Spa and Wellness Experts From Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Share Self-Care Tips
As the global pandemic continues, many of us are still stuck at home and looking for new ways to stay sane. If you’ve finished every last Netflix episode, baked every dessert you could find the recipe for, and indulged in a little more online retail therapy than you’d like to admit during these past few months—chances are, you could benefit from a new source of inspiration.
Try This 3-Minute Meditation With The Sound of The Sea
Even though we’ve been spending more time at home these days, not all of us have been treating ourselves to the self-care that we need and deserve. Whether you’re working longer hours from home, taking care of the kids all day or even just trying to cope with the new ‘normal’ we are all facing currently, many of us have suffered mentally and physically as a result.
Pamper Yourself at Home With The Best Self-Care Products
We spoke with several spa and wellness experts from various Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts properties, who shared their favorite tips and tricks that will help you maintain both your physical and mental health during these times of social distancing. Read on to discover new ways to enhance your personal time while recreating some of the Four Seasons magic within your own home.
Turn Everyday Activities Into Exercise.
Marvin Rolle, Director of Tennis at The Ocean Club, a Four Seasons Resort
While at home during these uncertain times, a key to remaining positive and present is movement. It can be difficult to find the motivation and for this I recommend finding a friend or partner to keep you engaged. Make a pact to check in and do a few apartment laps or walk the neighborhood (keeping a socially responsible distance, of course).
If you have children, use this as an opportunity to unleash your own inner child. Have them “lead” you in an exercise or dance class where you emulate their moves.
Not all exercise needs to be high impact like burpees or jumping jacks. And for many of us, this is stressful on our joints. You’d be surprised that even cleaning the house stimulates circulation and serotonin—both confirmed benefits of standard exercise. Perhaps what you haven’t done before, though, is pay true and proper attention to your posture and form, especially your core. For example, vacuuming and mopping can be particularly harsh on your lower back. Here in particular, it’s important to hold a position similar to a squat and push the handle forward from a centered position. To be in proper position, ensure your knees are not bent over your toes, pushing through your heels into the ground. Ensure you’re not overextending as you push and pull the vacuum or mop handle. You can also try this in a lunge!
Steam + Sip for Serenity
Erin Stewart, Spa Director at Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis
One of my favorite self-care routines that I use to help keep calm and reduce stress is to add Pure Inventions Tranquility Vanilla Tea (water-infused drops) to either warm or chilled water. This small bottle is easy to place on my desk or stash in my purse. The blend contains chamomile, passion flower, and magnesium—all natural products with a great taste. These natural stress-relieving ingredients bring calmness and balance throughout the day and evening. It can be purchased at in the Spa retail area of Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis and also online.
Create a spa-worthy steam room at home. Simply turn on the hot water in your shower (keeping the vent off if you have one), let the steam rise, the add a couple of drops of lavender and eucalyptus oil. Immediately enter the shower and take 10 deep breaths—inhaling through your nose and providing deep exhales through your mouth. This will help relieve stress and provide a perfect antidote to a restless mind! I recommend this ritual before going to bed, it naturally aids in a better nights sleep!
Hit Pause and Be Positive.
Tara Cruz, Senior Spa Director at Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown
Wake up and try not to scroll just yet. The first moments of your day are crucial—hold this space and time for positive ritual. Create your own mantra: accept that you cannot change these circumstances surrounding you and they do not define you. I am grateful and worthy, it’s time to strengthen and rebuild. Our energy can quickly exude through your home and your kids/partner/dog will feel it. Acknowledge your anxiety or concern though and don’t let it consume you. And don’t forget to breath. Breath work is a real thing, it helps reduce anxiety, and triggers a sense of positive control and mindfulness.
Juice...and then juice some more. An easy go-to blend for me (honestly takes five minutes) consists of 1.5 cups spinach, 2 clementines, 2 cored apples with skin, 3/4 purified water, 1 teaspoon agave. Or for your immune boost: peel a large ginger root and let it boil in water, add slices of one whole lemon, and 1 table spoon of honey.
Stretch. Easy rule of thumb: hold each stretch for 30 seconds at least. Chin to shoulder, chin to chest, chin to sky...repeat. It’s a good start.
Practice self-facial lymphatic massage, Alexandra Soveral has a great “how to” in her box of angel balm!
Dry brush. This is a great way to increase circulation and lightly exfoliate. Always brush towards the heart to improve lymph flow.
Stress can prompt migraines and headaches, and scalp massage can help keep tension at bay. I use Omorovicza scalp treatment, though you can use an organic aromatherapy oil (warm if possible), massage deeply into scalp, and hold at temples and occipital points.
I love Chinese medicine and an easy at-home self-care technique is acupressure. They are points on face and hands that can be done on one’s self, and there are many charts online, although I recommend doing some research first.
Soak It In.
Cecilia Hercick, Director of Spa & Sports Club at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
To create your own at-home spa experience, you’ll need the following:
1 spoonful of Coconut Oil
12 oz Coconut Water
12oz can Coconut Milk
1 spoonful of Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Powder
1/2 cup of Sugar (White or Brown)
1/2 cup of sea salt or Epsom Salt
Lime wedge
Instructions:
Scrub. Place ½ cup of sugar (white or brown) in a bowl. Add coconut oil, 1 spoon of cocoa powder, and create a paste. You will use this mixture to exfoliate your knees and elbows once you are soaking.
Bath. Fill your tub with warm water. Just add 1/2 cup of mineral salts, such as Epsom Salt or sea salt, to your soak. Add a can of coconut milk and relax in a steamy (but not too hot) tub.
Drink. Fill a glass of coconut water with a wedge of lime and keep it near the tub to enjoy while soaking. (If you have a coconut sorbet in your refrigerator, this is the perfect time to eat this treat while you are soaking!)
Grand Finale. After the bath, caress your body skin with the cocoa butter bar, which will leave your skin soft and supple with a hint of chocolate.
For more information and to book your next Four Seasons adventure, visit fourseasons.com and follow on Instagram: @fourseasons
Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk