You might think for instance that our regular hot yoga routine, 90 minutes of breathing through one’s nose whilst sweating, stretching, bending, elongating and compressing one’s spine, six times a week, is quite enough personal attention. Occasionally though it’s good to be quiet, completely relaxed, almost asleep and let someone else remove any stress, mental or physical. As a chap I am not into having my nails painted, although we know a few men for whom it’s normal; this is Brighton after all. Observing women through the shopfronts of the ubiquitous ‘nail bars’ that dot our high streets, ‘spending time on themselves’, perhaps having some ‘me’ time, putting issues in perspective, sharing bon mots with their favourite technician and I think maybe we males could learn something?
We all get our hair cut and a number of our male yoga buddies are hairdressers; note not barbers! Hairdressers are technicians with a great deal of skill – and who doesn’t like chatting to the person cutting your hair; part necessity, part pampering oneself. I remember the television series based in a Mancunian hair salon, ‘Cutting it’, with Sarah Parish, James Murray, Amanda Holden and Jason Merrells, which broadcast from 2002 to 2005. For those of us unfamiliar with the industry, it was a likeable eyeopener but probably a little farfetched!
I have written before about the importance of spending time on oneself. An indulgence some may say; essential for a fulfilling life others may argue. There was an element of ‘spending time on oneself’ for my coaching clients; a few hours of exploring ideas, doubts, issues affecting one’s performance at work. I certainly remember Bob, a mid-50s senior manager in the Insurance industry, when he came for our first session. He sat down, crossed his arms and, with a rather sceptical tone, asked: “So, what’s this all about then?”
“Why don’t you start by telling me about yourself?” Three hours later, his eyes moist, he reflected: “That was really, really interesting.”
In June 2016 Celina and I went on a yoga retreat with London-based teacher Paul Dobson in southern Portugal. I wrote about it in PC 74 ‘Thoughts on Meditation and Ommmm’ and started with this:
‘My eyes are closed in meditation. “Empty your mind, let the thoughts that come just pass through, creating no judgment or comment.” More easily said than done huh? “As you breathe in, imagine the word ‘let’; as you breathe out, ‘go’”. Or we’re told to focus on ‘So ….. Hum’. (A Vedic mantra meaning “I am that” which can be inverted ‘hum …. so’ to mean “that I am.” in Sanskrit. Note 1.)
In PC 116 I wrote about a couple of days at a well-known local health spa which we had visited more out of curiosity than anything else. We came away disappointed …… but then we do do hot yoga!
In PC 131 from August 2018 titled ‘Sipping Ginger Tea’, I wrote quite personally about having a Thai massage in a spa in Estoril, Portugal. One paragraph should entice you to find and read it:
“On the way back from the Spa, Celina and I compare notes. She suggests a massage is a bit like a sexy dance between two strangers. Whilst there need be no sexual attraction, the act of following one’s natural rhythms and inclination can engender a feeling of sexiness. She’s hit the nail on the head; a great analogy. A true basic instinct, this sexual urge, encouraged by the sense of touch, of smell, of heat, of oil ….. and lots of imagination!”
Both Celina and I are fans of having a regular massage and are lucky enough to have Kay Delphine (www.petaloudatherapies.com) come to our apartment every three weeks. If we suddenly feel a need in the interval, we book Alice at CryoBright. The latter is also where we go occasionally for some cold chamber or compression therapy (www.cryobright.co.uk) and about which I wrote in PC 429 ‘Behind The Glass’ in March 2025.
Four years ago, we visited the then recently opened spa owned by Eve Jones and her sister Iona on the Upper Shoreham Road. Eve is a Hot Yoga teacher who takes the Thursday 1000 session at Yoga-In-The-Lanes and we were keen to support her enterprise, The Hideaway. Sauna, plunge pool, sauna, plunge pool then a massage ….. and we went home all tingly and relaxed. It proved very successful, so much so that the waiting time for a massage was measured in weeks.
Earlier this summer they opened one in Brighton just opposite Preston Park to the north of the city centre (www.hideawaybrighton.com). The 1893 building used to be the Preston Brewery Tap with a large footprint.
Now it’s an oasis of calm; the Moroccan-inspired, carefully-chosen colour scheme welcomes you, wraps around you and your outside world is immediately forgotten, discarded. (Note 2) The first plunge pool is beyond the bar area
Followed by the sauna and then some outside space for those who enjoy the contrasts of hot/cold, dry/wet
As part of my birthday presents Celina had given me a 90-minute massage with Iona; she should have been next to me but had caught Covid. In addition to the bespoke therapeutic massage I had, they offer a private spa and massage for up to 4 people; takes a couple of hours. And if the idea of using the spa for a group treat, up to ten people can enjoy the sauna, plunge pool and drinks from the bar for a private couple of hours.
Public houses, historically such a feature of our country, are closing due to changing drinking habits. I like the idea that The Hideaway, repurposing such a building, has kept its bar open to the local community.
I took a taxi back home, all warm, my muscles feeling ‘worked-on’! So good. Go on ….. pamper yourself.
Richard 13th November 2026
Hove
Note 1 I think this is so clever and so cool.
Note 2 The bar in The Hideaway is open to the public (Tuesday – Sunday 0930 – 2200)
