you, there is quite a selection of all sorts of products. Lucky for me, there was a super sale going on so, I didn’t have to narrow down my choices too much and was able to get quite a bit for an affordable price.
The spa also offers lunch poolside, which is where I planned to eat, but there was a cheerleading convention in town and the girls were working their muscles in the pool, so I ate at the Broad Street Grill downstairs. (Be sure to call ahead because you need reservations.) The menu is sparse, so I improvised. I ordered a chicken cobb salad and added a piece of salmon to it. While many restaurants frown on changing their menu items, most are happy to oblige add ons.
I finished the day with a shopping trip but I was so relaxed, we never made it to dinner that night at 212 Market, as we had planned. Instead we ordered in from dinner delivered online and enjoyed some tasties from the Northshore Grill.
It seems that life often gets in the way of taking time to pamper oneself, however, I plan to make it a priority to visit the Chattanoogan Spa again. The experience was too wonderful to only happen once.
Learn more or book a day at the Chattanoogan Spa by visiting www.chattanooganhotel.com. Contact Stephanie at stephanie@ hamiltoncountyherald.com.
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