THE ULTIMATE HOME SPA
A COUNTDOWN TO THE BEST IN DESTRESSING!!

What is The Ultimate Home Spa? Salve Per Aqua. Latin. The origin of the word SPA is Salve Per Aqua or "health through water". Day. Break. This is your break from the stresses, strains, highs and lows of the day. Your DayBreak home spa is designed to fully engage all 5 senses in the rejuvenation of you!! DayBreak’s Ultimate Home Spa includes the items listed below or substitute what you have on hand. Either way, you will be luxuriating with your ...
1. DayBreak Body Candle*
2. Choice of Organic Spa Tea
3. Aroma Burner & Synergy Blends: Rebalance, Calm Down & Get Going.
4. Dry Body Brush
5. Thai Herbal Massage Ball
6. AromaBath Stress Melt *
7. AromaShower Creme*
8. AromaSoap *
9. Vodka splash *
10. Lust Dust Arrowroot Body Dusting Powder*
11. Extra Shot Of Moisture Body Balm*
12. Deluxe Karite Shea Butter *

click here to order the Ultimate Home Spa

This sequence has been carefully thought out so that once the necessary prep work is completed, you have nothing left to do but experience a seamless, exquisitely orchestrated and totally relaxing home spa ... totally rejuvenating body, mind and spirit through holistic and complete sensory engagement. If you can go directly to bed after your home spa, your night’s sleep will be remarkable!!

I advocate an at-home spa treatment at least once a week. At a minimum, twice a month. You have to commit to making this time for yourself. This is not pampering. This preventive maintenance, this is pro-active healthcare for your body, mind and spirit and a profoundly healing ritual. Sometimes you will enjoy just a partial spa because you are very busy. Sometimes you will want the whole nine yards. Either way ... return to the healing waters of your Home Spa. Salve per aqua!

A word about ritual. A ritual is a set of repetitions that become a short cut to an emotional state. That is why they are so powerful. Let this become your ritual. Enjoy every step of your preparation. Let the calm descend upon you as you brew your tea or select your CD. Not when you step in the tub. This is your ritual of renewal ... let it begin at the beginning.

After good nutrition, I can think of nothing more important for sustained well-being. And when you do take the time out to rejuvenate, go the full nine yards, from head to toe, because your body, mind and spirit are worth it!

The first time you prepare your DayBreak Home Spa, it will seem very new and take a bit longer. But once you have your ritual in place, it will flow easily from force of a very good & healthy habit! These steps are laid out in the order you need to complete them to have everything within reach of your Spa Soak. One you are in The Waters, you are in to stay! Here is your Ultimate Soak In Fresh Lavender!

DAY BEFORE YOUR HOME SPA EXPERIENCE

GREENING SPA ... For feng shui harmonizing effects, purchase a plant for your spa area. A hardy, happy variety is Variegated Philodendron. It will love the bathroom and do well in artificial light. Green, living green is wonderful place to rest your eyes.

LIGHTING SPA ... Get your regular scented candles organized. Soft lighting makes even the most cluttered bathroom restful and scented candles are one of the easiest and most dramatic ways to create the desired mood. Whether you are a fan of antiques, or more contempo modern décor, consider a candelabra for your home spa area.

GATHERING ... Make sure all your DayBreak treatments are at hand. What is worse than having to exit a cozy shower or tub in search of whatever!

30 MINUTES BEFORE IMMERSION

CLEARING SPA ... Remove the distractions Don't be confused by what appears urgent but is truly unimportant. This ritual is important. Let it proceed undisturbed. There is nothing like a blingin' cell phone, beeping fax, or buzzing washer and dryer to ruin a restful moment. Before you slip into soapy submission, be sure to unhook, unplug and block out all distractions. If your house is too busy to put on hold, ask someone else to take messages.

HEARING & SOUND SPA ... Turn on your CD. Finding the right music is an essential part of setting the mood. It helps to focus on the present and drift away from outside pressures. The music you select could be something soft and mellow that lets your mind drift away. But maybe you want something peppier, something to lift your spirits and your rhythm. Carefully select the beat of your music to support the goal of your spa experience. If you don't have a suitable CD, keep an ear to the ground. Next time you are out and hear something you like, inquire. Or experiment with classical, nature, or white noise compilations. Hint: make sure your music plays for longer than your spa experience. Nothing is as annoying or frigid than having to drag yourself out of the tub to add a CD!

