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by Randy I. Nonato
"It was a warm Thursday noon.
After a light lunch, I decided to go for a relaxing massage at The Spa, Alabang Town Center.
I've always been in the area but have never been back since I gave myself a massage birthday treat three years ago.
I was welcomed with a much warmer smile by the receptionist, Anna .
After the enlightening service briefing, I finally decided to try the much-promoted 1 hour and a half "Coffee Rub".
I was comfortably led to the Men's Locker Room.
A clean white towel, a soft mint-colored robe with matching shorts, a fitting pair of slippers, and a bracelet locker key were given to me as I entered.
I took a quick shower and immediately immersed myself in the "hot and cold" jacuzzi combination.
The varied water temperature apparently helps in blood circulation.
Totally refreshing!
The excitement of getting the "Coffee Rub" made me miss my usual fifteen to thirty minute steam bath.
Upon drying and dressing up, I took a cup of hot ginger tea and proceeded to the "Coffee Rub" area.
The room was vaguely lit and had pipes hanging with protruding pipes facing the "bed".
It resembled a hotel kitchen cum hospital MRI cubicle.
I thought to myself, WOW!, this has to be unique experience.
I was happily greeted by my therapist, Flor, if I recall her name right.
I found out that she was a "seasoned veteran" of eight years at The Spa.
True enough, her service was fantastic and incomparable!
I was told to lie face down and she covered my head with a soft cloth to protect myself from the abundance of coffee beans that would be poured all over my body.
While smooth coffee beans were running down my skin, to keep me relaxed and cool, the therapist was explaining to me the whole process and therapeutic benefits of the rub.
Apparently, the rub detoxifies you and polishes one's skin to the tea (or should I say coffee?).
Somehow, it gave me peace of mind.
She wore slightly rough gloves.
It helped in scrubbing off the dirt from my skin.
It felt like the coffee beans were being absorbed by my pores, bit by bit.
From my legs all the way up to my neck.
An essential oil was added to aid the scrubbing.
Talk of being pampered...to the max!
Next, face up.
Whew! Such a squeaky clean feeling.
Last, face down again.
This time, RAINSHOWER!
Face up again. RAINSHOWER!
As Flor closed the rainshower faucet, I was totally awed with the experience.
She left me with a fresh pair of sandals, a new set of robe and shorts, and the oozing scent of therapeutic coffee beans all over my body.
The "aroma" remained after I had rinsed off the coffee beans.
I couldn't stop thinking of when to schedule my next coffee rub.
After thanking Flor, she passed me on a lady, clad in all white, named Madel.
"Ready for your Swedish massage, Sir?", she goes.
Just when I thought my short self-indulgence was over.
The relaxing massage concluded the great rub with an oily exclamation point! The BEST!
Being in life's daily rat race, my head was spinning with so many occupational obligations earlier.
I couldn't focus. They say you get your best ideas when you're relaxed.
Guess what? Ideas ran in my head like coffee beans and I got to swing two of my negotiations that same day and wrapped it a sumptuous birthday dinner for my sister with my loved ones.
Life is truly beautiful...coffee, anyone?"
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