AYURVEDIC HOME SPA GUIDE AND RECIPES

Improve your longevity by taking time to relax.

Whether you have been enjoying winter sports over the past few days or are stiff from shovelling the driveway, you may be experiencing dry hands, face, legs and hair. Or you feel you need to replenish? Or your holiday was soooo fulfilling you want to offer something luxurious to someone special? Think home spa.

Home spas are fun and much less expensive. Although they require a bit of preparation, you have total control over the textures and aromas used. Below are suggested ingredients but feel free to add or switch ingredients. For example, you could add cucumber slices over your eyes while resting.

Cornflower hydrosol is great for the
eyes and for the skin.

TIPS:

• If you have eczema, do not use Epsom salt. Avoid sesame oil by almond oil and add neem oil to your body oil mix.
• If you are pregnant, avoid essential oils; hydrosols are fine.
• Keep a face cloth or box of tissue paper next to the bath in case of spill.

Step 1:

• Bring 1 large container of yogurt and ½ cup of your choice of hydrosol to room temperature a couple of hours ahead
• Turn off your phone and cell phone
• Read all the steps, prepare towels, 1 plastic grocery bag, 1 loofa sponge, an elastic band and prepare your ingredients ahead of time.

Step 2:

For your hair

• Choice of hydrosol: Vata: lavender; Pitta: chamomile; Kapha: Orange blossom
• Measure 1 cup of yogurt; add the juice of ¼ freshly squeezed lemon and 3 drops of rosemary essential oil
• Prepare a tea with 2 litres of hot water and pour over 2 Tbsp of fresh or dried rosemary leaves and 1/2 tsp of cloves. Add the hydrosol your chose. Seep for 5 min. or more then strain. Keep the lid on until you are ready to take a bath.

For your face and body

• Warm up ¼ cup of oil (Vata: avocado; Kapha: sesame; Pitta: almond oil). Pour the oil in a pyrex or pottery cup; warm up the oil on a coffee mug plate to ideal temperature.
• Grind 1 tsp of oats, ¼ tsp of cumin, 1 tsp dry basil, and mix with ¼ cup of yogurt with 1 tbsp of honey and 1 Tbsp of banana purée. Optional: add 1 tsp rose powder

For the hands and feet

• Mix ¼ tsp Vitamine E (liquid oil), ¼ tsp rosehip or evening primrose oil; 1 tsp of the same oil as for the body;
• Pitta, add 1 drop of mint essential oil; Kapha, add 1 drop of ginger oil; Vata, add 1 drop vetiver oil

Step 3:

Run a bath with 1 Tbsp Epsom salt, ¼ cup of orange blossom hydrosol, 2 drops of eucalyptus or ravensara essential oil, and the balance of the yogurt.

Step 4:

If you have someone around available to rub your back, prepare 2 Tbsp of castor oil with 2 drops of ginger essential oil. (Those with high Pitta would enjoy a cooler essential oil such as lemongrass or sandalwood). For a more sensuous massage, use rose, rosewood or jasmine.

Step 5:

• Bring everything to the washroom on a nice tray (maybe with a fresh flower, a couple of tealights and a large glass of water with lemon. Turn on relaxation music.
• Always test the temperature of your warm mixes before using.

Step 6: You are ready to start:

You skin will love you lemon-clean liver.

Massage every millimeter of the foot for happy heart, lungs,
colon, stomach and liver.

• Massage your whole body with the oil you warmed up, focusing on the dry spots.
• Dilute the bath mix in the tub.
• Enter the tub.
• Take a sip of water.
• Get your hair wet and spread the yogurt hair mix in your hair and friction the scalp.
• Wrap your head with the plastic grocery bag and tie it so it doesn’t slip.
• Cover everything with a thick towel. Your body heat will help your hair absorb the moisture.
• Spread the body yogurt mix on the face and let it sit.
• Drink more.
• Spread the rest of the mix from head to toe, then scrub with the loofa sponge.
• Rinse off and rest for a moment with long inhalations and exhalations. Optional: cover our eyes with wet green tea bags or cotton swabs with cornflower hydrosol .
• Place the hand and feet oil on the coffee warmer.
• Enjoy the rest of your drink to the last drop.
• Drain the bath water and run the shower to rinse off your hair.
• Pour the hair rinse tea on your head and massage your scalp. DO NOT rinse again.
• Get out of the bath and wrap yourself in a comfy towels, robe or pjs.
• Put the back massage oil on the coffee warmer
• Sit comfortably and lathe your hands and feet with the warm oil mix.
• Massage your kidneys or adrenals with the warm castor oil or have someone do it for you.
• Relax or go to bed.

Using biodegradable ingredients helps nature regenerate too!

Taking the time to relax extends your longevity and improves health. And enjoying the textures, aromas and your inner silence are part of the journey. 
And the bonus here is that you have used only biodegradable ingredients that won't pollute your body nor the environment.
Drop me a line to let me know how your home spa experience went and share your own recipes.