I recently attended a spa. Great massage, great experience.
I returned, (it was great value and I was able to go back within the week), and the experience was mediocre.
What was the difference? I lay on that massage table, in a not very meditative state, and later that day I put pen to paper, to journal about why the experience went from great to average, in one visit.
Two key things were missing during my average experience.
The lady conducting the second massage actually provided a very similar massage, in terms of technique, pressure, and all the technical aspects of a massage, which I have come to recognise, as I have been fortunate enough to have regular massages in India, where the value is indeed incredible.
The missing details were, in my opinion, that the lady did not love her job, and she really did not care.
The lady who really did care about me and my massage, had asked about my family, checked with me that the pressure was okay, and when she had finished pummeling a limb, she would caress it back on to the massage table, with compassion and care.
The lady who really did care, offered me a head massage towards the end of my allotted time, and didn’t end my treatment two minutes early, but a few minutes late.
The lady who really did care, informed me when my treatment was finished, and took a breath in such a way that marked the end of an experience in which she had been happy to truly serve.
Perhaps the other lady, who left my arm mid air, who shoved my legs rather than placing them, who tossed her bottles on the towel between my legs, and turned the shower on to mark the end of the treatment, was overworked and tired. Perhaps she had more going on in her head than I did, that day.
The non-caring lady gave me a very real gift. The gift of reminding me that whatever we do in life, however we serve our clients and customers, it’s really important that everyone on the team enjoys what they do, and that they truly care for each person they get to serve.
If anyone knows an outstanding massage therapist in Hertfordshire who can look after Jane and her family, please do get in touch. The days of my super value massages in India will soon come to an end, and I would very much like to continue what has generally been a very luxurious ritual. I probably won’t manage the twice weekly habit that I have indulged in, during my stay in India, but a monthly massage with someone who cares, would make my heart sing.