May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s a great time to reflect on how daily life has been affecting you physically, mentally and emotionally. Sadly, so many of us are plagued with mental health issues caused by stress and many other factors. In fact, almost 1 in 7 people report having mental health problems at work1, and almost 13% of all sick days taken are evidenced to be primarily caused by a mental health issue.
Four simple steps on the path to wellness…
1. Wellness Experiences
In this special time of reflection, you may want to find time to just take care of yourself – whatever form that may take (after all, we’re all very different people!); long, refreshing walks in parks or the countryside can give respite from stress and anxiety; or perhaps join a wellness and mindfulness class, including yoga, which has been scientifically proven to reduce stress, relieve anxiety, and sooth inflammation.
2. Halotherapy
In the mid-20th Century doctors would recommend going to the beach to treat a variety of common ailments – including depression and anxiety. Why would going to the beach help? (apart from going on a nice sunny day and getting a whippy 99!) Because the air has salt in it and using salt in an aerosolised form is halotherapy. The benefits of halotherapy include (you guessed it!) treating depression and anxiety, as well as treating or potentially curing psoriasis, eczema and even acne. Give us a call to learn more about this amazing treatment, which first originates in the medieval era!
3. Spending some time in a sauna
Again, there is a culture around using temperature medically – and you might have heard of the phrase ‘sweat out a cold’, which actually may be true in the sense of providing symptomatic relief, there are many sauna health benefits that can tackle stress, pain and even lower your risk of coronary diseases! The Mayans used ‘sweat houses’ (saunas) as far back as 3000 years ago; now that’s what I call a tried and tested method!!
4. Steam
While a ride on the Flying Scotsman might be an incredible experience – here we’re talking about steam room benefits, which are plentiful as much as they are incredible. Steam rooms, with their ‘wet heat’ as opposed to the ‘dry heat’ of saunas can remove poisonous toxins from the body through natural sweating, while the wet heat soothes frazzled nerve endings – promoting relaxation across your whole body, as well as inducing a broad calm across your mind. For those with respiratory issues, the steam opens and cleans the sinuses, akin almost to nasal irrigation – perfect for anyone regularly walking along polluted streets, smokers, and those with hayfever.
The most important duty of your life is keeping yourself well.
For yourself, for your friends, your family, your co-workers and your employer. Take stock, and think am I really ‘well’? Or am I just channelling the British stiff upper lip?
“Your body holds deep wisdom. Trust in it. Learn from it. Nourish it. Watch your life transform and be healthy.” Bella Bleue