I’m a self-conscious introvert who prefers to cover up, so a solo visit to a nude spa in a foreign country may seem like an unusual choice for my 40th birthday celebration.
The reason behind my visit to Baden-Baden, Germany was twofold: I went to enjoy a bonding getaway with my oldest daughter and aunt and uncle for an epic birthday celebration and my first-ever visit to a European city, but I also went to explore the world-renowned wellness offerings in the bare-skinned baths of Baden-Baden, Germany. My aunt and uncle visit the fairytale town quite frequently, and insisted that I experience the wellness scene firsthand.
On the morning of my 40th birthday, I headed to the Friedrichsbad – a 19th century Roman-style bathhouse featuring a series of thermal pools and resting rooms. There, I moved through the silence-mandatory, 17-step circuit alone, in my birthday suit, facing my fears of public nudity.
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Following the wall maps, I wandered through the quiet halls of the spa, dipping into ice-cold tubs of water while struggling to stay submerged for the mandatory number of minutes, and sitting in brightly-lit steam rooms with naked strangers while in complete silence.
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Along the way, I stumbled into a surprise hammam-style scrub down, where I was directed to lay down on a cold marble table while a large German woman scrubbed me from head-to-toe with a rough scrub brush while other naked ladies watched on as they waited in line for their turn. The three-hour process ended with two women towelling my naked body dry, applying moisturizing cream to my cool skin, and directing me to the relaxation room where they wrapped me in a cocoon of warm blankets. I feel asleep there, and awoke a new person.
It all sounds embarrassingly uncomfortable, but the experience was surprisingly soothing. I forced myself to settle into the process, and I emerged feeling completely rejuvenated and inspired. I took comfort in knowing that for the people around me, this was a regular practice. They didn’t care about being nude in public, and paid no attention to my presence as they soaked their stresses away.
I was humbled by the experience, and would definitely do it all over again. I wrote about this and my other experiences in the quaint German town for the Vancouver Sun and Province newspapers. Check out my story here.
2 Comments
Just read your hair article in Huffington post. I’m a 69 year old white male who thinks you and your daughter have beautiful hair. Was browsing your site and saw the Baden Baden spa article. I went there with my wife several years ago and loved it. There’s a really good one in the forest just on the edge of Amsterdam if you get there sometime. I’m not a tech guy and generally don’t comment or do social media but was impressed with your journey in your skin. Good for you
I blog quite often and I seriously thank you for your content. Pen Nikolai Wally