The spa’s a luxury. It’s relaxation, a de-compressor, and a sanctuary away from day-to-day. It’s not one that’s feasibly affordable for any every day of the week. Installing an infrared sauna, traditional sauna, or steam room at home however, you can have a spa day whenever you so desire! For an ultimate full-day of relaxation and self-care, here’s how to create a spa day for yourself built around your sauna and all the delights you love.
Set aside the time
You can’t have a spa day if you don’t make the effort to actually give yourself the time and opportunity to. Clear your schedule – for literally the whole day. Things might take longer than expected. You don’t want to be rushing or stressing about having to pick up the kids from somewhere or having to make a business meeting. Nothing urgent should be included on your spa day. No errands. No commitments. The ultimate spa day in a sauna is waiting for you.
Get a good night’s rest
You don’t want to miss a part of your spa day by going to bed too late or being far too tired to enjoy it. Give yourself a good amount of time the day before to sleep. If anything, spa day does not actually start on the day itself but the night before. Go to bed at a reasonable time and devour as much sleep as you possibly can.
Limit screen time
We hate to be THAT person but put away the smartphone, turn off the ringer, put away the computer or tablet, and minimize the time you spend in front of screens. Plan the day before. You’re not going to pick up your phone. Put it away some place you can’t see it. If anything, Bluetooth speakers or a little TV time can be ok. Checking social media, email, and the news is not. Just for one day, shut it all off and get it away. Make it about you!
Some restorative yoga
You don’t want to overstress the body but if you are an active person, incorporating some restorative yoga or tai chi in your day’s spa and sauna plan can be a healthy way to stretch out those achy muscles. It’s another stress reducer which can help melt away all those worries holding you back. As you’ll come to find in this guide for the ultimate spa day, a lot of the activities or planning involves focusing on relaxation or gentle stimulations.
Essential oil aromatherapy
When you sit in a spa, you’re in a carefully crafted environment. There’s no reason you can’t create the same smell and feeling in your own home. If you have a diffuser or dehumidifier capable of handling essential oils, you may want to incorporate a series of oils throughout the day. Some essential oils are known as stimulants, while others have a more calming effect. Consider making use of at least one, even if it’s just to wake you up in the morning to calm you down towards a day’s end.
Create some hydrating drinks
At a sauna spa, chances are they’re going to serve some absolutely delicious drinks typically infused with fruits, herbs, or similar health-conscious ingredients. Give yourself a few drinks to devour over the course of your spa day. Common mixes include strawberry, mint, and lime; watermelon and basil; cucumber and orange; pineapple, ginger, and mint; or peach and basil. Any of these sort of infusions will make your day feel all the more spa-like.
Meditate
Many people combine meditation with a sauna, steam room, or infrared sauna session. This is a wonderful way to de-stress the mind as all these benefits are swirling around and comforting the body. Meditation for only 20 minutes in a sauna can really awaken the body, clearing out negative thought patterns, and giving you the chance to face the day free from anything which takes instead of gives.
Exfoliating in the shower
Later in the day, after your sauna, take a shower or bath and focus on exfoliating the body’s entirety. Though we typically focus our time on exfoliating the face, why not do everything? Relaxing with an exfoliating body scrub can take away all that dead skin and really give your pores the opportunity to have fresh air circulating over them. This may be an opportunity to add an essential oil to the mix or, if you’re doing a bath, to enjoy a bath bomb. It’s all on you as to whether you’d rather have a bath or shower but a full body exfoliant is a very common spa strategy.
Moisturizing after your shower
When you come out of the bath, you’re coming out with freshly cleaned, exfoliated skin. You will want to moisturize at that point, to keep skin looking healthy and to prevent it from going dry. There are some body creams you can use to really get your legs and rest of your body feeling treated. If you have a facial moisturizer or want to try something fancier, now’s your chance. Ultimately it’s the act of moisturizing which is a must. Don’t skip this step.
Take full advantage of your infrared sauna
If there was ever a day to make the most from your infrared sauna, it’s a spa day. An infrared sauna will pamper you, easing muscle aches, increasing circulation, and detoxifying the skin. Using an infrared sauna, it will put your body into relaxation mode for the entire of the day. This is why a sauna is perfect for early on in the day. It can even be your first activity. This will also help open your pores and get you ready for any moisturizer or skincare you want to get done. As if there wasn’t already enough reasons to jump into a sauna first thing in the morning, it’ll reduce stress, help digestion, and help your nervous system calm down.
Set aside time to eat healthy, energy-driven meals
Fresh fruits and vegetables can help keep energy up and make things feel sweet. On your spa day, eat light. No large, carb-heavy meals. Instead, have snacks. If you aren’t a salad person, alternatives exist. Something as simple as strawberries and whipped cream can be utterly seductive. There are plenty of other tasty fruits and veggie meals which will keep you nourished, feeling great.
What do you love to do?
Outside of the regular spa day-to-day, do something for yourself – at least one thing. Maybe it’s having your favourite fast food dinner for supper, painting, writing a poem, re-watching or watching a movie you’ve been looking forward to seeing, or something along these lines. Peacefully at home, this day’s about you. Sure, you want all the infrared sauna benefits and advantages of a spa but you also want to be happy about it! Look at your own interests and discover what would make you smile.
Light some candles
Even if it’s full day outside, lighting a few candles can help keep you in a relaxed mindset. Every day, bright lights, backlit advertisements, and screens dominate. All of these elements actually cause stress, unknowing to us. Candles add a soft light. They encourage us to slow down. In an effort not to clash your candle smell with any essential oils, definitely consider using candles preferably without scent or with weaker scents.
Get everything ready the day before
Spa and saunas done like this require a day’s notice at least. Whatever you have planned, get everything set up the day before. Have fresh towels, essential oils and diffusers where they need to be, fresh fruits and veggies ready, and more. You don’t want to be running around or doing errands on your spa day. On a day about loving yourself, the only focus should be on body and mind. Anything else, push it out of mind. Set it all up the night before to ensure nothing’s unexpectedly not ready come morning.