May 22, 2014 | Uncategorized
Whether they are fathers, sons, brothers or friends, we love the dads in our lives and our biggest wish is for them to stay around, right? If you don’t have a dad to celebrate this year, consider thinking of an loving father-figure in your life, or someone else’s, who deserves to enjoy the honor of this special day! He’s given himself to create life, and now it’s time to show your appreciation! But what can you do to better his life, especially when he seems to already have it all?
Let’s start with health. Life is only as beautiful as the quality it holds. I’m not suggesting you buy him two first class tickets to Bali, but I will give you some creative ideas that will leave him feeling relaxed, healthy and rejuvenated!
Here are some perfect Father’s Day gift ideas for the dad that has it all!
1. YOU. I know you’re busy, but you may just be the perfect gift of all! Take time out of your busy schedule and surprise him for lunch. Just show up. Put your phone away and be all ears. Giving our full, non-judgemental attention is one of the best ways to say ‘I LOVE YOU’. That makes a man happy and being happy keeps the whole self more healthy!
2. Personal training sessions AND massage. Why both? Well, going to the gym, whether fit or not, can be a chore and many people don’t want to exhaust themselves doing so. By coupling it with massage, you say, “Yes, I know it was hard, but you’re worth it… and here’s a relaxing reward for your hard work and dedication!” It’s not bribery. It’s incentive!
3. Yoga class punch card. Yoga isn’t just for the ladies! In fact, the truth is, men could use a lot more flexibility in their lives and yoga is great for those overworked mind and bodies. Of course, do your research, and make sure it’s a class he’ll be comfortable with. Added bonus? Throw in a manly mat for him to take with him. Either it’s his thing, or not… you’ll know!
4. Round up your family and invest in a home sauna. This, I have to say, is one of my favorite gift ideas for everyone, but especially dads. Used all over the world, saunas offer both body health through detoxification and circulation and mind health through relaxation and being able to unwind after a long day. These are relatively inexpensive and have long lasting benefits. Physically, nothing is more invigorating than a deep, healthy sweat. His tension will fade and muscles will unwind. It just takes a few minutes a day for him to both feel and look better!
5. Essential oils for health. Specifically, eucalyptus oil. If you don’t already know the benefits of this miraculous oil, it’s fantastic for respiratory, muscle and circulatory health. You can get the eucalyptus oil shower mist and encourage him to spray it around the home, car or office for the disinfecting properties. To enhance his health and cleanse his bronchial passages, he can spray it into the shower steam or sauna heat for even further use. This spray is an all round health and crowd pleaser!
I hope that these ideas have gotten you excited about honoring the dad’s in your life. We’d love to know how you’ve used them or if you have any other ideas you’d like to contribute. At Eurospa, we are committed to everyone’s health and all points of life! Let us know how we can make your life a better one!
May 21, 2014 | Uncategorized
Everyone wants to be strong, fit, and look great, but let’s face it, our schedules and lifestyles often make this hard to do. And once we do finally find a chance to make space for those workouts, our dedication to a more toned body can lead us to over do it (from our lack of time) and we really end up paying for it in the days to follow. While it’s wise to modify your workout to be at a more efficient and healthy level, it’s also smart to have a few tips on hand to make recovery both faster and smoother! So – keep up your (healthy) routine and enjoy some of these all natural, post workout recovery tips!
ALWAYS STRETCH BEFORE & AFTER!
Gentle stretching before AND after a workout is a key component not to be dismissed. Trust me, I’ve been there and sometimes you just don’t want to ‘waste your time’ stretching. I want to emphasize the gentle part for a minute as well. Especially before a workout, your muscles are not warmed up. This will cause them to be more tight and stiff – like a dry rubber band. Over stretching or stretching to forcefully will actually weaken the muscle, making injury more likely. Once your workout is complete – consider stretching in a sauna (still gently) and really make use of the extra heat. More about saunas below…
HYDRATE!
