1. Exercise

Especially in the colder months, it’s easy to spend all your time snuggled up on the couch. And why wouldn’t you?! It’s the best way to spend a cold winter’s day. However, there can be too much of a good thing: if you spend too much time snuggling, and not enough moving, your headspace can suffer. Studies show that exercise has been compared favorably to anti-anxiety medications, so make sure you’re getting the blood pumping a few times a week. Just choose a gym or exercise studio that has decent heating. Bikram yoga, anyone?

2. Box breathing

There’s plenty of breathing and stretching exercises splashed across the internet for stress-sufferers. But that’s because deep breathing is one of the most sufficient techniques to help calm an anxious mind. Try this one: think of a box with four sides. As you breathe in, draw the box in your mind (as you count to four), and trace the box again as you breathe out for another count of four. Continue drawing the box in your mind, and taking deep breaths, until you feel the weight lift off your shoulders.

3. Water

It may seem a little too simple, but hydration is so very important for your body to function – and that includes your brain. Our water intake levels tend to drop in winter, and when you combine that with spending a lot of time in front of the heater: it’s easy to forget about your eight glasses a day (and no, eight glasses of red wine does not count). If your mind is feeling sluggish, give it a good waterin’ and see if it helps.

4. Salt therapy

Your overall health is important for your state of mind, and a few sessions of salt therapy can do wonders for both. The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of the pharmaceutical-grade salt pumped through the air of the salt rooms can bring relief to a number of immune, skin, lung, and circulatory functions. Healthy body = healthy mind. Plus, sitting in one of the comfortable massage chairs of a peaceful room has the added bonus of a perfect meditation opportunity: all you have to do is close your eyes and breathe deeply.

5. Dark chocolate

As if you needed permission to eat some dark chocolate. It’s winter. Eat as much as you want. But while you eat it, know this: dark chocolate contains flavanols, a type of antioxidant that improves blood flow to the brain, and may help promote its ability to adapt to stress including anxiety and other mood disorders. Say whaaat? A study showed that a group of individuals who ate dark chocolate twice a day for a fortnight ended up with lower levels of cortisol (the stress and anxiety hormone) than those who got no chocolate. What more proof do you need? Pass me the block, please. All in moderation through. 

Most importantly, make sure you’re getting the help you need, whether it’s from a doctor, an organisation like Beyond Blue, or just from your loved ones. Keep warm, keep moving, keep hydrated, get a bit salty and chocolatey, and take a deep breath. 

Look after yourself. We’ve only got one of you.

The post How to manage anxiety appeared first on Salts of the Earth.

It’s no wonder that there has been a lot of talk about mindfulness in the health and wellness industry of late, but what does it mean and how can it help you?

Removing all of the hype, mindfulness is simply about paying attention to the present moment. Many people find practising mindfulness can assist with concentration, relaxation, productivity and increased ability to cope with life’s everyday hustle and bustle.

Starting to practice mindfulness can be a truly enlightening experience, whether you practice it by yourself or with the help of a guide.

Here are five easy ways to start practicing mindfulness:

1. Eat mindfully

Sit down, enjoy and focus on the food in front of you without multi-tasking. You may find that by eating slowly and mindfully you can appreciate the flavours and better listen to your body’s response to what you are feeding it.

2. Walk mindfully

Observe what is going on around you, sights and sounds to become aware of things you haven’t seen before.

3. Observe your breathing

We breathe naturally and rhythmically, once you start to pay attention to your breathing it will help you relax and slow down.

4. Listen wholeheartedly

Truly listen to what someone is saying without judgement and for the intention of understanding what they are trying to communicate to you. Relationships may deepen and grow as a result.

5. Observe your thoughts and emotions

Observe your thoughts and emotions, acknowledge them and decide if you need to react or just let it pass by you. By being mindful of your thoughts and emotions, you are better equipped to make the right choices in response to emotional “triggers” we receive in everyday life.

6. Mindfulness meditation

Mindfulness meditation can reduce stress, decrease cortisol levels and help you to develop mental clarity

There are many ways you can meditate. Salts of the Earth rooms allow you to sit quietly with your thoughts and focus on your breath. The lights are dimmed allowing for relaxation in a comfortable massage chair. You may choose to bring a guided meditation piece to listen to on your smartphone or tablet with headphones. Or you can just be at one with your own thoughts in deep or light meditation.

As one client- Toby says: “The follow-on effect was a huge decrease in anxiety. My anxiety also settled with the help of the 45 minutes of calming music and massage chair time”.

If you want to discover the health benefits of salt, Salts of the Earth are now selling 5 session packs – There is something to suit everyone, even the busiest of people! Book in for your free consultation and find out more.

* 5 pack and new member options available at participating centres below:

– All Salts of the Earth NSW centres excluding Albury.
– VIC centres: Boronia, Croydon, Hampton, Mill Park, Oakleigh, Werribee.

