In need of a quick way to help you relax and also soothe tired muscles? Try the soaking salt recipe below for a super fast way to help bring some calm into your evening!
DIY Bath Soak
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of Coarse Sea salt
1/2 cup of Epsom salt
14 drops of Lavender essential oil
10 drops of Lemon essential oil
1/8 cup of dried, crushed Rose petals (can use more if you’d like)
Recipe:
You can use more or fewer drops of essential oils depending on your preference. Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl and store in an airtight container. I used an 8 oz. glass mason jar for storage this time, but you can use any airtight jar or bowl that you already have at home. Enjoy!
There are very few things more exciting than growing a little one! But with excitement, stress can start to creep in from time to time for most of us (keeping up with OB appointments, preparing baby's nursery, prepping for labor, and the list goes on!).
Here are 3 meditation techniques to help you find moments of calm throughout your exciting and very busy days, no matter whether you're an meditation guru or new to the meditation scene!
1. Deep Belly Meditation
Place your hands on your belly, gently on top of your baby. Observe the sensations felt beneath your hands. (Warmth? Movement?) Breathe slowly, in and out. (If your mind wanders off, breathe deeper into your belly.) If a thought arises, let it float away, as if it were a cloud in the sky.
Try doing this for five minutes each day, gradually adding more time each week.
2. Make a Mantra
There's a lot of power in our words. When we speak of something, we believe in it. It affects our consciousness, our nervous system, and our way of being. During challenging yoga poses, try saying "Strong mama, breathe. Breathe in and out slowly for your beautiful growing baby." This same mantra can be used to help you through difficult times in pregnancy and also during labor.
3. Visualize a Wave
Fun fact: You can actually decrease the intensity of pain through visualization (meditation combined with mental imagery), no doubt, a useful tool to have during labor!
Your plan: View each contraction as a wave in the ocean. Watch it slowly peak in intensity and then allow it to slowly come down. Visualize yourself as a part of the sea, allowing that wave to wash through you.
🌺🌿 Start your day off with a simple and fabulous homemade facial Steam! 😉
✨Facial steams help to soften and cleanse your skin and also give you the added benefits of the botanicals that you include. I used dried rose petals, lavender buds, dried calendula petals, along with rose & lavender essential oils.
✨Lavender is amazing to use for soothing your skin and also helps to calm your mind (yes to that!) 💕 Rose and Calendula both provide nourishing elements and make a great combo for a quick way to treat yourself! 🎉 ✨
DIY Floral Facial Steam Recipe🧖🏽♀️
Ingredients:
3 cups of steaming hot water
Dried, Crushed Rose Petals
Dried Lavender Buds
Dried Calendula Petals (or Flower Petals of Your Choice)
Lavender & Rose Essential Oils (or nourishing Essential Oils of Your Choice)
How To:
Boil water in tea kettle or pot. Carefully pour water into a heat-safe bowl. Add 5-8 drops of Lavender and Rose essential oils on top of the water in your bowl (do not stir or mix)
Slowly sprinkle each type of crushed flower petal on top of water (do not stir or mix, place petals on top of water).
Safely hold your face several inches over the bowl depending on the level of steam, close your eyes and enjoy! 🍃🌺
For enhanced hydration, drape a towel over your head while you have face over the steam to hold in more moisture. 🧖🏽♀️