Descaling a fish... I mean my skin...

We all need those friends that just Get you. The ones that no matter how long a time it has been, when you get together it's like no time has passed. As a mom those are the best friends to have. They understand that for months we will talk about needing to get together but never really have the time to plan...you know because Kids, Husbands, Work, Life... Always something getting in the way. But when life throws a curve ball like Breast Cancer- They are there in a minute.

That is my friend Christina.

As soon as she heard of my diagnosis she texted me... "Can I steal you away for a spa day? Maybe the 21st morning?"

To which I replied "I can make that work"

Now she explained that she was booking us a Korean Scrub at the Island Spa. Which sounded amazing!

"Can i assume you have a high threshold for pain"

"Yes but why? Lol!"

She then explained that "Korean scrubs are not exactly relaxing but very very effective. The scrub every dead skin cell off of your body and you will be the smoothest you have ever been"

Intrigued I said I was all for it! "It would be nice for my body to feel clean before they ripped it apart."

"Ok you have been warned... We will be scrubbed like they are descaling a fish. But its worth it."

Flash Forward- I mean her at the spa at 9am on the 21st at Island Spa & Sauna in Edison. We go inside and relaxed in the hot tubs while waiting for our scrub at 10am. Christina explained to me the importance of getting this scrub on this day because it was the day before Chinese New Year. So the significance of this scrub was to scrub off all of the bad luck and negativity from the past year so that we could invite the good luck and wealth on the New Year. So this was more than just a spa day, there was so much thought put into this. it meant even more to me after that. It felt powerful. I told you she was awesome!

Now on to the DESCALING OF MY SKIN....

This is a non clothing experience so if you are not comfortable with your body out in the open, this is not for you. But I HIGHLY recommend trying this scrub. Anyway... Christina and I each get called by our scrub technicians (not sure if that is what they are called, but lets go with that). She and I are side by side on 2 separate tables. My technician was already informed that I had breast cancer so she wouldn't be able to scrub my one breast. Behind her mask were very kind eyes, and she asked me to lay on the table. Then a warm towel was put on my face.... and what felt like a bucket of warm water poured over my body. Then the scrubbing began!

"Flip to side" Scrub. Scrub... Bucket of water poured over me...

"Flip to other side" Scrub Scrub... Bucket of water poured over me...

"Back"...Scrub Scrub...Shower of water sprayed over me...

Every nook and cranky of my body was scrubbed. Places I didn't know needed scrubbing...were scrubbed. It was definitely not a relaxing scrub but it felt amazing. It felt therapeutic, like I was starting fresh on this journey.... getting rid of all the shit I have been dealing with over the last few weeks...

When the scrubbing was done I was told to go shower, to remove all of the dead skin cells. Now I remembered Christina telling me to look down on the table at all that came off. Yes, it was gross.. why is there that much dead skin...ewww. As gross as it was it was also satisfying to know all that was gone.

After I came back from showering I she gave me a full body massage with oils, a fresh cucumber face mask and she washed my hair. Her hands were like magic, just making the stress disappear. My body and mind were feeling incredible at that moment.

When I was all done my scrub technician told to go shower to rinse off all the soaps and oils. She gave me a gentle caring look as I thanked her. You could see her concern in her eyes. It was very sweet.

Christina and I went and showered. We were ready to head out to go to use the saunas and enjoy the rest of the morning at the spa.

Now I am 42 and I have been showering on my own for a very long time, so I kinda think I know what I'm doing. But apparently I do not. Because my scrub technician stopped me before I left and brought me back to the shower to help me wash again. And when I say help... I mean she literally helped me like a mother helps a small child who needs to learn how to wash themselves... I think she just felt a maternal need to help me one last time. But none the less, it was a little odd since it was just me that this happened to. Christina's tech just sent her on her way! Hers was not as warm and fuzzy as mine.

We spent the rest of our morning going in and out of the different saunas, salt, charcoal, semi precious stone, forest, clay and ended in the ice sauna. It was an incredible experience and one I will definitely do again. Besides physically feeling great and rejuvenated, the mental feeling of scrubbing the past away and bringing in the joy of the new year has given me strength for this week/year ahead.

I highly recommend getting a Korean Scrub and also getting a friend like Christina. She did more for me that she even knows.

Oh and my Skin feels like a newborn baby! The softest it has even been in my life!