Ts and Cs apply

The post What is mindfulness? appeared first on Salts of the Earth.

Are you having trouble getting to sleep? If you’re the kind of person who has to count sheep for hours on end, then you’ve probably tried a few remedies to help you fall asleep faster. Warm milk before bedtime, chamomile tea, a hot shower, less screen time… all of these are great tips. But if you still find yourself tossing and turning at night, then maybe there’s a new thing you should try.

Salt therapy. It could be the dream you’ve been searching for.

What is salt therapy, you ask? In itself, it’s a sleepy experience. You sit in a delicious massage chair, in a relaxing room, and let your cares float away as you breathe in the salty air for 45 minutes. During the session, you may drift off to sleep (and catch up on some much needed Zzzz’s) because those salt therapy rooms are so relaxing, it’s like floating away on a cloud. If stress is what’s keeping you awake at night, then just the act of chilling out in the ambient space will help your body to switch off. But that’s not all.

The pharmaceutical-grade salt pumping through the air may help open up the airways and nasal passages. As you sit and breathe in the salt during your sessions, the sinuses and lungs can be relieved of congestion which can improving breathing and snoring. In short: regular salt therapy promotes a better night’s sleep, from de-stressing to breathing more deeply and freely.

If you want to say goodbye to the sheep, and hello to better sleep, then book in for a salt therapy session today.

The post Sleep better with salt therapy. appeared first on Salts of the Earth.

We all know that winter brings with it a charming cold/flu season, where we take it in turns to be the one with the runny nose. But it’s not actually the physical state of being chilly that leads to catching a cold. In fact, if you lived alone in Antarctica, you probably wouldn’t catch many colds at all. It’s being huddled indoors without ventilation (i.e. keeping the doors and windows shut to keep the rooms warm) that leads to a spread of germs. So for any cold you catch, you can probably blame your workmates and your excellent warm office conditions, rather than the freezing cold walk from the train station to the office.

On the plus side, the cold weather is good news for hayfever-sufferers, with the air pollen count at a year-round low. Flies and mosquitoes are taking a holiday too, which means less chance of itchy bites and the risk of disease spread by insects. It’s also a good time of year for accidental calorie-burning, because when your body is at a colder temperature, it is working harder to warm you up. However, all those hearty meals and Sunday roasts balance out the extra energy your body is burning – so go ahead and tuck into them guilt-free.

Although winter can have some health benefits, the colder months can also make it much harder to find the motivation to exercise, which can lead to a decrease in the immune system and general wellbeing. Make sure you get your body moving to keep it healthy, and to help combat those Winter Blues we all start to feel during the long, rainy days. Keep hydrated, as it is easy to forget your 2L of water every day when the sun isn’t reminding you. And try a few sessions of salt therapy, a relaxing and natural way to help clear the lungs and airways of congestion. Your body, your mind and your skin will be refreshed and ready to fight.

Look after yourself, and keep that immune system strong. If Frosty the Snowman can do it, so can you!

The post Health effects of cold temperatures. appeared first on Salts of the Earth.

Epsom salt is NOT ACTUALLY A SALT.

That’s right. That white salt stuff that you’ve heard so much about is not a salt at all. It’s magnesium sulfate, with no sodium. But nevertheless, it’s amazing stuff.

Long known as a natural remedy, Epsom salt is named for a salt spring in Surrey, England. Both magnesium and sulfate can be absorbed through the skin, meaning a warm bath in dissolved Epsom salt can bring a wealth of benefits.

Why we love Epsom salt:

• The magnificent magnesium.

Magnesium is a clever little mineral that gets an A+ for all of its hard work, like assisting in muscle and nerve function, regulating blood sugar and blood pressure levels, and making protein, bone and DNA. And when you’re stressed, your magnesium levels can drop. A soak in a hot bath with a few scoops of Epsom salt can not only raise your magnesium levels, it can wash your stress away.

• Relieves aches and pains.

Epsom salt can help relieve pain and inflammation in tired joints. Are your feet a bit achey and sad? Fill a tub with warm water and Epsom salt and give them a well-deserved break. Then give them a good rub, paint your toenails a pretty shade, and you’ll feel like a brand new person.

• Better bowel function.

Believe it or not, a couple of teaspoons of Epsom salt can help relieve constipation and assist bowel function. Knock back 2-4 teaspoons dissolved in water and you should have relief in 30 min to six hours. However: always talk to your doctor first. They LOVE a good chat about your bowel movements.

• Beautiful, glowing skin.

A natural, low-priced exfoliant? Yes please. Mix a bit of Epsom salt into your favourite skin cleanser to give yourself an effective face scrub, massaging it into your skin in circular motions (and then rinsing clean). Or mix it with a body wash and use it as an exfoliating body scrub in the shower. Your skin will be softer than a kitten on a fairy floss cloud.

