Summer Relaxation With At Home Spa Baths

It is summer time and we are all being pulled in so many directions.  First, we need to maintain our continued dedication to our job attempting to keep up the long hours required to complete our tasks and show that as always we still have the same drive to achieve.  Then we have our children’s soccer games, baseball games, tennis lessons, etc. to not only get the kids to but try to get ourselves to as well, to show our complete and absolute support for what our children do.  Then there are the never-ending cookouts, block parties, and ice cream socials to attend.  And lastly, there is the never ending yard work.

Eucalyptus and Lemongrass Bath Set

So when do we get time to just unwind and relax and pamper ourselves?  Obviously, not often but in order to maintain our crazy schedules we do need to focus some time for ourselves to relax and re-charge our batteries.   If we don’t, burn-out will inevitable occur.  With time constraints foremost in our in mind, we need to figure out how to get the most “bang for our buck” when it comes to so to speak.

One of the best utilization of time spent re-energizing is an at-home spa bath.  You might think to yourself that you are already feeling overheated from the 90+ degree weather and running around all day that the last thing you want is to sit in a hot tub.   Actually, to cool yourself down while relaxing taking a bath is your best bet.

First, to achieve the most benefit from an at-home spa bath, the bath water temperature should be the same as normal body temperature of 98.6^oF.  If you have spent the day sitting at your daughter’s Saturday softball game, then coming home and weeding the garden, then head back out to your son’s baseball game that evening, all during a heat wave of 90 degrees, a soak in a 98.6^o tub will bring your body’s temperature back to normal at a slow enough rate so as not to put your body into shock.

Lily Bath and Body Set

While achieve the cooling down, you can also achieve relaxation by adding aromatic bubble bath, bath salts or bath oils.  To add to your relaxation, light several aromatherapy candles and place throughout the bathroom then turn off the lights and slip into the tub.  After spending only 15-25 minutes, you will be surprised at how much better you feel.  If you take your spa bath right before bedtime, you will relax your body just enough to be able to get a great night’s sleep.  You will then awaken feeling refreshed and rejuvenated with enough energy to begin another hectic day.

There are an enormous variety of aromatic bath and body products to choose from that are available either on-line or at bath and body product stores to enhance your at-home spa bath experience.  Aromas range from lavender and sage to eucalyptus and lemongrass with each aroma having its own benefits.  Determine what benefits you are seeking from your at-home spa bath then chose an appropriate aromatic product.  Many places sell all inclusive basket sets that include products such as body gel, bath salts, bath oil, body lotion and candles which can actually save you money versus buying each product individually.



Sandalwood Naturals Bath Basket

Regardless of the product(s) you choose to use, put serious consideration into taking at least a weekly at-home spa bath in the summertime.  You will be amazed at how much more you can accomplish by treating yourself to this small step of pampering yourself.

Following this link to view available bath and body products to use for your at-home spa bath:  http://www.aromatherapysoothers.com/spa_and_bath_sets.html

SCENTED JAR CANDLES

There are many articles and blogs describing the benefits of aromatherapy candles for soothing, relaxing, relieving stress and rejuvenating a person’s mind and body.  But does a candle have to be classified as an “aromatherapy” candle to provide some of the same benefits?

To explore this question we must first understand what aromatherapy really is.   Although there are many definitions, the basic definition of aromatherapy is the use of essential oils to provide physical and mental well-being through topical or aromatic application.  Many essential oils have their own unique healing properties due to their chemical makeup but they also have distinct aromas.

Seeing as the sense of smell is one of our strongest emotional senses, it only seems to reason that any aroma, be it the aroma of an essential oil or the aroma from a fragrance oil should be able to provide a relaxing environment, a soothing environment or a stress-free atmosphere when you are in a room where the fragrance is being dispersed.

One of the most common ways of dispersing fragrance throughout a room is by burning a candle.  Jar candles are especially popular because you can easily transport the candle (say between home and the office) without damaging the wick or wax.  There is a plethora of scented jar candles available and although they may not contain fragrance of essential oils, their fragrances do bring about emotional feelings of relaxation, calm, relief, and sometimes melancholy.

Even before taking your first sip, doesn’t the aroma of your freshly brewed morning coffee give you a lift?  Then it can be said that a coffee fragranced candle can provide the same uplifting benefit.  When you smell freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, doesn’t the aroma give you a feeling of melancholy remembering back to the time of your childhood making cookies with mom?  Then it can be said that a chocolate chip cookie scented candle can give you the same emotion.  When you peel an orange, doesn’t the refreshing aroma uplift and re-energize you even before eating the orange?  Then it can be said that an orange scented candle can provide the same rejuvenating benefit.

You do not always have to have an aromatherapy candle with essential oils to receive emotional benefits.  Try burning a Fresh Linen scented jar candle in your bedroom a few hours before it’s time to go to sleep and see if you don’t have that same relaxed feeling as you do when you climb into bed on “clean sheet day”.  Or try burning a Vanilla Orchid scented jar candle in your bathroom while you relax in a tub and see if you don’t have a sense of calm while dreaming of relaxing on an exotic tropical beach.  How about burning an Orange Spice scented jar candle while you are cleaning on a Saturday morning and see if you don’t feel refreshed and uplifted.

