Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/329694
TEN FOR TODAY It's Time to Take Care of You By Rebecca Jones 1. TAKE A MOMENT Self-care can be as simple as enjoying a fresh apple or soaking in your favorite bath salts. Even a moment or two of pampering during a stressful day can spare us from burnout, and a regular regimen of self-care can feed the soul in ways that benefi t not just an individual therapist, but that therapist's clients, friends, and family as well. Best of all, it's a campaign that can be waged on many fronts, with steps both great and small. 2. EAT RIGHT Proper self-care starts with the fuel we put in our bodies. Building a diet around healthful, nutritious foods while avoiding excess sugar and processed ingredients is an obvious step toward well-being. Beyond that, more esoteric diet strategies may appeal to you. For example, Ayurveda, an ancient wellness system from India, teaches that the best diets are based on an understanding of each person's unique dosha, or body-mind type. Once you know your dosha—earth, water, or fi re—you can more easily fi nd and keep balance within yourself by eating the appropriate foods. Sweet or raw foods, for example, may help provide balance to someone prone to irritability or anger, green leafy vegetables with a hint of bitterness may balance a tendency toward passivity, while stimulating herbs such as cloves or cinnamon can counteract a feeling of lethargy. "Nutrition can be so grounding and healing," says Amy Keller, national education leader for Organic India USA, a Colorado-based company specializing in sustainable wellness products imported from rural India. "When we're out of balance, our primary dosha goes one way or another, so it's important to nourish ourselves with the right things." 3. KEEP IT COMFY Well-fi tting clothing is important. Just ask anyone who has spent too many hours in too-tight, movement- restricting apparel. Ideally, we'd all walk around in our favorite sweat pants and loose T-shirt, but our clients will likely appreciate a more professional look. Just make sure your work (or workout) attire doesn't torment you. "When you're trying to concentrate on something, your clothing can pull you away from that with a snag, a pull, a tag," says Andre Walker, director of interactive media and infl uencers for PrAna, a Carlsbad, California- based line of active clothing. "The most common complaint we hear is about tags. It seems like a simple thing, yet how many times do we buy clothing with tags as opposed to a printed label that won't irritate the skin?" 4. USE HIGH-QUALITY PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS Even before dressing in the morning, a spray of something refreshing or a swipe with something pure and clean can help you feel better all day. Elizabeth Wasserman, founder of True Goods, a "consciously curated" collection of nontoxic, socially and ecologically responsible goods, says top-quality personal care products are luxuries that pay long-term dividends. "How do you move to the next level? How do you move to better health and pampering at the same time?" Wasserman asks. She suggests something like Dianne's Organic Fresh Mint Wash ($12.95 for 8 ounces), made with organic coconut, olive, and jojoba oils and a peppermint essential oil blend. "Using personal care products, and enjoying them not just because of how they smell or feel, but also knowing they're truly safe for you, is an easy way of really taking care of yourself," she says. "It's improving your health without having to do anything extra." I t p a y s t o b e A B M P C e r t i f i e d : w w w. a b m p . c o m / g o / c e r t i f i e d c e n t r a l 25 Even before dressing in the morning, a spray of something refreshing or a swipe with something pure and clean can help you feel better