Pamper Your Way Into A Better Body Image

I don’t know about you but I love a good massage. Like many curvy women because of my chest and all the time spent on my feet, I carry a lot of tension in my back. In an effort to handle my stress, I have recently taken up Yoga and asked everyone in my family for spa gift cards. One of the best things about massage is that it makes you aware of your body: you begin to understand why things hurt and where. All of these Zen efforts seem to be paying off. I am less stressed and feeling good!

At first I was not "at home" in a spa -- I didn’t know where I was going or what to do. Disrobing in a locker room and sitting in the supposedly relaxing group waiting room did not make me feel all that relaxed. "Are you supposed bring an extra towel in the sauna room? Should I wear my underwear? Is the masseuse secretly judging my body?" These were very scary questions. After my first massage, I felt vaguely uncomfortable and anxious.

Thank god I am stubborn and my back really hurt or I may never have given it a second try. These days I find myself looking forward to all of the great shower products in the locker room, the relaxing steam, and even closing my eyes and drinking citrus water in the waiting area. The truth is that feeling comfortable around a masseuse can do wonders for your self-esteem. What I have started to see is that every woman has flaws. Every woman feels uncomfortable being pretty naked around a stranger, and I don’t look that much worse laying on that table than any other client. I think that if you give it a try you might just feel the same way -- and you may get to know your body just a little bit better in the process!