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Many
of us are guilty of not taking time for ourselves. Whether it’s
because of work, children, or some other responsibility, we rarely stop
and rest unless we are on vacation. That’s why the day spa
industry has done so well; visiting a spa is a wonderful way to
rejuvenate yourself, and you don’t have to travel far or take
days off work. But the costs of a spa treatment are pretty high, and
not everyone can afford it or will justify the expense.
So why not create a home spa experience? You’d
be surprised at how easy it is to do--all you need is a bathtub.
(It’s even better if you have a jacuzzi and/or a sauna in your
home, but we’re not all that fortunate.)
Most likely the hardest part is taking this idea
past the thinking-about-it stage and actually implementing it. That
means setting aside the time, and getting the house to yourself (or at
least letting everyone who lives with you know to give you a couple of
hours of peace). You’ll need to assemble a few supplies, such as
candles, soft music, essential oils, and sliced cucumbers (to place
over your eyes).
Starting your home spa experience with a massage
would be ideal. It helps if you have a personal friend who practices
massage therapy, but you can also practice self-massage or use a
variety of massage tools on yourself. Simple self-massage strokes help
ease the eyestrain, stiff hands, and repetitive strain injury that can
follow long hours working at the computer.
Set up your “spa area” in a way similar
to the front cover of this magazine. Light some candles, put on some
soft music, and start the bath running. You might even pour yourself a
glass of wine, or a more healthy drink such as ice water with lemon and
mint. Get out a soft, fluffy robe to put on afterwards, and plenty of
nice towels. Put a dish of sliced cucumbers next to the tub. You might
think it’s silly until you try it--it’s extremely soothing
and reduces puffiness around the eyes. Lastly, you’ll want a
cushion for your neck. If you don’t have one of those inflatable
pillows made for tubs, a rolled up towel will work pretty well.
Now it’s time to ready your bath. One option
is to create an herbal bath (see facing page). My first choice is to
use essential oils, which have many relaxing and restorative qualities,
as well as glorious scents. Adding them to a bath can do wonders for
you. Here are a few of my favorites.
Essential Oils for Bathing
Janice
Hughes is the
editor of The Share Guide and a great lover of spas, bodycare products,
and essential oils. For resources to create your home spa experience,
flip through this issue or visit www.shareguide.com.Janice Hughes is the
editor of The Share Guide and a great lover of spas, bodycare products,
and essential oils. For resources to create your home spa experience,
flip through this issue or visit www.shareguide.com.Janice Hughes is the
editor of The Share Guide and a great lover of spas, bodycare products,
and essential oils. For resources to create your home spa experience,
flip through this issue or visit www.shareguide.com.Janice Hughes is the
editor of The Share Guide and a great lover of spas, bodycare products,
and essential oils. For resources to create your home spa experience,
flip through this issue or visit www.shareguide.com.Janice Hughes is the
editor of The Share Guide and a great lover of spas, bodycare products,
and essential oils. For resources to create your home spa experience,
flip through this issue or visit www.shareguide.com.Chamomile - a gentle oil with
a powerful aroma. It’s great for stress relief, muscle aches, and
irritated skin.
Neroli - with a sweet, intense aroma, neroli has long been a classic
remedy for stress. It helps to combat depression, relax the mind, and
soothe the nervous system.
Bergamot - this delicious smelling essential oil is great for creating
a more relaxed and happy feeling, relieving urinary tract infections,
and fighting oily skin, acne, psoriasis, and other skin conditions.
Geranium - this oil has a sweet, floral aroma that resembles rose. It
is said to have a calming effect on both emotional and physical
conditions.
Lavender - this oil has a distinct and wonderful floral scent. It
combats stress and crisis, while the antiseptic properties help with
cold, flu, and other ailments.
Frankincense - this oil has a wonderfully calming effect on the mind
and helps to create inner peace, while helping to soothe the
respiratory and urinary tract and relieve pain associated with
rheumatism and muscular aches.
Orange - creates a feeling of happiness and warmth, while calming
nervous digestive problems. Orange also helps with colds and flu, and
eliminating toxins.
Clary sage - although expensive, clary sage oil is great for easing
depression and nervous burn-out. It’s also recommended by
practitioners for a host of female complaints and for relieving
congested complexions.
Lemon - this clean smelling citrus essential oil is not only good for
helping you make decisions and improving concentration, but it also
cuts down on acidity in the body.
Peppermint - refreshing and cooling, this oil is a highly effective
mental stimulant. It also reduces skin redness and calms skin
irritation and itchiness.
During or after your herbal bath, try doing a mini
facial with a good quality mask, toner, and moisturizer. There are lots
of great bodycare products available that are made with strictly
natural ingredients--several of them featured in this magazine.
After you get out of your bath, don’t just
rush back to your normal routine. Try doing 15-20 minutes of gentle
stretching or yoga. It’s a great time for this because your
muscles will be relaxed and pliant from the bath.
Next consider a short meditation session, or follow
along with a guided meditation CD. It’s important to allow
yourself time to transition back to your normal day. Why not
follow up by making yourself a nice, healthy spa-style meal? If you
have the time, I’m envisioning a green salad with lots of raw
veggies, a piece of salmon, and a glass of fresh vegetable juice. If
you don’t like to cook, buy something already prepared and have
it on hand to complete your day of pampering.
Janice
Hughes is the
editor of The Share Guide and
a great lover of spas, bodycare products,
and essential oils. For resources to create your home spa experience,
explore www.shareguide.com.
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