Shangri-la meets South Tacoma Way
Getting naked and feeling good about it at Olympus Women's Spa
Jessica Corey-Butler
Issue date: 2/9/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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My favorite spot is the wet room. Though I was initially self-conscious of my nudity, the relaxed atmosphere put me at ease. Most of the time, as I soak, I am covered as effectively as if I were clothed, or at least bathing-suited, but even when wandering from tub to tub, or splashing myself with mugwort water from the well, I feel an amazing sense of unity and empowerment.
Looking around, I see old women and young women. Mastectomized women, and women with scars that tell stories I haven't asked about. Accents vary from German to Korean to Southern Belle. Skin tones range from winter pallor to African American deep mahogany.
Mostly, it's our body shapes that amaze me. From tall and angular to Venus of Willendorf rotund, with all shapes in between, we are represented. There are tiny hips with large breasts, large hips with small breasts; there are slender bodies with stooped postures and large bodies with proud postures. Those who, clothed, could be considered ravishing were less so, naked. Those who, clothed, might have been deemed "unideal" were gorgeous, naked.
What I'm wearing doesn't matter, because we are all in the same silly striped cap. The extra weight on my midsection doesn't matter, the condition of my breasts doesn't matter, the shape of my hips doesn't matter.
I'm surrounded by a smorgasbord of imperfection, and paradoxically, within that imperfection lays perfection. Within the diversity is a common community of womanhood. It's our ultra cool naked community, where the International district meets the used car lots of South Tacoma Way.
The Olympus Women's Health Spa is located at
9615 S. Tacoma Way. The telephone number is:
253.588.3355
Hours are as follows: open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday,
9 a.m. to midnight
Cost: $25.00, all day -with services priced a la carte
Looking around, I see old women and young women. Mastectomized women, and women with scars that tell stories I haven't asked about. Accents vary from German to Korean to Southern Belle. Skin tones range from winter pallor to African American deep mahogany.
Mostly, it's our body shapes that amaze me. From tall and angular to Venus of Willendorf rotund, with all shapes in between, we are represented. There are tiny hips with large breasts, large hips with small breasts; there are slender bodies with stooped postures and large bodies with proud postures. Those who, clothed, could be considered ravishing were less so, naked. Those who, clothed, might have been deemed "unideal" were gorgeous, naked.
What I'm wearing doesn't matter, because we are all in the same silly striped cap. The extra weight on my midsection doesn't matter, the condition of my breasts doesn't matter, the shape of my hips doesn't matter.
I'm surrounded by a smorgasbord of imperfection, and paradoxically, within that imperfection lays perfection. Within the diversity is a common community of womanhood. It's our ultra cool naked community, where the International district meets the used car lots of South Tacoma Way.
The Olympus Women's Health Spa is located at
9615 S. Tacoma Way. The telephone number is:
253.588.3355
Hours are as follows: open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday,
9 a.m. to midnight
Cost: $25.00, all day -with services priced a la carte