6 Relaxation Techniques For Unwinding After a Busy Day at the Spa

A day at the spa provides stress relaxation and rejuvenation for everybody! Everybody except for the people working their hardest to satisfy their customers. Spa employees give to no end and leave the most relaxing place in the city in search of rest.

Do you spend your day at the spa busting your buns to de-stress everybody else while your tension builds?

If so, sit down in a comfy chair and read our relaxation techniques!

The Physiology

First, let’s talk about what goes on in the body to create a stress response and a relaxation response.

Stress Response

Our bodies contain a built-in mechanism, often called the “fight or flight” response, carried out by the sympathetic nervous system in order to help us deal with danger.

This system speeds the heart, slows the guts, restricts blood flow to the brain, tenses the muscles, and prepares the body for attack with Cortisol and Adrenaline. Unfortunately, stressors register as danger and trigger this mode.

The American Psychological Association explains that due to this response, stress leads to body aches, fatigue, anxiety, tummy trouble, reproductive issues, and heart disease, making finding ways to relax imperative.

Relaxation Response

When we relax, the parasympathetic nervous system takes over allowing us to “rest and digest”. When this happens, our heart rate and respiration slow, muscles relax, and blood flow resumes to the brain.

Relaxation returns us to the state where our bodies thrive.

Relaxation Techniques After a Busy Day at the Spa

With that in mind, here are 6 stress relaxation techniques to help you unwind both body and mind after a busy day at the spa.

1. Undress

I don’t know exactly what you wear to the spa, but my guess is that you did not dress for work with comfort in mind. Resist that urge to throw yourself on the couch and kick up your feet as you are.

For starters, take off the shoes and bra. Find something more suitable like loose cotton shorts and tank for a summer night or flannel pajamas for a cold one.

Don’t forget about the little things like socks and jewelry. They may seem insignificant, but they restrict. The goal is to feel free.

Undress your face too! We cannot fully relax with a face full of product.

Use undressing as an opportunity to undress the stress. Feel yourself becoming free of the stress with each shucked layer, and feel lighter.

2. Disconnect

Disconnecting connects you with yourself; it’s one of the best ways to relax. Insta one last pic if you must, but then shut it down for the night. Electronic devices can add stress.

Don’t worry, you’re not missing anything more important than your own relaxation time.

3. Control Your Environment

At work, things may feel beyond your control. But the minute you walk in the door, control belongs to you. Follow these stress relieving environmental guidelines.

Adjust the Temperature

Make it comfortably warm until bedtime and then drop it to about 65 degrees.

Research suggests that dropping the core body temperature readies the body for sleep, an important finding because proper sleep regulates the stress hormone, cortisol.

Lower the Lighting

According to research, dim lighting reduces stress by making people more rational and better at decision making. However red lighting aids in relaxation as it stimulates the production of melatonin, an important sleep hormone.

Scent the Place

Light candles or spray a natural freshener to fill the room with a relaxing aroma.

Relaxing scents include:

• Chamomile
• Lavender
• Jasmine
• Lemon
• Sandalwood

Use one that you do not typically use at the spa to make sure you’re not taking your mind back to work. Enjoy relaxing at home.

Set the Tone

After listening to spa selections all day, you may want to jam out to your favorite band after work. Do that on the ride home.

Once stepping in the door, studies suggest that nature sounds relax the mind best.

Find your favorite Earthly tune and de-stress.

4. Exercise

Do you know how to relax your body? Work it!

Science says that exercise eliminates stress, but also that it hinders sleep if done too close to bedtime. Save the cardio for before work and try a relaxing yoga workout to ease your body and mind.

5. Read

Studies suggest that reading for at least 6 minutes can significantly reduce stress. Check out your favorite spa blog for a quick fix. Or, dig into an amazing book that will transform your mind. I suggest checking out:

• You Are a Badass
• The Power of NOW
• Get Out of Your Mind & Into Your Life
• The Alchemist
• Rich Dad Poor Dad

Why not learn a few life hacks while relaxing at home?

6. Step into Now

Mindfulness means focusing on the present moment and accepting everything about it both internally and externally. This is the most difficult simple task for most people.

Learn how to relax your mind with these relaxation techniques:

Getting Comfortable

What place in your house makes you feel safest and most content? Go there to snuggle onto something comfortable and do absolutely nothing.

Breathing

We’re always breathing, but most of the time we are not breathing properly. There are several breathing techniques, but try Equal Breathing to start:

• inhale through your nose for a 4 count
• exhale through your nose for a 4 count
• continue increasing the count, but keep them equal in and out

Breathing slowly and mindfully slows down your heart rate and lowers your blood pressure, thus reducing stress.

Feeling

Touch your blanket, couch, face, etc. Physically feel your surroundings as they are without projecting any judgment onto them.

Do the same with your own feelings. Allow yourself to feel any and every emotion that comes and accept it as it is, letting it pass.

Everything you feel both internally and externally is the now.

Practicing Gratitude

Gratitude allows us to accept the things we cannot control and feel at peace with them. Rather than focusing on the negative of a situation, find the blessings it brings.

For example, Maybe work did not go as planned today, but I am thankful for having a steady job and for meeting my best friend at the spa.

Perception literally alters the now and can reduce stress, allowing you to relax.

Rest Easy With Stress Relaxation Techniques

After a day at the spa none of these stress relaxation techniques require rocket science. You can easily practice these after your long day at the spa. For more information about us and to learn stress relieving business options, visit our website!