The body is a mind reader. When the mind is unclear with stress, fatigue, worry, anxiety, and fear, the body will put these feelings on display with an uneasy stomach, dull skin, weight issues, breakouts, and body aches (often in the low back and shoulders).
As yogis, we often put emphasis on the care of our planet and our community first. Before caring for ourselves, even! Self care is of utmost importance for optimal health.
One simple way to ensure self care is to reduce the requirements of a full spa day or complete day of silence and meditation to really honour your self. Small, frequent acts of self love can have more impact than a big lavish affair. Take five minutes in your day to centre yourself by closing your eyes and breathing deeply.
A daily yoga practice has the power to impact your mental health as well as your physical well being. Be sure to see our schedule to find a class that inspires and uplifts you to pursue your best self care!
Below, find some of my favourite homemade recipes to bring the spa to your home for the day.
Recipes:
invigorating body scrub
Mix equal parts sea salt and organic coffee grinds (one cup of each). Stir in a half amount of coconut oil (half cup). Add a few drops of peppermint, lemon, and sweet orange essential oils.
Use weekly by massaging into elbows, knees, hamstrings, and all over the feet.
Thalassotherapy
Soaking in sea water. An ancient and potent practice that relaxes the spirit.
Mix a few drops of lavender essential oil into a cup of Epsom salts and add to your bath or a large bowl for a foot soak.
Relax and absorb the benefits of trace elements and healing lavender.
Add a cup of organic dried seaweed (dulce) to your bath or a large bowl for a foot bath. The saltier the seaweed, the better! Seaweed has healing properties and is excellent for nourishing the skin.
After either soak, massage a simple lotion (coconut oil, shea butter) into the skin. For an even deeper skin therapy, precede your soak with dry brushing the entire body.
Homemade honey face mask
Mix half a part of coconut oil to a full part of organic local raw honey (half cup honey to quarter cup coconut oil). Add a squeeze of lemon juice and smooth over a clean face. Sit back and relax (this mask will warm with your body temperature, so it’s best to have a towel wrapped around your shoulders) as the antibacterial and moisturizing benefits of honey and coconut oil do their job!