The Spa by the Mountain Cabin

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As always, my name's Thomas, and I'm your host.

Tonight's story was written by Krista, and I'll be reading it for you. We're returning to a classic series that's been running for a number of years on Get Sleepy. As we rejoin Sarah once again, in her beloved mounting cabin. Though this time, she'll be venturing out on a beautiful winter's morning, to visit a newly opened local spa.

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Thank you so much, everyone. Now, let's take some time to unwind and prepare for rest. As you ease into your bed, try to soften your mind and relax your body. Both have worked hard all day, and they deserve this time to rest. Free charge.

Take a deep breath in, and let it out slowly. With each breath, you may find yourself drifting closer towards that magical place,

To sleep and dreams come naturally.

As your breathing slows, try visualizing yourself, lying on a field of soft grass, with a golden sun high in the sky.

“The sun's warming rays caress your skin,”

and relax each and every muscle in your body. This peaceful caress melts away any stress or worry, bringing you a luxurious sense of sleepiness. Feel as the sun travels over your body, from the top of your head across your face,

your neck, your shoulders, and chest.

The upper third of your body is bathed in warmth and light.

“The nourishing rays continue to move over your abdomen,”

your hips across your upper legs, and your lower legs. Any tension or achiness in the lower half of your body begins to melt away. And eventually, the light reaches your ankles and feet. Every part of you relaxes more and more,

feeling warm and suathed by the nourishing rays

of our life-sustaining sun. In this state of calm and stoneness, we can turn to our story.

“So, see if you can picture a beautiful little cabin in the mountains,”

surrounded by a fluffy blanket of snow. This is where we'll find Sarah, as our story begins. Standing on her wooden porch that wraps around the front of the cabin, perched high overlooking the mountains. Sarah admires the stillness of the day.

The wild around her feels mostly silent beyond the slow tapping of melting snow on the evergreen trees. Winter days are approaching their end, and spring is in sight now. It's a bit of sweet feeling for Sarah.

She has been warmed by many gatherings with friends, family, and the community over the cold amongst. There was the evening her friend Julie came over and helped Sarah to hang twinkling fairy lights around the house. They turned on her record player,

made hot cider, and danced the evening away as they decorated the cabin. Then there was the visit from her sister and mother. They came for a long weekend, enjoying many cherished moments.

They even tracked through the snow,

Ice skated on a bright day in the forest.

Her sister saw a mousse for the first time that day.

“Sarah has grown so much within her community as well.”

This winter, she attended a holiday gift exchange, put on by members of the community. She received a beautifully handcrafted flower pot from someone in town. The gift was full of kindness and intention. Winter is a cherished time for Sarah.

The sun may set in the afternoon, and she may not be able to garden,

but there is something special about the way the snow clings to the trees.

The gusts of cold air that to redden her cheeks when she sips her morning coffee on the porch,

“and best of all the moments she shares with others.”

Sarah longs for this season to last just a tad more time. But luckily for her, living in the mountains grants her a bit longer with winter than those closer to sea level. She's eager to soak up every opportunity winter brings,

and something very special came to her community this past autumn.

Once the leaves turned crisp and the weather cooled, a spa with a sauna opened its doors to the public. It's located in the same park as the pond where Sarah goes ice skating. Going to the sauna has now become a ritual for her. She has a membership with the spa,

allowing her to visit twice a week, and today is one of those days. Still standing on her porch,

“Sarah lifts her hands to pull down her knit cap over her ears.”

She sips her long pale blue puffer coat all the way up to her neck, and tightens the straps on her backpack. She is ready to walk to the spa. In her backpack, she carries the wallet that holds her membership card,

along with a few things she'll need. Today, she has packed a swimsuit, a book, and an extra wool hat just in case. Everything else she needs is in her personal locker on site. Clip flops, a bathrobe, a headband and comb,

and a few other toilet trees. Tows a complimentary, so she will grab a clean one when she checks in for her visit. Sarah holds the handrail to carefully make her way down the three wooden steps, leading to ground level.

