Bath essentials

Start your weekend pampering session by drawing up the perfect bath. The environment in which you bathe is very important — leaves, green plants — especially ferns which grow in most conditions, are best for a bathroom.  Often, the bathroom is also the least ventilated room in the house or a hotel. Shaded and diffused lighting is conducive to drifting and dreaming. Perfumed candles look just as lovely in the bathroom. 

The temperature of the water is important. Avoid very hot water, which only saps away your energy and is bad for your skin. Bath water should be comfortably warm. On very hot days, you are better off using tepid water that will help dilate your blood vessels, so your body can release all its trapped heat. Cold water will only provide temporary relief.

Soak opera

Cleanse your face before you step into your bath. Apply either a facial mask, a mask of cleansing grains or a film of nourishing cream on your face and neck while you are soaking.

If you have normal skin and have applied a facial mask, follow directions that come with your product and rinse off with cold water.  

If you have applied cleansing grains (oatmeal, almond paste, cornmeal, orange peel), rinse with warm water after the paste dries and scrub with a rough, face cloth. This helps get rid of black heads.

If you apply a lubricating cream, leave the cream on during your bath. After 10 minutes, run some hot water lightly over your face and neck. When you step out, remove the cream with damp cotton. This works well on dry skin.

Skin also needs to be soothed, replenished and nourished with herbal bath oils. Dispensing oils dissolve completely in water and floating oils, being lighter than water, float on top. These oils cling to the skin as one emerges from the bath.

Infuse some goodness

Here are two bath oils that you can make at home and are far purer than most commercially available bath oils.

-Dispensing oil: Turkey ped oil – ¾ cup and aromatic oil – ¼ cup.
-Floating oil: Almond oil or Olive oil – ¾ cup and aromatic oil – ¼ cup.
I recommend the use of lavender, juniper, chamomile, neroli and sandalwood oils, which are available in cosmetic and lifestyle stores. These oils seep into the skin and help you relax.

Use a pumice stone on your heels and elbows while you are still in the tub. Moisten the stone, then rub it in a circular motion over the rough spots.

If you want a truly relaxing bath, use the time to rest your eyes. Place slice of cucumber on each eye gently and leave them on until the juice cleanses the eye and soothes it.
After your bath when you are clean and relaxed, give yourself a massage with a hand or body lotion, if you have dry skin, an after-bath friction lotion or a cologne (if you have oily skin).

Pour some lotion into your palm and begin at your shoulders. Massage the lotion into your skin using long strokes. Give special attention to elbows, knees, hands and feet. Massage until the lotion disappears into your skin. Do not eat a heavy dinner and have an early night, so that you can catch up on your sleep. You need eight solid hours of sound sleep.

Beauty menu

-Breakfast: A bowl of cereal with skimmed milk, yogurt, an apple or a banana.
-Mid -morning: A glass of orange juice, a slice of cheese.
-Lunch: A large plate of salad, a bowl of yogurt, fruit and a slice of bread.
-Tea: Tea with couple of biscuits.
-Dinner:  ¾ cup of paneer or cold meat with fresh peas and one small, boiled potato. Dinner should be eaten before 7:30 pm.
-Nightcap: A glass of milk, sweetened with a teaspoon of honey, can induce quality sleep.
All meals should be eaten slowly and in a relaxed atmosphere.

Yoga to the rescue

Emphysema is a common problem that occurs after too many hours spent at work. Yoga is a great way to get rid of your tensed, knotted muscles. The spinal exercises in yoga firm up the backbone, strengthen the back muscles and energise your nerves and muscles.  Yogic breathing exercises are very important. They are also good for the heart.
They offer gentle and easy body movements that can be done by all.