A sweet memory of relaxation.
I have never had a massage before in my life. Only my visits to the chiropractor, that have been very effective but we are talking about pure pain and not about pleasure :)
These days are dedicated to the garden and the olive yards. Being out of the island for a while means that a lot of work had been waiting for us and although I try to listen to my body and respect it, well, I can feel every little muscle waking up from the long rest and almost every bone declaring its presence :)
Super active, but always daydreamer as well. And today I keep thinking of the amazing massage I had a few days ago when I was still a carefree traveler. And thoughts that keep popping up. A reminder to myself not to cross the line and to remember to have fun.
The massage took place in the old town of Nafplio, in a salon hidden in the narrow streets.
The place is called "Πάντα ρει", which means "Everything flows" and comes from a phrase of the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus that he believed that everything changes and nothing stays the same. I don't believe there is a single person on earth disagreeing with that :)
You cannot step twice into the same river.
Usually I am very skeptical when people claim they do things based on ancient Greek knowledge, sounds like a touristic trap. But this one had the best reviews and my intuition was shouting Go for it!
The atmosphere is already cozy from the outside.
This is how they describe this type of massage:
Even cozier inside!
My room was private (thankfully!).
And here we are! Before we even start, I am already more relaxed. The soft lighting, the candles, the essential oils and the soft music did their work. The massage lasts 60' normally, but mine took around 75'. My blocks refused to leave me alone with a stranger. But he did a good job!
There must be a good reason that fire is an important element in almost every ritual, religious or not. The warmth and protection that offers help you relax deeper, let everything go.
The warm oil was fantastic and cupping is always my favorite part (maybe because it is the only phase without pain in a chiropractic session, haha!).
At the end of the session, I saw all these pictures with the unknown to me symbols and some great masters that were observing me (or protecting me) throughout the procedure.
All good things come to an end, but they wouldn't be special otherwise.
Not to forget, that all "bad" things come to an end, too.
I like what a friend always says, especially in weird situations:
Who knows why this is a good thing...
Since I was thinking about it the whole day, I decided to write this post as a reminder to myself and anyone who needs to hear it. Pleasure is in small things, a candle, a nice smell, a therapeutic touch. We all deserve the best. And it could be really simple.
The two photos below were taken before and after the session. The harsh sun had sweetened and everything seemed easier :)
Never forget to honor ourselves!
If you would like to know more about me this is my introduction post!
Yes, honors ourselves and listen to our bodies. It looks like a great place and I am so happy for you it was such a great experience and is having a great lasting effect.
Thank you dear friend :)
It was great indeed!!!
Glad you had such a nice experience! I don't think I've ever had a massage either.
Thank you @goldenoakfarm!
Some people have a massage in regular base, I always thought it was a luxury and maybe overestimated. Now I totally understand them, haha!
If you ever have the chance of a good massage, don't miss it :)
Oh, I won't!
Thank you very much :)
The holiday was really special. I think you did a lot of good deeds if you were rewarded with such a treat! A massage for pleasure and pain-free..., I've been wanting one too but don't know why I don't try it. I never imagined it could be so pleasant, in such a beautifully appointed place. Your photos captured the atmosphere and design of the salon well. The ancient Greeks knew how to take care of their bodies.
I not only don't understand but also fear that the Middle Ages could follow after such refined antiquity. I'm afraid it could happen again now.
I think the memory of these moments will be with you for a long time. Maybe next year you will repeat this pleasant experience!
Haha! It was my gift after Covid to be honest, one for Stefanos and one for me. More would be welcome too :)
So many of us haven't tried it. It feels like a luxury in our minds maybe? If you ever have the chance, try it! It would be great if we could all do it from time to time. Ancient Greeks knew how to have a good time for sure :))
I am afraid we already live in the Middle Ages... I try to stay optimistic (as you know!), but it is only because I understand that I don't have the power to change big things (the big guys don't care at all for my opinion on anything), so I focus on small things. Maybe one day many small things will make a difference and create something bigger, who knows.
Memories are our treasure, I hope this summer we will all create some good ones!
I'll probably try a massage sometime...
Magda and I didn't get any presents after Covid, just a long recovery of almost 8 months! Glad it went by much faster for both of you.
Unfortunately, there are signs of human society regression everywhere. I hope it doesn't happen, I hope the kids now will have a life at least like we had (because now I realize that our life was good compared to what seems to come in the future).
I hope this summer brings lots of good memories, I'm trying my best.
Have a wonderful summer!
8 months, this is a long time! I think the virus has become milder now than in the beginning, I have heard so many people dealing with after-covid issues for quite a while, especially those who got it in the first period. For me, even if it was mild in general, the worst part was the pain at the joints, that's how I ended up to this special treat :))
It is never too late for a present :) I think you will both enjoy it! As long as it is from someone trusted! My parents are now thinking of trying it and I am excited! I don't think there is a single body that doesn't deserve a nice treat!