Snow clings to each step, so she is careful as she goes. Her winter boots crunch the snow beneath them, as she reaches the walkway. This path leads down the hill to her mailbox,

and the road that connects her cabin to town. And the park. Sarah only has a few neighbors in the vicinity. The distance from town adds an extra layer of calmness and serenity, to her days up a mountain cabin.

Sometimes, she feels like she has the whole world to herself,

In the best possible way.

Her nearest neighbors are Julie and her husband.

Both Sarah's and Julie's homes,

“sit at the end of the same winding road from town.”

Their long driveways branching off in opposite directions. Beyond the fork, the road goes no further. It leads only to Julie's house on one side, and to Sarah's cabin on the other. Julie and Sarah often meet at the fork in the road,

when they go ice skating in the park, or cycle into town. Just exchange household items. Sometimes, Sarah runs out of salt or sugar, whatever it may be, and she calls Julie. When Julie runs out of something she needs, she calls Sarah.

For them, it's more than just a neighbourly exchange.

“It's a quiet symbol of their friendship,”

taking care of each other, always answering when the other calls,

in all the little ways that matter. Now, following her well-trodden route, Sarah reaches the fork in the road. On the opposite side is a path, which is part of the community park.

The path leads to the frozen pond, and just past that is the entrance to the spa. Sarah crosses the road, passes the wooden sign by identifying the name of the path,

and continues on into the forested area.

“Walking through the forest is one of Sarah's favourite past times,”

no matter the season. In spring, it bursts with wild flowers. Summer brings thick greenery. In autumn, mushrooms pop up everywhere, and in winter, the woods are draped in white,

and rabbits, mousse, and other wildlife, often for each hair. As she approaches the pond, Sarah can hear the sound of metal blades gliding across the ice. There is definitely more than one ice skater out there today. She soon reaches a clearing,

and the pond takes shape in her eye line. There, she can see a family of four, soaking up these last weeks of winter. She knows this family. They are the birth chores.

They own the local pharmacy, and specialising holistic remedies. Sarah once stopped by the virtual pharmacy for something to treat a lingering headache. After a quick consultation,

she ended up with a wonderful herbal supplement that targeted her sleep. But arrest not only yeast her headaches, but also left her feeling more energized overall. She waves at the family as they continue to skate.

They greet her from the ice, calling her by name, and telling her that they hope to catch up with her soon. Sometimes members of the community meet at the local cafe, for mingling, live music,

and activities like cookie decorating, board game nights, and knitting classes.

Sarah has the pleasure of hosting the knitting meetups.

When she doesn't see the back chores at the pharmacy,

she usually runs into them at the cafe. Just beyond the pond, the path splits into three. Wooden signs point in every direction. There's even one for the spa.

She takes the path to the left. It curves around the park, and eventually loops back to this spot.

“But just around the bend, is where she's headed.”

The entrance to the spa,

features a wide, cobbled path.

There are evergreen trees on either side. Snow sits heavy on their branches, forcing them to tilt downwards. As Sarah steps onto the cobbles, a clump of melting snow falls to the ground,

creating a little hole in the thick cover. Sarah loves the design of this spa. She feels incredibly lucky to have it just a short walk from her home. The spa is designed with nature in mind.

“Made of painted tin and reclaimed cedar,”

it blends beautifully with the forest.

The style has a lot of Scandinavian influence. And the spa itself is Scandinavian in tradition. With finished sauners, cold plungers, and batch branches used to stimulate circulation. Sarah enters the spa,

instantly feeling a sensation of warmth, and she closes the door behind her. To the right is the front desk, where the manager Margo is standing. She greets Sarah warmly, welcoming her back.

Sarah talks casually with Margo, as she unzips her backpack,

“while it from Margo to scan her membership card.”

Margo gives Sarah a fluffy white towel for drying off. As well as a smaller towel, used for sitting or lying down in the sauna. Now, Sarah has as much time as she needs to set up all the benefits of this relaxing place.

She descends the stairs opposite to the front desk, and enters the women's changing room. This is where her locker is located. She finds her locker, opens it, and pulls out a pair of flip flops.

