3 HOURS AT ASHA URBAN BATHS
TRIGGER WARNING: some mention of domestic violence (DV)
I decided to watch the new movie It Ends With Us by myself as part of my Super Full Moon karmic release this month. I am a brown bodied survivor and trauma therapist who trains new therapists on DV cases so I was curious to see Hollywood’s interpretation of an issue to which I work so closely. I can’t say that I was mad at the movie because it made me feel things and ugly ugly cry…but I also wasn’t 100% percent impressed with the very YT-centered, privileged romanticization of domestic violence. Go see it and let me know what you think.
Because I knew that I would be dysregulated after the movie, I did something I often encourage my clients to do when they need to face hard situations: have a coping strategy or an aftercare plan.
My coping strategy/aftercare plan for watching the movie, which I knew would trigger me tenfold, was:
to dress up nicely so that I could look in the mirror and feel beautiful
to take myself out for a meal after (I had a glass of champagne and steak & shrimp at Outback Steakhouse across the street)
to visit Asha Urban Baths in Sacramento for a few hours of relaxation and thorough nervous system regulation.
I was so excited to spend some time at the bath house because I knew my body needed a more thorough protocol. I knew this was true for a few reasons.
I had a tough week learning about the intricacies of the American domestic violence and family court system for personal and professional reasons already. If you’re not familiar, this system is essentially built on a framework of lengthy legal paperwork and meetings between abusers, survivors and court staff that requires an exorbitant amount of physical + psychological energy and a ridiculous amount of money. The work that I do requires a constant conflict between my shadow self as a survivor and the collective shadow of patriarchal violence and colonial bureaucracies. In order to maintain my center and continue the work of addressing patriarchal violence, I have to take care of myself. A feminist revolution will always be taxing on the nervous system so it’s important to tend to it as much as I can.
I am increasing my weigh training protocol to see if I can get my top shelf and increase my muscle mass. Top shelf means that extra oomph and curve in my glutes cause you know… I always say that my ass is the seat of my spirituality and muscle growth = soul growth. This means that I am lifting heavier and targeting specific muscles. What most people don’t realize in their fitness journey is that any increase activity - whether a beginner, intermediate or expert level - requires an increase in rest and recovery.
I needed to immerse myself in water. I’m a Pisces and an active healer, enough said.
Asha Urban Baths is a co-ed wellness center located in Sacramento, CA.
It has a warm pool, a cold plunge, a sauna, a steam room at the front of the spa; an outdoor lounge area in the middle of the spa and a green room with another warm pool and sound immersion, salt lounge and massage service access. You are required to wear a bathing suit at all times, shower in between immersions and refrain from speaking loudly or feeling up on your boo while at the center. For me, it was a clean safe environment with a diverse client population. There were more white people than BIPOC but enough BIPOC that I didn’t feel uncomfortable. The staff were mainly white.
Here is the recommended protocol that I followed to soothe my overworked nervous system. Guests are not allowed to bring any electronics into the facility after you change into your bathing suit so I was not able to take any photos of the rooms. You can click on the underlined titles below to get more information on each service and see a photo gallery of the property.
The first part of the protocol was intended for my spiritual health and soul work through journeying with additional physical benefits.
This was my #1 favorite service and the first one I tried.
The room was lined in himalayan salt and equipped with a spout/shower thing that flowed salt into the air. I was tucked into a large bean bag in front of the spout with a weighter blanket, a warmed eye cover and a pillow under my feet. The entire service lasted 45 minutes. I could have stayed in there for another half hour to be honest.
The first 0-15 minutes started off as most long meditations and journeys do - with lots of anxious thoughts grounded in the past or in the current. Thoughts about things I could have done differently or experiences that I was still healing from in the past that were fucking with my present. Worries about what I needed to do this upcoming week and how I would get it done.
It took me about 35 minutes to eventually drift into a soft sleep before being woken up by the attendant ringing a bell. Honestly, I would like bean bag now.
While I napped, the salted air supposedly cleared my lungs and kissed my skin healthy.
This was probably my least favorite of the entire wellness experience. I was expecting a live sound bath experience - something I’ve never done before. I thought there would be a person playing a meditation bowl or a series of them, lulling me into a journey.
This turned out to be me lying on a vibrating bed under a comfortable weighted blanket for 33 minutes listening to an instrumental track. It was okay and something I could have done at home.
The second part of the protocol is the physical release designed to increase relaxation, improve circulation and skin health, speed up muscle recovery, boost the immune system, increase metabolism and decrease cognitive decline. I did this cycle 3 times. It took me a little over an hour. If I had gone earlier in the day, I would have spent time in the outdoor area reading and sunbathing.
Steam Room
Sat in a steam room for 5-10 minutes. The steam room was clean and I had it to myself for the most part. There were spray bottles that you could use to mist eucalyptus into the air. I loved the feeling of sweat coming out of my pours.
Cold plunge
This was my #2 service/experience at the center.
Following the steam and shower, I jumped into the cold plunge pool. They give you a waterproof timer with the recommendation of at least 3 minutes and to breeeathe. I lasted 30 seconds on the first round one minute for the second and third. I think that was good enough for a first timer. I’ve seen athletes and trainers use this recovery method but have never tried it myself.
I shivered and honestly thought my skin was turning blue. With more practice, I think I can get up to 3 minutes. It’s all a mindset thing anyway.
Warm pool immersion
After the cold plunge and a shower, I hopped into one of the two warm pools for 10-15 minutes. These pools are communal and co-ed. I had to leave the first warm pool immersion because one of the male guests was wearing a strong soap or cologne and it permeated the air.
These are considered social spaces and if the volume of guests’ conversations are louder than a buzz a staff member will hit a gong softly to bring the volume down.
I also treated myself to a chocolate bar. All in all, I enjoyed my nervous system protocol at Asha Bath House and would definitely return the next time I need a Super Full Moon in Mercury Retrograde type recovery and release.
If you go, let me know how you liked it! <3 Manang Lauren