Boldly Go Solo

Recently, I sent out a request for people to send me their stories about going solo to a spa. A lot of folks who land on my site are searching for solo spa vacations. So I figure I should write about more of them. But since I’ve only been to two (here and here) destination spas, (as opposed to day spas or massages in hotels,) I don’t quite feel like the expert.

Over the weeks, I will be telling you about some others’ spa experiences. But I had to start with an email exchange that cracked me up. It was from a pregnant woman. Not exactly my regular readership.

On a Tuesday, around noon, this email arrives from Jeanna Gabellini:

"I actually had a GREAT experience about 3 months ago…I was 6 mos.
pregnant and needed me time. So I googled yoga retreat in CA. I
booked a lil cabin for myself."

She goes on to say she got a massage and mostly read books all day.
"Heaven." It was one of the best things she did for herself in a long
time, and the place was gorgeous. Although the rooms were shack-like.

Then she says, "If you want to hear more,
let me know. Although I’m most likely going to be birthing today or
tomorrow (I’ve had contractions the past 36 hours)  =-)"

I was still on the "6 months pregnant" part, so it
took me a few seconds to add the "three months ago," to the "six months" and absorb what
she was saying.

Then, realizing I needed more information from her before I
could write a post about her vacation, I VERY quickly wrote back. But I hadn’t opened her email until  40 minutes after she wrote.

"Good luck with that!" I typed, referring to the
birthing. "Can you tell me the name of the spa you went to? Was it
mostly single people, mostly married, mostly pregnant 😉 or a mix?"

I wasn’t quick enough. The sequence must have gone something
like: Jeanna emails Ellen. Jeanna’s water breaks. Ellen emails back.
Jeanna’s off to the hospital.

Today, two days later, who emails but Jeanna. I had
written her off, figuring, I’d hear back in a few months. If at all.
But no. She writes:

"Thanks!"
(to my good luck with the birthing) "Had a boy! Woo hoo! It wasn’t a spa. It
was a yoga retreat and I was the only preggie there. But you could get
massage (and I did!). And everything there was such a great price…"

And
she goes on to give me the name of the place and more details. Like she
had just gone out to lunch or something since our previous exchange.

I emailed back:

"Wow, look at you! In and out, have a son, get back online. The modern world!!!"

Who knows? Maybe it’s her 13th child or something. And it’s old hat by now.

Her answer:

"I know! Plus, I usually have a ton of energy anyway. I know I’m NOT normal!"

If normal equals the average person’s energy level, no Jeanna’s not normal. But I bet she gets a lot done in a day.

Anyway, for those who are interested, Jeanna went to The Expanding Light,
in Nevada City, California, where it’s apparently relaxing both for
"preggies" and others. It’s a vegetarian retreat and both men and women
attended the week she was there.

Photo: By myyogaonline