Zannier Hotels Bai San Ho is a unique, high-end resort located in a secluded nature reserve in Phu Yen province. It is also one of the first 5-star resort projects in Vietnam that is completely oriented towards the concept of “sustainable hotels”.
Recently, Zannier Hotels and Spa service manager, Ms. Dao Thi Ngoc Ha, have compiled 5 tips to help relieve stress at home. With methods based on 5 elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space, Ms. Ngoc Ha hopes that everyone will soon have moments of "healing" like experiencing a vacation at a romantic beach hotel.
Zannier Hotels Bai San Ho Resort
First, to get the most out of your workout, find a comfortable, quiet space, add some soft music or the sound of ocean waves to create a sense of peace. If possible, light some candles with the scent of the ocean or a hint of summer in a room with windows to keep the air fresh. Now, you can start.
Air Element - Breathing Exercises
Breathing exercises are known to calm the mind and relieve anxiety. Belly breathing is the first and simplest step you can do at home. Once you have mastered it, you can combine it with meditation or yoga to free your mind and regain balance.
Abdominal breathing: Place one hand on your belly, just below your ribs, and the other on your chest. Inhale deeply through your nose and let your belly push your hand out. Keep your chest still. Exhale through pursed lips as if you were whistling. Feel the hand on your belly move inward and use it to push all the air out. Repeat 3 to 10 times at a slow pace.
You can practice the 4-7-8 breathing technique while sitting or lying down. Inhale deeply and slowly from your belly to a count of 1 to 4, continue to hold your breath for a count of 1 to 7 and exhale completely while silently counting from 1 to 8. Repeat 3 to 7 times or until you feel calmer. Usually, in yoga classes at hotels or resorts, you will be guided by an expert or trainer and practice for about 60 minutes.
Earth Element - Foot Reflexology
Ground yourself and tap into the energy of the earth with the help of foot reflexology. This self-massage will help you regain balance and center yourself through small, simple gestures.
To begin relaxing, begin by massaging each foot for one minute. Using both hands, firmly massage the top of the foot, moving from the toes to the ankle. Using your thumbs, press back and forth for five minutes on the solar plexus reflex area. This area is located in the middle of the foot, where the pad of flesh begins in the upper leg. Massage each toe, using your index finger to apply slow, deep pressure up to the tip of the toe.
Finally, hold the heel with one hand and massage with your thumb in an upward, downward, left-to-right and reverse motion. You can do the above steps several times in 20-30 minutes.
Water Element - Yoga and Meditation in the Bath
Water has a wonderful ability to relax the body, and a bath or shower at home is the perfect place to relax and enjoy some time for yourself. Combined with some yoga and meditation, this time can truly become a time of absolute peace and relaxation.
How to relax in the bath: Fill the bath with warm water up to your waist, at 37 degrees Celsius. This is the ideal temperature to maintain balance and help reduce stress. A little tip for you is to try adding a few drops of lavender essential oil and a pinch of salt to the bath to increase the effectiveness of the exercise. These two ingredients have soothing properties and help detoxify the body due to factors such as stress, improve the immune system, relax the autonomic nervous system and reduce cortisol levels.
Start by sitting cross-legged, with your hands on your knees, eyes closed, looking straight ahead, imagining a perfect scene and focusing on how you feel – the sunlight on your skin, the tiny grains of white sand under your feet. Take a deep breath and stretch your arms up, clasping your hands over your head, pressing your palms together. Hold for 5 counts.
Then take your left hand and hold your right elbow and your right hand and hold your left elbow. Holding this position for 5 times will support your cervical spine and shoulder blades and help open up your lungs.
How to relax in the shower: This method allows you to use soaps to remove negative energy from your body. Because when you are clean, your body will wash away the obstacles and give you the opportunity to regenerate energy.
Lather up your body with soap/shower gel and imagine the negative energy leaving your body and flowing with the water. Stand still under the shower and take 3 deep breaths before opening your eyes. As the water runs down the back of your neck and along your spine, this stimulates the energy zone that governs the cerebellum (a nerve center that regulates motor function). Focus on the feeling of the water sliding down your neck and freeing yourself from all the constraints. Concentration is the most important thing right now!
Continue taking 5 more deep breaths. We will gradually feel peaceful and ready to welcome new and positive ideas. Finish with a cold shower.
You can also practice getting used to cold water every morning or evening to energize the whole body as well as help soothe the soul. Cold showers are also a great solution to regulate the nervous system, support blood circulation and strengthen the immune system.
Fire Element - Candle
What could be more soothing than the soft glow of candles and the poetic sight of their rays reflecting off the walls? Turn off the lights, light a few candles and enjoy the soft light and the peacefulness that surrounds you. Staring at the dancing flame of the candle for a few minutes can also help you concentrate.
Space Element - Meditation
Repeat the 6 steps below 5 times to feel the highest efficiency. You can do it during skin care and at night to increase the effectiveness of the nutrients on the face.
Step 1: "Wake up" your facial muscles and begin to relax your skin by stroking your palms along the contours of your face.
Step 2: Activate blood circulation and lymphatic drainage using circular motions with your fingertips and gentle pressure. Start at the neck and stroke up to the jawline, before working your way around the face, gliding over the temples and forehead.
Step 3: Firm your face by placing your thumb on your chin. Gently press the skin between your index finger and thumb, then move up to your ears, along your jawline, and maintain pressure.
Step 4: Use your fingertips to gently press the center of your forehead, then slide your fingers toward your temples in a zigzag motion from the inside out.
Step 5: Relax the eye area by pressing two fingers into the inner corner of the eye. Maintain the pressure by drawing a half circle under the eye, a half moon above the eye, under the brow bone and finish by drawing full circles around the eye.
Step 6: If the nasolabial fold is too pronounced, you can soften it by using your fingertips to gently press along the crease, maintaining pressure while making small circles around the entire lip line.
You can also use a microneedling roller made from semi-precious stones with relaxing and soothing properties like amethyst or lepidolite, suggests Zannier Hotels.
