Give your body rest from the physical, emotional and chemical strains of every day life. We will be recreating the effects of a health Spa in your own home.
What stress does to you?
Modern lifestyles can play havoc with our health and good looks. Few thinks undermine our sense of wellbeing more then too much stress. Feeling rushed and frazzled most of the time slowly depletes our energy reserves so we are tired even before the day has begun. Relying on cups of coffee for an energy boost, glasses of wine to unwind and over processed foods for convenience creates more problems than is solves as the body struggles to deal with this props.
The effects of unhealthy diet are familiar - vitality dwindles, skin losses radiance, cellulite settles, insomnia etc. We tend to think that only way to re-charge our batteries is 2 weeks holiday in Caribbean, that restores skin glow again... At these time Covid-19 scrapped our plans for holidays any time soon, however this Homemade Spa weekend can do you just as good as holidays.
Back to the Nature:
The homemade spa regime is based on natural approach promise of right environment for body to revive and heal itself. A wholesome diet like fresh fruits and vegetable is important part in this experience. The idea is to give the liver, kidneys and intestines a much needed rest so they can do job properly. The natural treatments are all designed to help cleansing process. Water is extremely therapeutic. It is important that you drink at least 2 litres of water during this process. Water detoxifying, cleansing, and purifying body within. Replace you coffee or black tea with herbal teas like - Peppermint, Chamomile, Nettle, Milk Thistle as these teas cleanse digestive system and help kidneys to detoxify.
Eat Blueberries, Strawberries, Raspberries as they full of natural anti-oxidants.
Relaxation is just as important part of this spa experience as the therapeutic activities. Specialist realize that tension can prevent digestive organs from functioning as well as they should. This spa experience is good opportunity to take time and indulge in total relaxation. Discover magic of switching off as this is important for restoring your energy reserves when ever they running low......
FACT:
TOXINS - Waste products formed by our bodies by creating energy, digesting food, transport blood as we use our muscles. These by-products are processed and eliminated by organs such as liver, kindeys, intestines, lungs and skin.
Our Homemade Spa Schedule:
9.00am - ON RISING - sit up or stand and stretch and breath.
9.30am - Body Brushing and hot and cold body splash
10.00am - Breakfast
11.00am - Facial treatment: steam clean, purifiyng face mask, moisturise
1.00pm - LUNCH
2.00pm - Relaxing visualization
3.00pm - Hair and scalp treatment
4.30pm - Walk - go for relaxing outdoor experience for 20 to 30 minutes on your own.
When return from walk have a sip of cleasing herbal tea - Peppermint
6.00pm - DINNER
7.00pm - Balancing Body scrub and homemade bath soak.
8.00pm - Anti-cellulite massage, stretches, and gentle exercises.
Cleansing herbal tea before bed: Chamomile
9.00AM:
Stretch and breath:
Stretching is one of the best techniques to relieve tension in muscles that could interferes with blood flow and lymph and can play a key role in build-up cellulite. Taking deep breath draws oxygen deep in to lungs and oxygen can reach every cell in the body.
- Technique 1: Stand straight, with your arms raised above your head. Breath in and stand on your tiptoes reaching towards the sky. Hold for 10 seconds, breath out and release. Repeat.
- Technique 2: Stand with your hands clasped behind your back. Breath in and bend forward, stretching your hands up to the sky. Relax your head down and hold for 10 seconds, then breath out and come up slowly in to standing position. Repeat twice more.
9.30AM:
Body Brushing, hot and cold showering and body splash
Body Brushing:
Using dry natural-bristle brush to buff the body smoothness and soften skin by removing away dead skin cells. It stimulates the blood circulation giving skin heathy pink glow. Firm sweeping strokes boost the flow of the lymph. Each day before shower brush your whole body (not your face) for 5 minutes. Begin with your arms brushing up from wrist towards the shoulders and armpits. Lightly brush from down the neck across the shoulders and down the chest. Lightly circle the stomach clockwise with smaller movements and brush down your back as far as you can reach. Finally brush up the legs from the feet to the thighs and hips and up over your bottom. Your skin may feel very sensitive at first but after several days you will be able to apply reasonable pressure to reach deeper tissue.
Hot and cold showering:
This classic hydro-therapy treatment involves running and gentle stream of water over the body. Your standard shower head will do the trick and it works wonders on blood circulation.
Begin with warm shower. Switch to cold water only and using small circling movements. Spray diggerent areas of body concentrating especially on the hips, bottom and upper thighs. Keep on the cold for about 20 seconds before changing back to warm water for further 1-2 minutes, then changing back to cold water again. Dry yourself and wrap towel around you and lie down on your bed for at least 10 minutes. Your skin will feel tingly and fresh.
Body Splash:
Refresh your senses with uplifting body splash. Before you get dressed apply this toning water on your body - avoid eyes.
Recipe:
500ml spring water
10ml vodka
5 drops of Lemon Essential Oil
5 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
10 drops of Lavender Essential oil
Add the oils in to the vodka and shake well to blend. Add to the water and decant in to a bottle. Pour and small amount in to your hand and pat onto the skin all over the body. If you using spray bottle - spray on lightly. Shut your eyes and spray lightly on to the face.
