From partying all night to racing around on busy days, your body can really rake a beating. Now, it’s time to treat body right.
- Massage away the stress
Try this tension melter from Glenn Dellimore of L.A.’s Argyle Salon and Spa: Place both thumbs at the base of your skull, where it meets your neck. Gently apply pressure as you rub in tiny circles for 10 seconds, then release. Repeat three times.
2. Sneak in a mini nap
Research has shown that naps prevent burnout and recharge your batteries. Instead of flipping on the tube or scarfing down food to unwind post-work, take a revitalizing 30-min nap.
3. Give your back bliss
Sit cross-legged, hands on knees, and move your torso in a circle. Arch your back as you lean forward; round your spine when you lean back. “It opens your hips and shoulders and feels terrific,” says Edward Vilga, author of Yoga in Bed.
4. Try a lime-ginger scrub
Combine 1/2 c. sugar, 2 T heavy cream, the juice of half a lime, and 1 T grated ginger, says Dellimore. Slather the mixture on, then rinse. You’ll be deliciously smooth all over.
5. Create a steamy escape.
The next time you go to the gym or spa arrive early and spend a few minutes relaxing in the steam room. Or transform your bathroom into a humid haven (shut the door and run a hot shower until it’s misty.) “Sit comfortably on a towel on the edge of your tub and breathe deeply,” says Rachel Lang, director of Gansevoort Spa in NYC. “The moisture nourishes your skin, and it’s a great chance to take a mental break too.”
6. Pre-Vacation Perks
Going on a trip is a blast, but you can kick-start the fun before you take off. “Planning early increases your anticipation of enjoyment,” explains Barbara Fredrickson, PhD, professor of psychology at UNC at Chapel Hill. So book a holiday today. Then Google local restaurants, flip through guidebooks, and set a pick of your getaway as your phone background. Hint: Resist mapping out a rigid itinerary. “Research has found that not having set assumptions boosts satisfaction,” says Fredrickson. “Simply soak in the pleasure of looking forward to it.”
