The arts of reflexology, yoga and osteopathy all consider the feet a crucial part of wellbeing. Good posture begins at our feet. Dead skin, unkempt nails and foot odour are all signs of neglect that may develop into more serious problems if left unchecked.

Foot Soak

4 litres warm water in a bowl big enough for both feet. Add 2 drops of lavender essential oil.
Dry feet, and apply olive oil to cuticles.

Beachsand Scrub

To remove dead skin cells and enliven your feet.

• 2 tablespoons beach sand from your favourite beach
• 2 tablespoons avocado oil
• 3 drops essential oil of mandarin

Mix in a small dish.

Apply to feet and exfoliate.

Foot Oil

A soothing massage oil to relax your tired feet.

• 2 teaspoons Aloe Vera gel
• Drops lavender
• Drops of arnica tincture

Blend and massage until absorbed.

Finish with your favourite nail polish.

Now relax with a good book or curl up for an afternoon nap…enjoy!

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Smoothies

Feel like a snack? Smoothies are a fabulous and nutritious option to fill the gap with little preparation. Invest in a blender now so you can whip up a treat at a moment's notice.

Grape-peach Smoothie

1/2 cup soya milk
1/2 cups apple juice
1 small peach, peeled, pitted and cut
1/2 cup seedless grapes
Juice of 1/2 lime
Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend thoroughly and serve.

Pineapple Smoothie

1/2 cup yoghurt
1 cup chopped pineapple
1/2cup pineapple juice
Fresh mint leaves
Combine yoghurt, pineapple and pineapple juice in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into tall glass and garnish with mint leaves.

Apricot Smoothie

1/2 cup yoghurt
1cup fresh apricots
1/4 cup dried apricots
1/2 cup apricot or apple juice
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Juices

To prepare fresh juice, you will need an electric juicer. If you haven’t already got one, it’s worth the investment. Juicing is a quick and efficient way to get all your essential nutrients. Always drink the juice within half and hour of making it as the longer you leave it, the greater the loss of enzymes and nutrients. All juices can be diluted with water if desired.

Digestive Blend

Helps heartburn, constipation, flatulence and other digestive ailments.
Combine two slices of fresh pineapple, two apples, half a cucumber and fresh ginger.

Refreshing Blend

A good morning wake-up call!
Combine four carrots, stick of celery, half a peeled lemon, two apples and up to three centimetre piece of root ginger to taste.

Sugar Rush

Cleansing and sweet.

Combine three apples with a cluster of washed grapes (stems removed).

Herbal Tea

Raspberry Leaf Tea

Prepare a raspberry leaf infusion. This tea contains levels of oxytocin to balance hormones and prepare the muscles of you womb for labour.

Chammomile Tea

Chammomile flowers to soothe and calm before bedtime.

Peppermint Tea

Refreshing tea and useful to allay sensations of nausea. Use fresh Vietnamese mint and infuse.

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For maximum benefit, begin by removing nail polish, and lightly filing nails with an emery board to a smooth curve.

If you have time, combine the three treatments.

Hand and Nail Soak

A simple concoction containing buttermilk and almond oil will exfoliate, condition your hands and stimulate nail growth.
Store preparation in a glass container in the refrigerator. Gently shake before use.

• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup warm distilled water
• 1 teaspoon almond oil

Combine ingredients with a whisk. Soak hands for 15 minutes, then rinse and pat dry.

Softener

Mix:

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil

Combine ingredients and massage into nails and cuticles.

Store remaining preparation in a glass container in a cool, dark place.

Apricot Hand Mask

• 1/4 cup dried apricots
• 1/4 cup plain yoghurt
• 1 tablespoon honey

Blend ingredients until smooth. Spread mask onto hands and leave for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

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Some very special facial treatments

The following treatments may be used individually or combined as the ultimate facial experience.

Soothing Facial Scrub

Prepare yourself a soothing apple-oatmeal scrub.

You will need:

• 2 tablespoons rolled oats
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cornmeal
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/2 medium apple peeled, cored and cut into chunks

In a bowl, mix the first three ingredients into a paste using a fork. Combine the paste and apple in a food processor and blend until smooth. Apply the mixture generously to face; leave for a few minutes then gently scrub in circular movements. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry.

Cucumber Toner

Refreshing and gently astringent, this blend can be prepared in advance and stored in an airtight glass jar in the refrigerator.

• 1/2 cucumber cut into chunks (do not peel or seed)
• 1 tablespoon witch hazel (available from a health shop)

Liquify cucumber in a blender or food processor then strain, reserving the cucumber juice. Combine with witch hazel. Soak cotton pads in the mixture and gently wipe face. You may feel a tingling sensation.

Moisturising Mask

Good for dry and dehydrated skin.

• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1/2 soft ripe avocado, peeled
• 1 tablespoon plain yoghurt

Combine ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Massage mask evenly onto the face and leave for 5-10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry.

Herbal Steam

• 1 litre of distilled water
• 1/2 cup of favourite mix of fresh herbs
  (chammomile/peppermint/rosemary/thyme/lavender)

In a covered pot, bring the herbs to boil. Remove from heat and uncover to let it cool a little. While it is still steaming, lean face over pot and drape a towel over your head, trapping the steam. Relax and breathe deeply for 3-5 minutes. Repeat 3-5 times. Discard preparation when finished.

OR

Aromatic Steam

Boil 1 litre water in a pot then remove from heat and let it cool a little. Add one drop of both lavender essential oil and neroli essential oil. While it is still steaming, lean face over pot and drape a towel over your head, trapping the steam. Relax and breathe deeply for 3-5 minutes. Repeat 3-5 times. Discard preparation when finished.

Soothing Moisturiser

• 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil

Whisk ingredients and apply mixture evenly in gentle circular motions. Aloe Vera is delicately soothing and sesame oil helps reduce puffiness.

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Chill Out at HomeThis is time set aside for you to relax and treat yourself to a few hours of luxurious home spa. Because it uses natural, readily available ingredients in your own home, it is easy to prepare in advance. Any chance of a few hours rest can be used productively with little effort.

Preparing Your Environment

Prepare your environment so you feel comfortable and able to relax. If you are already a mother, arrange for a friend to have your children for a few hours. Enhance the ambience by playing soothing music, lighting candles, letting some fresh air circulate and burning essential oils. Switch off the phones and claim this time as your own. Begin with some stretches and deep breathing, shutting your mind off from the realities of the day. Surround yourself with plants and flowers. Did you know that houseplants remove pollutants from the air and provide fresh oxygen for you to breathe?
Ficus and spider plants are good air filters. Lilies, roses, daffodils, jasmine, freesias and gardenia are all cheerfully fragrant blooms. Treat yourself to your favourite.

Relax Your Eyes

Tired eyes? This recipe is great during pregnancy and even better for when your newborn comes home and sleep deprivation takes over. Prepare the following recipe in advance to reduce stinging and puffiness of tired eyes. Chammomile, a soothing herb to reduce inflammation, is mixed with rose water to tone the skin and tighten pores. Store in a glass container in a cool, dark place.

• 1 bag chammomile tea
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2cup rose water (available from a health shop)
• Steep teabag in boiling water for five minutes.
• Remove bag and allow tea to cool.
• Add rosewater to tea.
• Soak two cotton pads, recline and place over closed eyelids.
• Leave for 5-10 minutes.

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