I've spent a fair amount of time on this trip in silence. Not just the kind of silence that is absent of radio, television, or other people talking. The kind of silence that entails minutes, hours, sometimes even whole days without me saying a single word. No expletives or humphs or "Go figure" sorts of comments to myself. Think about the last time you spent time in this kind of silence and how long it lasted, and whether you happened to have music or the TV on anyway. Think about it, and then consider how remarkable an experience like Refuge can be.
I'm not going to take any time explaining the hydro-thermal cycle (we classics majors already know this from our study of Roman baths) because you should go to their website, see the photos of the beautiful facilities (every pool has a waterfall!), and perhaps you've already experienced this sort of thing at another spa (Sundara in the Wisconsin Dells, for example, has a version of this bathing ritual).
What I will spend a few more sentences on is that Refuge is not just a spa pool environment for adults only, it's intended to be completely silent. Yes, silent. Guests are reminded of this when they arrive, and each door (to the sauna, steam room, relaxation rooms) have plain text in large letters reading: "Please Respect the Silence." And the most amazing thing - it pretty much works. Even with couples and pairs of friends who've decided to share this relaxation experience. The night crowd that arrives after work is a bit more of a challenge; there were some gaggles of young women who treated it like a salon for a little while, and there were some business men who met and shook hands in one of the thermal pools talking in locker room voices. But for the most part, not even a whisper. And I was less inclined to police my peers not because I didn't mind their chatter, but because I didn't want to break my own silence.
It's an amazing way to relax, sitting in your own silence. Sure, all the spa amenities help as well, but every day, I'm in control of my own voice and my own silence. It may surprise those of you who know me how often I choose vocal silence in the name of relaxation. And I'll be all the more inspired to do so after my visit to Refuge.
I'm not going to take any time explaining the hydro-thermal cycle (we classics majors already know this from our study of Roman baths) because you should go to their website, see the photos of the beautiful facilities (every pool has a waterfall!), and perhaps you've already experienced this sort of thing at another spa (Sundara in the Wisconsin Dells, for example, has a version of this bathing ritual).
What I will spend a few more sentences on is that Refuge is not just a spa pool environment for adults only, it's intended to be completely silent. Yes, silent. Guests are reminded of this when they arrive, and each door (to the sauna, steam room, relaxation rooms) have plain text in large letters reading: "Please Respect the Silence." And the most amazing thing - it pretty much works. Even with couples and pairs of friends who've decided to share this relaxation experience. The night crowd that arrives after work is a bit more of a challenge; there were some gaggles of young women who treated it like a salon for a little while, and there were some business men who met and shook hands in one of the thermal pools talking in locker room voices. But for the most part, not even a whisper. And I was less inclined to police my peers not because I didn't mind their chatter, but because I didn't want to break my own silence.
It's an amazing way to relax, sitting in your own silence. Sure, all the spa amenities help as well, but every day, I'm in control of my own voice and my own silence. It may surprise those of you who know me how often I choose vocal silence in the name of relaxation. And I'll be all the more inspired to do so after my visit to Refuge.
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