Tag: Relaxation

Lifestyle

What is Reiki?

by shelleyandmichelleLeave a Comment on What is Reiki?
What is Reiki?

Reiki is a Japanese healing technique that uses gentle touch to promote relaxation and well-being. A reiki practitioner places their hands just above your body to help guide energy within in a way that leads to balance and healing. Reiki is often used to reduce stress and anxiety, and is intended to help people feel more relaxed and peaceful.

Founded by Mikao Usui in the early 1900s who originated the practice in Japan. It is said that Usui taught his system of reiki to more than 2,000 people during his lifetime.

(Photo credit: Jeremy-Yap)

The term comes from two Japanese words: “rei,” which means universal, and “ki,” which translates to a flow of a lifeforce of energy that happens in all living things.

Reiki is a complementary or alternative health approach. It does not directly cure an illness or get rid of any health conditions and it’s not a medical treatment. Health benefits of reiki may include: reduction of pain and fatigue levels, depression, anxiety, and stress relief, improved sleep quality, pre-surgery anxiety, fear, pain relief, emotional healing and blood pressure management.

(Photo credit: Conscious-Design)

Reiki is considered a form of energy healing and sessions usually last about 60 to 90 minutes to make time for relaxing deeply and energy flow.

We had our first Reiki session last year and left feeling so relaxed, we’ll definitely book in for a second session!

Shelley & Michelle xx

Lifestyle

The Power Of Sound Baths

by shelleyandmichelle1 Comment on The Power Of Sound Baths
The Power Of Sound Baths

We meditate often and have recently taken our much-needed zen time more deeper with sound baths. The practice of healing bodies through sound is technically thousands of years old with deep roots in cultures across the world. A sound bath is a meditative experience where those who attend a session are “bathed” in sound waves. These waves are produced by various sources, including healing instruments such as gongs, singing bowls, percussion, chimes, rattles, tuning forks, and even the human voice itself.

(Photo credit: Magic-Bowls)

This “spiritual, cleansing music” varies according to place and culture, but it can be as simple as chanting an om following your yoga session or as complex as an hour-long experience in a dedicated space with a sound practitioner.

(Photo credit: Susanna-Marsiglia)

During the sound bath, you often lie on your back and get as comfortable as possible, with a pillow and blanket wrapped over you making the experience as cosy and relaxed as can be.

The different frequencies emitted by gongs, chimes and Tibetan bowls work to soothe the mind and heal the body, stimulating the brainwave frequencies associated with total relaxation and switching on the nervous system’s repair mode.

(Photo credit: Julio-Lopez)

This ancient practice has numerous physical and mental health benefits too, including better sleep, improved mood, reduced stress and unblocking chakras. Chakras are centers of spiritual energy or power, a concept that comes from Hinduism. It may also help treat conditions, such as depression and anxiety.

(Photo credit: Conscious-Design)

After a sound bath, you may be advised to move slowly when transitioning to a seated position. Other advice after a sound bath ends can include staying hydrated, getting rest, and staying relaxed.

(Photo credit: Frames-For-Your-heart)

There are many locations in the UK and around the world that do sound bath sessions. Or if you prefer to take part in the comfort of your own home, you can always listen to a sound bath recording on YouTube, or there are a number of sound bath apps which you can download.

Shelley & Michelle xx

Travel

Our Staycation in Bath

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Our Staycation in Bath

Bath is the largest city in Somerset, England, known for and named after its Roman-built baths. Fun fact, It is said that Jane Austen lived in Bath in the early 19th century, and used the city as a setting for some of her novels. Bath has also been home to many more impressive residents over its long history and has over 6 million yearly visitors, making it one of ten English cities visited most by overseas tourists. Attractions include the spas, canal boat tours, museums, galleries and Royal Victoria Park which hosts carnival and seasonal events. It’s such a quick and easy journey to Bath, it took us less than 2 hours from London by train.

