I'm not one for lounging around in a dressing gown at home even, so the idea of doing it 'in public' was a strange phenomenon for this spa newbie.
Nevertheless, Al and I were despatched to his and hers changing areas to swap our attire for pristine bath white bath robes and slippers, the start of our long-threatened spa treat.
Whittlebury Hall is one of the largest health retreats in the country.
It is an oasis of calm, as we discover during a brief guided tour of the various treatment rooms and facilities.
With nothing to do aside from relax and await our two planned treatments, we spend the first little while feeling naughty.
We are always on the go, so being idle leaves us feeling out of sorts.
Still, the lure of the bubbles, the warmth on skin and need to be taken to the aqua side soon sees Al move into the hydrotherapy pool, which delivers a therapeutic effect via its obvious jacuzzi properties. I am 'busy' too, lying back and taking advantage of the tepidarium, which sends gentle warmth through the skin and deep into the muscles.
There are worse ways to start the day!
This practice dates back to Roman times, and helps de-stress and unwind.
There are a whole range of body-benefitting experiences in this quarter, each using changing temperatures to invigorate - the temperature rises as you move through each room.
The Sanarium helps cleanse and tone the skin while the Crystal Steam Room opens pores, but more than that, it can prove beneficial for rheumatic and respiratory complaints.
Al is smitten with the sauna, and while we both enjoy this most relaxing of mornings, beneath the skin those pesky toxins are being bashed into submission.
Post-sauna, the fruit and ice facial bath enables the skin to cool.
Your body is given a shock kick with a visit to the Ice Cave. An ice bucket shower is lurking too, though neither of us is quite brave enough to step under!
We reconnect over a glass of fruit infused water and complimentary fruit (both are available throughout the day) and take a seat in the waiting area for the first of our two treatments - The Exotic Strawberries and Cream Delight.
Together with the other patrons, we are called by our dedicated therapist and taken to separate rooms for a 50 minute long exfoliation treatment.
It comprises a sensory salt scrub, with a foot or scalp massage (we opt for the former).
When the exfoliation is delivered to the skin in the softly lit room, we soon relax, quite at odds with what we are expecting.
The salt scrub is a messy business and needs to washed off, so our therapist departs while we wash away the grit, before returning to the therapy table for the massaging body oil application.
It's a little slice of heaven, and still on the right side of 11am. If only every day was so blissful.
Lunch is served at midday in the Leisure Club, and we enjoy a full buffet fill of salad, soup and jacket potatoes.
It doesn't just taste good, but it tastes of goodness.
If you do have the urge to indulge, there are some choccie temptations not a million miles away, mind you. A little can't hurt, can it?
Post-lunch, a little relaxation is called for and quiet contemplation on one of the water beds in the moroccan-feeling netted 'rooms' is perfect...so perfect that one soul not a million miles away has nodded off.
His subtle snores are like clockwork!
The Day Spa Signature Massage is on the menu for the afternoon, and our weary muscles are treated from the ESPA range of products.
Nourishing body oil and body butter, and the application of our therapists hands reminds us of muscles we forgot we had.
As with every massage we have ever had, it is over all too quickly (is it possible to ever tire of a massage?!), and we dreamily make our way pool side for a little splash around.
We could have made use of the leisure facilities, added a gym session to our day at Whittlebury, or boosted our package with still more treatments, but by the time we return to our locker, disrobe and reach for our usual attire, we do so feeling altogether more peaceful and refreshed than we had when we arrived first thing.
'We hope the day you spend with us leaves you feeling refreshed and vitalised,' our welcoming letter had signed off.
Well, Whittlebury, your hopes were realised.
Mind you, we aren't the first to give a glowing reference in 2015 - they've already taken the title of the Best Luxury Day Spa and Best Luxury Hotel Spa in the World Luxury Spa Awards.
This was our first Whittlebury experience, and we've a yearning to return.
We enjoyed the Day Spa package, which is available to September 4.
Discover wonderful Whittlebury for yourselves http://www.whittleburyhall.co.uk/Leisure/Offers-and-Promotions/The-Day-Spa-Whittlebury-Day
