As a typical guy, I had preconceived notions of spending a day at the Salon and Day Spa at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort – I expected an ambience of perfumed air, overstuffed furniture, flowery décor and the general sense of "women only." How dare I darken upon this inner sanctum of womanhood? But allowing myself to be pampered in ways I had never experienced was going to be an exercise in dispelling myths of gender roles and a rite of passage for my masculinity.

I entered the receiving area to a warm atmosphere of soft notions and displays of bric-a-brac all woven together by the earthy bouquet of a black currant scented candle. It was not as frilly as I had anticipated. All notions of this being a female bastion began to fade as I observed a chiseled 60-ish man topping 6’3" tall leaving after a treatment. My notion of "women only" went right out the door with him. I was beginning to feel better about the whole experience.

We began with a facial. For me, the time honored manly technique of a washcloth over a basin was suitable. But in a candle-lit treatment room with the sound of classical music and a small water fountain, a facial by a skilled professional becomes a profound experience. I tucked myself in the soft covers of a treatment bed while Cathy began a six-step journey the likes of which my face had never experienced.

She began with a cleanser derived, as all the products she used, from natural ingredients from the sea. More than just the face, she worked my neck, shoulders and even the hands. Similarly, she applied a toner and an exfoliant to remove the bark off my grizzled hide.

Next came the facial massage. Cathy’s experienced hands kneaded and rolled my face like soft putty until I resembled a Chinese Shar-Pei dog the way my face was rolled into deep folds.

It was quite amazing to actually sense the pressure points where tension resided and to feel it flow out like air coming out of a balloon.

My face was now prepped for the "purifying facial mask," a procedure designed to absorb excess oils and impurities. Hmm – I thought I had out-grown that dreaded affliction of oily facial skin. With the treatment mask in place it was topped with a hot steamy towel wrapped around my entire face except for a small opening for my nose. Lying there for several minutes I could actually feel the mask immersing itself deep into my skin. After removing the towel and peeling the mask back I enjoyed a refreshing rejuvenation I had never experienced.

I headed over to the pedicure area to debunk another male myth I had subscribed to – that a pedicure is about toes. I was led to a chair, which looked like it was out of a Sharper Image catalog – with vibrating pads, footbath and the first evidence of a deference to the male client, the "Relaxor Command Wand," with full speed and zone settings to make sure no muscle was neglected. Yes, the remote control, symbol of man’s control over his existence, had found its way to the pedicure.

After soaking my feet in the warm eucalyptus "pedisoak," I set both feet out for Jessica to ply her trade on a part of my body that I simply can’t see, let alone reach, anymore – my feet. I just selected the maximum setting on the chair and enjoyed the ride. What began as a focus on my toes ended up being a total treatment from my knees down. Cuticle work and a nice buff brought out a luster in my toenails that I had never seen. We followed up with a warm paraffin dip and peel. The final touch was enamel with a product called Guccio. Recoiling somewhat at the notion of a female product on my toenails, I breathed relief when I read the label…"For Men." Ah, then I guess it is okay. I am beginning to get a little used to this pampered life and saying goodbye to preconceptions. At this point I was in a deep relaxed state…mercifully, Jessica put my shoes on for me.

The manicure was similarly exquisite however I had to abdicate the remote control. Again, the Guccio "For Men" was the final touch.

I headed to the Sandestin Health Club located adjacent to the salon for a quick work out and much-needed massage. The service and hospitality of the staff of certified personal trainers, massage therapists and others brought yet another dimension of relaxation, exercise and stress reduction to my day. With state-of-the-art equipment and an array of programs, the newly-renovated Health Club provided a safe, effective and comfortable work out environment.

The cardiovascular workout room combines strength training with aerobic conditioning, and the new Nautilus strength-training equipment is biomechanically designed to target specific muscles an d provide full range of motion for every exercise. And while working out, I was able to pass time by watching the cardio theatre or people watching out the large windows overlooking the bay.

My visit culminated with the piece de résistance, a full body massage by Shelly. She discovered pressure points and tension areas that must have originated in my angst-filled teens, and I had been carrying them ever since. I wasn’t a stranger to massages after tours of duty in the military in Asia, but the art is not lost on an experienced and trained Sandestin staff that can work with several of the massage modalities and even tailor them to the client.

From this wonderful experience in self-indulgence, I felt like an entire vacation had begun and wondered why I had not surmounted the stereotypical perceptions and done this a long time ago for it had just become my new lifestyle ritual – nail polish and all.

To schedule your Sandestin spa escape, call the Sandestin Salon and Day Spa at Ext.6466 from your unit.