Spanundrum: Spa for the Soul

By Milana Knowles

I recently enrolled in a Practical Philosophy class that I’ve been enjoying far more than I anticipated.  It is a wonderful mixture of lessons on finding wisdom within, pausing to live in the moment, and learning how to deal with everyday dilemmas.

You may ask what does that have to do with the world of spa?  Not only am I learning how to better focus my attention and how to expand my self-knowledge, but I am also developing an important practice: consciously pausing between daily actions.

I have to admit, remembering to “pause” has been hugely challenging for me.  It takes significant effort to even remember to do so.  Nonetheless, I have taken 60 seconds, here and there, to reconnect with my senses (yes, all five) and drain the flood of thoughts and feelings from my mind.  Now part of my everyday routine, I have started each day this way for the past several weeks.

Those of you who regularly read my spanundrums know that I have trouble relaxing and letting go, even during a spa treatment.  My mind is always moving, from one thought to another, from one task to another, and so on, and so on…  However, this week I decided to take advantage of a Deal Days $50/50-minute facial treatment, and I consciously connected with my senses, emptied my mind, and released all the past, future, and present.   Ah ha!  I finally discovered how to spa my soul.