Stress Management

STOP, REVIVE, REFRESH.

Do you have a desk job? Working at a desk all day can tighten your muscles leading to everything from headaches to back pain. Treat yourself to a 5 minute break and try the Swan Dive, a chest and shoulder stretch that helps relieve the strain of hunching over a desk all day. This easy move will also work to strengthen the abdominal muscles, which are crucial for proper spinal support.

To do the Swan Dive, sit straight in your chair, lengthen your arms in front of you and press hands gently on to the desk top. (Move your chair closer or further away to make sure arms are straight and feet are flat on the floor.) Inhale and lengthen up through spine, then gently press down through your hands as you arch the top of the head and neck backwards, feeling the spine deepening between the shoulder blades. Exhale and hold the position for a moment, keeping the abdominals strongly engaged up the front of the trunk. Inhale and start to lengthen the spine up between the shoulder blades, bringing the neck and head upright last. Repeat 5 times, then gently round the spine forward when you are done, keeping arms gently placed on the desk.

Taking little mini breaks throughout the day is a perfect time to revive your skin as well as stretch out any kinks in your muscles.

We recommend stocking a desk drawer with a tub of Pure Fiji Body Butter in your favourite infusion and a refreshing Pure FijiBody Mist. After stretching out muscles using the Swan-Dive technique, lightly spritz your face with the Body Mist to rehydrate skin dried out by office air conditioning and treat hands to a quick massage with a small amount of Body Butter.

BEDTIME YOGA

Are you getting enough sleep at night? Sleep is essential for your body and mind to recover from the stresses and harmful environmental exposures during the day. In fact when people get less than 6 or 7 hours of sleep each night, their risk for developing diseases begins to increase.

If youʼre having trouble staying asleep or getting there in the first place, try this pre-bedtime Yoga ritual: First, lie with your legs up the wall in an "L" shape, which will not only give your legs a rest but also help rejuvenate your organs and reversing the affects of gravity." (This pose is also helpful for jet lag and helping to reset your internal clock.)

While youʼre in the pose practice complete diaphragm breathing with an emphasis on lengthening your exhale; try inhaling for the count of 4 and exhaling for the count of 6 and then, if you feel comfortable, lengthen the count to 6 in and 8 out. This pattern of slow breathing mimics our sleeping breathing patterns, and will help get the body primed for a restful night.

A bedtime ritual is usually helpful to establish healthy sleep habits.

Why not prep your body for sleep by indulging in a warm bath with our Island Bliss bath soak? Not only will the soothing aromatherapy work its magic to help unwind your mind, but studies show that the temperature dip experienced after leaving a warm bath mimics the temperature changes during sleep - helping convince your body and mind that sleep is nigh. Follow with a generous application of Island Bliss lotion or oil over the entire body.

Bliss Mist spritzed above the bed would be a perfect companion to the bedtime Yoga ritual - deep breathing exercises will be enhanced by Island Bliss aromatherapy gently working to ease and relax an overactive mind.