Supernatural Botanicals

As it turns out, meditation does more than relax the mind and body, it also kicks pain to the curb.  Wake Forest University School of Medicine confirms what we meditation-enthusiasts have known for years…that many of the body’s problems can be alleviated by meditation.  They concluded in a recent study that people who had a pain-inducing heating device placed on their legs were able to reduce the hurt by 40%, simply by meditating.  In comparison, morphine only decreases pain by about 25%.

Subjects in the study used the “focused attention” technique.  You can achieve this by closing your eyes, breathing through your nose, and concentrating on the air coming in and going out.  The more you practice, the better it works.  It also sharpens your focus, lowers your blood pressure, and zaps stress.

Did you know that anxiety causes an upsurge in stress hormones that can worsen acne or other skin conditions?

If you skin is prone to breakouts and rashes, it’s time to check your body/mind/soul meter.

It’s scientifically proven that stress can cause skin eruptions and even make you susceptible to deadly  diseases.

If this is happening to you, put yourself on your to-do list and get serious about about having some downtime doing something that relaxes you (yoga or Pilates is so good for this.)  After all, your beauty is at risk here, girlfriend.

Finally, Friday is here which is code for the beginning of the weekend and “mandatory downtime”.   Take some time to relax.  Take some time for a facial.  Take some time for a bubble bath.  Take some time to rearrange your shoe closet.  Take some time to do an hour of yoga.  But most of all, make sure you melt into your down time so you can decompress and energize.  That’s what weekends are for, girl! 

From the LOVE THAT files:  One of my secret relaxation tools is mood music.  I’ve found this cool website that provides streaming music to suit your mood.  There are especially cool genres to choose from like Dinner with Friends, Reading, Sunday Morning, Sexy, etc.  Check out www.Stereomood.com  and find the music that suits your mood. 

If you feel overwhelmed and stressed on a regular basis, there’s no need to go running for the Prozac.  Your body has a built in mechanism that de-stresses you without pharmaceuticals.  Did you know that deep breathing (at least five seconds in, and five seconds out) can slow your central nervous system and help wash calm over your body and mind?  Simply breathing in and out slowly, with intent, for several minutes does wonders to calm the central nervous system.  Skip the drugs and utilize what your body already has…maybe you just haven’t tapped into yet?

Want happiness?  Try music.  Music activates parts of the brain that can trigger happiness, releasing endorphins similar to the ways that sex and food do.  Music can also relax the body, sometimes into sleep, as it stimulates the brain’s release of melatonin.

A study of older adults who listened to their choice of music during outpatient eye surgery showed that they had significantly lower heart rates and blood pressure, and their hearts did not work as hard as those who underwent surgery without music. A second study of patients undergoing colonoscopy showed that listening to their selection of music reduced their anxiety levels and lessened the dosage required for sedation.

Case in point, listen to this song and try not to start immediately salsa dancing.  It’s absolutely impossible to listen to this song and not start instantly dancing.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO0R_QTnKzA

   Have you had enough yet?  The cooking, the entertaining, the cleaning, the Black Friday shopping, the pleasing everyone under the sun…have you had enough yet?  Remember to take some time to calm your mind from the madness during the holiday season.  Whether you are a fan of Yoga or not, this pose, Child’s Pose, helps to calm your mind and quiet your body.  Find a quiet spot, breathe deeply, and relax into Child’s Pose to regroup your thoughts, recharge your batteries, and calm the stress. 

 I’m always searching magazines and websites for spa recipes; recipes for spa foods and spa therapeutic treatments.  I like to recreate this environment at home.  I want to live like this everyday, not just when I have a day at the spa.  Live beautifully.  Burn your candles.  Use your guest towels.  Use your Spa Soaps (and Debbie, I’m talking to you!  ha!)  Use your good silver every day.  And apply practices and principals that luxury spas use to your everyday life at home.   It makes you feel prettier and happier! 

Try this at home:  Herb-Infused Spa Water.  Courtesy of Sunset Magazine.

In a 2- to 2 1/2-quart pitcher, combine 6 cups chilled still spring or mineral water; 12 thin slices cucumber; 4 thin slices lemon; 4 sprigs (each 2 in. long) fresh mint, slightly crushed; and 2 sprigs (each 2 in. long) fresh rosemary, slightly crushed.

Makes about 1 1/2 quarts; about 4 servings.

     For those of you with huge roman style tubs with jets forceful enough to send you sliding to the other side of the tub….I’m jealous!   Have you noticed that almost everyone who has them says “we never use it.”  Why, I ask you, why?  It’s such an indulgence, such a treat, to have a huge soaking tub in the convenience of your home.

With all the sensational bath oils, bubble baths, essential oils, and sea salts/bath salts available to you, and all the excellent benefits that a long soak can bring, such as sexy soft skin, a relaxed body, and calm mind, it’s time to entertain the thought of taking a bath (as opposed to shower) once again. 

    Bath Salts, also known as Sea Salts, have incredible healing power.  Sea Salts are known to draw toxins out of the body, nourish the skin with minerals, remove impurities from the skin, help to relieve stress, melt away tension, and soothe aching muscles and pains.   In fact, I formulated this product as a result of post-workout muscle aches.  My doctor told me of the benefits of sea salts when I told him how sore my muscles were from a strenuous workout.  However, I knew I wanted extra benefits such as super soft skin as well.  Our Sore Muscle Soak Sea Salts were formulated with the skin softening properties of Jojoba, Sesame, Rice Bran, Apricot Kernel, and Sweet Almond oils to condition and moisturize the skin thoroughly and Organic Lavender Essential Oil to calm the mind and relax the body. 

Light some candles, put on some smooth jazz, and slip into a tub of botanicals.  Take some me-time.  We indulge far too often in all the wrong things.  Start indulging in things that are beneficial to your mind and body.   It’s good for you and good for those around you.

 Here are a few luxurious baths taken straight from the pages of my personal collection of dream baths.