Détends-toi ! Tout va bien.

HERCULEAN TASK OF Overdosing on Spa

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Bronze, taut, virile and tanned Hercules was justly famed for his courage and wisdom. He held up the skies for Atlas and wrestled with Achelous. Ah.. the valors of son of Zeus! I wonder as I drive in my tangerine bug to the spa with wisdom in my toenails and courage in my greasy bangs that stick to my forehead hiding a pimple. I do hope I look like Camilia Cabello because ‘Senorita’ plays on the radio. I mean who does not love being called one? Just last week, this jolly faced waiter had asked me if I wanted a repeat of my Margarita and he sweetly addressed me as ‘Senorita’ and I smiled and said- ” por favor, señor!” There sat Senorita with greasy bangs- a large bottomless marg (the best kinds), carne asada tacos stuffed in her mouth and some salsa on her sweater spiked with Chanel no. 5. But back to Hercules and not Shawn Mendes…..with a gentle burp of greasy tacos!

Hercules, the hero is a figure for inspiration and I must find something common for I do herculean tasks too- mellow my bitch face in social gatherings, drink wine like my daddy owned all of Bordeaux, ace small talk, fight back cuss words when I am rash driving and flip my oily hair as if I came out of a salon with a fresh blow dry. On bigger days, when I have accomplished back to back meetings, finished some tech heavy documents, finished a 5K and put a healthy meal on the table – I am Hercules. Maybe? A gentle reminder from NPR on radio this am- people do bigger things to be heroic, adults do what I do ALL THE TIME. Maybe I am Chrion, in essence. My birth sign makes me a defaulted Centaur so I can smell the sweet scent of wine when Hercules drinks it. Now you can even say- “the nose is aromatic on this Chianti” for the centaurs get wounded by the arrows. A flash of Primo Levi.

Everything is fixable. I look at the speeding ticket on my dining table. What is a fix? Ask any woman…if estrogen filled hormonal clan had one commonality, it has got to be this one. Apart from that- each one of us is unique. The magic word – SPA! Making women feel loved, tended to and deserving because you cannot deny- we are the same league as Hercules.

We pick up the skies of expectations of womanhood encompassing all -duties at work and home, playing a spouse, friend, colleague, sister, parent and more…being a grocery shopper, bills payer, chore runner…and in alone time, wanting to seek more. Exploring our sense of self, our worth and female divine.

We even pick ourselves up let alone the entire sky. We dust our bruised knees. We also wrestle with ourselves. Labors of Hercules were just twelve and here women go through actual labor….what is bigger? I expatiate between mythology, real life lessons and a gentle calm as I think of the lavender scented spa room. Women are Hercules.

Hercules, I and the spa……what is the inspiration here. I think as I walk into the reception area for my facial. I lay on the pristine white sheet in the darkened room.Sweet and strong aromas of oils fill my senses. The moisturizer is slapped on my cheeks in circular motions and the exfoliating scrub renews my skin. I sip green tea which taste like sickness but here we drink to youth and good health! Facial done. Glow bitch is back. Steal my thunder….okay but dare you steal my shine.

Next weekend, my loyal enemy decides to pay me a visit. Loyalty does not dilute in enemies and this allergy holds true to it. Red eyed and red nosed, aggravated with allergies,I find myself in a ladies locker room of a bath spa. Showering under a giant warm shower, I feel my burn out. I damp dry and walk into the urban bliss of modern spa- naked sweaty, wet humans walk around. Splendid skin tones, it’s a MAC foundation catalog. I smile as I see the melanin diversity. I head to sit in the heated sauna.

Inside sauna, I sweat profusely while I stretch my back, my neck and my all sense of self. My nose is running and I sweat. A diminutive man with a pleasant face smiles at me. I feel stretched to smile back so I don’t. Not everything needs a return label. What are labels anyway?

I stretch one more time -sweat and water thin mucus from nostrils meet.Confluence of metaphysical poems.

I come out for another cold shower and jump in a frozen pool. My muscles numb up and I shudder as my teeth chatter. I submerge myself again like that of the holy dip in The Ganga. No sound. No words. Its cold and dark and quiet. I come back up gasping and resurface to walk effortlessly with my towel to sit in the Eucalyptus steam room. I breathe. Inhale. Exhale. ……….warm steam opens my pores and sinuses.

My another favorite is of course getting a manicure and a pedicure. I like it in the company of friends and Prosecco. My manicurist is a chatterbox and I would not have it any other way. I arrive by appointment, she pours me a drink and colors my nails in all spectrum of glittering rainbows, metallic glam or sober nudes. She knows my moods and season’s favorites. As I type this and notice the aquamarine blue nails gleaming, I feel present. Right here at my wonder desk and keyboard.

Women know women a bit too well. A dear friend will always gift me bath spa products – organic pressed oils, bubble baths, glittering bath bombs, feet masks- yup, that’s a thing! One other girl friend will joke when I innocently rant about every little mousy chore- “Pour a red and sit in your tub.” I smile back with a wink coz that is exactly what I do. My work buddy and I walk in sunshine filled afternoons discussing the joy of going back home and just simply sitting in our warm baths.

When the world feels too much…..I enter my bathroom, run a warm bath, pour a deep red, put a face mask, light scented candles and tune into my spotify self made “bath spa” list. I press the Jacuzzi button and let the mud pack dry. The tannins of my deep burgundy dry my mouth. I sit. I breathe. I belong. I listen to Chitra Singh fading…..

However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light. Kubrick’s words. Not mine.

The darkness can be cucumber slices on my eyes and light can be the scented candles. Add to the mix a fine glass of red and Murphy & Daughters Bath Salt. You walk out like a glow bish.

Alexa- play bath spa!

Détends-toi ! Tout va bien…..Relax! You are fine. You are Hercules with an account at Sephora.