Relax Like a Writer
There are people, places and things I like, and then there’s how much I really like a good Korean spa known as jjimjilbang in, uh, Korea, because that’s where they originated. I experienced my first jjimjilbang in L.A.'s Korea Town after my son left for college. With him safely and happily on the opposite coast, I could spend hours (and hours) luxuriating in obscene amounts of water without having to worry about him calling to ask what was for dinner, as he had a meal plan.
Some Korean spas are open 24 hours a day and have limited menu restaurants, but you have to put the spa provided robe on while in the eating area. Hey, it’s a small inconvenience and also just plain old polite. Naked eating should only happen at home and at resorts where naked everything is on the menu. Korean spas also encourage napping and have special areas set up for snoozing. Yay, napping!
After way too many months of prepublication stress for The Neapolitan Sisters, I treated myself to a very naked afternoon at Pearl Spa (1654 Post Street) in San Francisco. Women only and just the right size, there’s a cold plunge pool (and, yeah, it’s frickin’ cold!), as well as the usual amenities like a steam room, sauna, clay room and more.
They don’t have an in-house restaurant, but you can help yourself to complimentary hot tea, granola bars, and (oh, yes!) Aveda hair and skin care products. While a day pass allows you to plunge and steam to your heart’s content, Pearl also offers a wide variety of services from massages to facials.
I stuck with the standard full body scrub (be prepared to leave most of your modesty and the top layer of your skin behind), followed by an equally no-nonsense massage, and a super lathery hair washing. My masseuse Min said my shoulders were much too tense and asked if it was my first time getting a massage. Uh, no, but it had been a while and a lot has happened between visits.
Min tried her best to unknot my work-life imbalance, but suggested I come back as soon as possible and often. I’ve already booked my next naked day at Pearl, and someday, I may even budget in extra time for an actual nap. I’ll be wearing a robe, of course.
Want to read more? Subscribe to my newsletter .
Some Korean spas are open 24 hours a day and have limited menu restaurants, but you have to put the spa provided robe on while in the eating area. Hey, it’s a small inconvenience and also just plain old polite. Naked eating should only happen at home and at resorts where naked everything is on the menu. Korean spas also encourage napping and have special areas set up for snoozing. Yay, napping!
After way too many months of prepublication stress for The Neapolitan Sisters, I treated myself to a very naked afternoon at Pearl Spa (1654 Post Street) in San Francisco. Women only and just the right size, there’s a cold plunge pool (and, yeah, it’s frickin’ cold!), as well as the usual amenities like a steam room, sauna, clay room and more.
They don’t have an in-house restaurant, but you can help yourself to complimentary hot tea, granola bars, and (oh, yes!) Aveda hair and skin care products. While a day pass allows you to plunge and steam to your heart’s content, Pearl also offers a wide variety of services from massages to facials.
I stuck with the standard full body scrub (be prepared to leave most of your modesty and the top layer of your skin behind), followed by an equally no-nonsense massage, and a super lathery hair washing. My masseuse Min said my shoulders were much too tense and asked if it was my first time getting a massage. Uh, no, but it had been a while and a lot has happened between visits.
Min tried her best to unknot my work-life imbalance, but suggested I come back as soon as possible and often. I’ve already booked my next naked day at Pearl, and someday, I may even budget in extra time for an actual nap. I’ll be wearing a robe, of course.
Want to read more? Subscribe to my newsletter .
No comments have been added yet.
