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Deep Relaxation
Health | March 31, 2015
Relaxation is a vital part of my healthy and active lifestyle. So many people underestimate the importance of mindful stress relieving rituals, because they view it more as a luxury and there’s only so much time in the day. Luckily I don’t need to compromise too much, because my relaxation routine is just as short and effective as my workouts. If you can do this twice or three times a week you’ll feel amazing.
Drink Herbal Home Made Tea
Maker yourself a special, stress relieving home made tea. Chamomile and ginger blend is a natural source of calm and relaxation. I suggest whole dried chamomile flowers over processed chamomile leaves in sachets. You can buy the dried flowers at farmers markets, specialty tea shops, or even well stocked grocery stores. I use 3-4 whole dried chamomile flowers and a 1 and 1/2 inch fresh, and peeled ginger root cut into 1/4 inch disks, per 4 cups of boiling hot water. Let the tea sit for about 5 minutes until the water becomes infused with the blend of soothing and spicy flavors.
Take a Detox Bath
While you’re waiting for your tea, you can start preparing your detox bath with epsom salt. My favorite kind is pharmaceutical grade lavender scented epsom salt. I add 1 cup of salt into my bath for deep relaxation. The health benefits of epsom salts have been known for hundreds of years, and include relaxing the nervous system, relieve inflammation, ease pain, curing skin problems, and drawing toxins from your body. Epsom salts are the perfect treatment for your sore muscles, which may occur here and there if you’re active or if you’re following my workout schedule. The benefits of epsom salts are not only skin deephowever. Epsom salt is absorbed through the skin and replenishes the amount of magnesium in the body, you may have lost during stress periods that drained your body of important minerals. Magnesium is known to create a feeling of calm by helping to produce serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical that enhances the sense of deep relaxation. I’ve noticed that following this ritual at least 3 times a week has been helping me to feel better and gain more energy for my training, which makes sense because the magnesium content in epsom salts encourage the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) which increases energy and stamina. You can also make your own detox beauty scrub out of the epsom salt, as it has an amazing healing and soothing effect on your skin and complexion.
Nourish Your Mind
Sometimes I just like to light up some candles, dim the light and enjoy my bath quietly or with an ambient music playing softly in the background and focus on my dreams and everything that I’m grateful for. Keeping a positive look on life and good attitude has helped so many times through tough situations, that it’s something I try to work on consistently. It’s not always easy and it requires some mental training, but it is just as worth the effort as it is to exercise your body. If my thoughts start to spin and it’s hard for me to focus on the positive, I pick up an interesting book to give my mind a break. Reading is a great way to nourish your mind and exercise your imagination and creativity. Sometimes I get lost in an interesting story and after 15 minutes I can’t even remember what I was stressing about.
Private Member |
Just what I needed to hear!!! You are a mind reader Zuzka.
Private Member |
lake tahoe, nv, usa
Haha maybe I am 😉
Private Member |
I do pretty much the exact same things as you do to destress. I’ve also found a huge reduction in muscle soreness and overall nervous system relaxation since I started to take Epsom baths and magnesium supplements.
On a similar, but different topic, I also tend to crave 85% dark chocolate. This is well known to contain a lot of magnesium. I’ve been trying to reduce these cravings by having raw cocao instead. Any insight on the relation (if any) between food cravings and micro and/or macro deficiencies? This could be an interesting topic to touch on.
Private Member |
seattle, washington
Epsom salts baths are a neglected sources of relaxation. It’s great that you use them. I often drink warm ginger and honey.
Private Member |
Thank you for the article, I just bought the epsom salt. Can’t wait to try it! xxx
Private Member |
lake tahoe, nv, usa
You can also make a great scrubs out of them. I really love them..
Private Member |
I will try it. Thank you 🙂
Private Member |
ky, usa
Do you know where I can get the lavender scent Epsom salt? I’d like to get some.
Private Member |
Rachel, in the case you don’t find scented salts, buy yourself lavender essential oil and drop a couple of drops in your salted warm bath. I also like to add sweet orange essential oil, which is known to be relaxing as well.. hmm ^^
Private Member |
ky, usa
Thanks Isobel 🙂 I have to stop by the store anyway, so I think I will pick some up… Now just have to find time to relax in the tub lol!
Private Member |
lake tahoe, nv, usa
Isobel had a good idea with the essential oil. I get my lavender one in Rite aid pharmacy.
Private Member |
ky, usa
Thanks for your reply. I did find it very easily at Walgreen. I didn’t know they made it scented. I was feeling down and stressed about ny upcoming cataract surgery but I did a power yoga and then soaked in the lavender scented Epsom salt and felt much better. THANK YOU!!!!!
Private Member |
Great Article Zuzka! Thank you for the amazing ideas. I want to take a bath right now!
Private Member |
toronto, canada
This was one of my fav articles so far 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Private Member |
Great article and a gorgeous photo which instantly makes me feel relaxed! I also use Epsom salts in my bath and a tub is so cheap! I also like to drink nettle tea but it’s in tea bag form as I’m too scared to pick my own nettles ha ha! Ive just discovered a new tea that i like which is called Three Tulsi tea yum!
Private Member |
Great timing Zuzka
Private Member |
miami, fl, usa
Going to buy Epsom salt at Walgreens and tea. Have a great week everyone. 😉