Relaxation Archives - With love from Lou

We’re almost at the end of January. And I don’t know about you guys, but I find it’s the one month of the year that really tends to drag. I feel like I’ve been working non-stop, and have barely had a second to myself. Just like everyone else I’ve been speaking to, I could do with a break. And I’ve spent the last couple of weeks dreaming of booking myself into a Champney’s Spa for a day or two of none stop pampering!

The hustle and bustle of modern life can mean that you sometimes just need to get away from it all and have some ‘you’ time. But if you’ve never considered booking yourself into a spa before, then you might not realise just how beneficial they can be. So, for today’s post, I thought I’d share 10 great reasons to book a Champney’s Spa Break with you. I hope you enjoy having a read.

01. THERE ARE FOUR BEAUTIFUL LOCATIONS TO CHOOSE FROM

Yes, you read that right! Champney’s have spa resorts in 4 beautiful locations up and down the country, and each one is situated in acres of idyllic countryside surrounded by nature. The grounds serve up picture-perfect views that go hand in hand with the peace and tranquillity you’ll find there. And they make the most magical setting for your night or two away.

02. IT WILL GIVE YOU SOME TIME TO RELAX AND DE-STRESS

There’s no denying that modern life is stressful. We’re working harder and longer than ever before, and it definitely doesn’t end there. At home, we have financial worries, concerns about the kids’ futures and access to bad news, 24/7. We deserve a break, and checking ourselves into a spa for a couple of days can really help with that. As soon as you step inside you’ll start to feel the tension melt away. And putting yourself in a quiet, relaxing environment can have an incredible impact on your mental health; decreasing anxiety and helping you feel much more like yourself. You probably hear the words ‘self-care’ mentioned a lot these days. And there’s no better place to practise self-care than by visiting the spa, where you have the time and space to just sit and think. It’s pure bliss!

03. THEY OFFER A WIDE RANGE OF LUXURIOUS SPA & BEAUTY TREATMENTS

One of my favourite things about visiting a Champney’s Spa has got to be the treatments! I suffer from chronic back pain, so love treating myself to a nice massage every now and then to relieve some of the tension knots that tend to build up in it. But it’s not just the humble massage that they can provide you with. Oh, no! At Champney’s, you can discover an extensive range of spa and beauty treatments, such as mani-pedis, holistic therapies, facials, waxing and tanning. I love that they use award-winning products from brands such as Elemis and Clarins in their spa’s too, as I know I’m not going to come away disappointed!

04. AND THEY OFFER A WIDE RANGE OF FITNESS CLASSES TOO!

As well as having lots of lovely, luxurious treatments to choose from, Champney’s also offers a wide range of fitness classes for those of us wanting to stick to those New Year’s Resolutions and get into shape this year! Champney’s fitness facilities are second to none, and they have a vast range of activities on offer so you can be sure to find something for everyone.

05. THEY SERVE DELICIOUS FOOD & DRINK

I’m halfway through my list now, and I don’t know about you, but all this waffling is making me work up quite the appetite. As it so often does, my mind has suddenly wandered to food. But that’s OK as it brings me conveniently to the next reason to book a Champney’s Spa Break today. That’s right, your retreat wouldn’t be complete without a bite to eat. And – fortunately – Champney’s are way ahead of the game when it comes to this part of your stay. Their philosophy is simple; it’s all about healthy, delicious and beautiful food. They stay away from all the latest fads and keep their food honest and enjoyable. They use only the finest produce and strive for innovation, high-quality service and memorable dining experiences. Trust me when I say, you’ll want to eat there over and over again.

06. IT ENCOURAGES YOU TO GET OFFLINE & ENJOY THE OUTDOORS

I don’t know about you guys, but I spend a lot of time indoors, playing around on the internet. And, in all fairness, that’s mainly because I blog for a living. But even before I started doing this I spent more time online than I probably should have. So whenever I visit the spa, I try to make sure that I turn off my mobile phone and spend as much time as I possibly can outdoors. And with Champney’s resorts being set within acres of stunning grounds just waiting to be explored, it makes this super easy to do. There really is nothing nicer than taking a stroll through the gardens whilst listening to the birds singing up in the trees above or hearing the crunch of the leaves underfoot. Unless I’m sat soaking up the sun on the terrace whilst sipping on a glass of bubbly, that is. Now that really is my idea of outdoorsy fun!

07. THEY HAVE LOVELY, COMFORTABLE ROOMS

If you’re going to book yourself a spa break, then you definitely want to choose somewhere that has lovely, comfortable rooms. And Champney’s has exactly that! Each room is decorated beautifully and in keeping with the rest of the resort. With Standard, Superior, Luxe and Suite options available, all rooms include complimentary bottles of water and Champneys products so your day of pampering yourself can continue well on into the evening!

