Tip of the Month: Self-Care: Massage and More Head to Toe

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Of course when we think of self care, we think of our current exercise and eating habits, or perhaps our to-do list, or that girls’ spa day. Anu Essentials products were created for you to have a love affair with yourself.  Our products are an extension of the beauty in nature, with aromas and profiles that enhance your senses to fully open your awareness to your surroundings.

Once you become aware of a deeper need of self care, outside of your routine day-to-day, you will begin to slow down in a fashion that will mimic your flow in life. Tap into that natural flow and begin integrating into your practice a more purposeful intent for a higher level of well-being.You may not have a day to spend pampering yourself, but with as little as 20 minutes a week, you can rejuvenate yourself head to toe.Self-Care: Massage and More Head to ToeSelf MassageWith just a few minutes a day, you will begin to experience the deeper love of self through being mindful of the care you express to yourself. The practice of “Abhyanga: is the loving anointing from head to toe with warm oil.In the article, “The Benefits of Ayurveda Self-Massage” by Ayurveda practitioner, Sandhiya Ramaswamy she lists over 10 benefits to work with our particular dosha and the oils that can help benefit a more loving massage.“A daily Abhyanga practice restores balance of the doshas and enhances well-being and longevity. Regular Abhyanga is especially grounding and relaxing for a dosha of Vata imbalance, but everyone can benefit from this practice.” Doshas express our mind and body types. (To learn more on dosha’s.)Intimate ReflectionIf you do not have a full length mirror, you are doing yourself a disservice. When was the last time you took a look at you, to get to know you? Lovingly, without looking for that pimple, feeling for that stiffness, or rubbing that bump or bruise? Just leave it alone. All of it!Take a deep breath, inhale, close your eyes, exhale and open your eyes and just look at your naked self. All of you. Turn around. Get a handheld, or a second mirror if you need to, lol.But just look. For the beautiful creature that you are. Remember to love and hug yourself. Tell yourself how proud and appreciative you are of each part. Jump back and kiss yourself. And why not?Take as long as you need for intimate reflection. Look at yourself longingly as a lover would. It doesn’t have to be every day, but you will begin to notice, as you pass by that mirror, a different “you” shining through. Releasing TensionWe can’t do it all. We cannot be everything to everyone. We cannot solve all the issues that develop from our day-to-day. And where does the stress from the worry go when we cannot get them out our minds; or, do we think, “Oh well,” and brushed them aside?Our thoughts have a way of manifesting in our bodies as “dis-ease.” Some may even cause heart or a stroke, coupled with other factors such as diet and/or medication, etc.Yoga, meditation, massage are great ways to release the tension we feel. But let us dig a little deeper, go much further. Sometimes we just need to squeeze it out and shake it out!Remember as a child, we would get mad and hold our breath? Lol! This was always a tactic of last resort for getting my way. Never worked, but boy was I tired after! As adults, when we can turn those tactics into purposeful intention to the parts of our body and mind that feel tension.I find using my opposite limb to massage the other brings great benefit; i.e., rubbing my left temple with my right hand with some soothing lavender oil before I do a session in Lion Pose (Simhasana) This not only brings peace and calm, it also helps to really focus the tension from my face and I am able to focus inward and sense the tension in other parts of my body.Find a quiet spot- any time of day is good for a five-minute tension release. It can work standing, sitting, before or after a shower. It’s great when I know I have a lot on my plate for the day and I feel overwhelmed a bit.I good place to start is with bare feet at the toes, wiggling and squeezing any tension I may feel, shaking it out as I focus my attention on my calves, thighs, tummy, etc., working my way up to my crown.Once I released as much tension as my body and mind are able, I take a few relaxing breaths. Spritz with an intention spray, sit quietly for a moment before continuing on with my activities.You only need a few minutes a day to add a deeper level of self care that allows you to tune in and check inwardly what might be causing our outer stress.The Anu Essential Body Polishes  below are a great infusions to add to your self-care rituals.[/fusion_text][fusion_products_slider picture_size="fixed" cat_slug="body" number_posts="4" carousel_layout="title_below_image" autoplay="no" columns="5" column_spacing="" scroll_items="" show_nav="yes" mouse_scroll="no" show_cats="no" show_price="no" show_buttons="yes" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" /][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]