We are all guilty of putting ourselves last from time to time. Living such busy lives with over-booked schedules we often find ourselves living to please others rather than doing what makes us happy.
Its very honourable to look after others, however it is important to take care of yourself so that you have the mind, body, spirit wellness and balance to give to others.
Every three months or so block out your calendar, arrange to have the house to yourself and give yourself a pampering DIY day spa experience.
I live across the road from a beautiful fresh water lake that gets its water from the melting snow that comes from the alpine mountains that surround the lake. It truly is the highlight of my day when I go for my daily swim. Every swim is a cleansing experience, bringing me an abundance of healing and self-centreing.
Water has long been associated with healing and well being, a relaxing bath, rejuvenating shower or a nurturing ocean swim always leaves our bodies feeling reinvigorated and vibrant. I urge you to take for yourself every so often a day to indulge in the healing powers of water – often refered to as Thalassotherapy. If you don't live near a lake or water - why not treat yourself to a one or two night getaway to somewhere that has beautiful beaches or pristine lakes.
If you can't get away alone - then a swim in your local pool plus a long soak in the bath will bring with it many healing benefits.
Inspired by the ocean, thalassotherapy uses water and marine extracts to heal and rejuvenate the body. Here is my program – please enjoy
Create a sacred space
The night before your at home spa day ensure that your home is clean and clutter free, you want to just focus on you for the day. For ideas read my guide on how to create a sacred space. If you are able to plan a few days ahead you may want to treat yourself to one of our Snowy Mountains Pamper Packs to help create a healing and nurturing sanctum.
When you wake up
Start the day with a few slices of lemon and a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of hot water to kick start and stimulate your body for the day.
Sip this mindfully, savouring every sip. As Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us,
“Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves – slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. Live the actual moment. Only this moment is life.”
It is important to create a mindful morning ritual. This isn't something you do on your pampering days but something you do everyday. Once you have woken your body up with the warm lemon and apple cider tea spend some time luxuriating in your morning ritual. For ideas on how to create a morning ritual read this blog post.
For the day ditch all caffeinated beverages such as coffee and cola, replace them with water and herbal teas.
Give your skin a boost
Prepare yourself 3 litres of water in one or two glass jugs. During the day keep this close to you so that you can sip on it slowly over the course of the day. By drinking 3 litres of water, this will plump out fine lines and wrinkles and give your face a refreshed look.
To spice up your water add lemon, lime, orange, blueberries, mint, strawberries or cucumber. Also its really refreshing to brew up some herbal tea and put it in the fridge for a cold pick-me-up drink during the day.
Do a little yoga or some gentle stretches
After you have completed your morning ritual spend 45 minutes warming up your body with some restorative yoga or gentle stretches. This is such an energising yet grounding way to greet the day. If you need a little motivation to get into yoga then read all about its mind and body benefits over at my blog post Yoga For The Mind Body + Soul
Fuel your day
For Breakfast make yourself a smoothie, I personally like green smoothies (my favorite is kale, banana, chia seeds, coconut water and mango all blended together with love) however any smoothie will do. If you are still hungry make yourself a bowl of hot oats made with almond milk, chia seeds, hemp seeds, cinnamon and berries.
Some other breakfast ideas are:
Take an ocean or lake swim
Take a moment to connect with nature and play in mother earths best playground. If you don’t have an ocean or lake near you then go to your local pool. Swimming is very therapeutic and it is a relaxing way to tone your body. This is your moment to connect with your mind, breath and inner wisdom. Spend 45 minutes connecting with the rhythm of your body, feel the minerals of the water nourishing your skin, bringing a radiant glow to your complexion.
- Backstroke is very relaxing and is great for your shoulders.
- Breaststroke is excellent for toning upper arms and inner thighs
- Freestyle/front crawl is a great aerobic work out, this stroke tones the arms and works on the shoulders and upper back muscles.
Nurture your body
Spend an hour or so getting lost in something that nurtures your mind and body. This can be anything from meditation, gardening, making beauty products, giving yourself a facial to listening to your favourite podcast. Here are a few of my favourites:
- Make yourself a herbal lavender deodorant. Get the unbelievably easy recipe here
- Treat yourself to a divine herbal steam facial. Check out our DIY herbal steam facial here
- Give yourself a DIY pedicure. Read our article here
- Spend a little time perfecting your eyebrows. Beautiful eyebrows frame the face. Get our eyebrow guide here
- Give your hair a nourishing treatment. Check out our post on holistic tips for beautiful hair
- Spend a little time pondering the thought "Become less so you can become more". Our purpose in life is to just be and live in the moment. Read our inspiring guide for doing just this
- Spend some time in gratitude. Here are just a few ideas on how you can do that.