08. THEY GIVE YOU CHANCE TO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH FRIENDS & FAMILY

You may see your best friend every Saturday night but how much time do you actually give you each other? Without the distraction of phones, other people or loud music you can actually spend quality time with your best friend, sister, mum or partner while in a lovely, relaxing environment. You’ll be amazed at the things you haven’t chatted about in ages, and it’s a great chance for you to make new memories together.

09. IT CAN BE ROMANTIC

If you’ve ever been to the spa with your significant other, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about here. But, if not, let me set the scene – over the years, life can take its toll on a relationship. And it’s easy to lose sight of the reasons you first fell in love. So, take a breather from your respective routines, leave the kids at Mum and Dad’s, forget all the petty squabbles you’ve had recently and head to the spa to devote some time to your relationship. You could sit and chat in the relaxing atmosphere, work up a sweat together in the gym, get steamy in the steam room and then enjoy a cosy night together in your deluxe suite at the end of the day. You’ll be surprised at how much better you’ll both feel after a night or two away.

10. A SPA BREAK MAKES A GREAT GIFT FOR A LOVED ONE

And, finally, if you’re ever struggling to know what to gift that special someone in your life, then you can’t go far wrong by choosing a spa break! Whether it’s for an anniversary, birthday, valentine’s day or Christmas, it’s a gift they’re bound to love. I mean, who wouldn’t want to spend a day or two just getting away from it all!? And, chances are, you’d get to go along with them too. So it makes it an even better gift to give!

And there you have it – 10 great reasons to book a Champney’s Spa Break today! I hope you enjoyed having a read through my post, and if you’re now tempted by a spa break then make sure you head on over to Champney’s website to find out more about what they have to offer. I promise you won’t regret it.

Have you ever been to a Champney’s Spa before?
If so, I’d love to hear what you thought of it.
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When you think about hypnosis, you come inevitably across a lot of fictions and speculations. Probably, you imagine a swindler, who, with the help of a pocket watch, hypnotizes at once many volunteers who tell the crowd their secrets. Fortunately, real hypnosis has little to do with all these pop culture stereotypes that are taken from serials, movies, and TV shows.

In fact, self-hypnosis is a process much less enigmatic and much more approachable than you thought before, forget about self-hypnosis anxiety. Self-hypnosis is a very safe and, more importantly, extremely effective means of relaxing and dealing with stress. It’s kind of like a life between lives.

You will not do things that you don’t want to do.

Maybe no other psychological reception to relieve stress is perceived so false as hypnosis. There are some things that you should know.

You’re not sleeping.
You’re conscious.
You don’t lose control and are not under anybody’s spell.
You will not do what you do not want to do.

Does self-hypnosis work? To make hypnosis work, it’s important to forget about your critical attitude and stop fighting the process. You need just to succumb to it. If you stand on your absolute skepticism, then no one of the self-hypnosis techniques will help you and the “miracle” will not happen. You need to open your mind.

A light trance is the first stage of a self-hypnosis.

Find a comfortable place in a quiet and dark room. Relax as much as you can. Your clothes should not prevent your further relaxation.
Find some object on which you can focus. It can be anything: a spot on the wall or on the picture, a candle. Choose something that is in the line of your sight, anyway, you should not strain your eyes.
Do not say anything but think to yourself that your eyelids are getting heavier with every second. You should feel that. Repeat this thought every minute.
Focus on your own eyelids. You will feel soon that they will really become heavy. The feeling of this weight will deepen with the time. Close your eyes at the moment when you feel that you cannot keep your eyes open.
When your eyes are closed, let yourself relax. Take a deep breath and hold it for 11 seconds. Exhale slowly the air through the lips. Tides of heat and heaviness will begin to spread from the head to the toes. Keep breathing slowly, try to enter a state of deep peace, a trance is reached.

Self-hypnosis.

When you get a light trance, it’s time to move on to a deeper state, to self-hypnosis itself.

Take a deep breath and hold it for about 12 seconds. Exhale slowly. Try to breathe deeper with each breath, so the brain is saturated with oxygen.
Imagine that you go to an escalator, very long and slow, that will take your mind straight to the subconscious. You start your descent and the lower you descend, the more relaxed you are. Each time when you breathe out, count from 12 to 1.
When you get to the bottom of the escalator, imagine that it suddenly continues in infinity. A deep state of consciousness begins, to which you should go until you feel absolute relaxation. It is difficult to reach this feeling alone, but you will succeed with practice.
Absolute relaxation is the “platform” for hypnosis. If you are able to control consciousness, then with the help of hypnosis you can understand your inner contradictions. But, most often, in the absence of a hypnotist (the voice from outside), people go back into a deep slumber. However, when you open your eyes, you will feel not only physically vigorous but also morally rested. Excellent practice for those who cannot cope with the crazy rhythm of the city and need self-hypnosis for sleep.

Have you ever practiced self-hypnosis?
Let me know what you think of it in the comments below.
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10 Great Reasons To Book a Champney’s Spa Break!

Self-hypnosis: a Simple Means from Stress and Depression