10.00am
BREAKFAST TIME
Have a healthy light breakfast. Start with Peppermint tea, Good suggestions are: Bowl of fresh fruit, Porridge, Sugar free Granola, Slice of whole meal toast with avocado. Take a time while eating. Avoid and distractions like mobile phone, TV etc.
11.00am
Facial treatment, steam clean, purrifying face mask, tone and moisturise.
Facial treatment and steam clean:
A wonderful way to clarify and refine delicate facial skin. Put 2 litres of water in to sauce pan, sprinkle in 1 tbsp of fresh or dry lavender flowers or rose petals and bring to the boil, then simmer for 2-3 minutes. Take off the heat and leave to cool for little while. Put a towel over your head and bend over the steam. This will open the pores on the face and coax out impurities. After 5 minutes pat away any moisture droplets and apply your face mask evenly put 2 slices of fresh cucumber over your eyes. And relax for 20 minutes.
Face mask:
Purifying face mask recipe:
2 tbsp of white or green clay
Spring water
1 tbsp fine oat meal
5 ml honey
Sprig of fresh mint finally chopped
Place a clay in a bowl and stir in small amounts spring water to make a smooth paste. Stir in oat meal, honey and crushed mint leaves.
(Apply for 15-20 minutes) Avoid contact with eyes.
Tone and moisturise:
Use a piece of muslin cloth pre-soaked in warm water to wipe away the mask. Apply rose water for dry skin, orange flower water (normal/sensitive), Witch Hazel (oily skin) as toner, followed by your usual moisturiser.
1.00pm
Lunch: Select light lunch with plenty of fresh vegetables, low in saturated fats, no processed food is recommended. Try to incorporate 1 of your 5 a day. Nice piece of fish would be nice like: Pan Fried Salmon with asparagus, capers, broccoli and kale. Or chicken salad (boiled or grilled chicken) Olive oil for dressing. Avoid any processed dressings like Caesar dressing etc.
2.00pm
Relaxing visualization:
Deep relaxation is wonderful feeling of being in piece with yourself and the world. Techniques such as meditation need to be practice for a while to reap the benefits , but visualization is great for first-timers because its just like day dreaming.
Shut your eyes and picture a special place which symbolizes stillness and security - either somewhere you know or an imaginary place such as an empty white beach with palm trees and blue sea.
Now try to sense the sun on your skin, a breeze in your hair, and the sound of lapping waves.
This allows you to be in this dream world, free to beachcomb of float on a raft or do what ever. But make sure you are alone. If you find day dreaming difficult use creative visualization guidance (there is plenty on YouTube)
3.00pm
Hair and Scalp Treatment:
A scalp massage is relaxing treatment which stimulates the blood supply to the hair follicles.
Stimulating Scalp Oil:
45ml Sweet Almond Oil
3 drops Rosemary Essential oil
5 drops Lavender Essential oil
Pour a little stimulating scalp oil in to your palm and massage in to your scalp with circular movements before washing your hair. Focus your efforts on top and back of your head where most tension is held. Massage for 5 minutes, then wrap your head in a warm, damp towel as to deep condition hair itself. Leave for 20-30 minutes, shampoo and rinse.
To add gloss to your hair, comb 30 to 60ml Aloe Vera gel. Leave for 10 minutes then rinse out.
6.00pm
Dinner:
Choose light but substantial dinner. Avoid and processed food high in carbohydrates and fat. Choose light salad. Steamed vegetables, white meat like chicken or fish. Avoid any distraction. Don't forget drink plenty of water and avoid any alcoholic drinks also fizzy sugary drinks.
7.00pm
Balancing Body scrub and Bath soak:
Balancing body scrub is a pre-bath treatment to cleanse and refine and soften skin.
1 handful of fine oatmeal
1 handful of coarse sea salt
4 drops of Grapefruit Essential Oil
4 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
Mix oatmeal and seasalt together in small bowl, then add the essential oil. Rub over the body especially rough areas such as the knees, elbows, and backs of heels. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry.
Homemade Bath Soak,
A few beauty products companies now sell seaweed powder. So look out for it in major department stores, beauty salons and chemist. Rich in marine nutrients including iodine, it seems to improve the metabolism. Massage your skin with the muslin bag while you relax in the bath.
2 handfuls dry seaweed powder or Epsom salt (tied up in muslin)
1 handful coarse sea salt
6 drops Juniper Essential Oil
6 drops Lemon Essential Oil
6 drops Grapefruit Essential Oil
Toss the muslin bag (or Epsom salts) and sea salt into bathful of hot water. Add the essential oils. Soak in it for at least 20 minutes, topping up with hot water to keep temperature constant.
8.00pm
Anti-cellulite massage:
30 ml Sweet Almond Oil
8 drops Juniper Essential Oil (avoid if pregnant)
10 drops Grapefruit Essential Oil
Mix the carrier oil and essential oils together in a small dish or cup and pour in to amber dripper bottle. To use, pour a small quantity in to palms and massage in to your hips, thighs, bottom and stomach. Use squeezing movements as if kneading bread and use your knuckles in small circular movements over the areas.
I hope that you enjoy your lock down Spa day in comfort in your own house. As you follow full schedule or just pick and choose treatments that you fancy I really hope you enjoy it!!!
You can find me on Facebook: Jerry's Garden or other social media under the same name. I source inspiration and information for this blog from: Holistic Health magazine.
Happy Spa Day
Jerry