A Dozen
for the
Body
and Soul

Tempting earthly
and ethereal
pleasures make
great gifts for friends,
relatives and you.

JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR

Special to The Jewish News

T

he anesthesia had just bare-
ly worn off after a recent
abdominal surgery when I
found myself ready to shed
the mandatory hospital gown.
You know the kind — made of
thin scratchy cotton, held together
with a series of snaps and ties in the
oddest places. Tethered to an intra-
venous line, I was doomed to wear the
garment as much as the hallway
passersby were doomed to view my
behind.
It was during this most unhappy
time that I received one of the best
gifts I ever have been given. Sensing
my fashion and comfort distress, my
friend Didi handed me a box from
LuLu's Lingerie containing a flannel
sleep shirt. As soon as the IV was
removed, I put on the garment. I was
amazed at how quickly I recovered,
leaving the hospital less than 48 hours
later. Sure, my remarkably quick
recovery probably had more to do

1 1/20

1998

G36 Detroit Jewish News

with my surgeon's deft skill and my
body's healing ability, but I just have
to give some credit to that nightshirt.
I since have found that that sleep
shirt falls into a category of gifts that
give the most pleasure, those that pro-
vide inspiration, set a mood or bring
peace and comfort. These ethereal or
earthly pleasures give a boost to the
body and soul in a nourishing way.
The following is a list of such gifts
for giving. This, of course, doesn't
mean that you have to do without if
you don't find yourself on the receiv-
ing end of someone equally as
thoughtful. If the presents are not
forthcoming from that significant
other, go out and get them for your-
self. When people pry, just say they
are from someone special. You would-
n't be too far from the truth.
1) Massage — Your mother. Your
job (co-workers and bosses included).
Your kids (or for that matter, anyone's
kids). The neighbor's incessantly bark-
ing dog. The imbecile driving in front
of you for four miles with his left turn
blinker on.

It all kind of bunches up on you,
come in a half-hour ($40), hour ($65)
creeping into your shoulders, gather-
or hour and a half ($92.50) incre-
ing up your neck and back muscles,
ments.
weighing down your legs and arms
2) Yoga — Madonna does it for a
like a ton of bricks. Sure you'd like to
sense of balance. David Duchovny
think wrapping your hands around
claims it helps him focus. Sting and
someone's throat could solve it but
Jill Eikenberry separately claim it has
why ruin a perfectly good manicure?
improved their sex lives. So, why
Instead, head to the spa where
haven't you leapt on its bandwagon?
someone else can wrap
"It" is yoga, the latest
their hands around your
celebrity health craze to
Relaxing in a hot tu b
achy, stress-filled muscles
hit since Suzanne
with frien dc is the per-
and knead your cares
Sommers wagged her
fect cure fo r a stress
away, says Tamara
thighs on TV. And it isn't
day. This hot tub y
Friedman, owner of
just for the Hollywood
ThermoSp as features a
Tamara's Institut de
unique bu bbling action set; in fact 6 million
and several types of jets. Americans regularly twist
Beaute in Town Spa in
Farmington Hills.
their bodies into various
"A massage is a great gift because
poses for fun as well as to tune their
you don't have to think about what
bodies and minds.
color it is or what size it is," she says.
"Through the practice of yoga you
"Everyone likes to get touched, to
are able to slow down and cultivate a
have their stress massaged away.
calm and balanced mind," said Jonny
"Also, we never have any returns
Kest, the owner of the Center for
here the day after the gift is given.
Yoga, Relaxation and Health in
Who would want to return a mas-
Southfield. "It is a gift of love, a gift of
sage?" she asks.
nourishment. It teaches the people
What is better is that massages can
you love to take care of themselves."