Instant Relaxation

There are two places I like to visit that instantly help me shake off all the stresses in my life.  One is a particular lake that I have visited throughout my life off highway seven in Ontario.  The second is an amazing spa in Grafton Ontario.

Ste. Anne's Spa is in a class of its own. The moment you drive on to the property and see the rolling hills and wild flowers you are instantly transported away from your worries and cares.  Just smelling the air and

hearing the birds would be enough - then you walk into a beautiful stone building filled with amazing scents and little nooks just inviting you to curl up and read for the day.  I always end up in the same spot - in the back room beside the dining room, reading on the sofa in front of the fireplace.  Often the windows are open slightly, making the pretty fleur-de-lis embroidered curtains to  move with the slight breeze.

The sessions themselves are so hard to choose from - do I pick a massage, skin rejuvenation or a pedicure?  And how do I choose while I'm waiting - the eucalyptus steam room, hot tub in the grotto or should I sit in the hammock in the gazebo while wind chimes dance above me.

It is really magical.  I've been to so many other "spas" but nothing compares.   You feel like you've been invited into your friend's beautiful home and your top priority is to relax.  You can walk around with messy hair, no make-up and wear your cozy terry cloth robe all day and no one will fault you for it.

My last trip was in July and it was the first time I felt sorry for some of the guests.  While I and many of the people around me sat quietly taking in the surrounding nature, a few guests had their phones in hand to check their emails.  I watched friends and couples ignoring the wind blown trees and lush green hills to stare at a screen.  I was a little heartbroken for them. They were missing the magic.   So this is my challenge, plea or whatever you want to call it to those future guests visiting this amazing place - unplug for the day.  Put it away or pretend the battery is dead.  Allow yourself time to stare into space and take in the beautiful setting around you.   There are so few opportunities in our day-to-day lives to do so.

While I don't have to challenge myself to unplug, I do need to work hard to relax and not let daily stresses raise my blood pressure.  I wanted to bring the spa home with me and came up with a few ideas for work and home that have really helped with my stress levels.

At Work
- Invest in a little water feature for your desk.  So long as the folks around you don't mind the sound of the water (and I've yet to come across anyone that does) you can even add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to that water for a light fresh scent.

- Plug yourself in with a spa CD.  I recommend A Peaceful Soak. There are plenty of other versions that can be downloaded to your media player as well.

- Try removing the clutter from your desk.  Having files, binders and books at hand may be convenient but

having a visual reminder of  your work surrounding you can stress you out before you even turn on your computer.

- Bring in the green and change the lighting.  Add a desk lamp with soft lighting to change the atmosphere.  Also consider adding a small plant to your desk.  Don't go crazy with the greenery - a little goes a long way to bringing the outside in.

- Add a beautiful wallpaper to your desktop.  Windows has hundreds that are free to download.

At Home
- Invest in a plush terry cloth robe.  You don't have to spend a fortune - even Ikea sells them.

- Add some spa elements to your bathroom - candles, little soaps, a mini vase of fresh flowers or even some new white towels.

- Take a bath instead of a shower.  Try Ombra's Aromatic Eucalyptus foam bath smells just like the steam room at Ste. Anne's.

- Unplug for 5-10 minutes.  Some people have to practice doing this.  You don't have to meditate, just sit down, turn off the TV, phone, radio and whatever other distractions and just take in your environment.  Taking a few moments, even if its just once a week can do wonders for your mental health.

I'm already thinking of my next trip to the spa.  Hopefully it will be soon!