Water is so easily lost during exercise and you’ve to to replace it during and after the workout to not only hydrate those cells, but also to speed up recovery time! Water aids your metabolic function and supports the transfer of nutrients in the body. So staying properly hydrated will improve each and every body function. This is even more vital for endurance athletes who sweat more during periods of strenuous and peak activity.
LISTEN TO MUSIC
Music is a great tool that can help us through a tough workout, at least by distracting us from the burning feeling in your legs. But on a more serious note, listening relaxing tunes can surprisingly aid in your workout recovery. So my recommendation is to listen to the faster heavier beats during the workout and switch it up to the slower tempo songs while you stretch and cool down, as the slower music can reduce blood pressure and pulse rate, which is especially useful after an intense workout!
REFUEL!
Are you feeding your body with the right fuel? Machines require fuel and so do our bodies. You’ve got to make sure you eat within 60 minutes of a hard workout. Your energy stores have just been depleted pretty badly, so you’ve to restore them if you want your body to recover, repair, gain strength and be prepared for the next challenge! So great go-to and simple snack ideas that will speed your recovery along are protein shakes, bananas, nut butters, hummus and red peppers, yogurt with berries, fish and all green plants. Let’s not forget the obvious- green plants are the foods to eat pre and post anything, really!
HOT COLD!
Take alternating hot and cold to an even better level. The traditional advice of alternating applied ice and heat have great purpose but are better for targeting specific areas. Instead, try taking a really hot shower and then switching to the coldest setting for about 30 seconds (or whatever you can handle) and then switching back to hot again. You could even include the sauna with this one. Sit/stretch in the sauna for 5-10 minutes, go out and take a cold shower (or ice bath if that’s available) and then return to the sauna. Repeat this process 2-3 times for best results.
DID SOMEONE SAY SAUNA?
Sauna is the word on the street these days for health and fitness advocates all over the world. For good reason too. The health benefits that saunas deliver cause me to wonder why homes all over the world don’t invest in installing one in their own homes. If you’re already going to be stretching in all that heat, enhance that experience further and add Eucalyptus Oil Spray to the heat and even steam. Simply spritz the spray into the steam or heat. The oil in the air will then be activated by the heat, enter your lungs and be carried off to nurture those needy parts and well-worked muscles!
Congratulations. You are working out more regularly and committing to bettering your health. You will soon be looking and feeling better and that’s something to be proud of. Please take care of yourself with proper diet, rest and recovery as you life your life to it’s absolute fullest!
From all of us at Eurospa, we toast to your health!
May 12, 2014 | Uncategorized
Graduation can be a bittersweet time of the year for many. On one hand you may feel like you are ‘loosing’ a person very precious to you to the hands of adulthood. On the other hand, you are excited for their rite of passage and want to both celebrate them and honor them accordingly!
But what do you you get for your soon-to-be-grad?? Well, I thought we could combine some natural earth and body friendly ideas, combined with the little things they’ll need as they transition to living more on their own.
Ready?
1. Money Cards. Yeah, I know this FEELS impersonal, but believe me. This generation is beyond that and totally excited to have a monetary plastic gift, usable in person or online for exactly what they need.
2. Movie Tickets. Even those incredibly talented, artistic and conscious teens need some down time with their friends… and if you don’t get them money, they may be too broke to enjoy some needed entertainment. Come on, help them out.
3. Assorted Teas. You’ll want to include some for health and detox, relaxation, and awakening. They will soon be studying long hours and will need green tea, black tea or yerba mate to stay alert, chamomile or kava to relax their nerves and white or oolong to boost their immune system. One additional cute thing to do, would be to divide the teas into sections and insert a little note card in each section with an encouraging explanation about the tea’s use in soothing their brilliant minds!
4. Yoga Class Card. Again, male or female, you can expect them to be spending a lot of time in front of a computer screen or with their noses in a book. Think of how soothing it would be to them to have a dependable yoga class to attend once or twice a week and unwind their tired and stiff learning muscles? Good for the body, good for the health.. A great gift idea.
