Tips For Creating a Spa-like Environment at Home

You can't always travel to your favorite spa o that takes lots of time and lots of money. It's easy to create a spa environment at home and it doesn't have to be expensive. If you have lots of time, follow all these tips. If you have minimal time, choose the tips that appeal most to you.

In the bathroom:

o Towels - Some towel manufacturers have a "spa" towel line, such as Chris Madden at JC Penney. The Chris Madden Spa Towels are a thick waffle weave and at one time they had a matching spa robe. Think thick, soft and super luxurious to remind you of the towels at a fine spa. You might roll or stack a group of towels decoratively in a basket or on a shelf.

o Candles - Aromatherapy candles can have a variety of benefits. Lavender for restful sleep. Citrus for invigorating. Eucalyptus for clearing sinuses. There are also a variety of blended candles scents. Choose a scent you enjoy or choose a blend that has the benefits you are looking for. Place them around the room and light them (safely, of course) when you want to turn your bathroom into a spa-like sanctuary.

o Music - I keep a portable CD player in the closet in my bathroom. When I want the full atohome spa experience, I play a relaxing CD. I have 2 that I like just for this purpose. Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy - Hydrotherapy Soothing Music for a Healing Bath. Gentle ocean sounds combine with soft instrumentals for a "just chill out" feeling. I especially like track #3. I also like Aromatherapy Music for Relaxation by Musical reflections. There are 6 tracks on this disk and each one is named after different aromatherapy oils.

o Hydrotherapy - The healing power of water. Take a bath. Plan to soak for 20 to 30 minutes uninterrupted. Longer soaks can dry out your skin. Shorter soaks aren't relaxing. Add 5 to 10 drops of your favorite essential oil or your favorite bath salts. Play relaxing music, light candles, have plush towels and comfortable pajamas or a robe waiting. If you have a jetted whirlpool tub, even better. If you don't, you can still enjoy a hot soak.

o Shower - If you don't have time for a bath, a shower can have similar benefits. When we remodeled our bathroom, my husband installed a combination heater/fan. When I'm ready to turn my bathroom into a spa, I warm the room up for a few minutes to take the chill off, especially in cold weather. I sprinkle a few drops of essential oils into the shower and the steam activates them to scent the entire room. In the evening, I might use lavender oil. In the morning, something more energizing. If I'm congested, I use eucalyptus oil. I'm immediately transported back to a spa experience when a eucalyptus steam rooms comes to mind. Caution - the oil can make the surface of the shower slippery. I try to sprinkle the oil on surfaces where my feet won't need traction.

o "Spa treatments" -

- Exfoliation - A loofah or dry brush is a great tool to add to your home spa. Use the dry brush before your shower or bath. Use the loofah in the shower or bath. If you don't have either of these, a washcloth can exfoliate skin in a pinch.
- Scrub - Buy a great smelling scrub, or you can even make your own with basic ingredients found in your grocery store, like seat salt or sugar, olive oil or nut oil, fruits and other ingredients.
- Facial - Use high quality, natural products to give yourself a mini-facial. Cleanse and tone, then apply a mask. When the mask is rinsed off, moisturize.
- Hair - Now is a great time to try a deep conditioner while you are soaking in the bath or taking a spaolike shower. Apply conditioner or hair mask, put your hair in a shower cap and let the conditioner work. Rinse according to the directions.

o Beverage - A glass of wine or champagne is the standby for relaxation in the tub, but there are other choices for the at-home spa too. A cup of herbal or green tea is wonderful. I love Teavana teas. You can also try fruit or herb infused water. Add cucumbers, mint, citrus fruit, berries, even watermelon to a pitcher of water. Or try a blend of your favorites. Chill the water for several hours, the longer the better for more flavor infusion. Sip this during your home spa experience or anytime to stay hydrated without added calories.

In the bedroom, you'll want to emulate your favorite features of a fine hotel room:

o Sheets - Choose high thread count Egyptian cotton sheets for the most luxurious feel. It's worth spending a little bit of money here for the best quality. Egyptian cotton gets softer with washing and wear, but can fade a bit.

o Pillows - Choose whatever kind of pillows you are most comfortable with, but have lots of them in different shapes and sizes. Not only does this look cozy, it's comfortable too. I like a variety of pillows o foam, synthetic and down to mix it up a bit. Maybe a bolster or two for added texture and comfort.

o Blankets/Comforter - Like the finest hotels, a down or down alternative comforter is luxurious, yet simple. You can find a duvet to add a pop of color, texture and to protect your investment. Choose a year round weight o one that will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Include a plush or cozy throw in a fabric like chenille or a soft yarn for added comfort on cool nights or to snuggle under while relaxing or reading.

o Candles - Avoid heavily perfumed candles to prevent allergic reactions. A lavender or lavender blend is a perfect choice to help you drift off to sleep.

o Loungewear or robe - You'll want to have some really soft and cozy lounge wear or a great robe to wear during your at-home spa experience.

o Music o Play music that relaxes and de-stresses you with a slow tempo.

In just a few easy steps, you can turn your bathroom or bedroom into a spa environment and have the benefits of a spa in your own home. Enjoy!

http://everythingspa.wordpress.com/

My name is Michele. I am a married mother of one son living in Syracuse, NY. I have decided to start this blog to share my love of spas and everything spa.

