Russian banyas feature steam baths, cold pools and platzas (which involves whacking the skin with soapy oak branches). Indigenous peoples through out the world have used sweat lodges both to purify body and spirit and communicate with their ancestors. Japanese sentos (penny baths) typically have both hot and cold pools and traditionally offer shiatsu massage.

Today, spa therapies increasingly address our more active and inquisitive lifestyles. Treatments are offered everywhere, from chair massages in shopping centers to full-day pampering at luxury spas, and are as likely to include co lour therapy and qi gong as soaking and massage. Whether you are looking to refresh, clarify, infuse, glow, release or enrich, over the next weeks I would like to share a collection of some of the best treatments from around the world you can introduce into your every day. I would like to provide methods for leading a more integrated and balanced life, restoring your body, reviving your mind and energizing your spirit.

Before you choose a treatment, ask yourself what you need. Do you want to unwind or focus? Do you want to experience of being along and quiet, or are you craving the touch and voice of another person? Is your spa cabinet stocked up with essentials? For example, many treatments include cleansing and moisturizing your skin; keep on hand a few shower gels and body lotions you like, scented with both invigorating and relaxing aromas. Make sure you have a scrub, polish or glow for exfoliation, a humble loofah, orange sticks, cotton balls, a nail buffer, a pumice stone and a foot file. A spa experience wouldn't’t be complete without some special touches to add comfort. First, make sure the space you’re using is tidy, have clean fluffy towels and a thick dressing gown handy, and aroma therapy diffusers and candles to add both the beauty of low light and the benefits of scent to your spa experience.

Energize

Not everyone can be a morning person. However, instead of slapping the snooze button, chugging caffeine and bolting breakfast, try easing into your day by adding several spa tips and treatment to your morning ritual. A few minutes of simple self-care can help you enjoy the start of each new day, one invigorating step at a time.

1. Dry Brushing your skin is one of the best ways to get circulation going, helping to oxygenate cells and carry impurities away through the lymph system. Begin with your back, using light pressure, and brush everywhere you can reach comfortably. Then lightly brush your arms and legs, but use an upward motion (when stimulating the lymphatic system, always brush towards your chest to move fluids towards your heart).
2. Continue to stimulate your system with an invigorating body scrub, using a sisal face cloth or mitt and an uplifting scented cleansing gel, such as bergamot, lemon grass or grapefruit. You can also add your own favorite uplifting essential oil to an unscented shower gel. Put a small amount of gel onto the wet cloth or mitt and rub it all over your body, using upward motions. The gentle exfoliation of this revitalizing rub will give your skin a healthy-looking morning glow.
3. Once you have finished cleaning, decrease the temperature of the shower until it is cold and rinse for 15 seconds, then adjust the temperature back to form for one or two minutes. The transitions from warm to cold stimulate blood flow, which exercises capillary walls and tones tissues which encouraging better circulation.
4. Towel yourself off after your invigorating shower and, as a final energizing step, mist your body with a mixture of 150ml of distilled water, one teaspoon of olive oil, and three drops each of rosemary and cypress essential oils (you may add a sprig of fresh rosemary if you like), blended together in a misting bottle (shake well!). The olive oil moisturizes your skin, while rosemary is energizing and cypress stimulates circulation. Allow this ‘morning dew’ to air-dry on your body. Other energizing oils you could use include grapefruit, lemon and orange.

Some extra tips to help energies your morning?

- Drink a tall glass of water – good hydration helps you to think more clearly
- Take five minutes to stretch your body, to work out the kings and get your blood pumping.
- Eat whole grows and some protein to sustain you through the morning
- Consider a healthy alternative or coffee- ginger tea promotes circulation, warms the body and aids digestion.

Enjoy,

Love Rachel x

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