September 10, 2007
Fabulous Finds: "Soleful" PurposeTough Love
by Sharon Saks Soboil
Let’s face it… While it may not always be pleasant, exfoliating is important. So, we buy all kinds of organic scrubs and most of us have loofahs hanging in our showers. For some, it’s loofah gloves. Then, there are the natural loofah brushes that awkwardly reach your middle back. And, let’s not forget the soft nylon sea anemone looking loofah. I’m not quite sure what that does, other than get sudsy. But if you really want something special, something different, something medicinal, there’s the Akasuri treatment at the Olympic Asian Spa and Retreat in Koreatown. Believe me, this is not like any of the gentle home experiences. This is a scrubbing like you’ve never been scrubbed before. But, you will be glad you endured when you are through.
In Korea, it is de rigueur to spend time at the local spa. And everyone there understands that it is important to experience Akasuri on a regular basis. Hardly considered a luxury, Akasuri is what Koreans know that we don’t, that keeps
their skin young and bodies smooth. Always out to try a great new spa treatment (especially with the promise of smooth skin), I ventured with a friend to Olympic Spa.
We signed up for the Goddess treatment, expecting to be treated like…well, goddesses. We were told that we had full access to steam rooms, oxygen rooms, heated jade floors, cold baths, the works. So far, so good. Then, they called us for our Akasuri treatments. My petite therapist led me onto an empty table…along side ten or so other tables in rows…so I could have my treatment with 10 of my closest…well, you get it. I couldn’t even see which table my friend was on, but after a few minutes, I didn’t care.
My “scrubber,” as I deemed her, slapped me down on the table and it began…the loofah exfoliating process. There was no sweet kind fanfare as in a peaceful meditation massage. She was there for one thing and one thing only…to exfoliate me. And exfoliate she did. Don’t let the petite size of the 
therapists fool you…these ladies can scrub! With her loofah-gloved hands, she scrubbed…hard…until, at last…the splash…when she generously splashed warm water over my body, which felt like a wave in some far away island washing over me. That reprieve was fleeting however, as she grabbed another appendage and continued scrubbing. By the time she was finished, my skin tingled, now silky soft and baby smooth. And, once it was over, she gave me a scalp massage, a facial mask, a shampoo and rinse. Then, she let me go meander over to the heated jade floor to collapse in a relaxed happy heap, left to contemplate who the real Goddess was in the name of this treatment…me or my scrubber.
3915 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90019
323-857-0666 // www.olympicspala.com
