A few self-care ideas
The following suggestions are just meant give you some ideas on things you can do on your own to relax. If you have any medical issues, please consult your doctor first!
Have a cup of herbal tea
Chamomile is perfect for relaxing. Make sure you cover your teacup/mug while it is steeping, so the essential oils don’t escape and evaporate with the steam.
Soak your feet in a mini-Epsom salts bath
Fill a small tub with warm water and 1/2 cup Epsom salts. You can use a few drops of essential oil (in massage school, we used Olbas herbal bath), and soak for about 10-15 minutes. Epsom salts also make a great scrub for the legs and feet, so you could pour some of that 1/2 cup into your palm, add a few drops of water to make a paste, and then rub it into your skin before plunking your feet into the tub of water–just remember to do it all over the tub so the excess falls into the water!
Massage your face and scalp
Pretty self-explanatory, but a wonderful experience nonetheless. Using the pads of your fingertips, gently press and mush your facial tissue around in small circles. Don’t forget the eyebrows and around the ears and jaw. This will help release tension and increase circulation in these frequently used muscles.
Alternate nostril breathing
It’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it, and like the previous tip, you always have this practice right at your fingertips (hee hee!). Block off your right nostril and breathe in through your left nostril. Next block the left nostril, release the right, and exhale through the right nostril. Inhale through the right, block the right nostril, release the left, and finally exhale through the left side. You have now completed one round. Aim to complete 5 to 10 rounds. You can learn more about the technique here.
Tapping (EFT)
The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a great way to relieve stress quickly and easily, just by tapping on a few specific points on the face and upper body. This free downloadable CD (http://www.thetappingsolution.com/blog/eft-stress-relief-audios/) teaches you what to do, and then leads you through some guided meditations for the morning and evening. I’ve been using it for several years, and especially love the morning session–it really helps me start the day off on the right foot.