5. Multi-Purpose Spray. What’s better than an all-in-one spray that really works to better your health, relax you, invigorate you and clear the home of germs and viruses?? This Eucalyptus Oil Spray can be sprayed into the steam of the shower to awaken the senses and open the bronchial passages while also usable to spray into a room and on to surfaces to kill the plentiful harmful germs. That’s a good choice especially for a teen new to having to keep so much clean, all on their own!
Again, this is a bittersweet time in your life and the gift shouldn’t complicate it further. We are happy to enhance the life and health of people in all generations. Stop by Eurospa to see what else we can do for you today!
May 8, 2014 | Uncategorized
Not everyone is a morning person, but most people need to function in the morning for one reason or another. With that in mind, let’s make the most out of those morning blues with these 7 positive ways to create an energized and productive day!
1. START THE NIGHT BEFORE
Everyone has personal weaknesses in their morning routine, so we want to reduce the confusion and chaos the night before. For example, gather your clothes (yours and the kids) together and set them aside to save yourself the anxiety of staring into your closet and making those choices in your morning zombie mode. Then, take some essential oil of lavender with a little coconut oil and massage into your feet. The oil will be absorbed through your feet and travel to the rest of your body, aiding in added relaxation.
2. BE THE SUNSHINE IN YOUR own DAY
The sun is going to rise regardless of what side of the bed you choose to wake up on. And, yes I said “choose”. I know you might be tired (maybe go to bed earlier?) or dreading the day ahead but only you can decide how you feel about your day and whether your fears or frustrations will rule you. When you wake up – just smile. Even if you feel stupid and inauthentic, smile anyway and keep it there. While (possibly staging) you grin, think of everything you love and are thankful for. Life can be crazy but it doesn’t mean YOU have to be. So make a different choice. You be the sunshine!
3. PRAYER and STILLNESS
Find a quiet place in your home (especially helpful for parents) that’s free from distraction, but not in your bed. Turn on some relaxing music, read or just sit in the stillness. Take one, then two, then ten deep breaths. This is your opportunity to set your daily intention for a peaceful and productive day.
4. GET MOVING
It’s common knowledge that physical activity is important for both your mind and body, but it can be really difficult to find the time to fit it in to our busy schedules. If you can go for a run or stop by the gym first thing in the morning, great! If not, make a plan to implement a small routine into your morning so you at least set a pattern and habit to care for your mind and body which will in turn, not only set up your day with energy but also the rest of your life.
5. WAKE UP WITH WATER
Inside and out is best! Make sure to drink a glass of water, as the hydration really does wake up your cells and start your day with a metabolic cleansing. Then head to the shower. Turn up the heat and let your muscles both relax and rejuvenate! Add menthol crystals to the shower steam as well to further awaken and even reap the health benefits! Menthol crystals open up your bronchial passage ways, allowing you do breathe deeper and get more oxygen to your brain. More oxygen to the brain means more clarity and mental peace. These crystals will add a great vibrance to your day!
6. BODY FUEL
Some people are morning eaters and some are not. Meet with a nutritionist or do some research and try to hone in on what your particular body type is. Some people are the hot tea and toast type and others are the full spread of fruit, bacon and eggs. Whatever feels best and fuels you for the next couple of hours should be considered your energy spark for the day and committed to. When you take time to eat a balanced meal, you are giving your body the fuel it needs for everything else. Chinese medicine states that the morning meal is the fuel your body pulls from most, the rest of the day. Only the oiled machine can truly perform!
Your health is our goal at Eurospa. Let us know how we can make life better for you.
May 5, 2014 | Uncategorized
There’s a lot of talk about different home remedies and the moms out there can become overwhelmed with their options. That’s why YOU are amazing and finding out all the information FOR her, today.
You’re so kind.
Here’s the thing. Did you know that the pharmaceutical companies create their top medicines from the active healing properties of plants? (then they take them to a lab and add a bunch of chemicals and additives that are totally unnecessary and further damaging to your health…but that’s another story) For now, I want to focus on the alternative options you can gift mom with this year. Because she deserves it and you love her. Right?
