Creating a Loving Yourself Lifestyle!

Meditation to Strengthen Your Focus & Concentration

Meditation is the purposeful practice of focusing your attention on one thing at a time. Exactly what that one thing is does not matter so much as the practice of concentrating and becoming focused, for right now. A common yet simple focus point for many who meditate is the inhaling and exhaling of one's own breath and concentrating on the rise and fall of their chest. However, you can concentrate on sounds, an object or whatever suits you.

By nature your mind wants to wander it does not want to remain concentrated. As a result, beginners in meditation may find it challenging to remain focused. You may discover that before you know it your mind has gone of thinking about a task that is due at work or remember that one item that you forgot at the grocery store. In this event, simply bring your mind back to whatever your focus and begin to concentrate again. As time and practice prevail you will see that you are able to stay focused longer with a sharper and deeper concentration.

If you are new to meditating you may want to familarize yourself with critical aspects of meditation. For example, maintain correct posture is essential. It is important to make sure that you are comfortable. You also want to center yourself and use care with the amount of time that you spend on the practice.

Meditation has been proven to positively impact in the treatment and prevention of high blood pressure, heart disease and migraine headaches. It has also been effective in the health of those patients with autoimmune diseases such as diabetes and arthritis for examples. Those that suffer with obsessive thoughts, anxiety, depression and anger or negative emotions have also greatly benefited from meditation.

As with anything else in life, your ability to meditate effectively increases over time with practice. Extensive practice leads to deeper levels of relaxation and your attention level will become consistent. You will become more adept in your ability to live in the present moment. It is essential that you meditate regularly. Schedule your mediation time if necessary. Mark it in your planner and code it A1 priority!

Andrea

Wake up and Ready Pt II

The skin rub and exfoliating treatment will work to remove toxins through your system as it increases circulation. It is crucial that you drink plenty of water to promote the elimination of these toxins.

Be sure to make your formulas in advance of your scheduled spa.


Wake up and Ready Pt II


Scalp Massage

Lather your hair with conditioning shampoo, while the shampoo is in your hair, place both hands on both sides of your head with your thumbs resting just above your ears. Using small firm circular motions with your fingertips - apply pressure throughout your entire head. Repeat a couple of times and relax. You will begin to feel the energy beneath your fingertips and it feels wonderful!

Cardamom & Grapefruit Skin Blend

1. Pour 4 teaspoons grapeseed carrier oil in a small bowl
2. Add 4 drops cardamom oil
3. Add 6 drops of grapefruit oil
4. Stir 
   

The components of the grapeseed is what prevents this aromatherapy blend from becoming greasy and heavy. It is great for nourishing the skin without the residue.


Cardamom is a sweet spice oil that stimulates circulation while the perfect compliment of the grapefruit is bright and refreshing, perfect for a skin scrub.

Apply your skin scrub over your entire body in circular motions. Pay attention to those very dry areas that particularly in need of exfoliation.  Your skin will feel silky soft with a light fragrance that will stay on your skin all day. This blend should not stain your clothes, however, you may want to test a hidden area on your fine delicates.


Banana & Orange Smoothie


In your blender mix:

• 1 chopped banana
• grated
  
• juice from 1 orange
• 6 tablespoons of natural yogurt

 After a few seconds grab a spoon and pour your smoothie into a glass. This is a wonderful quick healthy smoothie as bananas are rich in potassium and vitamin B, calcium and magnesium. Your orange of course is loaded with vitamin C.

Always remember to use your homes pa mixtures the same day of preparation. Avoid eye contact with oils and herbs, rinse well with warm water when necessary. 

For additional information or aromatherapy recipes email mearomatherapy@tenfacesofshe.com. Join us at Ten Faces of She for more great tips!

Spa Routine - Up and Ready in 30 Minutes

The skin rub and exfoliating treatment will work to remove toxins through your system as it increases circulation. It is crucial that you drink plenty of water to promote the elimination of these toxins.

Be sure to make your formulas in advance of your scheduled spa.

Wake up and Ready Pt I

Ingredients

1. dry skin brush
2. fine sea salt
3. grapefruit essential oil
4. cardamom essential oil
5. grapeseed carrier oil
6. 1 banana
7. 1 orange
8. natural yogurt

Dry Skin Brushing

You will begin by preparing your skin with the dry brush. Rub the brush gently across your skin to simulate your circulation. Beginning at your feet, make small circular motions over your toes, up each leg, past your thighs toward your hips. You will awaken your circlulation as you move the brush beginning at your fingertips making circular motions toward your heart. Shower, rinse and prepare for your body scrub.

Sea Salt & Grapefruit Body Scrub

• In a small bowl put 3 tablespoons of fine sea salt
• Add and stir 6 drops grapefruit essential oil 
• Get in the shower (don't turn on the water just yet)
• Rub the mixture all over  your body, particularly your thighs and stomach
• Rinse thoroughly

Grapefruit is great for cleansing and detoxifying. The sea salt is an excellent exfoliate as it works to remove loose dead cells which leaves your skin glowing. Don't forget to follow up this treatment with a moisturizer on your whole body.

