Heather and I are getting Swedish massages today. A couples massage is what they call it. I'm glad it's not my first time getting a full-body massage. Otherwise, I think I would be a bit edgy. Of course every masseuse is not the same. I just hope I get a woman. That sounds bad, but really I can't understand why a man who is pretty comfortable with himself would want a man to give him a massage. It might just be me.
My first massage was at a place in Springfield. It was in a salon. Everything was very private and relaxing. I had this image that I would be naked with only a small t-towel covering my heiny. Instead the massage therapist invited me back, asked me about health concerns, tense areas, and of course, was this my first time. Then she said she would leave the room and allow me to take off my clothes to "my comfort level" and get into the bed thingy. It was really like a cozy envelope of sheets. I was completely covered up to my neck.
When she reentered, she started some soft New Age music and then informed me about the process. At no point during the process would I ever be fully exposed or anything like that. Basically she worked on each section of my body. My right leg, thigh and feet. And then my left leg, thigh and feet. Kinda like a butcher preparing a piece of meat. Not the best simile. Anyway.
Her hands worked and molded my skin and muscle until I felt like, well, almost nothing. Like I was not there. I felt like I left my body, and was floating in space. Really. It was amazing. I truly felt like God was present with me, and that I could see things pretty clearly. I also felt really idealistic dramatic things like if the leaders of all countries could convene and have these massages they would just get everything resolved. Ever. No more wars, poverty, disease, etc.
But that is the world you visit during a massage. At least that was my experience. When I left, I felt so relaxed. I felt as if I had a whole new body. It was an appropriate feeling considering the fact that I scheduled the massage for the day ten years after my second major open-heart surgery.
I know a lot of guys are fearful of this sorta thing. Get over it. Really. When you have one, you will be mad you didn't get one sooner. I can't guarantee it will be the same. I'm sure I took a lot of my personality in with me. For example, if the idea of touching a stranger or shaking hands with someone or hugging bothers you now, maybe it's not the best idea for you. But if you are worried about being self-conscious or if "it" will move, I wouldn't let that get in the way. Unless you want it to move, but then we are probably not talking about the same type of massages at all.
Well, now we are off for our couples massage. It's nice to know we will be together, floating in space, smiling like fools.
Update: Just came back from couple's massage. Heather and I feel wonderful, but this was not the dreamy, floating in space experience like the first one. It was still great, but apparently city-living or my work existence behind a desk is taking a toll because I had some really tense areas. And she worked on them. And worked on them. It's interesting to feel a tense area in your body for the first time. I really had no idea these knots were there. In fact, the main tense and sore area of my body didn't involve any substantial work at all. She just found these spots, like a, like a, like a professional therapist. And she worked until I felt them quiver, loosen and retreat, in a sense. It was great afterwards. In fact, I feel great now, but at certain times it was rather uncomfortable. When I asked Heather about this, she said it was normal. She also said she loved it when they found those tense spots and worked on them. Really. She was totally into it. Sometimes she really surprises me.
And yes, I still recommend massages.
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