Peppermint: First of all, peppermint is absolutely incredible. The essential oil of this miraculous herb is so multi-functional. It calms the digestive system, fires up metabolism, eases tension and boosts your energy! People have compared used this oil in place of over the counter stomach relievers/antidiarrheals, energy drinks and even pain relievers! Simply place a few drops on your forehead, temples, around your belly, on your shoulders and even on the bottom of your feet! You’ll be surprised at the results.
Lavender: Lavender is one of the best oils you can keep on hand. In addition to its incredible scent, it addresses a spectrum of benefits from easing pain, calming the nerves and anti-viral to fight germs, bacteria and viruses. People have replaced anti-biotic ointments, pain relief meds, sleep aids and muscle rubs with the oil of this incredible plant.
Lemongrass: This is a great one for it’s scent and uplifting nature! It can be combined with all the other oils I’m suggesting to you. Not only with it’s smell but also for it’s healing benefits! Lemongrass has long been used in Asian and Caribbean cooking due to its subtle lemony flavor and aroma. It shouldn’t surprise you then, at this point, this plant oil is anti-viral, uplifts moods, calms the nerves, great for jet-lag and even as a bug repellent! For topical use, make sure you mix 1 -2 drops into about 1TBSP of coconut oil, as the oil can be too strong on the skin. Just mix and rub on needed areas or diffuse in a room to breathe in it’s benefits.
Eucalyptus: Our absolute favorite, of course, is Eucalyptus, for it’s incredible power to fight and kill viruses, germs and general illness when inhaled in natural air or steam. It’s essential properties go into the body and open up bronchial and nasal passages, all while beating the illness living in them. Relaxing, energizing and healing – this oil in spray form can be used as a room spray, home cleaner and sauna/steam room enhancer. It’s a necessity in any conscious mother’s medicine bag.
I hope that helped give you a few more ideas to prepare for Mother’s Day. It’s coming soon, so make sure you are prepared to give her a gift she absolutely deserves. From all of us at Eurospa, Happy Mother’s Day.
Apr 30, 2014 | Uncategorized
Isn’t it great when there is sickness in the home, and you are able to cure your cold naturally at home with the power of plant based medicine? Did you know that healing with essential oils is stronger and more potent than loose leaf herbs? For example, when properly distilled, just a few drops of peppermint oil have all the healing properties of many pounds of the herb in loose leaf form! Peppermint is not alone, with Eucalyptus being equally strong and coming with multiple anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal AND anti-inflammatory properties!
The beauty of this versatile oil is that it addresses a lengthy list of ailments (see below) in a variety of ways. If you own the concentrated oil, be sure to have a base like coconut or olive oil to mix the oil into for topical applications. For inhalation methods, our own eucalyptus oil spray will be very helpful.
Here is a great list of uses and benefits of eucalyptus oil that every parent and family should read and know about! And please, pass this on to your friends and family, as we know that a healthy planet, begins with being informed!
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Arterial Vasodilator
Eucalyptus will help dilate the circulatory system, increasing circulation. Use 1 drop during massage over any area of concern.
Asthma
During an asthma attack, massage 1-2 drops over the chest. Also, inhale the aroma directly or diffuse in the air.
Brain Blood FlowDiffuse or
spray the mist throughout the home or classroom to increase circulation to the brain.
Bronchitis
Use topically or aromatically, massaging into the chest, back and throat, inhaling from the bottle, or dropping the oil on the shirt collar.
Congestion
Eucalyptus oil uses included clearly congestion from the airways. I recommend inhaling for nasal congestion and massaging the oil over all other affected areas.
CoolingYes,
eucalyptus oil uses even include cooling the body down. Place several drops in a spray bottle, along with
peppermint oil if you’d like some extra oomph, and spritz over the body.
CoughsDiffuse or
spray throughout the room throughout the span of the illness, but also massage into the reflex points of the feet (follow the application guidelines in the link above), as well as over the chest, back, and throat. *Be sure to add the
shower mist spray to a hot shower, bath or steam room, as this will quickly break through congestion and mucous for faster relief of respiratory conditions.
