January 2, 2014

As is usual for me, I have no specific plans for the day except: (1) Oasis Spa to spoil myself a little, and (2) the Green Papaya Sangha meditation group.

Oasis Spa

Oasis Spa is in the slightly higher end of spas around Chiang Mai, but it is one with which I am familiar. I took a little diversion during the yoga workshop here two years ago to have a sea salt body scrub, a red clay body wrap, and a hot oil massage at Oasis. Then last year I went again, and while I do not remember the details, it was good enough for me to want to return, so I booked the Coconut Nourishing package for 2 1/2 hours:

Delight your senses with a Natural Coconut Body Scrub; nourish your body with a rich Fresh Coconut Hot Compress Massage, then finish with a Full Body Coconut Hot Oil Massage.

Sounds pretty luscious, and it is. Oasis is just that, an oasis in part of the old city. When you walk in, the noise of the traffic and the city disappear, and it is peaceful. They have locations farther from the city, and those are likely even more peaceful, being farther from the city.

The body scrub was nice, like a slow deep massage with a slightly rough or grainy thick oil. The pleasant smell of coconut filled the room, and after an hour of this, I could have drifted off to sleep easily. Then a shower to wash off the oil and the hot compress massage starts. This was an odd one to me, but quite relaxing and felt really good on my muscles, particularly those I had been working quite a bit like my legs with all the walking, and especially my back which had been bothersome of late. Then the coconut hot oil massage, and wow! The coconut smell was soothing and the young lady’s massage was skillful, and intuitive; I did not tell her that I had been having back tightness, but she sensed it and focused on that area. This was a very, very nice way to start the year.

John and Rose (of Wild Rose Yoga Studio) tell me that there are other spas that are just as good as Oasis and less expensive if one is willing to go a little outside the old city and gave me a couple names. I am interested.

After the spa treatment, I could have easily gone to sleep, but there was just a little time for some pineapple fried rice before heading out to the Yoga Tree for the meditation group.

Green Papaya Sangha

The Green Papaya Sangha meditation group meets weekly at the Yoga Tree, in the southwest part of the inner city. It is a bit of a walk, about 1 km (2/3 mile), but the street does not have heavy traffic, so it is not a bad walk. They sit in the tradition of Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. I was first introduced to the name Thich Nhat Hanh here just a year ago, and since learned that he is quite well known in the yoga and meditation world (how did I miss this?). This was a good meeting, with about 30 people attending. They start with a guided seated meditation, then a walking meditation. Larry Ward was with us and made a short talk on thoughts for the new year. Larry is the director of The Lotus Institute, and co-founded Plum Village’s Deer Park Monastery outside of Escondido, California. And Larry looks and sounds almost like the actor James Earl Jones, a large man with a strong, deep voice. He is very down-to-earth, and his words are good. Finally, there was a seated meditation.

No pictures today, but this was a wonderful day.

Next, walking around Chiang Mai (and back to yoga?)