Relax the body, mind and soul

To unwind at home, you can listen to soothing music, have a regular pre-bed routine, drink milk, eat regular meals and avoid spicy food. Yoga and exercise are great stress busters too. But if you’re in the mood for a proper pampering, go for one of these de-stressing treatments.
A salt scrub contains natural sea salt infused with pure essential oils of rose, vetiver (khus khus) and sandalwood. This is good to stimulate and strengthen the skin, and calm the mind.
Aromatherapy massage is a gentle nurturing treatment with pure essential plant and flower oils. It promotes superb physical and mental well being, and creates a deep sense of relaxation.
A traditional Thai massage, also known as yoga massage, combines assisted yoga postures, gentle rocking and rhythmic compressions with targeted point pressure and a variety of stretching movements. This massage revitalises both body and mind.
Reflexology is a holistic treatment which uses acupressure points on the feet to help restore and maintain the body’s natural equilibrium. This encourages the body to work naturally to restore its own healthy balance.
The Himalayan honey and rose facial is a stimulating and refreshing facial using a blend of sandalwood and rose essential oils. Pure Himalayan honey is massaged into the skin and a mask of cooling cucumber is applied.
Earth stone therapy draws on a rich tradition of employing stones of contrasting temperatures for therapeutic purposes. The therapy uses heated stones and chilled marble rocks combined with oil and massage. This assists with circulation and alleviates sore muscles while providing a sensuous experience.
In Shirodhara, luke warm herbal oil is poured in an even stream on to the forehead to pacify and revitalise the mind and the body.
Hatha yoga postures along with breathing (Pranayama) and meditation techniques are very potent tools to de-stress the body, mind and emotions. This has somato-psychic effects whereas meditation techniques like Yoga Nidra relax the mind and emotions directly.
(By Mark Sands)
(The writer is the spa manager of Ananda Spa in the Himalayas)