Ginger Foot Soak

Ginger Foot Soak We’ve all had days when we literally feel dead on our feet. When all we want to do is put our feet up and not have to move again till we’ve had a full night’s sleep. And we’ve all had to keep on going, despite those feelings of exhaustion. Good news is – there are techniques that we can use to refresh ourselves and boost our energy reserves so that we can go about the rest of the day. One of the most popular natural remedies is a ginger water foot soak. The technique is simple enough- you fill a bucket that is wide enough to fit both your feet with enough warm water so that you can comfortably immerse your ankles. The water should be warm enough to not become cold during your 15-20 minute foot soak, yet not boiling hot. The goal is to feel better, not scald your skin! You then add ground ginger, lemon juice and sea salt to the water and then stir it to ensure that the ingredients mix properly and your feet are then ready to soak. This remedy, if done correctly, has several benefits. If you do it right before sleeping, it helps you achieve deeper sleep than would otherwise have been possible, allowing you to feel more rested the next day. It also helps you to increase blood circulation to your feet, helping you to get rid of that “dead on your feet” feeling. Ginger is among the most healthy of spices and has several health benefits. It has been proven to help combat exercise-induced muscle pain and has even been proven to help with osteoarthritis. For the purposes of your foot soak, we recommend using fresh ginger and allow it to mix with the water at a simmer, instead of boiling it as boiling it will cause some of the essential oils to dissipate. According to principles laid out in traditional chinese medicine, the entire body is connected- and the feet are no exception. Proponents of traditional chinese medicine believe that problems with the rest of our body can manifest in issues with feet, and vice versa. Regularly soaking your feet in ginger water allows your feet to heal and become healthier, which in turn has a positive effect on the rest of your body. Once you get comfortable with the foot soak and you become familiar with the effects it has on your body, you can even start to experiment with different ingredients depending on the desired effect of the soak. For example, dandelion root helps expel toxins from your body, while epsom salts help relax your muscles and reduce muscle fatigue. What you choose as the ingredients for your foot soak are entirely up to you- but we strongly recommend the ginger! Book Your Massage Appointment Today At Yinyang we offer a specialised foot massage to specific wellness-related reflex points on the feet to release blocked energy, relieve stress and boost circulation. Book your appointment NOW!

Make massage a part of your fitness regimen in 2020

Make massage a part of your fitness regimen in 2020 It’s the start of a brand new year and with the start of every new year comes new year resolutions. Most of us tend to have at least one new year’s resolution that is health or fitness related, and that tends to be amongst the first to fall by the wayside. The reason for this is simple- any fitness-related activity tends to leave your body (mainly your muscles) sore and hurting for the next few days. It becomes quite difficult to convince your body that something is good for it when it constantly leaves you feeling worse in the immediate aftermath. One of the best ways to limit the toll exercise takes on your body is to get regular massages as a part of your workout regimen. Massage is one of the best ways to recover from a hard workout session for several reasons as illustrated below: Pain Relief: An intense workout can cause your muscles to tighten, which can be quite painful for a couple of days post-workout. These aches and pains can add up over time and start to affect your ability to exercise. Regular massages will help loosen up those muscles and make sure those pesky aches and pains don’t hamper your ability to workout! Eliminate toxins: Ever wondered why you feel stiff when you work out after a long time? It’s because your body starts to discharge lactic acid when you go beyond what your fitness level will allow you to do in terms of exercise. Massages can help remove this lactic acid that builds up in your muscles, ensuring you’re more than ready for the next session. Improves Flexibility: When you use massage to deal with muscle tightening, the quicker recovery time helps increase your flexibility- a side effect that does wonders for your fitness routine and reduces the risk of injury. Book Your Massage Appointment Today The benefits of regular massage in conjunction with a steady fitness routine are manifold. But don’t just take our word for it- book your appointment today and find out for yourself! If you would like to make massage a regular part of your fitness routine, Yinyang has several bulk massage deals that make the massages more cost-effective. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2020!

Ensuring Mental Health during Lockdown

Ensuring Mental Health during Lockdown As responsible citizens, we are all currently staying home as much as possible, only moving out if absolutely necessary. With this enforced lockdown around the world, it is critical to take steps to ensure your mental well-being given the lack of social interaction. We have some tips as to what you could be doing to make sure your mind, as well as the minds of your loved ones, are in the right space. Remind people that this is not normal: When speaking to someone experiencing stress due to the uncertainty around the coronavirus, try and remind them that this is a period that will pass. Use terms like day, week or month to try and remind them that this is a temporary situation, and not the new normal. A simple phrase like “let’s just focus on getting through the next few days” or “let’s focus on seeing out this week” can remind people of the fact that things will eventually get better, thereby lifting their spirits. Identify Vulnerable Individuals: Try and identify those around you most vulnerable during self isolation, such as people who live by themselves or do not have the greatest of relationships with those that they live with. Such people are more likely to experience mental health issues due to the lack of a support system around them in comparison to others. Another factor that has been found to be a huge trigger for mental health concerns is financial concerns. Those who have been affected by this crisis financially are considered to be “at-risk” in terms of mental health. Be careful of how you speak around children: Children are very imaginative, and during crises such as this one, it is important to ensure they are not too alarmed. Already, their daily routine has been completely discarded, and they are likely to be feeling stressed due to this. Hearing parental figures discuss it in stressed or alarmed tones can cause long-term negative effects on the child’s mental well-being. While being secretive is not the answer, neither is being alarmist in the current conditions- it is important to try and find a balance, just as in most things in life. Children need to a reassuring environment at this time- and the most helpful thing you can do is establish a daily routine during this time which you stick to in a disciplined manner. Book Your Massage Appointment Today Try and ensure that you take care of your mind as well as your body during this time- as both are critical to your overall well-being. Stay safe, and stay happy, while you stay home!