Due to the spread of COVID-19 many people are looking for ways to improve their lifestyles and health while staying at home. Here, take a minute to learn from the pros and find out what spa directors are saying about at-home wellness tips and morning routines.
- Vince Smit, spa director of The Miami Beach Edition and an expert in self-care shared his two part, at-home morning routine that he does to stay healthy and keep his immune system strong. The first part is oil pulling, which involves swishing oil in your mouth to remove bacteria. Smit suggests starting each day by taking 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and swooshing it around for at least five minutes. “I carry on with my morning shower and prepare for the day as I’m swooshing,” says Smit. The second part is to drink lemon water. “Once finished oil pulling, I drink one large glass of fresh pressed lemon water,” he adds “This makes the body alkaline for the day and gets the metabolism going, while building immunity with the vitamin C.” Smit adds that he doesn’t ingest anything for 10 minutes after, to allow the lemon water to take its course through the body.
- Carrie Sotebeer, director of spa at The West Hollywood Edition (Los Angeles) advises beginning the day by adding a teaspoon of the salt to a full glass of water. According to Stotebeer, this practice will balance pH levels, intake essential minerals and increase the body’s alkalinity. She then takes at least ten minutes for herself “to sit in quiet meditation, focus on her breath, turn inward and start each day in gratitude.” Afterwards, she will typically practice yoga and then shower. “Before getting into the shower I dry brush my body,” Sotebeer says. “Not only is this exfoliating, but it also increases circulation and stimulates our lymphatic system.”
- Nikki Heyder, head of spa at Desa Potato Head (Seminyak, Bali) starts the morning by taking five slow deep breaths, followed by 10 minutes of breath-focused meditation. “If you struggle with meditating on your own, try downloading the 'Calm' or 'Headspace' apps - both are fantastic for guided meditations,” says Heyder. Next, she sets a goal for the day and says five things she’s grateful for in her life. “Practicing gratitude has been proven to release dopamine,” says Heyder.
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Zorka Jovovic, partner spa manager at The Bodrum Edition (Turkey) starts each day with a glass of water with squeezed lemon and a homemade ginger root-zest shot for a quick immunity boost. Jovovic aims to stay hydrated throughout the day with her own cucumber, lemon, rosemary, and kumquat-infused water. Jovovic recently joined a local online yoga class. She finds a lot of value and benefit in being energized by the community bond. “Keeping social distance and being at home most of our days tends to make the skin a bit drier than usual,” says Jovovic. She also recommends the Aromatherapy Associates’s Hydrating Rose Face Mask for your skin health. “Without fail, the damask rose water infused gel masks returns vital hydration to my skin,” she says, “flooding it with moisture and creating a dewy, fresh look.”
Staying home can be an opportunity to improve self-care and overall wellbeing during a time of isolation. Taking inspiration from these wellness professionals’s routines can improve your own lifestyle and wellness at home.
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