there may be hope for me yet
So the chiropractor I see does these wellness presentations on Thursday evenings. I pushed myself back to third call priority today (usually I'm first on Thursdays) because of the pain I've been having, so I didn't get called in, which meant I could go. Turns out that tonight was also an open house at the facility, and I learned about all the other things they offer. I knew that they also offered massage; what I did not know was that they also have saunas (yes, two), a steam room, and a flotation tank. The saunas and steam room were open tonight for just $2 (towel fee). I've never been in either, but I've heard they're really good for you, and figured, hey why not, this is the time to try it, right?
Then I found out that they're clothing-optional (which I'd expected) - and co-ed (which I hadn't).
It took some nerving up - but I tried it anyway. Just the sauna - the steam room is across the way (the facility is in two lovely old houses with adjoining yards) and the towels were small and, well, I'm just not that brave. I know full well that nobody there would care at all - but I do.
It's funny - I do breastfeeding support, sometimes I'm checking on my clients' perineal tears - I'm quite familiar with the female body. My knowledge of the male body is somewhat more theoretical, but still - it's not that I have issues with bodies or nudity. I just have issues with /my/ body. Plus I have all my weird emotional stuff around dealing with men - which tends to get much more overwhelming when there is nudity involved.
And you know what? It was fine. Getting undressed in the very open locker room was the hardest part. (did I mention the very small towels?) I'm glad I didn't run across anybody in there. Spent a few minutes locked in the toilet just nerving myself up. When I went into the sauna (after the required shower), there was one woman and one man. And it was fine. The place has very clear policies including not only "no sexual advances" but also "no staring". The woman left not long after and another man came in. And it was fine. I did keep a towel over my lap - which is kind of ironic, since female genitalia (aside from breasts) is rather more discreet than male - but it didn't matter. They didn't - and I still didn't find it weird, or find myself wanting to stare or anything.
I'm sure that a large part of why it was fine was because it was quite dim in there. Not much to see anyway. Which was rather a relief, because my (probable) Tinea Versicolor flared up recently - the infection is gone, but the discoloration (which is ALL over my torso) takes weeks to fade, and makes me even more self-conscious than I am normally. So knowing that my blotchiness was much less evident definitely helped. And of course the people who were there were all very respectful. I had some really neat conversations. It was good. I'm thinking I'll have to see about making this a regular thing. Both for my physical health and my emotional health, I think it would be good for me.
Plus, my skin feels sooooo soft right now! Massage (therefore yummy oil) yesterday, sauna today... My skin is a happy organ. :)
Then I found out that they're clothing-optional (which I'd expected) - and co-ed (which I hadn't).
It took some nerving up - but I tried it anyway. Just the sauna - the steam room is across the way (the facility is in two lovely old houses with adjoining yards) and the towels were small and, well, I'm just not that brave. I know full well that nobody there would care at all - but I do.
It's funny - I do breastfeeding support, sometimes I'm checking on my clients' perineal tears - I'm quite familiar with the female body. My knowledge of the male body is somewhat more theoretical, but still - it's not that I have issues with bodies or nudity. I just have issues with /my/ body. Plus I have all my weird emotional stuff around dealing with men - which tends to get much more overwhelming when there is nudity involved.
And you know what? It was fine. Getting undressed in the very open locker room was the hardest part. (did I mention the very small towels?) I'm glad I didn't run across anybody in there. Spent a few minutes locked in the toilet just nerving myself up. When I went into the sauna (after the required shower), there was one woman and one man. And it was fine. The place has very clear policies including not only "no sexual advances" but also "no staring". The woman left not long after and another man came in. And it was fine. I did keep a towel over my lap - which is kind of ironic, since female genitalia (aside from breasts) is rather more discreet than male - but it didn't matter. They didn't - and I still didn't find it weird, or find myself wanting to stare or anything.
I'm sure that a large part of why it was fine was because it was quite dim in there. Not much to see anyway. Which was rather a relief, because my (probable) Tinea Versicolor flared up recently - the infection is gone, but the discoloration (which is ALL over my torso) takes weeks to fade, and makes me even more self-conscious than I am normally. So knowing that my blotchiness was much less evident definitely helped. And of course the people who were there were all very respectful. I had some really neat conversations. It was good. I'm thinking I'll have to see about making this a regular thing. Both for my physical health and my emotional health, I think it would be good for me.
Plus, my skin feels sooooo soft right now! Massage (therefore yummy oil) yesterday, sauna today... My skin is a happy organ. :)