I have never really loved massages. I mean, I like them but I don’t love them. I am way too hyperkinetic to lay down for a whole hour and a half while some masseuse rubs my body.

I mean, don’t get me wrong. I like massages, but just for a short time. After a while I usually find it hard to relax and I want to get up and do “something.”

But now with my new alopecia areata condition I have been instructed by my brother (the neurologist) and by my friend (the psychiatrist) that the most important thing for me to do is to relax. So, I have resolved to get a full body massage and RELAX.

Here in Cuba I have a personal trainer, Regina; she a beautiful and very funny woman that at some time belonged to the National Taekwondo team. At some times during my life here in Cuba she has really helped me to tone my body (although her skills always have to fight with my love for high-calorie consumption.)

Anyway… other than being an amazing personal trainer and person, she is also a great masseuse. So, this time, instead of an hour and a half of weight training I asked her to give me a massage not before I told her the reason: I needed to relax because I have bald spots caused, apparently, by stress and anxiety.

It help also that here in Cuba a 1.5 hour massage costs 15 dollars, that contibuted also to my motivation to try it.

So, during the massage I just set my mind in the “relax” mode, talked to her and laughed about her always funny stories. She told me that she could feel tons of accumulated tension in my back and shoulders, and she worked them hard. After an hour an a half I felt relaxed, light, and like nothing bad could ever happen to me. I felt great. Even when my hair grows back I will keep getting massages! I like them now.

Regina and me, a couple of years ago.