I visit spas on average four times a year, usually while on vacation. I prefer destination spas to day spas, mostly because of the amenities. I have found other sites that have spa reviews, but they are not always as comprehensive as I like. So I will aim to post comprehensive views about spas that I visit. If I have visited them long ago, I will provide a recap and a general impression.

If you enjoy spas as much as I do, please share information at my blog! If you like what you see, tell a friend. You can contact me at cnyspagirl@twcny.rr.com.

The Research-Supported Benefits of Inahling Lemon Oil

May 3, 2011 on 10:52 pm | In Essential Oil Science | No Comments

Perhaps because Lemon essential oil is found the world-over, it has been an especially popular oil for research on the affects of “aroma” therapy. It appears to have an incredibly wide-range of benefits, with just this single oil alone in your diffuser.

Lemon oil is pressed from the peels of the fruit...

Effects on Stress and Pain Perception

A study published in Behavioral Brain Research, performed at Yamaguchi University in Japan, examined the anti-stress neurochemistry of lemon oil — the researchers actually evaluated rose, lavender AND lemon, and found lemon to be the most potent anxiety reducer.

The Japanese researchers discovered that the anti-stress action involved enhancement of the serotinergic (serotonin-related) pathways in the brain. Or, as described technically: “lemon oil significantly accelerated the metabolic turnover of DA in the hippocampus and of 5-HT in the prefrontal cortex and striatum. These results suggest that lemon oil possesses anxiolytic, antidepressant-like effects via the suppression of DA activity related to enhanced 5-HTnergic neurons.”

A study performed at the University of Siena, Italy, published in the journal of Brain Research, evaluated the continuous inhalation of Lemon oil for two weeks. Subjects had significantly reduced stress-related hormone levels, and significantly lessened perception of pain (seemingly more effective for females).

Effects of Mood Enhancement

A study published in the journal of Psychoneuroendocrinology, performed at Ohio State University, examine the effects of Lemon, Lavender, and plain water mist on mood. Researchers concluded: “Self-report and unobtrusive mood measures provided robust evidence that lemon oil reliably enhances positive mood compared to water and lavender regardless of expectancies or previous use of aromatherapy.”

Getting Smarter With Lemon Oil

In one study, Japanese office workers were exposed to Lemon essential oil from a diffuser, and 54% fewer errors were made in the tasks being performed. The scientific validity of this can be related to its proven ability to reduce the activity of acetylcholinesterase enzyme. This enzyme is responsible for breaking down acetylcholine, the primary information-processing neurotransmitter. This results in a higher amount of this chemical being available in our brains. In separate research, student’s test scores improved significantly when exposed to lemon oil vapor. It is suggested that inhaling lemon during study time might significantly improve test scores as well.

Just simple lemon in your diffuser can do wonders in the daytime. It has many other therapeutic uses too, which you check out on our Lemon Oil page…Enjoy!

View the original article here

General Benefits of Owning A Home Spa

The prohibitive costs of spa therapies at commercial spas come in the way of enjoying a spa experience for many families. There also comes the time constraint factor. A home spa makes spa experience for the entire family very affordable and gives an opportunity for the family to get together and have great weekends without stepping out of the house.

In modern era, families don't get enough time to spend together. From a hard day at work to a plethora of TV soaps at home and a myriad of computer and video games for the kids, everyone is so busy in their own little worlds that there simply is no time or urge to get together, In fact, there always seems to be a reason to not get together. But a portable home spa can change this scenario completely.

As home spas are safe and enjoyable for the whole family, it doesn't take long for your new portable home spa to become the most favorite spot in your home. There is no better way to chill out after a stressful day at work than enjoying a relaxed evening in the home spa with your family.

A home spa will also instantly make your home the hub of your social activities. Your home spa can put an end to the debate amongst your friends as to where they should hold their weekend party. They will love coming to your house to enjoy the calm relaxing atmosphere that a home spa provides. A home spa will add a new dimension to your backyard barbeques, social parties, romantic evenings and make them all the more entertaining and memorable.

In addition to these family benefits and social benefits of owning a home spa, you will gain countless personal benefits too from your home spa, which include physical health benefits and mental health benefits. After a long stressful day at work, there is no better way to relax your stressed out mind, tired feet, stiff back muscles and aching body than soaking in your home spa in the comfort of hot water and letting the water jets massage your body from all sides.

The combined effect of heat, massage and buoyancy, called hydrotherapy, offers many physical health benefits, such as improved blood circulation, reduction in muscle strain and soreness and relief from those nagging aches in your shoulders, back, feet and neck - all these benefits promoting sound sleep.

A home spa can also be used for the purpose of taking aromatherapy in the privacy of your home instead of in a health spa or beauty spa. Aromatherapy is based on the power of the gentle fragrances of certain medicinal essential oils in calming your nerves and relaxing your stressed out mind. Such lingering fragrances can invoke fantastic imagery of flowery landscapes, pleasant memories, favorite foods or even desired moods. Aromatherapy uses this principle to provide you relief from your day-to-day worries.

Safe, enjoyable and effective for the whole family, the benefits of a portable home spa will help everyone enjoy an active lifestyle. Your family will love the good times they have relaxing in your home spa and the benefits they derive from the home spa.

Song Meng Tan maintains http://www.hydrospabusiness.com This content is provided by the author and it may be used only in its entirety with all links included.