Part IV of my Poland Adventure - Spa Treatments
OK...it is finally time to share the details about my first real Polish spa experience and adventure. Brace yourself...
So it is the day before the conference begins. Earlier in the day I had gone to the spa at the time when I thought my appointments were scheduled only to find out that they were actually in the afternoon. After my lack of success in trying out the pool, I went for a lovely walk in the countryside and then had a meeting with several people involved in the conference.
A view of the tranquil countryside One of the many roadside "churches" or shrines I found
Our meeting ran over a few minutes so when I got to the spa I was rushed upstairs to the locker room/changing area. I quickly got undressed to put on my towel, paper spa panty and paper slippers. Not a great sign. There were no keys available for any of the lockers, so with hesitation I shoved my clothes and purse inside one of them and stepped out into the hallway to meet Pavel, my massage therapist. My male massage therapist who spoke no English. My male massage therapist who was also scheduled to give me a Scotch shower.
Now I am no prude, but I was quite taken aback by this. I quickly realized that my options were few. 1) I could refuse the treatment and look like a silly American 2) I could ask for a female therapist (or to run get my bathing suit) and still look like a silly American or 3) I could just take a deep breath and go with the flow. When in Rome, right?
These fish were part of an outdoor photo exhibit in Lodz. The one on the left looks like he needs to relax!
So that is what I did. I stepped into the beautifully tiled room, dropped my towel, and walked to the treatment area with my arms strategically crossed. I began by facing the wall and laughed to myself while Pavel sprayed me from top to bottom with hot and cold jets of water.
The service itself was nothing to write home about. It felt good I guess, but did not do much to distract me from the fact that I was standing essentially naked in front of a man who was not only not my husband but was also a massage therapist like me. I know things are different in Europe and have experienced a variety of "draping alternatives" as well as therapeutic breast massage in Belgium and the Netherlands. But this was the first time that I'd had a male therapist providing my services along with the less than familiar draping.
After what seemed like a really long time - and I'd had the pleasure of receiving the Scotch shower on the front of my body - we moved across the hall to the massage room. Pavel stepped out of the room while I got on the table face down. Again, it was different in the US...no face cradle, no drape. When Pavel came back in to the room, he did cover me with a large towel and then began the massage.
Overall he did a good job on my back and legs. The massage was fairly fluid and made contact with my muscles. But no deep tissue, no foot massage, neck or head - and no arms or hands. (I should mention that I had a pretty nasty rash on both arms from Poison Sumac and had pointed that out so I guess he decided to just skip them entirely.) He did do some nice abdominal massage (with breast draping) which was a nice addition to the session. But while the massage felt good, I can't really say I ever relaxed.
Outdoor fountains in Lodz - more relaxing than my Scotch Shower. So was the beer!
After the massage, I had a Tropical Body Scrub and Wrap from Milena, a very nice and very professional esthetician. She did a good job of explaining each step of the treatment and was very pleasant. The body treatment was nothing special although I did like the way the products (Pevonia) smelled and felt. But the treatment was spread out in three different rooms which meant I had to keep getting up and walking through the halls in my towel and slippers. Not the best spa design I could have imagined.
After the treatments were all finished, I got dressed and headed downstairs to the waiting area. The receptionist seemed in a hurry to get me out the door and urged me to pay immediately. No time to look at products or even contemplate another service - not that I would have had one - but who likes to be rushed? So I complied and paid my bill ASAP before returning to my room.
This spa experience is not unique to Poland and in fact I can say that - aside from the language barriers - I have had many similar experiences throughout the US. I was disappointed that my first spa visit in Poland was not better, but I promise they got better. So stay tuned for Part V of my adventure to learn about some really interesting services I tried at the next spa I went to.
Na zdrowie! (na-strov-ya) - To your health!
So it is the day before the conference begins. Earlier in the day I had gone to the spa at the time when I thought my appointments were scheduled only to find out that they were actually in the afternoon. After my lack of success in trying out the pool, I went for a lovely walk in the countryside and then had a meeting with several people involved in the conference.
A view of the tranquil countryside One of the many roadside "churches" or shrines I found
Our meeting ran over a few minutes so when I got to the spa I was rushed upstairs to the locker room/changing area. I quickly got undressed to put on my towel, paper spa panty and paper slippers. Not a great sign. There were no keys available for any of the lockers, so with hesitation I shoved my clothes and purse inside one of them and stepped out into the hallway to meet Pavel, my massage therapist. My male massage therapist who spoke no English. My male massage therapist who was also scheduled to give me a Scotch shower.
Now I am no prude, but I was quite taken aback by this. I quickly realized that my options were few. 1) I could refuse the treatment and look like a silly American 2) I could ask for a female therapist (or to run get my bathing suit) and still look like a silly American or 3) I could just take a deep breath and go with the flow. When in Rome, right?
These fish were part of an outdoor photo exhibit in Lodz. The one on the left looks like he needs to relax!