Then, she takes a seat on the bench, just behind her. Here, she can slip out of her winter boots, and woolly socks. The lockers are a little small for long winter coats. But luckily, the changing room has a coat rack with wooden hangers.

Sarah sees a couple of coats already hung up. She adds her pale blue puffer coat to the rack, and fills a sense of excitement for the afternoon ahead. She's been looking forward to this visit, just as she always does.

When visiting a sauna, it's common practice to shower before entering the public areas. Flip flops or sandals are also required.

So, Sarah does just that.

She sheds her layers,

wraps the warm fluffy towel around her body,

and heads for the showers. Swim suit in hand.

“The showers have the essential amenities.”

Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. All have natural ingredients, and are provided by a local shop in town. Sarah is reminded how special it is to live in a community that supports one another in such ways.

Most businesses in the area

stay stocked with local items, whether they're on the shelves for purchase, or built into the framework of the business. Even this building itself was constructed

“with the help of a local carpenter and architect.”

After rinsing off, Sarah puts herself down with the large towel, and then dresses herself in a modest, two-piece swimsuit.

She hangs her towel on the hook in her locker,

and then unfolds a soft white bath rope. Sarah wraps the bath rope around her body, feeling the cozy warmth of it, all the way down to her knees. She also slips on her woolen beanie.

For now, she has everything she needs for the spa,

“including the special towel she'll use to sit on in the sauna.”

The spa is made up of different outdoor areas, creating a unique environment, immersed in nature. She exits the changing room through a different door, which takes her out into the cold winter afternoon. Shades of white, green, grey and brown,

greet her in all directions. Sarah strolls towards the main area of the spa. She sees two women sitting by an outdoor fireplace, wrapped in their own bath robes, reading books together in Adirondak chairs.

The cozy aroma of burning firewood relaxes her, as she steps into the open air spa. There are several different saunas here. Three smaller dry saunas, a positioned facing a quietly flowing stream.

They are perched between fluffy snow, with floor-length glass windows, that overlook the stream in the forest. There are footpaths with fairy lights hanging above, with guide visitors to their area of the spa.

Sarah prefers the wet saunas, but loves to unwind in these dry saunas for their ambience. Then, there is a large finish sauner that reaches a hotter temperature than the ones beside the stream. Water bucket, so visitors can pour liquid onto the hot rocks.

This produces steam and adds to the saunas' benefits. The extra humidity is good for the skin, and helps open the nasal passages, clearing the sinuses. The sauner is also common to see people gently tap their skin

with burnt branches to awaken circulation

Refresh the body.

But it's not just saunas here.

“There are thermal juices, cold plunge pools,”

eclectus steam rooms, and even a cozy cafe with a roaring fireplace. All of them are within this outdoor oasis, surrounded by the forest. Taking a look around,

Sarah breathes in deeply. The winter air, turning her cheeks so rosy pink. She passes the pair reading by the fireplace

and descends a couple of steps to the finish sauner.

It's the largest sauner in the spa, with cedar wood encompassing the interior, three tiers of seating, and hot stones,

“keeping the space at the perfect temperature.”

Just outside this sauner is the cold plunge pool. Many people alternate between the two, as hot and cold contrast therapy, circulation, and strengthen the immune system, leaving the body feeling deeply refreshed.

Sarah slips out of the bathroom and hangs it on the series of hooks outside of the door. Then gently tugs the door open. She is instantly enveloped in the warmth of the sauner. And luckily, she has the space all to herself right now.

With nobody else occupying the sauner, she closes the door behind her,

“approaches the water bucket next to the hot stones.”

Those out three scoops of water. Each poor spills over the stones, creating a nice hissing sound, as the steam rises. Within seconds, the heat increases,

filling the rustic space with humid steamier.

She then comes to a third tier of seating,

spreading out her small white towel, until I stand on the sea to wood bench, with her knees slightly bent. Closing her eyes, Sarah's body begins to relax,

as the warmth seeps into her muscles. She fills wrapped in the heat, as if it were a weighted blanket. She breathes in and out from her nose. With the help of the thick hair,

there is a clearing sensation in her sinuses, allowing her to breathe fully. When she entered, Sarah took note of the clock on the wall. She was aimed to stay in the sauner for five minutes,

before doing a cold plunge, at the pool just outside the door. But for the next few minutes, Sarah allows the hot humid air to clear her pores. And relax her muscles.

