Issue link: http://www.bodysensemagazinedigital.com/i/917883
A SLOW SOAK TAKES YOU BACK We may not be able to live in that slower world anymore, but we can find our own moments to practice slowing down. Your massage therapist helps you slow down in the treatment room. At home, a perfect slow-down activity is a good soak. Baths are profoundly healing for body, mind, and spirit. When you're in need of that slow-down moment at home, try the following soak routine. Begin by setting a relaxing mood for yourself. Dim the lights and add some candles for ambience. Play some relaxing music, a spoken meditation, or maybe even a recording of poetry. Run the water to a temperature of your liking. As the water is running, evenly disperse an 8-pound bag of magnesium chloride flakes. These flakes are great for a host of issues, including reducing symptoms of fatigue, insomnia, and chronic pain; relieving mental and physical tension; and alleviating skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema. I use the entire contents of an Essential Oils for the Slow Soak No matter the season, essential oils added to a bath are a great way to enhance, and slow down, the experience. • Winter: 3–4 drops of lemongrass essential oil • Spring: 3–4 drops of rose essential oil • Summer: 3–4 drops of holy basil essential oil • Fall: 3–4 drops of orange essential oil 8-pound bag per bath to maximize the relaxation benefits of the magnesium. I use magnesium chloride flakes all year long, as well as an essential oil specific to the season (see "Essential Oils for the Slow Soak"). After you've added the essential oil, swish your hand through the water to further disperse the oils. Get into the tub and soak for 20–30 minutes. During the winter and fall seasons, you can use a seasonal scrub on your body while lying in the bath; in the spring and summer months, you can use a dry exfoliating powder prior to immersing yourself in the water. When you finish the bath, pat yourself dry with a towel and apply the appropriate seasonal oil to lock in moisture and spritz your face with a seasonal mist to receive a powerful combination of nourishing benefits to your body, mind, and spirit. Slowing down is your birthright. Whether it's that overdue massage or a good soak, it's imperative you find moments to slow it down. Remember, you were never built to be on hyperdrive. B S Shel Pink is founder of the SpaRitual brand and a leading educator in the professional beauty care sector. This excerpt comes from her book, Slow Beauty (Running Press), available from Amazon.