So that is what I did. I stepped into the beautifully tiled room, dropped my towel, and walked to the treatment area with my arms strategically crossed. I began by facing the wall and laughed to myself while Pavel sprayed me from top to bottom with hot and cold jets of water.
The service itself was nothing to write home about. It felt good I guess, but did not do much to distract me from the fact that I was standing essentially naked in front of a man who was not only not my husband but was also a massage therapist like me. I know things are different in Europe and have experienced a variety of "draping alternatives" as well as therapeutic breast massage in Belgium and the Netherlands. But this was the first time that I'd had a male therapist providing my services along with the less than familiar draping.
After what seemed like a really long time - and I'd had the pleasure of receiving the Scotch shower on the front of my body - we moved across the hall to the massage room. Pavel stepped out of the room while I got on the table face down. Again, it was different in the US...no face cradle, no drape. When Pavel came back in to the room, he did cover me with a large towel and then began the massage.
Overall he did a good job on my back and legs. The massage was fairly fluid and made contact with my muscles. But no deep tissue, no foot massage, neck or head - and no arms or hands. (I should mention that I had a pretty nasty rash on both arms from Poison Sumac and had pointed that out so I guess he decided to just skip them entirely.) He did do some nice abdominal massage (with breast draping) which was a nice addition to the session. But while the massage felt good, I can't really say I ever relaxed.
Outdoor fountains in Lodz - more relaxing than my Scotch Shower. So was the beer!
After the massage, I had a Tropical Body Scrub and Wrap from Milena, a very nice and very professional esthetician. She did a good job of explaining each step of the treatment and was very pleasant. The body treatment was nothing special although I did like the way the products (Pevonia) smelled and felt. But the treatment was spread out in three different rooms which meant I had to keep getting up and walking through the halls in my towel and slippers. Not the best spa design I could have imagined.
After the treatments were all finished, I got dressed and headed downstairs to the waiting area. The receptionist seemed in a hurry to get me out the door and urged me to pay immediately. No time to look at products or even contemplate another service - not that I would have had one - but who likes to be rushed? So I complied and paid my bill ASAP before returning to my room.
This spa experience is not unique to Poland and in fact I can say that - aside from the language barriers - I have had many similar experiences throughout the US. I was disappointed that my first spa visit in Poland was not better, but I promise they got better. So stay tuned for Part V of my adventure to learn about some really interesting services I tried at the next spa I went to.
Na zdrowie! (na-strov-ya) - To your health!
Posted by Felicia Brown LMBT at 7/5/2008 7:28 AM 
Categories: Events and Publicity, Marketing Ideas and Opportunities
Categories: Events and Publicity, Marketing Ideas and Opportunities
Thaks Felicia for sharing your experience with us - European spas have always been more medically oriented, and to have a male spa/bath therapist is like dealing with a doctor. It is only lately that Western Europe has adopted the US way of draping because of modesty issues. I remember, when I first introduced my husband to a mixed mud/sauna bath in Austria and he realized that everyone men and women were naked, it took him a long time to actually join me, but join me he did finally and after he got used to it, loved every minute of it and couldn't wait to do it again and again.
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Part of the traditional European spa treatments is the rapid change from hot to cold and back, increasing circulation. That is one of the basics of the Kneipp Kur. Sulfur bath (the stinking waters) and other mineral bath (not so bad smelling) are used as therapeutic treatments, and YES in most cases you still have to see the "spa doctor" to get a prescription to take these baths, which are limited in the time you can bath in them, or the amount you can drink these waters.
These treatments are all described in the Spa Encyclopedia, authored by myself and Dr. Reinhard Bergel - bath therapist that takes 3 years of medical spa / therapeutic education.
The Beauty or Cosmetic Center is our (US) actual day spa, that provides the facials and salon treatments. Massage belongs to the Kur (Cure) Center.
But things are changing, the American day spa is being exported all over the world and lots of changes have occured throughout Western Europe and the rest of the world as well.
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I think there are a couple of important things to gain from this story. One is that spas everywhere need to cater to their clients and be prepared to deal with their modesty issues (or lack thereof) on a more individual basis. I had a great discussion with the other US consultant at the Poland conference, Raoul Sutre, about offering various levels of draping at spas based on the client's needs. That makes a lot of sense to me but unfortunately is unlikely to happen in most of the US.
The other issue is that travelers need to be aware of social norms and customs wherever they go. I have had spa services all over Europe and elsewhere abroad. But this was the first time that I had male therapists or had a water treatment where no draping was possible. I can go with the flow as I mentioned but was still taken by surprise that a male - as nice as he was - provided that treatment. To me that was different even over being in a co-ed clothing optional sauna (not my favorite either) because of the perceived power difference and maybe the language barrier.
I think too that all the emphasis US massage schools and licensing boards put on appropriate attire for massage therapists and specific draping for clients has perhaps over-sensitized me to being unclothed around others. I doubt I am in the minority of massage therapists although I would love to hear what other professionals have to say about it.
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