We stayed at the Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel that sits on 7 acres of private grounds. If you’re looking to unwind or just enjoy a few days of peace and quiet then this is the ultimate destination. The rooms are so cosy and the facilities include an award winning restaurant, breathtaking landscaped gardens, leisure club, hydrotherapy pool, and thermal spa. A lot of our time was well spent relaxing in the sauna’s and steam room. There’s also an ice room where we smothered our bodies with the crunchy ice, it was of course freezing, but always good to do as it closes the pores and cools you down after a steam. One of our evenings was spent out in the hydrotherapy pool which was so calming. It was absolutely freezing outside but the hydro pool was so warm. It was great to just lie back and watch the stars in the nights sky.

Bath is a city where you can relax and discover new things. We took a long winters stroll, taking in the scenery and getting lost in the surroundings and came across a very interesting building called Victoria Art Gallery, which is a public art museum. We walked up a spiral staircase and viewed the galleries collection of paintings, sculpture and decorative arts. The Gallery was named to celebrate Queen Victoria’s sixty years on the throne. It includes over 1,500 decorative arts treasures, including a display of British oil paintings from 17th century to the present day.

If you decide to visit Bath you must try Hudson Steak house. It’s one of the best steaks we have ever eaten! The gravy and mash was so tasty. Hudson steak house specialises in prime dry aged steaks, and some mouth watering classic dishes.

Shelley & Michelle xx

Lifestyle

Thai Square Spa London

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Tucked away along the busy streets of London lies the perfect spa getaway everyone needs in their lives to chill and have some time out. Thai Square Spa is about a five minute walk form Charing Cross station which is perfect!

When you enter the spa peace and tranquillity hits you straight away, your shoulder automatically lower and you feel at peace as you’re greeted by soft music and the most amazing scents. The staff are so friendly and make you feel welcome, when shown to the changing rooms we were provided with white comfy dressing gowns, Thai Square Spa’s own flip flops and throw away knickers which are supposed to be used before treatments (but don’t forget your bikinis). We were guided down spiral stairs and entered a different world… literally. The dim lit lighting, soft spotlights and candles were sprinkled around the spa area that was exquisitely decorated with a mix of Roman, Thai and Turkish interior. In a row stood the masseuses and masseurs who stepped forward calling our name and introducing themselves to us, they then guided us to our treatment room.

Thai Square Spa has five Thai massage treatment rooms including six ritual massage rooms and one VIP suite treatment room. We both chose the same treatment which was the Thai Herbal Healer this particular massage is known for its traditional Thai herbal therapy to soothe, tense, stiff muscles. They massaged us with a warm herbal poultice which contained a variety of therapeutic herbs and spices. The technique was followed by a full body ritual massage with Jasmine massage and body oil. The treatment was for an hour and we were so relaxed we could have stayed on that massage table for at least another hour!

After our treatment we were taken to the relaxation/chill out area and was offered water or tea. We chilled there for about ten minutes before entering the spa area. Everything about this spa is top notch and just kept getting better and better. The spa boasts an incredible Jacuzzi which is very warm and toasty. It’s quite a deep Jacuzzi with stairs leading into it and the bubbles are so powerful which soothes your aches and pains. You can choose between the Sauna and steam room but being Shelley and Michelle we obviously tried out both! We began in the Sauna then finished in the steam room which is surprisingly large. Luckily for us the spa was empty so we had the facilities to ourselves. Next to the Jacuzzi there is an ice fountain that’s there to cool you down, stimulate circulation and eliminate toxins.

When we were finished chillin’ and taking full advantage of the spa we showered and made our way to the chill out area again and was greeted by a friendly member of staff who offered us more tea which is the most tastiest herbal Chinese tea. We relaxed on the comfiest white chaise and just chatted and took in the scenery and peaceful environment.

If you’re in need of some rest and relaxation why not try Thai Square Spa (here) it’s in a great location and was voted World Luxury Spa UK Awards Winner 2017.

You can follow Shelley on Instagram here

You can follow Michelle on Twitter  here

Shelley & Michelle xx