I really hope for the best @bluemmon! Let's start with a nice summer as you say, let's make the best out of it!
So glad you didn't have our problems after this illness, @traisto!
I was away on a short trip last week and couldn't respond, please forgive me.
Magda can't stand massage, so that leaves only me to try it.
Thinking of our uncertain future I will try to make up for what I didn't do and try to look for nice and pleasant things. I hope we succeed, I wish you the same!
I like this way of thinking! The present is all we have and we deserve some good time :)
I truly hope we all succeed!
Please don't worry about late replies (or no replies), I am doing the same or even worse this period and I was not even away :)
Thank you!
I know you understand how it is with reading or answering, I know you suffer the same, you would like to do it all but time is not enough or our strengths fail us.
Oh yes, I do understand :))
What a wonderful and necessary pamper for you. I agree with you about the chiropractor @traisto. That is necessary but far from wonderful! The first time I had a massage I was also well into my adult life. I can't believe that some people do it as a regular part of their life. My laptop crashed a few weeks ago and I've spent the last couple days trying to catch up. How are you?
Far from wonderful, haha, yes!!! But on the other hand so effective!
I wish we could all have a massage in regular basis, it could do miracles to our bodies I guess. But I am happy with this precious one too :))
I am well - it is foraging, farming, olive oil promoting, weaving and swimming season here, a pretty full one, haha!
Nice to hear from you :) My laptop didn't crash, but I was inactive as well for some time and still haven't managed to catch up, so really happy for your message! I read about your solar panels adventure, oh my! Hope all is good and calm now!
Uffff, I need one of those. Been training way too hard on the MTB, muscles are full of knots. I'm so afraid of chiro though, especially when I have a piece of metal inside my leg \o\
You definitely need one! Well, we all do :)
Chiro is a serious thing, you need to trust they know what they do cause there is a looot of cracking and ouch...
First time I ever went to a chiro was about 15 years ago and when he got to the neck cracking, I got up and said no way. He laughed and told me I have seen way too many Hollywood movies and this way he convinced me to accept it :))
For me, a visit is inevitable from time to time, and it always has drastic results. I hope you will never need one, stick to the massage, haha, more pleasure :))
\o\o\ too much Chuck Norris
How to you feel after chiro? All my friends that ever went say it's life changing. I think it's so so important since I practice high intensity sports (mountain biking), but still I'm afraid to put my body back in its place by force.
Funny though, because I think I've just overtrained this week. Been feeling like crap the whole day. Runny nose and sneezes almost makes me think it's Covid. Gotta wait and see.
Well, the day after chiro can be worst than before going, you might feel more stiff, it happens to me almost every time. Like when you over-exercise and you discover new muscles. But then the relief is amazing and really quick!
I feel you!!! If you are relaxed and breath out when the crack comes, you don't even feel pain. But in joints that are injured or stressed, you will feel it more or less :) Honestly, if I did it, you can do it, haha! I was even afraid of cupping in the beginning. That means that I got up from the bed AGAIN when I realized he was preparing them, ahahaha! I bet he has many stories to tell his friends. He has retired now, but every time I was entering the room he was laughing, no wonder why :)) The chiro that I now have thinks I am cool, never got up from the bed terrified :)))
And you need to drink a lot of water after the session! Lots of things are released through the process, all these sounds are not for nothing :) Which also makes you feel good, getting rid of all these!
I hope you already feel better! Take good care :)
Gonna try it as soon as I can. If they rip a leg or arm off so be it \o\o\
Let me know what happens :))
I almost missed this one! What a wonderfully indulgent, yet much-needed treat! The atmosphere almost put me in a trance. I have gone for many massages, this place goes out of its way to make sure that you are relaxed and you feel like it was money well spent.
This is essential to taking good care of our temple. You work your body so hard, as most of us do, without regard for the abuse, we give it at times. So, it is our job to treat it well, so it can serve our needs when we need to call upon it for more work. ;) I thoroughly enjoy a nice massage and have made it a point to give myself the treat of having one at least every couple of months.
We deserve it. You know what? I would gladly give the gift to another person, so why don't I do it for myself? Those days are over. I decided that nobody will stand at my grave and weep because I was so good I never treated myself, just saved the money. :)
I hope you go again someday! It sounds like a worthy investment for good mental health!
Oh dear @dswigle, we definitely DESERVE it!!! I am so glad you have made it part of your life :) I wish everyone could offer a nice treat to themselves, it is so much needed.
They had some amazing reviews, so I was pretty confident that it was the right place. But the atmosphere was beyond any expectation and I wish I could describe the scents that kept changing throughout the session, as it was an aromatherapy as well. It will be one of the things to do every time I go to Nafplio, so next time I will be there again, and then again, haha :))
It is amazing how it still cheers me up just thinking about it :)
We don't need that much in life, and when we have what we need it is such a beautiful feeling! Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment and your generous support! Love!