“I have to take off ALL my clothes?!”

This was my first visit to a spa and I was shocked.

It had all started when my friend asked me if I had ever had a massage. She had had several and loved them, but had not tried one on island. She wanted one here. I smiled and said I had never had one and did not know where to go for one, little dreaming that I would be carted off to try a massage for myself.

Of course she had done her homework. I might have known! Not only did she know where to go on Anguilla, she knew their websites too. I was seated in front of the computer screen and information was thrown at me before I could blink!

It might as well have been in Greek.

What on earth was the difference between an Anguillian and a Classic massage? A Sunset Beach massage sounded fun but I wondered if the sand would end up in places where I did not want it to venture. I was a bit worried about mosquito bites in sensitive areas too. Then there were other treatments on offer which were equally new to me. Some of them sounded really rather nice until you realise that you don’t eat them, you slap them over your skin! The coconut pineapple scrub for example. Sounds good, doesn’t it?

My friend had it all worked out of course and the next thing I knew was that I was on the telephone calling the spa and booking two Classics as if I knew what I was talking about.

I then had several days to stew over the momentous event that was to come. Quite frankly I had not got a clue. Don’t get me wrong I was not completely naļve. I have had manicures and pedicures in salons and once I had a foot and leg massage when we were in a hotel in Thailand, but I had always kept most of my clothes on.

So what is the problem I hear you ask? Well readers, it is like this. I am not young, slim or ‘with it’. I was going out of my depth and readers of previous columns will know that I do like to be in control of myself. I was about to give my body to some person (horror, it could be a masseur, not a masseuse!) I did not know, who was going to do unknown things to it in the name of relaxation and my decidedly forty-something figure was not going to be presented in its best light. To be blunt, I was bashful.

“Don’t worry,” my much too keen friend said, “you can keep your underwear on and the masseur does not have wandering hands. You will be quite safe.” I had trusted her.

I had carefully selected suitable undies. I had paraded in a selection of them in front of my husband with the anxious question “Will these do?” and he had nodded appreciatively, if slightly unhelpfully, to each set. I felt a bit better that my dignity would vaguely be preserved but now I was being advised that I had to take my carefully selected modesty screen off!

I must have looked as horrified as I felt as my friend then relented and allowed me to keep my knickers on! “Better than nothing at all” I thought, looking balefully at her. She smiled angelically at me.

I stomped off to put on the surprisingly large wrap the spa had provided, which did indeed go around my much too ample hips and slid my toes into the comfy slippers that went with them. I felt better with these innocent accoutrements and bravely marched forth to my fate.

Well readers, what can I say? I now understand why some people LOVE spa treatments so much. The Classic massage was completely relaxing and my modesty was not compromised at all. Liberal use of towels placed in strategic places meant that only bits of me that were being worked on were exposed at any one time (and boy were they worked on!) and I felt somewhat foolish when it was all over. The whole thing had been very pleasant even though I started off very tense and unsure of myself. I am not sure what the masseuse (yes, thankfully a lady) thought of my ample pins but they loved her firm but gentle hands!

In all, I left the spa feeling relaxed, and quite slippery. I was covered in lotion which slowly sank into my skin and when my husband came home later and touched my arm, even he, not famed for his perception, noticed how soft my skin was. I have forgiven my friend, who thoroughly enjoyed her massage, and I now look forward to trying another treatment…. when I can pluck up the courage.

I hope readers will not mind the lack of photographs to illustrate my thoughts this time. Taking photos in a spa is not really on and, believe me, the photos would not have been very flattering!

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