If you’re lucky enough to belong to a gym that hasn’t closed its sauna, steam room, and Jacuzzi because of rising energy costs (after all what’s the point of exercising if you can’t loll decadently in one of these facilities afterwards?) you will know that as well as providing relaxation they are also an amazing source of fascinating CHAT. The things I have learned whilst sitting quietly on the slatted wooden sauna benches dressed in my saggy swimming costume and swathed in my ancient towel!
When I originally joined my gym it was winter (remember how bone-chillingly cold it was then?). Sitting in the female sauna was an unbelievable joy and luxury – I was warmed right through! One of the arguments I used on my husband for joining the gym was that it would save money on our heating costs. So there I am, FORCED to sit in the sauna, drying out after my shower. What I did not foresee was the absolute joy of the Sauna Chats. Women in a hot enclosed room tend to lose not only their clothes (and fat cells I hope) but their inhibitions too!
One morning I was trapped in the sauna with the YOUNG women (the oldest had probably reached the ripe old age of 38) and they were discussing Botox. Oh my goodness! The things this 65 year old learned about where best to go in my bit of sunny Essex; what to have done; and vitally how much it all costs. After they left the sauna, my companion (a lady of a similar vintage to me) and I turned to each other, our jaws having hit the tiled floor by now.
We quickly calculated how much they would have to pay to keep all these ‘tweakments’ going until they reached pensionable age and possibly a little beyond (depending on their income and pride) and we were appalled. We assured ourselves that out “ageing gracefully” and “staying healthy” policy, along with a judicious amount of skilfully applied makeup, was working just fine for us.
However, should the terrors of old age finally prove too much, thanks to these young women we are armed with everything we need to know!
Fiona Lau
