-Jasmine Liddington
For the most part I would say very few of us get enough pampering. People spend so much money poisoning themselves over the weekends and it seems a fairly regular way to spend money…they hand their card over to the bartender and say “put it on the tab.” However, the notion of spending that cash to go get a massage or another beneficial pamper session makes us feel a little bit guilty. Why is that?
In Aspen, the bulk of us are working so hard; we work hard at our jobs, we work hard on our bodies, and we work hard on our relationships because we are torn in so many directions. It’s a constant battle to keep up. But in this battle our entire lives are being put to the test and our bodies, minds, and souls are taking quite a hit. Sure we can mask it for quite a while (and us Aspenites seem to—in our quest for greatness—mask it far too long) but eventually some worn down version of yourself will arise in one form or another.
This last year has definitely been a challenging one for me on every plane of my existence and the stress of it all has expressed itself in all sorts of injury, illness, and pain. Hip issues, chronic cough, aggravated eczema, headaches, and beyond. In the past I would have ignored these things and pushed myself until total shut down but ultimately made the choice for selfishness—after all this body is the only one I have and I’ve spent a lot of time trying to make it better so why ignore it when it’s shouting out “Help!”
Thank god I work in the best place ever to be dealing with so many aspects of my physical pain, and thank god these healers who I work around are also incredibly profound and able to also be aware of and caring for my soul, heart and total well-being.
The physical therapists and our chiropractor here at the Aspen Club are whole body healers who I have come to love and respect. They got me through a hip injury which debilitated me for months and mentally almost crushed me. Through their healing and advice I have found my way back to activity and sanity (Yes, us Aspenites can go a bit batty when physical activity is no longer possible!) Most recently I have been really struggling with headaches and problems with my neck. The Club’s chiropractor, Peter Scher, has brought me back to the real world after these episodes via dry needling and adjustments but also out of his genuine care.
After a long winter and a spring that was spent working my butt off both at my job and in school my body was definitely not being taken care of enough. I decided that before summer season pounced I needed a break and that I would head to the great state ofNew Mexico for rejuvenation and family time. Before I departed a ‘surprise’ from my boss had been scheduled and much to my delight she had gifted me with a massage in the Aspen Club Spa to start my vacation off right!
I walked down to the spa and was greeted by Sandy, one of the massage therapists here at the club. Before getting to work she asked me if there were any issues she should know about and I immediately told her about my hip (forgetting to mention anything about my neck or headaches). As she worked along my body, consistently checking in that the pressure was to my liking, she ended up in my feet. Making her way through my right foot and moving to the left one then suddenly stopping and getting into a particular spot that was not pleasant at all.
Finally, holding back tears, I had to ask her why she was still there and why it hurt so much! She explained how her specialty is reflexology and that this point on the foot was specifically related to the neck and head and that she found it to be a particularly troubling spot for me. It was one of those good hurts when you know you need it despite the pain. What I found so amazing was that I had not mentioned anything to her about my headaches or neck problems…but there she found them in my feet! It isn’t so much that I don’t believe in reflexology more that I’ve just never had any experience with it. Sandy discovering and working on that area of pain gave some real legitimacy to the practice and to Sandy’s education in the field of healing. The massage really started my holiday off on the right foot!
Once again I am blown away by the people I work around here every day and how fortunate I am to work in an environment that encourages pampering as something you don’t have to feel guilty for and instead is something we all deserve and should treat ourselves to. If there is someone in your life who deserves a little pampering and perhaps will not treat themselves to it, I highly suggest you skip that night out and put the money to something your body really craves…a day at the Aspen Club and Spa or Aspen Club Sports Medicine Institute with your friend or loved one—no guilt attached!
Thanks to all of you who have played a part in my well-being.
Peace, Love and Laughter.