BREATHING SPA ... Light your AromaBurner now. For your first Ultimate Home Spa, I suggest the Lavender Rebalance. All scents have the ability to transform a moment ... whether through the pure pleasure of the aroma. That is aromachology. But the power of essential oils... that is aromatherapy. Only essential oils bypass all the brain’s programmed defenses to immediately mediate your state. The brain responds to fragrances by releasing endorphins that make you feel calm and relaxed. Renewed or rejuvenated. Best of all, it's practically instant.

This is also be the perfect time to spritz your sheets and pillowcases with a Vodka Splash. And toss a bit of dusting powder on them, too. Ooo, the luxury of it!!

Different scents are great for different purposes.
1. Calming And Balancing: DayBreak's Rebalance Lavender blend or single notes of Geranium, Ylang-Ylang, Marjoram, Frankincense and Clary Sage.
2. Relaxation DayBreak's Calm Down blend or single notes of Lavender, Neroli, Rosewood, Rose, And Orange.
3. Rejuvenation: Single notes of Lemon, Rosemary, Grapefruit, and Patchouli.
4. Renewal: DayBreak's Get Going blend or single notes of Lime, Eucalyptus, and Basil.

15 MINUTES BEFORE IMMERSION

MICROWAVE THAI HERBAL BALL ... Hand-rolled for us in Bangkok, this is a very traditional Thai massage tool. Place it in a microwaveable glass, add 2 cups of water and microwave for 3 minutes or until water is nearly boiling. Carefully, carry the glass to the side of the tub.

SIPPING SPA ... Brew your Lavender Chamomile Spa tea. It's wonderfully relaxing and calming. For special occasions, I also adore warm Sake. I like the ritual of the small beaker and the dainty cup. For something festive, try a spritzer. Or a glass of your favorite red wine-perhaps a split of Champagne! Whatever you sip on, make sure to give your taste buds a treat.

COCOONING SPA ... Lovely, big bath sheets - or a velour robe -- really create the effect of luxury! To avoid the chill of the after-bath air, find your fluffiest, softest towel or robe and heat your downy cloths in the dryer on super hot for 15 minutes for an unmatched toasty treat. The towel will cool down by the time you use it.

THE ULTIMATE SOAK ... TOTAL IMMERSION OF BODY, MIND & SPIRIT

SALVE PER AQUA ... Health through water! Draw your bath. Nothing heals as quickly as a bath. The water itself should be warm, but not hot and steamy. You should be able to climb in foot by foot, not toe by toe. But before you step into those healing waters, take one final look and check around you. Do you have everything you need to bathe sans interruption?

BALNEOTHERAPY ... Add DayBreak AromaBath Stress Melt. And any oils you enjoy. Swirl them all together. Greek, Roman, and other European cultures have long-believed in the benefits of balneotherapy, healing through bathing in mineralized waters. Adding mineral salts to your bath replaces vital trace minerals and salts lost in the course of your day. All of our bath salts, salt scrubs and stress melts are made with sea, mineral and earth salts blended for their detoxifying properties. They reduce swelling of inflamed muscles in hands, legs, feet, neck and back and generally helping the body heal.

DRY BODY BRUSHING ... Working in small circles from your feet up, lightly brush your entire body with the dry brush. Brush in small circles from the feet, up the legs, onto the torso, up the arms and chest. Pay special attention to key lymph areas your underarm and groin areas. Don't forget the soles of your feet. Get as much of your back as you can. (For complete Dry Body Brushing routine, click here.)

THE ULTIMATE SPA SOAK ... Okay then, in you go! Your water is conditioned and scented. Your soap awaits. Once you are in, lay back with a towel behind your head for 15-20 minutes (or however!) and let your mind drift away and The Ultimate Home Spa kick in!

SPA MIND ... Give your mind a serene focus. Use this or any 3-minute meditation

MIN 1 Awareness ... Focus your mind on the present moment, close your eyes and ask yourself what thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations you're experiencing. Accept those feelings, even if some are unwanted.