So even though its name is a lie (maybe ‘Epsom Magnesium Sulfate’ was too much of a mouthful), get yourself a dose of Epsom salt soon. You’ll be glowing with health.

If you interested in finding therapeutic salts that can relieve you from pain in your joints and muscles , click here to buy from our range of therapeutic salts. Your muscles, skin and joints will love you for it.

Okay. Hard thinking time is over. You can remove your cap now.

The post Why you’ll love Epsom salts appeared first on Salts of the Earth.

1. One nostril.
This will sound crazy, but it works. Close your eyes (when you’ve finished reading this entire article, of course) and concentrate on breathing in one nostril, and out the other. At first, you can gently use one hand to guide it, by resting the middle three fingertips on your forehead, and using your thumb and pinkie finger to alternate nostrils. Breathe in through one, out through the other. Repeat several times, then remove your hand, and focus hard on continuing the same flow. You can change the pattern and alternation until you find one that calms you down.

2. Man-spread.
Sit right on the edge of a chair, with your feet as wide apart as possible (like the infamous man-spread). Lean forward, resting your elbows on your knees, with your spine relaxed, but not slumped. Breathe deeply into your belly. Let it out slowly. Concentrate on filling up your diaphragm. Continue until your body feels more relaxed. NB: This may be hard to do in a tight skirt. Alternatively, stand with your back against a wall, completely flat and pressing into the wall as much as possible. Bend your knees if you need to. Repeat the breathing exercise.

3. Use some music.
Put on a song that you find relaxing. It can be anything from classical music to heavy metal – we won’t judge you. It doesn’t need to be loud (don’t annoy your colleagues), it can even be with headphones. Now sit back, and breathe in time to the music. In for 8 counts, then out for 8 counts. In for 8, out for 8. Adjust the timing based on the speed of the song – you don’t want to be hyperventilating or holding your breath until you faint, obviously – but just concentrate on the steadiness of your breath.

4. Salty air.
We’ve saved the most important for last. Book in a salt therapy session. If you are stressed, your body is already in need of one. It’s heaven for an anxious body – a peaceful room with comfortable massage chairs and soft lighting, and pharmaceutical-grade salt pumping through the air. The salt has natural properties that help the lungs absorb more oxygen, making for easier function throughout the day. Not to mention it can aid with better sleep, better congestion, better skin, and better well-being. And all you have to do is sit there.
If you’re feeling stressed, give yourself a break as soon as possible. Take some deep breaths, book in for some relaxing salt therapy, and take care of yourself. You only get one you.

The post Focus better with 4 breathing exercises appeared first on Salts of the Earth.

Stress is a big problem amongst us all in 2016. Anxiety and depression sufferers have increased dramatically over the past decade, often leading back to the amount of stress in our daily lives. So, what can we do to try and minimise our stress levels, before we reach boiling point?
Importantly, if you feel like you can’t cope with your current levels of stress, you should seek some help from your doctor or a counsellor. But if your stress levels feel manageable most of the time, here are a few tips to help you get your zen back.

1. A good old-fashioned stretch.
If you don’t have the time or patience for a yoga class (and many of us don’t), that’s fine. But you should still take a moment for a good stretch. Reach up to the sky and have a biiiig yawn. Lean over to each side and stretch the sides of your rib cage a few times. Lift your leg up and put it behind your head (just kidding. Unless you can, in which case… wow!). Just spend five minutes like a house cat, stretching your body in which ever direction feels good.

2. Water, water, water.
We know, we know. Everyone is well aware of the 8 glasses a day rule. But did you know that being dehydrated by just two glasses can increase your cortisol (stress hormone) levels? And if you’re stressed a lot, you’re more likely to be dehydrated, because your heart level is up anyway. It’s a vicious circle. Quick. Fill that glass up, pronto.

3. Hug a dog.
This may be a difficult tip to follow if you are in the office, and/or do not have a dog, but go out and find one, STAT. Studies show that playtime with a pet can reduce stress levels dramatically. If you don’t have a dog, take a quick stroll to your local café, find a stranger with a pooch, and give it a ninja-fast hug when the owner isn’t looking. Actually, that sounds kind of stressful…. Just get a pet.

4. Get salty.
Take some time to unwind at a salt therapy centre, which has many benefits for your body and your mind. Basically, you sit in a big, comfy massage chair (yesss), deep-breathing while healthy salt particles are pumped through the air, and watch your stresses get carried away on a cloud of zen.

So there you go. If you want to breathe a little more freely, follow our tips to combat stress. And stretch in a salt-cave while drinking water with a stray dog. Now that’s relaxing.

The post Steps to feeling less stressed appeared first on Salts of the Earth.