ZaZen Spa & Sanctuary - A Day Spa in Littleton CO

My journey from Certified Massage Therapist to a CMT with an Associates Degree in Spa Arts and Sciences began as all journeys do. With and aching back that needed a massage. Unable to get the appointment time I needed, I agreed to try a lymphatic drainage session in the Spa Clinic at the Colorado School of Healing Arts. I was skeptical that I would be as relaxed during this session as I would be in a ‘real’ massage. Fortunately, I am one who does not mind being proved wrong. It was an amazing experience. I felt renewed and invigorated, with an underlying sense of being more relaxed and in tune with my body. And so I enrolled in the program and began the healthiest year of my life.

Part of my training was receiving treatments as well as performing them on other students. During 3 ten week periods I was receiving 2-3 treatments a week. I received lymphatic drainage, hot stone massage, Steam treatments, reflexology, body scrubs, mud wraps, in addition to academic classes such as Pathology, Neuroanatomy, and Spa Management. We also practiced on each other outside of class to refine our technique. The classes were 4 nights a week and the first few weeks it felt as though I was sipping from a fire hose. I was a single mom of a 5 year old boy, trying to establish myself as a CMT, planning a wedding for June of ‘06 and a full time student. What was I thinking when I chose back to school?

After the first month I realized something interesting. In spite of my busyness and non-stop life, I felt ok. I wasn’t as tired as I thought I would be. I seemed to have more energy than before when I hadn’t been as busy. I was finding time to volunteer in my son’s kindergarten class, complete my assignments before the absolute last minute, and I had a desire to eat healthier, something that hadn’t even occurred during my Diet and Nutrition class. I was making the time to get up early and walk to a lake nearby, I watched the sunrise more and I had mental clarity about what I wanted to do with my life, my time, and with my physical and mental resources. Where had this come from? Is this what my instructors were speaking of when they said we needed to find ‘balance’ in our lives?

What I did not realize at the time was that even though I was in a class, my body was being cared for, I had brief moments to check out from the real world and check in with myself. Even in the midst of desperately trying to remember all the steps of a mud wrap and not get the mud on my hands, clothes and the sheets, I was able to step into an oasis of calm and lay back to receive, replenish and nourish on a regular basis.

I know now the power of consistent treatments, and the benefit of experiencing new treatments. I realize that the best results come from combining different approaches with a schedule. It isn’t just a bout taking the time. It’s about making the time regularly to be the best you possible, physically, mentally, and spiritually.

All of us at Za Zen Spa & Renewal Sanctuary would like to welcome you to our new Lifestyle Blog.

Here you can post questions, answers, feedback, articles or little tidbits you might have, pertaining to:

• Our Spa
• Spas in general
• Health issues related to our services i.e. dry skin, joint pain, acne
• Or just say Hi

If a response is requested, we will do so as quickly as we can. Please keep in mind though, if you are wanting to set an appointment or you are wanting information right now, might we suggest you give us a call during business hours so that we can help you more promptly.

To create a post, you must first register by clicking on the link to the right, near the bottom. After that, log in and start typing. It’s that easy.

If you are a current client of ours, thank you so much for your support. If you have yet to visit us, we hope you will choose in the near future to stop in and see what we have to offer or visit us at our website www.zazendayspa.com .

We hope you enjoy this new service and all the benefits it can bring you on your journey that we call a Za Zen Lifestyle.

Can you tell me the meaning of Za Zen?