MIN 2 Gathering ... Gradually refocus on your breathing. Pay attention to every breath in and out. Use the Native American affirmation: "I am grateful for unseen blessings already on their way."

MIN 3 Expanding ... Breathe as deeply as possible in between repetitions. Fill and empty your entire lung. Keeping your eyes closed, become aware of your body as a whole. Expand your awareness to your posture and facial expression. Rest and then cleanse with your Lavender Sage Spa Bar.

WHOLE BODY REJUVENATION

Part I: Lavender Mint Salt Glow Spa Treatment with Thai Herbal Ball Massage. You will work in the same pattern you did for the Dry Body Brushing, but you will apply a quarter-size dollop of our Salt Glow Treatment and massage it in with the warm Thai Herbal Ball. Pay special attention to any sore, stiff or painful areas.

This is where the second part of Ultimate kicks in!! This works all your large muscle groups, neck, back and exfoliates and moisturizes all in one treatment. Just rinse it off and pat dry. Do not use soap on your skin after you've Salt Glowed or you'll remove all those luxurious oils you've just applied. If you're in serious need of perking up, consider a TCS treatment below as your rinse phase of the Lavender Mint Salt Glow Spa Treatment.

Part II: Therapeutic Contrast Shower ... After you've Salt Glowed, stand up, begin to drain the bath water and turn on your shower. Rinse off the Salt Glow. Then, turn down the hot water, as low as you can tolerate (eventually you may be able to turn it off completely, and comfortably) Cover every inch of your body with the cooler water, including the bottoms of your feet. Go 1 minute cold, 2 minutes hot, and repeat 3 or 4 times, getting colder and colder water with each repetition. During this, work a brisk, full body massage into your finish. This will stimulate your circulation ... both blood and lymph.

Focus the cold stream on areas you want to give special care - scalp, legs, neck, back, joints, pelvis, etc. If you prefer, you may even alternate hot and cold, as long as you always end with cold. This should take only one to three minutes, in entirety. Then dry yourself off quickly, rubbing briskly. This may sound barbaric, but this causes your body to react in an exquisitely healthy manner, you will warm up quickly and turn pink afterwards. It is important to feel very warm internally before beginning the cold phase.

This therapy helps strengthen and normalize the nervous, circulatory, endocrine (hormonal), musculo-skeletal and immune systems, and is excellent for helping the body cope with stress. The more you challenge yourself with cold, the more you will notice these effects, sometimes even a subtle healthy "high".

EXTENDING THE ULTIMATE SOAK EXPERIENCE ... POST SOAK TREATS

LIGHT YOUR LOVELIGHT BODY LOTION CANDLE If you are going to use it this time, here is how to make perfect CandleLotion every time. Light all wicks. Melt the amount you want. Blow out the flame and count to 5. Pour the warm lotion into your hand and apply to the desired area. Enjoy!! When you massage the melted LoveLight lotion into your skin you are providing your skin with the healing properties of cosmetic grade soy wax, old comb beeswax, luxurious shea and cocoa butters, high oleic rice bran oil and Vitamin E.

SCENTING YOUR BODY When you've cocooned your body in that warm towel, it's time to Spritz with your Fresh Lavender Vodka Splash and dust with it's companion talc-free Arrowroot Body Powder we call Lust Dust! I'm a huge fan of powder because of the silkiness it brings to the skin after the bath.

REPLENISHING YOUR BODY ... ReHydrating & Protecting
As heavenly as those waters are, remember that water from the bath also has a drying affect on your skin. So you should always replenish lost moisture at some point following your exit from the bath. I prefer to do my splash, my dusting powder I adore powder), enjoy my toasty towel and then a few minutes later, go to the moisturization. To make the most out of your skin replenishment, you’ll want two special moisturizers -one that penetrates and one that protects. Apply them before bed on alternate evenings.

• Your LoveLight and the Body Balm are protectants. They rest on the top of the skin retaining your body's own natural moisturizing factors so your skin is naturally silky and soft.

• Deluxe Karite Shea Butter is your penetrator. It will soften your skin like nothing else, do a good bit of natural healing and ease any thick-skinned areas such on or near calluses or joints.