De-Stress Your Day
We often go through our whole day without having properly paused, even just for a few minutes, to notice how we are feeling.
But taking a moment to pause is more powerful than you think. It gives you a chance to regain your balance when you may be feeling stressed or anxious, and time to help you feel centred again and focused on what really matters.
So you can reclaim your wellbeing and enjoy your own moments of reset throughout the day, our Education Manager, Amy Bonfield, shares her most impactful De-Stress tips help bring you back to balance.
Micro-Moments of De-Stress
When we are feeling worried or anxious, we take rapid shallow breaths signalling to our brain that we are stressed. The opposite happens when we are relaxed: we take slower, deeper diaphragmatic breaths. By breathing deliberately in this way, we can help to calm both the mind and the body, stimulating our parasympathetic nervous system and putting the body into ‘rest and repair’ mode.
Box Breathing is a particularly powerful stress-relieving exercise that can be practised anywhere, perfect for when you need to take a moment to calm and refocus during a hectic day or as a tool to use to help with disturbed sleep caused by an overactive mind.
The reason it is called Box Breathing is if you imagine a box……
You will breathe in for a count of 4, hold the breath for a count of 4, breathe out for a count of 4 and hold the breath for a count of 4.
This can be repeated as many times as you wish, but I would recommend at least 3 times. The reason this exercise works so well is the holding of the breath, ensuring you are concentrating on this and nothing else, stopping your mind from wandering.
Pair With...
I like to enhance this breathing exercise with the De-Stress Mind Roller Ball, with clearing and focusing aromas of Frankincense, Petitgrain and Camomile, applying the blend on to my wrists, behind my ears and onto my chest before bringing my wrists up to my nose to inhale whilst practising the Box Breathing exercise
2. Stretches
Many of us have been working from home on ‘makeshift’ desks that are not necessarily the right height and sitting on chairs that are not supportive of our backs, therefore causing poor posture.
We often also forget to take breaks to stretch and move around causing stiffness in our joints and muscle tension. By carrying out stretches, we keep our muscles flexible, strong & healthy and can also improve our posture. Without stretching, the muscles can shorten and feel tight causing tension in the muscles. This also lowers the movement in the joints.
Pair with...
Throughout the day I like to apply the De-Stress Muscle Gel directly to areas of tension, particularly to my neck and top of shoulders, and then carry out some simple stretches, as demonstrated in the video. As the De-Stress Muscle Gel is a ‘gel’ consistency containing Lavender and Rosemary floral waters, it absorbs quickly into the skin going on cool, then warming the area and providing instant relief.
3. Self-Massage
As well as stretches, carrying out self-massage will also relieve sore and tense muscles, as well as providing yourself with a moment of self-care.
At the end of a busy day why not treat yourself to a massage whilst soaking in your bath or shower with our Muscle Massage Melt Salt Crystal.
This is made from 100% Himalayan Salt and can be worked directly into tired, sore muscles in circular motions, massaging into tense shoulders, calves and even releasing tension in the palms of hands and soles of feet. You can then place the ball into the water for a tension-easing soak.
After you have emerged from your bath or shower, follow your ritual with our De-Stress Body Oil. A supremely luxurious oil for muscular aches and pains, our De-Stress Body Oil is infused with therapeutic Arnica Montana Flower extract, Rosemary and the exceptional benefits of Ginger.
Work the benefits of this oil all over skin, using kneading motions with your fingertips and hands to apply pressure on areas that are particularly tense or tired.
It is important we create moments within each day, however short or long, to focus on ourselves and practice self-care.
Try our micro-moments of de-stress to help relieve tension, uplift your mood and find your calm.
De-Stress Body Oil
De-Stress Mind Bath & Shower Oil
De-Stress Muscle Gel
Forest Therapy Pure Essential Oil Blend
Ultimate Bath & Shower Oil Collection
3 Step Introduction to Sleep Gift Set
No Rinse Hand Cleanser
Deep Relax Pure Essential Oil Blend
Revive Shower Oil
Deep Relax Bath & Shower Oil
3 Step Introduction to Rose Gift Set
Support Breathe Pure Essential Oil Blend
De-Stress Pure Essential Oil Blend
Travel Rose Shower Oil
