Stress Busting Home Spa Plan

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When the weekend approaches, instead of collapsing in front of the television on Friday evening, shake off the week’s stress by making your own spa plan to leave you refreshed, revitalized and ready to make the most of the weekend.

You will need:

• sea salt
• sweet almond oil
• pure essential oils of sandalwood, rose, lavender, neroli and ylang ylang
• small bathside candles or floating candles and a glass bowl
• bottled water or freshly squeezed fruit juice
• organic whole milk
• dried or fresh rose petals and lavender flowers
• natural sponge
• 2 large bath towels and 1 hand towel
• plastic sheet
• thick blanket and 2 hot water bottles
• single cotton sheet
• herbal tea
• burner (optional)
• natural bristle brush
• cushions

Lavender Salt Scrub Recipe

• 2 tbsp sea salt
• 2 tbsp sweet almond oil
• 8 drops pure lavender essential oil

Place the sea salt in a bowl and stir in the sweet almond oil and lavender essential oil.

Tranquility Massage Oil Recipe

• 1 tbsp sweet almond oil
• 4 drops pure sandalwood essential oil
• 4 drops pure lavender essential oil

Pour the almond oil into a small glass or china bowl, add the essential oils and mix

Inner Peace Bath Milk Recipe

• 2 tbsp organic whole milk
• 4 drops pure neroli essential oil
• 4 drops pure rose essential oil
• 4 drops pure ylang ylang essential oil

Mix the essential oils with the milk and pour into the bath.

1. Body Scrub - 10 minutes

Start with an all over exfoliating treatment to get rid of flaky cells and prepare your skin for absorbing essential oils during the bath soak. On a psychological level, this symbolizes shedding the old and making way for the new. It’s a bit messy, so do it in the shower or sitting on the side of the bath. Scoop a little Lavender Sea Salt or any other homemade exfoliants in your hand and massage it over your body, especially on rough areas. Sponge off with warm water, or shower.

2. Bath Soak - 20 minutes

Turn on the taps, light candles and place a glass of spring water or juice beside the bath. When nearly full, add the Inner Peace Bath Milk and a handful of rose petals and lavender flowers. Step in and lie down so the water gently laps around your face. While soaking, recall any stressful events of the week, then visualize them drifting away. Soak for 20 minutes and sip your drink. Wrap yourself in a warm, fluffy towel and towel dry your hair.

3. Head And Foot Massage - 20 minutes

Pour a little Tranquility Massage Oil into your hand and massage it into the scalp. Start at the temples and around the hairline, then work over the crown, back of the head and neck. Wrap your hair in a towel and wash your hands. Now stroke a little oil over your face. Combine circling and stroking movements with light finger pressure on the temples and around the eyes. Use quick, scissoring movements over the forehead and little squeezes along the jaw line with the thumb and finger. For the final 10 minutes massage your feet or have a footbath.

4. Body Heat Wrap - 20 minutes

Like a mini sauna, this wrap encourages your body to throw off waste products and melts away tension. Lay a plastic sheet, then a thick blanket, on your bed or sofa and place two filled hot water bottles within easy reach. Soak the cotton sheet in warm water, wring it out and lay it over the blanket. Now lie down on top of the sheet and wrap it around you as best as you can (or ask your friend to tuck you in). Place one hot water bottle by your feet, the other on your tummy, and pull the blanket over you. After 20 minutes, peel back the layers and slip into a robe or loose clothing.

5. Tea Break - 10 minutes

Make a herbal tea, sweeten it with honey if you prefer and sip a cup or two.

6. Clearing Your Mind - 20 minutes

Put a few drops of sandalwood essential oil in a burner or cup of boiling water. Sit on the floor using cushions to make yourself comfortable. Position a candle or bowl of floating candles just in front of you. Let your gaze be drawn to the flickering flames. Watch them until they appear hazy and then slowly close your eyes. Try to keep the image in your mind’s eye. If your thoughts start to wander, open your eyes slightly, reconnect and begin again.

7. Stretching Out - 10 minutes

This will release any residual tension in your muscles.

• Stand with your arms raised over your head. Breathe in and go up on tip toes, reaching straight up. Hold for 10 seconds, breathe out and release.
• Now loosely clasp your hands behind your back. Breathe in and bend forwards, drawing your hands up to the ceiling. Hold for 10 seconds, breathe out and release.
• Sit on the floor, legs stretched out in front, feet together. Breathe in and bend forwards to grasp your feet, letting your head fall to your knees. Hold for 10 seconds, breathe out and come up.

8. Body Brushing - 5 minutes

This will boost your circulation to leave your skin feeling refreshed and tingling. Begin by brushing up the arms. Next brush down the neck, across the shoulders and down the chest. Using a small, circular strokes, circle around the stomach (up the right side and down the left) and brush down your back. Finally brush from the feet up the legs to the hips and over the buttocks.

9. Hot And Cold Showering - 5 minutes

Finally, take a long warm shower and wash your hair. Switch briefly to cold water for about 20 seconds to invigorate mind and body, then back to warm water for a further 1 to 2 minutes. Finish with a burst of cold, and dry yourself briskly with a towel.

Enjoy your weekend!

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