Try something new

I think it's fair to say that, although I like to try new things, when it comes to checking out therapies, I'd got myself into something of a treatment rut. I love massages, I love facials, and, yeah, manis and pedis rock my boat, too. But that's as far as it usually goes. So when Sassy Spy told me that she'd booked me in for a session of reflexology at the Lowry hotel in Manchester, my heart sank. "But... but I don't like my feet fiddled with!" I protested sulkily. "My neck hurts, how’s that going to help?!"

"You’ll love it," she said firmly.

And that was that.

I have friends who are huge fans of reflexology and really, it's not that I'm scared of holistic therapies; I adore acupuncture and have even braved a colonic. But often we invest a lot into spa-time: emotionally as well as financially. It's a time for a break from normal life, a chance for a treat, a rare opportunity to be completely selfish. Perhaps the thought of braving something new can be overwhelming.

And so we choose not to.

But, here I was, presented with an un-get-out-able therapy. I got to the spa and felt anxious as I approached reception. Geraldine, my therapist, tried to put me at ease when I explained my reluctance. "You might feel a lot of benefit from this, you might not," she said, smiling cryptically. "Just try it."

She was right. I could go on and on, but suffice to say, I would never have believed that 50 minutes of just touching my feet could result in feeling so amazing.

My shoulders were no longer in their usual place hovering around my ears, my neck felt longer than usual and, amazingly, when I tilted my head, there were no creeeeaky noises.  Most intriguingly, I felt incredibly gleeful post-treatment. Genuinely alert, full of energy and at peace with myself ; the usual clatter of inward thoughts had been silenced.

As I bounced away from the couch, I resolved to make this a new start and embrace the unfamiliar in my life, at least when it comes to ditching my old favourites on the spa-treatment menu. Lash curling? Bring it on. Lava shells? I’m ready for you!

So next time you’re about to book a treatment, be brave. Try something fresh. You may just discover your dream therapy.