Diabetes
Because of the vasodilation mention above, using eucalyptus on a daily basis can increase circulation, a common issue for diabetics. I recommend massaging it into the body with lotion after each shower, as the massage will also help increase circulation.
Dysentery
Massage 2 drops of eucalyptus over the abdomen in a counter-clockwise direction to ease diarrhea, inflammation, and fight infection.
Ear Inflammation
Never put essential oil IN the ear canal! However, you can massage the oil on and around the outer ear. Use only 1 drop to start, diluted for children.
EmphysemaEucalyptus oil uses are wonderful for all manner of respiratory disease. Diffuse or
spray your personal sized mist the oil daily, massage 1 drop over the chest at least once a day, and another drop into the reflex points of the feet.
Expectorant
To help drain mucus from the lungs, massage 1 drop into the reflex points of the feet and apply another drop over the chest at least once a day (I’d personally do three times a day if no sensitivity is found).
Fever
Because eucalyptus oil uses include cooling the body (above), using during a high fever can help the body regulate its temperature and support its efforts in fighting infection.
Flu
Depending on your flu symptoms, eucalyptus oil uses will vary. You can apply to the abdomen to ease diarrhea, massage into aching joints and muscles, or simply diffuse through the air to fight infection.
Hypoglycemia
Another of eucalyptus oil uses, you can help regulate your blood sugar by massaging 1-2 drops into the soles of the feet daily.
Inflammation
Massage 1-2 drops over the afflicted area, always moving toward the heart to support the lymphatic system.
Iris Inflammation
This recommend comes from Modern Essentials (mentioned below). While you should never put essential oils IN the eyes, massaging into the temples may support the irises.
Jet Lag
Eucalyptus oil uses include waking up the body with its slightly sweet, fruity, and uplifting aroma. Use topically or aromatically.
Kidney Stones
Massage 1-2 drops of the oil over the afflicted area up to three times a day.
MeaslesDiffuse and
spray your mist throughout the home for the length of the illness, and massage 1-2 drops into the reflex points of the feet 2-3 times a day.
Neuralgia
Another of the little-known eucalyptus oil uses, massaging into the areas of concern daily can reduce pain.
Neuritis
Along with neuralgia, massage several drops into the reflex points of the feet and over the affected areas can reduce inflammation.
Overexercised Muscles
Strain, fatigue, etc can all be treated with a gentle massage of eucalyptus oil. Always massage toward the heart to move the lactic acid buildup through the lymphatic system.
Pain
Depending on the type of pain, eucalyptus oil uses may necessitate application to the reflex points of the feet or directly over the area of concern.
PneumoniaHelp the lungs to clear by diffusing constantly and massaging directly over the lungs. Use the
shower mist as often as possible. It will also help to massage eucalyptus into the reflex points of the hands and feet.
Rhinitis
Reduce inflammation and open airways by inhaling directly from the bottle, massaging one drop over the sinuses, or applying as a hot compress.
Shingles
Eucalyptus oil uses include shingles for its antiviral properties, as well as its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Massage into the affected areas daily, add to a warm bath, or use a hot compress over the area.
Sinusitis
Apply as a hot compress over the sinuses and massage 1-2 drops into the reflex points of the feet (toes and pads of the feet). You can also inhale directly or diffuse throughout the room.
Tennis Elbow
I highly recommend finding a massage therapist who specializes in treating tennis elbow and bringing along your eucalyptus to include in the deep massage of the area.
TuberculosisEucalyptus oil uses include fighting the bacterial infection, clearly the lungs, reducing inflammation and more. Diffuse constantly and massage 2 drops into the chest and over the back.
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As you can see, the uses for this powerful oil are many! Everyone in the family will be able to benefit from it’s healing properties! It’s smart to keep a bottle of it in concentrated and
spray form in the home and in your car.
This way the air is constantly being cleaned and the oil is readily available to heal wounds both inside and out!
We love to get you healthy and would love to hear how eucalyptus has enriched or aided in healing your life and body!