Her eyes stay closed, as she focuses on her breathing, whilst still allowing her mind to quietly wander. She has no obligations to attend to right now. Sarah has all day to linger at the spa,

as she wishes. After a while, she pulls herself up,

Placing her feet on the second tear.

The clock indicates that it's been a little over five minutes.

With her body radiating warmth, she opens the door to the sauner.

“And is greeted by the cold mountain air.”

With rosy cheeks, now reddened by the sauner's heat, rather than the winter's crisp air. Sarah approaches the plunge pool, just a few steps away.

She sets her towel aside,

slips out of her flip flops,

and dies is one foot into the plunge. The icy water jolts her, but she presses on, sinking to her knees. Catching her breath,

“she lowers herself all the way to her shoulders in one motion.”

The frigid water swarling around her. Sarah exhales in a rush, and fills a sense of pride, at how quickly she was able to descend into the plunge pool today. It usually takes her longer to ease herself in.

Now, Sarah counts down from 60, allowing herself one minute of this cold tingling sensation. It's such a stark contrast to the sauner, but she relaxes into it, focusing on her breathing.

And before she knows it, three, two, one.

“Her body eased into the cold water so well today,”

that she believes she could remain here longer than 60 seconds. But it's all about doing just a little bit better each time. On her last visit, her goal was 50 seconds. So, 60 is the perfect amount for today. And next time, perhaps she'll aim for 70.

By doing things incrementally, she won't overwhelm herself, and can continue to make steady progress. Besides, it took her several visits to the spa. To convince herself that she could even do the cold plunge at all.

Coming up from the water, droplets fall from her legs, which are now reddened and full of impressive goose bumps. Sarah's teeth begin to chatter,

but she simply carries on. Her flip flops are sitting nearby, so she slides into them, grabs her towel from the ledge, walks over to the hooks

and takes down her long fluffy rope. She wraps this around her body, feeling warmth, move through her. But not quite enough warmth, that is certain Sarah thinks.

Instead of returning to the sauna, she follows the footpath to the thermal jacuzes. They too are open air, but are perfectly steamy.

There are a few other people in the first jacuzi,

but the second one is occupied by just one person. It's a young lady relaxing in one of the corners with her eyes closed. A cozy, beanie hat covers her ears,

Her hair is down,

floating at the top of the bubbly water.

“There's another rope hangar with hooks beside the jacuzis.”

So Sarah hangs up her towel and rope, and walks to the edge of the in-ground tub. Before quickly kicking off her flip flops, and dipping the bottom half of her body into the water. Her skin tingles in delight,

reveling in the sensation, she allows her body to relax more deeply. She occupies one of the other available corners,

and pushes her body down,

so that just her neck and head are above the water. Looking around,

“Sarah takes in the scenery as her body continues to unwind.”

There are two pine trees dotting the spa. Fluffy white cups of snow cover various branches. Some look weighted down by the snow, and some remain perfectly horizontal. Beyond the trees,

the clear sky is a soft shade of blue.

There is no sign of snowfall,

at least not today. These mountains are unpredictable when spring is in the air. When Sarah closes her eyes, the smell of firewood catches her nose. Focusing,

“she can also hear the nearby stream flowing over the rocks.”

There is a spot to do a cold plunge in the water there, but Sarah hasn't attempted it yet. Maybe she'll try that next time. After a few minutes, her body feels like it's regained its rightful temperature.

Warm and cozy. So, she wades through the jacuzzi, ascends the steps, and finds herself facing the forest stream. Just ahead,

fairy lights begin to glow, as the late afternoon settles in. The scent of wood smoke drifts from the dry sauna, and the rhythm of the stream pulses through the spa. Sarah wraps herself in her rope once more,

and walks towards the next pocket of warmth, ready to soak up what the rest of the spa holds. There's a spot to do a cold plunge in the water, and then she turns into a hot pot. And then she turns into a hot pot.