Spa at home: Tips to help you escape holiday madness

Updated Thu. Dec. 18 2008 8:07 AM ET

Carla Lucchetta, Special to CTV.ca

It's not always possible to get out to a spa, especially over the holidays. But that doesn't mean you can't bliss out at home. Here are some tips to help you escape the holiday madness and achieve the relaxation and benefits of the spa experience in the comfort of you own abode.

Creating the atmosphere

Music

Acquiring spa music couldn't be easier. Several music download sites offer the perfect relaxation music, from yoga chants and ocean waves to ethereal sounds, classical music and even light jazz. Try iTunes in the categories of classical, inspirational or new age. Or you can simply put "spa music" in your internet search engine to find appropriate music downloads.

Some suggestions: anything by Enya, Gregorian chants, soothing sounds of ocean waves, or rain.

Candles

• Scented candles are a must for creating a spa atmosphere. The most effective scents are those infused with essential oils which contain healing and relaxation properties.
• Lavender - helps with relaxation, a general sense of well-being, balances emotions and encourages restful sleep.
• Jasmine - helps relieve tension.
• Orange - smells fresh, helps relieve tension, anxiety and disappointment.
• Peppermint / Spearmint - lifts mood, restores energy and helps with mental clarity.
• Rose - a pleasing smell that can calm mood and promote sleep.
• Ylang Ylang - helps relieve feelings of panic and stress, lessens feelings of anger and aggression.
• Eucalyptus - unblocks stuffy nose due to allergies or colds.

To sip:

Green Tea and White Tea - the perfect drink for promoting good health, it contains antioxidants that fight viruses, slow aging, and reduce cancer risks. Green tea has also been proven to reduce high blood pressure, and stabilize blood sugar levels.

Rooibos or Red tea - also contains disease-fighting antioxidants, has been found to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and is recommended to ease irritability, headaches, insomnia, tension, mild depression or hypertension and relieve indigestion. It contains zinc and alpha-hydroxy acid, which promotes healthy skin and magnesium which keeps the nervous system healthy.

Supplies:

• Comfortable bath or Jacuzzi
• Comfortable and supportive flat surface for massage
• Big, warm, comfy towels.
• Bubble bath, bath bombs, essential oils
• Body sugar or scrub, body lotion, massage oil
• Hand and nail lotion, cuticle oil, nail scissors, nail files, nail buffer, polish remover, nail polish, base and top coat.
• Foot file or pumice stone, foot cream.
• Small soaking bowl for hands, larger soaking bowl for feet.
• Cotton balls, tissues, toe separators, small towels for nails and feet.

Solitary spa:

Set aside at least an hour to enjoy a leisurely and aromatic soak in your bathtub, surrounded by candles and sweet smelling bath oils. Take your time towelling off, apply body lotion paying special attention to dry spots and tension points. This is your moment to pamper yourself the same way a spa attendant would. Lose yourself in the music, leave your hectic day behind you and savour the moments of peaceful solitude. Don't leave the bathroom until your mind feels at rest, your body relaxed and supple.

Spa with your mate:

A perfect way to unwind and reconnect with your significant other. You don't need a professional masseuse to feel relaxed. Just learn a few simple techniques and practice makes perfect. Chances are you don't have a massage table on hand, but a firm and comfortable bed or surface will work.

Simple Massage Techniques:

Swedish massage is the most common technique and easiest to learn. It uses soothing, tapping and kneading strokes to work out muscle tension and relieve sore joints.

The five basic moves are:

• Effleurage: Or Stroking, use this part of the technique to apply an aromatically scented massage oil
• Petrissage: lightly grabbing and lifting muscles
• Friction: working deep circles into muscles with thumbs and fingertips
• Tapotement: chopping, beating, and tapping strokes
• Vibration: pressing fingers on a muscle, and shaking rapidly for a few seconds

Spa with your gal pals:

Nail night is always fun! Instead of healthy tea, spice things up with your favourite festive cocktail; sparkling wine, spiked eggnog or a girl's-night-in Cosmo. No men allowed!

Manicure:

• Prepare a small bowl with some mild bath soap, or a few drops of lemon juice.
• Remove any polish and cut nails if needed.
• File your nails; square, short nails are best for the darker polish colours that are in fashion this winter.
• Buff your nails to even out any lines or uneven surfaces.
• Soak your hands, one at a time, for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Massage cuticles with almond oil, caster oil, Vitamin E oil or store-bought cuticle oil.
• Use a nail stick to push cuticles back, carefully remove excess cuticle skin with nail or cuticle scissors.
• Before applying polish, clean nails with alcohol or nail polish remover. This removes oils and creams used earlier.
• Apply base coat, allow it to dry. Apply two coats of nail polish, allow it to dry. Apply a top coat.

Pedicure:

• Prepare a foot bath with warm water and mild bath soap, or lemon juice.
• Wet two small towels and put in the microwave to heat, then place them in a plastic bag for future use.
• Remove nail polish, cut nails and file, buff nails to remove any lines or uneven surfaces.
• Soak feet for at least 10 minutes
• Use foot file or pumice on heels and balls to remove dead skin, soak again.
• Apply cuticle oil, let penetrate, then push them back, cutting off excess with nail or cuticle scissors.
• Rub feet with body sugar or scrub. Soak in water to remove scrub.
• Wrap the hot towels around your feet; leave on until they cool off.
• Remove excess oil from nails with alcohol or polish remover.
• Prepare for polish by separating toes with a tissue or a toe separator.
• Apply the base coat, let dry. Apply two coats of nail polish, let dry. Apply a top coat.
• Do not put shoes on until your toes are dry!