So, it seems that almost everyone today has a sniffle, sore muscles, itchy eyes,.. and I hate to say it, but so do I!

I am writing wrapped up in a cosy bathrobe, socks on. Feeling pretty,.. well, it is interesting. It’s not that I don’t have a cold, I just mellowed out myself so much that I really don’t mind it as much as I thought I would. Recent research has shown that deep relaxation is an essential component of an overall healing strategy that can affect one’s health and longevity. Minding those telomeres and really taking care means chilling out, even on a bustling and busy holiday season early evening in NYC. Here is what I do to unwind, and get ready for a  restorative evening of self-care and healing.

I like to have warm feet when I have a cold. So, I took a hot bath with Epsom salts with a few drops of a Roman Chamomile organic therapeutic grade essential oil. This reminded me so much of my time in the hot springs of Japan! I use a water filter so the bath is not as chlorinated, which brought me one little step closer to nature. Since I recently splurged on a very high quality oil made of pressed Rose petals, I dabbed a micro drop on my wrists. Rose and chamomile are said to be excellent for calming and healing inflamed skin irritations and the aroma of these oils is profoundly soothing. If you haven’t yet embraced an aromatherapy practice, the bath is a great place to start!

Using an non-toxic shampoo and liquid soap that I got for my young son at the health food store (smelled like pineapple which is not exactly on my go to list for colds, but it was cheerful and reminded me of happy days, so I think it was a pretty great addition), I washed my hair and my face, adding a teaspoon of dark (organic…) sugar to exfoliate and feel really fresh and renewed. Scratchy gloves were used for the rest of me, helping the circulation of blood and move lymph. Out of the shower, I combed my hair and used a dot of olive oil on the ends (because I ran out of coconut oil!..) since my hairdresser told me that a food grade oil will condition my hair much better than a commercial acidic conditioner that would eventually strip my hair of good oils over time.

For some strength and nutritional support, I made a smoothie with purified water, organic almond butter, organic coconut butter, frozen organic spinach and blueberries, and a pinch of ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon. So many of these great spices are anti-inflammatory and help us to fight colds.

I feel like a smoothed out lump of lovely melted mellowness. I am not sure if I have the energy to make a cup of chamomile tea (organic, sold in bulk at health food stores. Peter Rabbit’s mother had it right!) with a teaspoon of propolis and raw manuka honey, or if I will just put my eye mask on now and set myself up in a restorative yoga pose with Reiki, or just simply get into bed as the sun has just set, and go to sleep. Ahhh. Being under the weather can provide a great opportunity for self-care and true relaxation.

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