5 Minutes to a Blissful Night’s Sleep

5-minutes-to-a-blissful-nights-sleep

When I think of decadent self-care, my mind normally conjures up an image of a beautiful room with soft music, candlelight and a large porcelain tub brimming with a warm bubble bath.  Don’t get me wrong, if I happened to stumble into a room like that as I was heading to bed, I’d be thrilled…but much more often I find myself flopping into bed after a quick tooth brushing.  After running after kids all day, my wind down routine in the evening has to be quick and easy or it just won’t happen.

The Hot Towel Scrub

The Hot Towel Scrub is one of those rare experiences that every single person I know that’s tried it raves about. It’s one of my client favorites and I love sharing it because it’s quick, easy, effective and leaves you feeling tremendously relaxed and cared for.  Right up my ally.

You only need 5 minutes, a sink, and a washcloth.

Directions

  1. Fill your bathroom sink with hot water– as hot as you can get it.
  2. If you want, a few drops of a calming essential oil can be added, but it’s not necessary.
  3. Wet and then wring out the wash cloth (it should be as hot as you can handle).
  4. While the towel is still hot and steamy, begin to scrub your skin gently.
  5. Do one section of your body at a time until you have covered all the parts— for example begin with your fingers, hands, and work your way up your arms to your shoulders, neck, face, down your chest, upper back, abdomen, lower back, buttocks, legs, feet and toes.
  6. Scrub until the skin becomes slightly pink and each part is warm.
  7. Reheat the towel often by dipping it in the sink as soon as it begins to cool.
  8. For an even deeper serenity, follow the scrub with a light coating of warm oil all over, like olive oil, sesame oil or coconut oil.  Because I like just a light covering on my skin, I put some oil on the wrung-out washcloth and apply the oil that way.

Because our skin is our largest organ and houses so much of the nervous system, this is a tremendously calming technique.

There are so many benefits to doing this:

  • Reduces muscle tension
  • Deeply relaxes our nervous system
  • Opens pores to release stored toxins
  • Softens deposits of hard fat below the skin and prepares them for discharge
  • Allows excess fat, mucus, cellulite and toxins to actively discharge rather than accumulate around deeper vital organs
  • Relieves stress through meditative action of rubbing the skin
  • Calms the mind
  • Promotes circulation
  • Activates the lymphatic system, especially when scrubbing underarms and groin
  • Can be a sacred moment in your day- consider lighting a candle and using essential oils to enhance the mood
  • Create a profound accepting relationship with the body, especially the parts not often shown care

Take the time to explore this simple technique and see if it works for you!

Do you have trouble falling to sleep?  Why do you think that is?  Do you have a wind-down routine before going to sleep?  Does it prepare you for deep, restorative rest?

Lisa