Nourish yourself
Lunch time make yourself a nourishing salad that will feed your mind, body and soul. My personal favorite is spinach leaves; avocado, baby tomatoes and grilled asparagus drizzled in olive oil and freshly cracked pepper. Alternatively you may want to make yourself some vegetarian sushi. Other recipes you may enjoy are:
Brush and detox
Before you start your spa treatments, spend five minutes body brushing. Use either a natural body brush or hemp mit. Starting at your feet gently brush your body, using an upward stroke towards the heart, gradually making your way up your whole body and don’t forget your arms. Body brushing stimulates the lymphatic system, gets your blood flowing and helps remove toxins. It is important to remember that while you are brushing your body, you must love and honor your body, and refrain from any judgement or criticism. Discover the benefits and techniques of body brushing here.
A seaweed body wrap
Breathe in tranquility and bliss as you wrap yourself up in the warmth of a healing body wrap. Body wraps are one of the most popular treatments in spas due to their detoxifying properties. Seaweed has multiple benefits for the skin and body including firming, hydrating, and increasing the bodies circulation to aid in inner detoxification. A seaweed body wrap is also rich in negative ions which restores and re energises your body.
You will need:
1 tsp dried seaweed
250 ml of water
2 tbsp kaolin clay
1 tbsp rose water
2 tbsp macadamia oil
1 tbsp organic honey
1 drop of essential peppermint oil
2 drops of essential sandalwood oil
1 drop of essential lavender oil
1 drop of essential sage oil
A Warm towel or sarong to wrap up in
- Boil the seaweed in the water for five minutes and then leave to cool.
- Combine the kaolin, rose water, macadamia oil and the honey to the cooled water.
- Then add the essential oils.
- Mix together well.
- Smooth the ingredients over your body and wrap yourself up in a warm towel or sarong.
- Leave on for twenty minutes.
- Rinse off under the shower.
Time for a marine soak
After the body wrap indulge a restorative and detoxifying marine soak
You will need:
100 g of dried seaweed
125ml of boiling water
3 drops of pure essential lavender oil
- Dissolve the seaweed as much as possible in the hot water and then add to a warm bath
- Add the lavender oil
- Put on some music inspired by nature and the sea
- Light some candles and relax
- Soak for at least 20 minutes
- Dry off
- Pamper your body by massaging in a natural marine inspired body cream
- Get warm and drink lots of water afterwoods to aid the detoxification process.
Relax time
After your bath relax with a good book, meditate, write a personal affirmation, daydream or spend some time in nature. Whatever it is that you decide to do, make sure you enjoy the simple pleasure of just being in the moment.
Now it is time to connect with nature and yourself
Dress in some comfy clothes and plan a leisurely walk in the park, by the beach, or at a nature reserve near your home. You are going to nurture yourself by taking a walk with a different point of view. Walk in awareness with soft eyes, feeling your connection to the Earth Mother. Look around and if something catches your eye like a bird, cloud or flower, take a moment to observe it more closely. See its simple beauty.
Make yourself a nourishing meal
Maybe a hot hearty soup to warm your soul. My favourite is lentil, onions, veggie stock, carrot, broccoli and pumpkin. Savour every bite of your meal, imagine your body being nourished with each spoonful as the vitamins flow into your body and feed your cells. Or you could make yourself some brown rice sushi.
Spend the evening in self-love
Make your favourite herbal tea, burn your favourite essential oils and set your creative inspiration free. Create a vision board, a diary of possibilities or de-clutter a room to create space for new things to enter your life.
End the blissful day with some sweet dreams
Unwind with a cup of holistic delight: blend cacao, stevia, coconut water, coconut milk and cashews and drink either cold or hot. If you prefer brew yourself a peppermint or chamomile tea. Light some candles put on some soothing music and soak in a epsom lavender bath until your heart’s content. Epsom salt baths are considered an alternative medicine. Here are just a few of the benefits they provide:
•Beneficial if you are magnesium deficient
•Can relax the nervous system.
•Treat skin problems.
•Draw toxins from the body.
•Relieves tense muscles
•Relaxes your senses.
•Provides a restful nights sleep
When you have had enough, dry yourself off, rub in some coconut oil and put on some clean pyjamas. Before retiring for the day make sure you write down in your gratitude journal three things that you are grateful for. Put on an audio track with ocean sounds, close your eyes, take a mindful breath and get lost in your dreams.