Inspired by the Ayurvedic approach to holistic wellness through balancing the mind, body and spirit, Aveda was born with the mission to create holistic beauty. Ayurveda is an Indian healing tradition based on the knowledge of life and the interconnectedness of all things. It’s a belief that treating the whole person leads to greater balance and well-being. That’s why when you visit an Aveda salon it’s more than just a hair appointment, it’s an experience. Signature parts of the Aveda culture are our rituals of renewal; including the stress-relieving hand ritual, stress-relieving neck and shoulders ritual, Cup of Aveda Comforting Tea ritual, and the ChakraTM Sensory Journey. These rituals are more than feel-good accessories to a salon visit, they genuinely promote wellness. We want to nurture both your inner and outer beauty. But don’t limit yourself to these moments of wellness every 1-2 months when you can realistically incorporate self-care into your own daily rituals. You can nurture your own wellness through simple self care practices like the following:
Yoga
Yoga is defined as the union of mind, body and spirit. Try a beginner yoga class or look up 5-minute morning yoga practices online. You don’t have to commit a lot of time to receive the benefits from practicing just a few postures each day.
Exercise
Benefits of incorporating a daily ritual of body movement like stretching, low-impact exercise, and aerobic exercise include: increased heart rate and immunity, rise in metabolism, weight management, lower blood pressure, stress-relief, muscle tone, strength and connection in your mind, body and spirit, and a generally longer life. Go for a walk!
Meditation
“Concentration with surrender.” Meditation can seem like an intimidating idea if you’ve never tried it —or if you’ve tried it and become frustrated with it. One good way to try (or try again) is to look for a short, guided meditation to follow. Another idea is to try meditating for shorter amounts of time when you first start. Set a timer for five minutes, or even less if that’s easier for you. The benefits of meditation include feeling grounded emotionally and physically, stress reduction, and finding a sense of clarity.
Aromatherapy
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Incorporate natural, plant, and flower-derived scents into your daily routine. Adding new scents during nurturing practices like yoga, meditation, baths, and the beginning and end of the sleep process can create positive feelings and energy. Try peppermint or Aveda’s own Rosemary Mint to get going in the morning. When you need to unwind or calm stress, try the scent of vanilla or lavender. Avoid synthetic aromas because while they may smell great, you are actually breathing in toxins that our bodies must then work to remove.
Mindful Eating
Eating purposefully, as opposed to boredom snacking, can make us feel better mentally and physically. Try making small changes to your eating habits to nurture your mind, body and spirit. Eat slowly and chew your food well. Learn how to enjoy your food —don’t eat finger foods by the handful —eat them piece-by-piece and savor the experience of eating. Don’t eat while standing or cooking. Don’t skip meals. Drink more water! Most of us don’t drink nearly as much water as we should. When we are meeting our daily water intake needs, we are less likely to overeat and snack when we aren’t truly hungry.
Mindful Breathing
Scientists have documented that when our breath is calm, our mind is calm. Try taking a slow, controlled, deep inhalation. Fill your torso beginning at your belly, moving up to the center of your chest and topping off at the base of your neck. Exhale slower than the inhale, releasing your breath from your stomach, ribs and then chest. This type of breathing helps our bodies eliminate stress and toxins.
Self-massage
Research shows that regular massaging removes toxins and leads to increased immune systems and increased circulation. The idea of being pampered in a salon is an indulgence we should all experience, but we can also giving ourselves these benefits by practicing simple self-massage techniques every day. Try massaging your scalp, your hands, and your feet. Here is a quick ear massage to stimulate the flow of energy and assist in the elimination of toxins: using the thumbs and the index fingers, hold the tops of your ears, pulling upward. Then pull from the sides of your ears outward, and from the lobes downward. Repeat twice in each direction.
Take the time to truly listen to your body through finding your perfect set of daily ritYOUals. You don’t have to try them all at once, just pick one and dedicate some time for yourself.
Contributed by Kayla Thompson, Level 2 Stylist
Top Image Credit: Panache, An Aveda Salon, Spa, Stores