Now you are ready for your scalp massage, Part II

Time for Home Spa for any Lifestyle

Here are 4 fairly short routines that can be implemented into anyone's active lifestyle. They are designed to make you have spa time now matter how busy you are. Your schedule will permit routines!

These spa routines outlined below are designed to help you stay fit and healthy. They are designed to partner with your move to your overall spiritual, physical, mental and emotional well-being. Please use these routines toward your holistic health and click on their titles to get the detailed recipe.

Spa Routine - Up and Ready in 30 Minutes

Use your shower for a quick morning steam spa to jump start your day. Boost your energy with a special shower scrub that will excite your senses. Invigorate your skin and give yourself a scalp massage while showering.

Girlfriends Spa Day

A group of girlfriends schedule a girls spa day and plan to spend the day pampering each other. Use the foot, hand and face treatments as you catch up with each other's lives. This spa day is great to give your best friend for her birthday or celebration for that new promotion!

Peace of Mind Spa

Unwind, relax and enjoy a calming spa designed to give you peace of mind. This spa is created to bring pleasure to your senses with a detox bath, message blends and a full facial treatment that will motivate you to indulge yourself into a deep tranquil state of peace of mind.

End of the Week Rejuvenation

Take 2 hours on the weekend to reinvent yourself with this refresh your mind, uplift your soul while repairing yourself from a stressful week. Build momentum for next week with this hot oil hair treatment, detox shower and a neck and shoulder message with oils that will tantalize your senses.

Essential oils and herbs are a great way to care for yourself but if you have any medical condition that warrants concern or questions, please consult a trusted medical professional before utilizing any recipes provided here.

Use Meditation to Connect with the Universe and Your Soul

Sit in a quiet room, dim the lights, put on your heads phones and clear your mind. You can repeat your affirmations to yourself or you can visualize your pending visions and goals.

As always, light some aromatherapy candles to enhance your mood. Don't forget to schedule your meditations at least 3 times per week!

Your Home Spa Tools - Let's Get Started

Good news! You don't need to purchase expensive and complex equipment to get started in your home spa!

Although you will need some items that will assist you in maximizing your spa treatments, you do not have to spend a fortune. Further, if you want to stimulate the detoxification process these products will be a great beginning for your home spa collection.

• Loofah - a natural sea gourd that has a rough texture and softens when you wet it. When used while bathing it will stimulate your skin. Several times a week using shower gel or body scrub and move your loofah sponge or brush in circular motions. This process will stimulate your circulation and remove dead skin cells from your body. The skin warming effect also feels good as you move the loofah across the areas of your body that may in need of attention too.

• Friction Glove - made from a course material that serves a similar purpose as the loofah. The glove is softer and is flexible to move as your hand dictates allowing you to get the curve areas of your body treated. Place your shower gel or body scrub on your glove and move along the course of your body targeting particular areas of roughness like your knees and elbows. Be careful with sensitive skin as you may also want to give your attention to other problem areas like your heels and underarms.

• Back Brush - a long handle brush that helps you scrub those hard to reach areas on your back. Apply body scrub with your favorite aromatherapy mix and create you an instant solo spa as you condition your skin and improve circulation throughout your body.

• Pumice Stone - a gray/white stone of volcanic origin that assists you to remove calloused skin from your heels for instance. In order to effectively remove the extremely dry skin you must first soak your feet before massaging your heels with the stone. Be sure to follow up with your best moisturizing foot cream, one with Shea or Cocoa butter is recommended.

• Cellulite Massager - is rounded with rubber nodules that help stimulate the deep tissue beneath the top layers of your skin. Use in the bath with a shower or bath gel or dry with your favorite aromatherapy massage oil. This product is most effective for your thighs and legs. If you have a partner to massage your back with this massager you will experience a real treat!

• Cooling Eye Mask - gel filled mask that you place in the freezer at least one hour before your treatment to reduce the puffiness in your eyes. You can easily store one in the freezer for that anytime treatment to relax your eyes and ease a tension headache.
  

Great common places to get your spa tools:

1. Bliss line of products by Sephora in local malls or on-line. They are great as they offer a free reward program. Bliss by Sephora
2. You can shop for your aromatherapy blends by body part or sensation affect. Bath & Body Works has a great spa and aromatherapy line of products.
3. For those of you who are holistic, seek natural goods and want to ensure that we are using products that have not been animal tested, The Body Shop is for you. They too have great body and bath product lines.

There are many other spa tools that will complete your home spa that we will cover in later blogs so stay tuned.

In the meantime, enjoy and happy bathing!

Andrea

As always please do not use the information found on this blog as a replacement for medical advice. When in doubt seek professional consultation from your physician, particularly if you have a circulation or hear condition.