Jar candles scented with fragrance oil instead of essential oil may not have the healing properties claimed to exist in true aromatherapy candles, but don’t feel that you cannot benefit from these scented candles.  It is always beneficial anytime your emotions are affected in a positive way.




Where to buy scented jar candles

Himalayan Salt Bath Benefits

"There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won't cure, but I don't know many of them."
~Sylvia Plath

Himalayan bath salts have long been known for their detoxifying, purifying and healing properties.  Taking a Himalayan salt bath, also known as a sole (so-lay) bath, is a very rejuvenating experience for the mind and body.  Through absorption, your body will rebalance its energy, replace electrolytes and purge heavy metals.

As the name would indicate, Himalayan salts are extracted from deep within the Himalayan Mountains.   Millions of years ago, an ocean existed where the mountains now stand.  The sun dried up the ocean leaving only salt behind.  The Himalayan Mountains formed on top of this vast bed of salt which turned to crystalline.  The mountains have served to protect the salt from the pollutants found in today’s ocean salts.  Therefore, once extracted, Himalayan salts need no processing that would lead to changing the beneficial chemical make-up of the salt or adding toxins to the salt.

Himalayan salts contain 84 nutritional minerals that are important to our daily body functions.  Some of these minerals are macro-minerals and some are trace minerals.  Some of the macro-minerals include calcium, chloride, magnesium, and iron, potassium and sodium.  Some of the trace minerals include fluoride, iodine, zinc, and selenium.  Macro-minerals are needed in relative abundance for our body’s health and amounts needed depend on age, general health levels and activity levels.  Our bodies also require the trace elements in the salts, but in much lower quantities.  While some trace elements in the Himalayan salt such as lead and plutonium can be toxic in large quantities, the small quantities present in pure Himalayan present no health risk.

Just as the phases of the moon affect the strength of the ocean’s high and low tides, the peak of beneficial effects of sole baths is also tied to the phases of the moon.   During the new moon phase, our body’s capacity for detoxification is at its highest.  During the full moon phase, our body’s capacity for absorption is at its highest.  You do not have to wait until these peak periods to enjoy and benefit from a sole bath; just be aware that if your singular goal is to detox or absorb, these are the moon phases you should wait for to attain the most benefit.

For everyone who partakes in sole baths, you should soak no longer than 20 to 30 minutes trying to maintain a water temperature equal to your body temperature of approximately 98.6F.  After bathing, do not rinse off; rather wrap yourself in a towel and rest for 15 minutes.  After your resting period you can then rinse off.

Any day is a good day to begin using Himalayan bath salts to re-energize and cleanse your body.  Once you experience the benefits of a sole bath, you will be unlikely to want to use any other type of bath salts again.


To purchases Himalayan Bath Salts:  www.aromatherapysoothers.com/bath_salts_and_soaps.html

Disclaimer:  I am not a doctor, holistic practitioner or aromatherapist.  This article is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition.  Please consult a professional for any medical condition you have or think you may have.

EXOTIC MOROCCAN CANDLE LANTERNS

Moroccan Market Candle Lantern

The exotic romance of Moroccan design allures the most discriminate of home designers and party planners alike.  From the designs of traditional Berber carpet dating back to the Paleolithic era made by the Berber tribes of northern Morocco to intricate tile mosaics and the detailed metal scroll work of Moroccan Candle Lanterns, Moroccan design combines the best of a mixture of African and Far East cultures with Spanish and  French influences.

If you decide to bring the exquisite beauty of Moroccan design into your home, it is easiest to start small.   An affordable and great start is Moroccan candle lanterns.  With the multitude of colors and sizes available you will not have any problems finding a lantern that suits your tastes.

Enchanted Amethyst Moroccan Lantern

Rooms that look the best with the exotic design are bedrooms, bathrooms and dens/offices.  Bathrooms especially are suited for an exotic look and candle lanterns achieve this.  In addition, you get the added bonus of creating an aromatherapy environment by choosing an appropriate candle for burning within the Moroccan candle lantern.  Imagine soaking in your tub with several candles burning in a candle lantern that throws a bewitching display of swirls and colors throughout the room.  That is a way to experience relaxation at its best.

Another fantastic use of Moroccan candle lanterns is wedding receptions.  Indoors or outdoors, you can either sit the lanterns on tables as a centerpiece or string multiple lanterns together.  Once the lighting is dimmed the candlelight provides a romantic and exotic atmosphere that everyone will enchant everyone.

White Medallion Moroccan Lantern

However you choose to use your Moroccan Candle lanterns, you will never fail in creating an environment that inspires feelings of romance and exotic intrigue.








To purchase Moroccan Candle Lanterns visit:  www.aromatherapysoothers.com/moroccan_candle_lanterns.htm