Put off the by idea getting naked with a bunch of strangers and going through some kind of water torture at the hands of a bossy masseuse? A monthly aromatherapy massage is how I reward myself for the last four weeks of hard work, a chance to unwind those shoulder muscles and completely relax to the sounds of plinky plonky music and the smell of ylang ylang. Oh and of course I dreaded the idea of having to walk around starkers in a room full of strangers.
Swimming costume optional? Sure, there were a few ladies comfortable enough in their own skin to wander around naked, but I quickly discovered that the majority, like myself, came in their cossies and I began to feel more at ease. Refurbished in the spa was made to look at is it did back when originally opened in , keeping the Moorish design that included Islamic arches and screens, glazed brickwork, arabesque painted ceilings and mosaic floors.
At Harrogate you simply navigate a selection of rooms designed to cleanse and relax your body. This is a very cold pool that you need to immerse yourself in, which helps improve circulation, flush toxins from the muscles and tone skin.
While the pros headed straight in and began swimming lengths of the small pool I inched my way in a step at a time, taking a couple of minutes to work my way down the side of the pool until my shoulders were under the water.
Having got the scariest part of the baths out of the way I was ready for the final section, working my way through the three rooms which circulate heated air before having a rest in the relaxation area. Starting in the tepidarium your body gets used to the heat before you move into the calidarium, eventually making your way to the hottest of the three rooms, the laconium.
